Beat Magazine #1467 by Furst Media

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7.5pt Univers 57 Condensed

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Movies • TV • Comics • Anime • Sci-fi • Fantasy • Games • Cosplay • Wrestling • Comps • Fun

Uhura!

The Australian Timezone Supanova Pinball Championship!

ets or k c i T e do h g h at rt throu o

The Penguin! ...and so many more! *

Spike!

Also featuring exclusive screenings! Mad Max: Fury Road, Thunderbirds, Daredevil and more!

Melbourne ShowgroundS April 11 and 12 w w w. s u p a n ov a . c o m /beat

*All guests confirmed health and other commitments pending. †Must be accompanied by a paying adult.

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L GUESTS

WITH SPECIA

TONIGHT ! Ò

YOU DO IN IF THERE IS ONE THAEING SEE MICH L FRANTI THIS LIFE: TR

TONIGHT !

FESTIVAL HALL WED 1 APRIL

E6 ONIZED SET FROM TH OUP. POWERFUL, SYNCHR ASSIC HIP HOP GRED CL IS TH OF S ER MB ORIGINAL ME Y HAVE IT! LIFE MUSIC M IA ..THEY STILL TRUL

SCENES

DIGO THE CAPITAL,w.BSOEL NNATION WED 1 APRIL

TOMORROW NIGHT ! M PRINCE BANDw.RTROEVOOR HALL THU 2 APRIL

5 TIME GRAMMY NOMINEE & 2015 PEOPLEÕ S CHOICE AWARD WINNER

THE ORIGINALP LINE-U RETURN FOR THEIR

20TH ANNIVERSTOARURY!

THIS WEEK !

TRE THORNBURY THEA SAT 4 APRIL

NEXT WEEK !

M PRENINCECD EALLBAGAESNDROO LIC MON 6 APRIL

S E I T T E R P Y M Y L F S E R I RDINA O A R T X E Y E L D D O O H R E H CHARLES BRA T O R B N O S N I B O R IS R H C C I L E D A K FUN N O T N I L C E G R O Y A R THE BEAT GE G D I V A D S E N O J H A I Z E K ENUE V A & Y T R O H S E N O Y T IL TROMBONE S U G N I V L A L I H P & N I V L A E V A D F F R E T I E R JIMMYCLI N E K N A & S R E F Y E R N O NICOLAS V A N O D O D R TONINO BALIA S G N GIPSY KI NZ

AND HIS

2 APRIL THIS WEEK !

ING

LL L SE FAST !

5 APRI THE CORNER ~ SUN

LLING

FAST ! RIL SE

3 AP 170 RUSSELL ~ FRI

THIS WEEK !

THE

THE PALAIS ~ FRI 10

NEXT WEEK !

CLUB ~ THU 9 AP NORTHCOTE SOCIAL

FEAT.

SELLING ST !

4 APRIL THIS WEEK !

PALAIS ~ SUN 5 APR

LLING

FAST ! RIL SE

8 APR FA THE CORNER ~ WED

THE

THE CORNER ~ SAT

THIS WEEK !

ORLEANS

1 APRIL TONIGHT !

SELLING FAST !

THIS WEEK !

WITH THE

THE CORNER ~ THU

NT AND PARLIAME

TONIGHT !

PLUS

SOLD !

1 APRIL OUT THE CORNER ~ WED

170 RUSSELL ~ WED

NEXT WEEK !

S HOTEL ~ L & BARWON HEAD RI AP 10 I FR ~ ER RN

SAT 11 APRIL

THE CO

APRIL NEXT WEEK !

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WE DO

Thursday 2nd April DOWNSTAIRS

Sat 4 april 5pm

The Black Sheep

chriS WilSon and aliSon Ferrier Team up For a delighTFul arvo oF ripper harmonica and guiTar (acouSTic and SWeeT elecTric).

Sat 4 april 9pm

11am to 1am O P E N 7 D AYS

DJS FRIDAY/SATURDAY

The prayerBaBieS

The pBaBeS SeamleSSly Blend goSpel, BlueS, and counTry WiTh 80S parTy claSSicS.

Sun 5 april

Happy EaStEr; pub cloSEd EaStEr Sunday

Globe Alley (off Little Bourke St.)

(03) 9663 4041 .BELLEVILLE-MELBOURNE.COM

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EASTER BIG DANCING

FT. MAFIA, LARRIE, MIMI 9pm UPSTAIRS

WEEKENDER

INDIE & BRIT POP ALL NIGHT 8pm - $10

Friday 3rd April UPSTAIRS

ALL I DO IS CASH OUT

LUMINOX (USA) - SWISHER BEATS TOMDERSON - FOSSA BEATS $10 DOWNSTAIRS

PARTY & BULLSHIT

CODA CONDUCT, JUZZY B, KAY Z FREE ENTRY

Saturday 4th April

WU-TANG IS FOR THE CHILDREN ALL WU ALL NITE WITH JADE ZOE,GET BUSY

Free Entry - All Wu All Nite Sunday 5th April

GIRLTHING

SVETA (SYD) - MAFIA - LEATHA LOCKLEAR (THURSGAY) $15 after 11

IMAGINE A CAREER WITHOUT LIMITS

MELBOURNE CAMPUS

INFODAY SAT U R DAY A P R I L 1 8 | 1 1 A M -3 P M 235 Normanby Road, South Melbourne Come along to our Info Day to learn how SAE Creative Media Institute can give you the skills you need to succeed locally and internationally. Established in 1976, SAE has helped creative minds launch exciting careers from over 50 campuses across the globe.

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WORLD LEADING EDUCATION SINCE 1976 NINE STATE-OF-THE-ART PRODUCTION STUDIOS FULLY EQUIPPED AVID EDITING SUITES AND MEDIA LABS INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL LECTURING STAFF LATEST SKILLS AND TECHNOLOGY

DEGREES, DIPLOMAS AND CERTIFICATES IN:

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SECRET SOUNDS PRESENTS

BEN HOWARD

SECRET SOUNDS PRESENTS

I FORGET WHERE WE WERE TOUR

WITH SPECIAL GUESTS SPOOKYLAND

TUE 07 APR THE CORNER HOTEL ON SALE NOW SECRET-SOUNDS.COM.AU

RESCHEDULED DATE*

MON 1 JUN MARGARET COURT ARENA ON SALE NOW SECRET-SOUNDS.COM.AU * I F Y O U ’ R E U N A B L E T O AT T E N D T H E R E S C H E D U L E D D AT E P L E AS E RETURN TO POINT OF PURCHASE BEFORE TUE 31 MAR I FORGET WHERE WE WERE NEW ALBUM OUT NOW ON UNIVERSAL MUSIC B E N HOWAR DM USIC.CO.U K

BANDOFSKULLS.COM

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Best Of Both Sides Festival 2015 March 30 — April 5

Love is a Two Way Street

50% North • 50% South • 100% Free

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GET YOUR ROCKS OFF 2015 MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL

DANCING WITH DINOSAURS APRIL 1 - 12 THE BROCCOLI BROTHERS APRIL 1 - 12 DEAD TECHNOLOGY MEMOIRS APRIL 2 - 12 WORKSPACE APRIL 2 - 12

www.lamama.com.au

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IN THIS ISSUE

HOT TALK

TOURING

RONNY CHIENG

WHATS ON, THE ASTOR THEATRE: A RETROPECTIVE

ART OF THE CITY

RICHARD EPCAR

COMEDY FESTIVAL COVERAGE

OUT OF THE CLOSET, BEAT EATS

STEP OFF THE WORKERS CLUB

THE TARANTINOS, OCEAN ALLEY

GUTTERMOUTH, JEFF MARTIN

GUANTANAMO BAYWATCH, LOS CHICOS

THE WORKERS CLUB page 40

CORE/CRUNCH, FUCK THE FITZROY DOOM

FUCK THE FITZROY DOOMSCENE page 44

SCENE 45

MUSIC NEWS

LIVE

ALBUM OF THE WEEK, SINGLES, CHARTS

OCEAN ALLEY page 41

THE TARANTINOS page 41

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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TUE

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EVERY WEEK

WED

NO MONEY NO PROBLEMS

THUR

ARKS / KIRKIS / SLIENT JAY PLUS WEEKLY GUESTS

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HAPPY PEOPLE

DOWN STAIRS

FRI

KITCHEN

with Max Factoid

FREE ENTRY!

DJ SUSAN ~ LEO (CANYONS) ~ WINTERS ~ JIMMY DAWG

SAT $ 10

SUN

R NT

•—

FROM 5 AM

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BONEY SATURDAYS —•

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KATIE DROVER

GIG GUIDE

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UPCOMING EVENTS / www.boney.net.au

with T– REX

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MON

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OPEN EAT IN & TAKEAWAY (03) 9663 8268

68 LT. COLLINS WWW.BONEY.NET.AU

THUR 2/ 04

HIP HOP KARAOKE NUMBER #7

FRI 3 / 04

MISTY NIGHTS:

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˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚ 1st BIRTHDAY ˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚

“THE SECOND COMING”

ELIZABETH ROSE DISCOTHEQUE CLUB TOUR + OSCAR KEY SUNG

FRI 10/ 04

SHAOLIN AFRONAUTS LIVE / LP LAUNCH

KIRKIS ~ SILENTJAY ~ JIMMY DAWG ~ EDD FISHER ~RAAGHE

SAT 11/ 04 FRI 17/ 04

JANE FITZ (UK) RSVP FOR FREE ENTRY

• RED BULL MUSIC ACADEMY PRESENTS •

LUKE VIBERT (NINJA TUNES / UK)

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BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 19

HOT TALK THE BIGGEST IN INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS

JAKE SHIMABUKURO

HOLY HOLY HERMITUDE Award-winning electronic duo Hermitude are back with a follow-up album to their well received HyperParadise with the release of Dark Night Sweet Light due Friday May 15. They've just concluded an impressive run of showcases at SXSW, and now they have big plans for even bigger shows, scheduling a night in at 170 Russell on Friday June 19. Tickets for the show can be found at hermitude.com. Pre-orders for Dark Night Sweet Light are available on elefanttraks.com from Wednesday April 15.

THE GOOD SHIP After six years of playing eccentric, costume packed shows, The Good Ship are closing the curtains on gigging life. The seven-piece nautical country folk cabaret are closing off with a show set to be as equally bizarre as their dubbed genre, playing a show on Saturday May 16 at The Spotted Mallard. Come on down for possibly one of the stranger nights you’ll ever experience, with support coming from The Bon Scotts. Pre-sale tickets are available from www.spottedmallard.com.

With their past releases having been described as close to perfection by some big names in the Australian music industry, Holy Holy are ready to shake up The Espy for a night of story based sounds with tight harmonies, distant piano and wild drumming. It goes down Thursday April 2 at The Espy. Tickets are from oztix.com.au.

Known to fans as the Eric Clapton of the ukulele, Jake Shimabukuro returns to Australia with his unique fourstringed instrument talent. Going viral after a YouTube clip of Shimabukuro playing George Harrison’s While My Guitar Gently Weeps on ukulele made him an internet sensation, he is known for his ability to shred out some wicked covers from the likes of Queen, Jimi Hendrix, Michael Jackson and many more. Catch him on Saturday April 11 at the Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, in the Melbourne Recital Centre. Tickets can be purchased from melbournerecital.com.au.

BEST OF BOTH SIDES

YNGWIE MALMSTEEN

The Lucky Coq in Windsor and Bimbo Deluxe in Brunswick are teaming up for a seven day festival running from Monday March 30 'til Sunday April 5. Playing up the north-side south-side divide, the venues have filled their program with 14 massive events across the week, showcasing the very best in electronic culture, visual entertainment, booze and home grown musical talent. Every gig running as part of Best Of Both Sides is free entry! For full set times, visit bestofbothsides.com.au.

The Swedish-born, US-based guitar legend Yngwie Malmsteen is venerated as one of the founders of the art of guitar shredding. His neo-classical style and the sheer speed of his playing made him a highly notable and influential musician in the genre. Don’t miss your chance to see the Master of the Stratocaster live in person, and for dedicated fans there are VIP tickets available granting access to an exclusive Q&A session, and for a few very lucky fans the extremely rare opportunity to meet Yngwie Malmsteen in person. Malmsteen plays Wednesday June 10 at 170 Russel, tickets from the venue.

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL J A Z Z F E S T I VA L The 2015 Melbourne International Jazz Festival is launching a fantastic line-up, featuring some of the biggest figureheads in the Jazz world today. With a line-up consisting of collaborations, fusionists and international talent, be sure to keep an eye out for shows all over town from Thursday May 28 to Sunday June 7. Jazz legends Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock have already been announced along with Dee Dee Bridgewater and Irvin Mayfield with a 15 piece New Orleans Jazz Orchestra. For the full lineup and ticket information, visit melbournejazz.com.

I OH YOU EASTER PART Y Party hosts I Oh You are throwing a huge Easter Weekend bash at Ding Dong Lounge this Sunday April 5, featuring an expansive lineup with The Harpoons, Milwaukee Banks and Collarbones live sets, as well as Can’t Say, I Oh You and Gold Fields DJs plus Marquee Moon. Tickets are a steal at $15, so head down to Ding Dong this Sunday

STRANDS OF OAK Lead by songwriter and producer Timothy Showalter, Strands Of Oak are gracing our shores over April. For their first ever Australian tour, Strands Of Oak are playing two sets at Boogie 9 on Friday April 3 and Sunday April 5, before playing two free entry shows at Cherry Bar on Tuesday April 7 and 170 Russel on Wednesday April 8, the latter with Gary Clark Jr. Hit up strandofoaks.net for more information.

BILL CALLAHAN Prolific singer/songwriter Bill Callahan is coming to town for one night only this May. Best known for recording under his Smog moniker, Callahan is touring on the back of his latest album, 2014’s Have Fun With God the jaunt marking his first trip back to our shores since 2009. Get on down to Hamer Hall for an intimate show on Tuesday May 26. Tickets available at artscentremelbourne.com.au.

JARRYD JAMES Fresh from supporting Angus & Julia Stone on their national tour and currently enjoying a #2 rank on the ARIA singles chart, Brisbane boy Jarryd James has announced an east coast tour, due to make appearances in Melbourne across April. His Melbourne show is locked in at The Forum for Saturday July 11, tickets are available from livenation.com.au. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 20

CHRIS BOTTI Grammy Award-winning trumpeter Chris Botti will return to Australia later this year. Botti is America’s highestselling instrumental artist, having sold more than four million albums. He has played with a wide range of musicians, including Sting, Lady Gaga, Andre Bocelli and Yo Yo Ma. Chris Botti will play Melbourne’s Hamer Hall on Sunday July 5. Visit the Arts Centre Melbourne website for tickets.

J O H N M AYA L L British blues pioneer John Mayall is taking to Australia as part of the Byron Bay Bluesfest lineup, and is hitting Melbourne for a single sideshow in April. With a career spanning over 50 years and with his name behind more than 60 released records, be sure to catch this living legend in the flesh at the Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, in the Melbourne Recital Centre on Tuesday April 7. Tickets can be purchased from melbournerecital.com.au.

F O R A L L T H E L AT E S T, C H E C K O U T B E AT.C O M . A U

DR CORNEL WEST Rocking out an impressive three spoken word albums, including collaborations with Prince, Jill Scott, Andre 3000 and many more, Dr Cornel West is coming to hold talks in Australia to discuss similarities he sees between Australia and his home in the US regarding race, gender, class and culture. Aiming to inspire revolutionary thinking, his show will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday June 12. Get your tickets from thinkinc.org.au.

BaR WedneSdAyS

Open Mic

Show the boogie man what you’ve got ! free drink to encourage every performer!

tHurSdAy 2 April

HOUSeWRecKeRS tashJ / the Girls

fridAy 3 April - Good fridAy

ABBOTSFeST 2015 rCH Good friday Appeal fundrAiSer

w/ Guzzler, prophetess, ion drive, Crossbone Carnival, Vintage ruin, fallen ends, divine fluxus, Helotry, the Weight of Silence eASter SAturdAy 4 April

SAinT HenRY

the delvenes, Siren Sun the Conclusions eASter mondAy 6 April

BROnSOn

Coffin’ up, Suburban prophets dog Sled Girl, liquor Snatch After Work HAppy Hour from 4pm:

$5 drinkS, Wed, tHurS, fri 160 Hoddle St AbbotSford TICKETS FROM OZTIX! THEESPY.OZTIX.COM.AU

VISIT OUR WEBSITE!

ESPY.COM.AU

T HU

FR O NT B A R FREE!

FIREBALLS, LOS CHICOS HOLY HOLY

APRIL SAT

FR O NT B A R FREE!

HUCCI LUV. FROM 9PM

BAS E M E NT FREE!

G ER S HW I N FREE!

CAPTIVES (Vinyl Launch Show) MILLIONS

KILL DIRTY YOUTH

ALI BARTER

THE QUARTERS, RELEASE THE HOUNDS MARICOPA WELLS, YARD APES

WARMTH CRASHES IN. FROM 9PM

FR O NT B A R FREE!

THE BURNING ROACHES

RUSTY JAMES & THE HELLFIRE FLAMES PAUL CONROY 12FU, NATE DOGG RIPPINLIFE...

BAS E M E NT FREE!

G ER S HW I N $10 AT DOOR

KING OF THE NORTH

BURY THE FALLEN

CHRIS WATTS

THE HOUSEWRECKERS, PHIL PARA BAND

THE HAZARD CIRCULAR, THE NUREMBERG CODE, EVOLUTION OF SELF, BEHOLD THE DEFIANT.

MOODY BEACH, DOLLY DENKO. 9PM

VENOMARTYR, ARCADIA (SA)

APRIL CHILD, THE BLACK ALLEYS SUN

SEEKA, KRYPTIC

FOREIGN/NATIONAL. FROM 9PM

KIT CONVICT & THEE TERRIBLE TWO

EZEKIEL OX

AINSLIE WILLS

APRIL THE KAVE-INN F RI

BAS E M E NT FREE!

G ER S HW I N PRE $20+BF

AMBER ISLES

G ER S HW I N PRE $25+BF

FR O NT B A R FREE!

DEAN RAY

HUSKY

QUALITY LIGHTWEIGHTS. FROM 8PM

FOREST FALLS, HARRISON STORM. 8PM

FR OPEOPLE NT B A Rfeat.ALEX FORMOSA APRIL THE LAYLA, KELSIE, DAMON SMITH AND THE GRACE T HU R S DAY 9 APRIL

FRIDAY 1 0 A PRIL

JEFF MARTIN CLINT BOGE

+ TASH SULTANA + MORE

RESIDENCIES ALL FREE!

+ GLEN ESMOND TICKETS ON SALE NOW

M ON DAYS

TUESDAYS

WEDNESDAYS

+ SPECIAL GUESTS FREE ENTRY - 7PM

BAYSIDE MUSO NITE 7.30PM

UNSIGNED MUSO NITE 7.30PM

88 with MOSÉ

‘BRIGHTSIDE’ ‘COLLAGE’

FRIDAY 10 A PRIL

LADI6 (NZ)

+ PARKS FREE ENTRY SHOW!

SATURDAYS

PHIL PARA

+ SPECIAL GUESTS FROM 6PM

SATUR DAY 11 APR I L

MOBB DEEP (USA)

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

FRIDAY 17 APR I L

FREE ENTRY!

THE GO SET

+ RAMSHACKLE ARMY + BLAZING ENFIELDS + CICADASTONE

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BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 21

HOT TALK

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

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Wednesday 1sT aPRIL

The aTTRacToR Beams PLeBs The haPPy Lonesome

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sunday 5Th aPRIL - easTeR sunday

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TIme FoR dReams WaLkIng FLame (Pets With Pets /Witch hats) 8Pm FRee

WAXAHATCHEE Long Island’s finest is heading to The Toff on Saturday July 4 to play an intimate show of US-based indie rock for eager fans. With sharp riffs and deceptively sweet melodies, this show marks the first time Waxahatchee has hit Australian shores, promoting the release of new album, Ivy Tripp. Tickets can be found at handsometours.ticketscout.com.au.

monday 6Th aPRIL

WHITE NOISE

mundane mondays:

InTeRnTIonaL mysTeRy acT mIdnIghT WooLF WRong TuRn

8Pm $10

Tam VanTage 8Pm $6

band bookings: bandbookings@theoldbar.com.au

ROCKNROLLA

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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

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NEW KITCHEN GRAND OPENING LORIKEET BLEEDING FLARES, EVIL TWIN FT.

8PM. FREE ENTRY

THURSDAY 2 APRIL

TINY GIANTS - LAUNCH DARTS OF OLD, FENN WILSON 8PM. $10

FRIDAY 3 APRIL

GOOD FRIDAY KITCHEN/BOOZE/TUNES

BENNY WALKER

Returning to Melbourne to play a show at The Railway Hotel in Brunswick, White Noise is set to be a massive party night, riddled with a smorgasbord of DJs aiming at setting up a festival vibe nestled in the middle of a bustling suburb. The doors open from 2pm for some smoother beats during the day, paving the way for a night of full blown dancing. Get down to the Railway Hotel on Saturday April 11 and shake your stuff. Doors open at 2pm.

Tuesday 7Th aPRIL

James Teague Leah senIoR

The last week of Music Victoria’s annual membership drive is coming to a close in two days, so make sure you don’t miss out on sweet bonuses like a $30 uber voucher, savings on Virgin Australia flights, excess baggage on Virgin Australia and Qantas flights and special deals on car hire with many other incentives on offer. Keep Melbourne’s music scene thriving by signing up at musicvictoria.com.au for a cool $33.

AUGIE MARCH One of Melbourne and Australia’s finest indie acts are returning to the stage at the Melbourne Recital centre in April. The 2006 triple j Hottest 100 winners are sure to put on a blowout show at one of Melbourne’s finest acoustic spaces. Catch them on Friday April 17 at the Elisabeth Murdoch Hall in Melbourne Recital Centre. More info can be found at melbournerecital.com.au.

Gather round rockers, young and old ± the Prince of Wales Public Bar are hosting a new monthly event to celebrate the grit and sexuality of Melbourne’s rock scene. Decking out the room with a barber’s chair and tattooist on hand courtesy of Sailor Jerry, the first instalment will see The Tarantinos play their signature movie soundtrack inspired set backed by grunge two-piece From Oslo. The first show starts on Thursday April 2 from 8.30pm, and best of all ± it ’s free.

PETER BIBBY Following the launch of his hugely successful debut album, Butcher/ Hairstylist/Beautician, Peter Bibby’s career has skyrocketed. After touring nationally with Laneway and making a SXSW appearance, Bibby is finally coming back to local stages. Friday May 15 sees him play at Northcote Social Club, along with Orlando Furious and Tanzer.

ROSS MCLENNAN Former frontman of '90s iconic indiepop band Snout, Ross McLennan is heading to Melbourne backed by his ten-piece band, The New World, with a night set to be full of intimate stringwork and thoughtful songwriting. Assuming you can fit in the venue with such a giant band, get on down to The Post Office Hotel on Sunday May 17 for the free entry show.

CRACKED ACTOR

ELECTRIC SEA SPIDER, MATTHEW KENEALLY BAD AMBULANCE 8PM. $10

EASTER SUNDAY 5 APRIL

(BERLIN) VB.A.A.D.D.D., VACUUM 4PM. FREE

MONDAY 6TH APRIL

KITCHEN / BOOZE / TUNES 7PM. $5

TUESDAY 7TH APRIL

SPACE RIOT + GUESTS 7PM. $5

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 22

THE GOBLIN BALL Otherworldly portals reopen for 2015 as The Goblin Ball manifests itself at Northcote Town Hall. Organiser’s Dark Realm bring their unique blend of magic and storytelling in a masquerade held on Saturday June 20, drawing guests deep into the dangers of Terra Bayou: The Power of Voodoo. There will be activities throughout the night, The Grand Ballroom featuring a New Orleans style jazz band, the Swamp Rock Room pumping to DJ sets, and of course the Goblin Marketplace full of artisan treasures. Tickets from thegoblinball.com. Remember to rock some fantasy themed fancy dress or elegant formal wear.

Lovable local Benny Walker has just released his third studio album Through The Forest, out now through Black Murphy Records. Winning the Victorian Indigenous Performing Arts Award for Best New Talent in 2012, Walker has been on a festival circuit bender recently, playing too many shows to list here. Now, he’s back in town and celebrating his album launch at Thornbury Theatre on Friday April 10. It just so happens we’ve gotten our mitts on a couple double passes, as well as two copies of Through The Forest. You gotta be in it to win it, beat.com. au/freeshit if you want in.

BEN HOWARD English singer/songwriter Ben Howard is restringing his guitar, preparing for his I Forget Where We Were tour, which sees Howard start off in London, head over to Paris, then make a quick stopover here before continuing on to God only knows where else. He plays in Melbourne on Monday June 1 at Margaret Court Arena. Don’t start worrying about ticket prices yet; we’ve got a double pass to sling at one lucky reader. Head to beat.com.au/freeshit before some other nerd takes it.

JEFF MARTIN

8.30PM. $10

SATURDAY 4 APRIL

Produced concurrently with their latest album, Foo Fighters’ HBO series Sonic Highways chronicles the band’s trials and tribulations across America, highlighting the diverse musical subcultures of the states they played in. Dave Grohl describes it as “a love letter to the history of American music.” Sonic Highways gets its physical and digital release on Thursday April 9, and guess who has five DVDs to giveaway? Get in quick at beat. com.au/freeshit. Don’t uh, don’t wait too...everlong.

AT THE GATES The immortal Swedish melodic death metal act are taking their highly successful reunion tour to Australian shores once again in October. Innovators of death metal and arguably one of the more recognisable bands in the scene, you’d better get down to see them for a night of furious head banging and frenzied moshpits. The gig’s locked in Friday October 30 at The Corner Hotel, get your tickets at metropolistouring.com.

F O R A L L T H E L AT E S T, C H E C K O U T B E AT.C O M . A U

The Tea Party frontman Jeff Martin is playing shows around Australia with his Returning From The Ocean At The End tour, hitting what looks like every single venue in the country over the next three months. Melbourne audiences can look forward to his Tuesday April 7 show at Sooki Lounge, his Thursday April 9 appearance at The Espy and the Workers Club on Wednesday April 15. Martin fans, hit up beat.com.au/freeshit. We have three double passes to give away (you pick the venue), as well as a special tour edition EP and tour poster signed by the man himself.

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BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 23

TOURING

WHO'S ON TOUR, WHERE AND WHEN

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

INTERNATIONAL CHARLES BRADLEY Corner Hotel April 1 JURASSIC 5 Festival Hall April 1 PAOLO NUTINI Palais Theatre April 1 TONY JOE WHITE Ding Dong Lounge April 1 LOS CHICOS The Espy April 2, The Tote April 3, Boogie Festival April 4, Barwon Club April 5, The Retreat Hotel April 10 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 WAZE & ODYSSEY Royal Melbourne Hotel April 3 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 JOHN MAYALL Melbourne Recital Centre April 7 RODRIGO Y GABRIELA Palais Theatre April 7 STRANDS OF OAK Cherry Bar April 7, 170 Russel April 8 POKEY LAFARGE Caravan Club April 8, Corner Hotel April 9 GARY CLARK JR. 170 Russell April 8 JIMMY CLIFF Corner Hotel April 8 GUANTANAMO BAYWATCH Barwon Club April 8, The Tote April 9, Queens Park April 11 LUKE WINSLOW-KING The Spotted Mallard April 8 MARLON WILLIAMS Gasometer Hotel April 9 DAVE & PHIL ALVIN Northcote Social Club April 9 JEFF MARTIN The Espy April 9, The Workers Club April 15 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 STEVE SMYTH Howler April 11, Karova Lounge April 12 MOBB DEEP The Espy April 11

IRON REAGAN The Tote April 11 JAKE SHIMABUKURO Melbourne Recital Centre April 11 FRANK TURNER Corner Hotel April 12 ARCHITECTS 170 Russell April 12 NANA MOUSKOURI Hamer Hall April 14 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 GEORGE MAPLE Howler April 25 YOU ME AT SIX The Hi-Fi April 30 SAM SMITH Margaret Court Arena April 30 PEACE Ding Dong Lounge April 30 PEACHES The Hi-Fi May 1 A WILHELM SCREAM The Evelyn Hotel May 1 CHARLI XCX Corner Hotel May 1 ACE FREHLEY The Forum May 2 PALOMA FAITH Palais Theatre May 5 OPETH The Forum May 7 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 BAM MARGERA Corner Hotel May 15 THE HAUNTED & INSOMNIUM The Hi-Fi May 15 NICKELBACK Rod Laver Arena May 15 DANCE GAVIN DANCE Corner Hotel May 17 BILL CALLAHAN Hamer Hall May 26 HERBIE HANCOCK & CHICK COREA Hamer Hall May 28 BORIS Corner Hotel May 30 BEN HOWARD Margaret Court Arena June 1 BAD MANNERS Corner Hotel June 4 AGAINST ME! Corner Hotel June 6 YNGWIE MALMSTEEN 170 Russel June 10 MACHINE HEAD 170 Russell June 22 EMMYLOU HARRIS & RODNEY CROWELL Palais Theatre June 25 WAXAHATCHEE The Toff July 4 CHRIS BOTTI Hamer Hall July 5 YELLOWCARD Margaret Court Arena July 11 JOHNNY MARR The Forum July 22

ALAN BROUGH (SPICKS & SPECKS) & CASEY BENNETTO (KEATING! THE MUSICAL)

THE NARELLES

MAROON 5 Rod Laver Arena September 26 KISS Rod Laver Arena October 8 NEIL DIAMOND Rod Laver Arena October 27 AT THE GATES Friday October 30 AUDRA MCDONALD Hamer Hall October 31 FLEETWOOD MAC Rod Laver Arena November 2, 4, Mt Dundeed Estate November 7 EARTHCORE Pyalong, Victoria November 26 – 30 TAYLOR SWIFT AAMI Park December 11

PROUDLY PRESENTS

NATIONAL THE WAIFS Thornbury Theatre April 1 THE BOMBAY ROYALE The LuWow April 2 RAT & CO Shadow Electric April 2 HOLY HOLY The Espy April 2 ROCKNROLLA Public Bar April 2 CAPTIVES The Espy April 3 THE MURLOCS Northcote Social Club April 3 BOOGIE 9 Bruzzy’s Farm, Tallarook April 3 – 5 HUSKY The Espy April 5 ROLLING GREEN FESTIVAL Rochford Wines Yarra Valley April 5 HOBBLE DAY John Curtin Hotel April 10 THE GOOD MORROWS Ding Dong Lounge April 10 BENNY WALKER Thornbury Theatre April 10 LAURA JEAN The Gasometer Hotel April 11 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 THE AVENUE PRESENTS Queens Park April 11 WHITE NOISE Railway Hotel April 11 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 BETTY & OSWALD Sooki Lounge April 17, The Espy April 18 AUGIE MARCH Melbourne Recital Centre April 17 LIA MICE The Grace Darling April 18 JORDIE LANE The Toff In Town April 18, 19 SOMETHING FOR JOHN BENEFIT GIG Corner Hotel April 19 MELBOURNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA’S ANZAC TRIBUTE CONCERT Hamer Hall April 23, 24 THE DELTA RIGGS Corner Hotel April 23 JEMMA & THE CLIFTON HILLBILLIES The Gasometer Hotel April 23 NANTES Shebeen April 24 BONJAH Howler April 24 TKAY MAIDZA Northcote Social Club April 24 THUNDAMENTALS Corner Hotel April 24 CHAINSAW HOOKERS The Public Bar April 24 MONTAIGNE Wesley Anne April 25 ONE DAY Prince Bandroom May 1 EPICURE Northcote Social Club May 2 MONTGOMERY Shebeen May 8 LURCH & CHIEF Howler May 9 CHERRYROCK015 featuring Red Fang, Beastwars, Child and more, AC/DC Lane Sunday May 10 THE FUNKOARS The Workers Club May 14, 15 JOHNNY CASH IN SOLITARY Flying Saucer Club May 14 MILES AWAY Northcote Social Club May 14 PETER BIBBY Northcote Social Club May 15 COURTNEY BARNETT The Forum May 15 THE CASANOVAS Ding Dong Lounge May 15 THE GOOD SHIP The Spotted Mallard May 16 KING PARROT Corner Hotel May 16, Wrangler Studios May 17 ROSS MCLENNAN Post Office Hotel May 17 CRAFT & CULT 2015 Grumpy’s Green May 20 SAN CISCO 170 Russell May 22, Hi-Fi Bar May 23 (U18) THE GETAWAY PLAN Corner Hotel May 22 THE PEEP TEMPEL Howler May 23 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 IN HEARTS WAKE 170 Russel June 5, Arrows June 6 (U18) DEEZ NUTS Arrows June 12, Corner Hotel June 13 DALLAS FRASCA Howler June 19 HERMITUDE 170 Russel June 19 TITLE FIGHT Corner Hotel June 26

APR

2-10

BONJAH Howler

JEFF MARTIN The Espy

LOS CHICOS Various Venues

DARREN COGGAN The Palms July 3 JARRYD JAMES The Forum July 11 MSO BACK TO THE FUTURE LIVE The Plenary November 6, 7

RUMOURS: KENDRICK LAMAR, BEST COAST, THE MOUNTAIN GOATS = NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

PROUDLY PRESENTS

APR

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 24

GEORGE CLINTON & PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC 170 Russell

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

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

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 25

RONNY CHIENG K n o W s W h A T h e ’ s TA l K i n g A b o u T by nick Taras, Photo by ian laidlaw

“Did you guys hear about this TV show Man Vs. Wild?” It’s 2010, and triple j are airing the best moments from the RAW Comedy Grand Final the night before. In this routine, Ronny Chieng describes survivalist Bear Grylls peeing into his own mouth in order to prevent dehydration in extreme environments. “He’s drinking and drinking and when he’s done he goes, ‘That’s how you survive. Man 1, wild 0.’ I’m watching this at home thinking, ‘I’m pretty sure wild just kicked your arse in that one. Anytime any man has to drink his own urine – I think that’s a loss for mankind as a whole.”

Laughing dangerously, I had to pull over. I was hooked. Who was that guy? Chieng’s comedy career began at the prestigious University of Melbourne law school. Every year at the university’s campus comedy competition, Chieng would sign up only to chicken out the day before. In the last year of his degree, facing a potentially laborious life in law, Chieng finally showed up to the competition – and won. Just a few years later, Chieng is one of Australia’s most popular comedians. Well, he’s technically not Australian, but we’re claiming him anyway. “You know how they put the bracket ‘(UK)’ after international comedians? I’m getting the bracket ‘(AUS)’ and I’m always like, ‘Hey guys…’” he laughs. “It’s just that factually, I’m not Australian. If I get citizenship one day then maybe. I’m a Malaysian dude. I don’t even have permanent residency in Australia. I’m in a weird zone. I started my comedy here and obviously I live here, so a lot of my comedy is very Australian. At the same time, I’m also very not Australian. I wish I could pin it down. I’m happy to be claimed. I’m like a free agent, I’m happy to be claimed off waivers,” he laughs. “I used to do a joke about how in Australia I’m the most Chinese dude, and for some reason in Malaysia or Singapore, I’m the whitest dude there. This voice doesn’t belong anywhere.” However, Chieng’s spent so much time in Melbourne that last year he launched an online guide to the city’s best bars and restaurants. “Surrounded by idiots who can’t decide where to eat?” the site asks. Imokwithanything.com references one of his routines where Chieng criticises friends who handball responsibility for choosing a restaurant by saying, “I’m ok with anything.” “The back story to that was I going through some rough times in early 2012,” Chieng explains. “Relationship problems, I didn’t know what was happening with my stand-up and all that. I was living in Melbourne, feeling down. What I did to cheer myself up was I took the time to explore Melbourne by myself. I got really familiar with the layout and I’m not 100 per cent with Melbourne, but I’m pretty high. I’m like 90 per cent familiar. “What I would do was, when there were visiting comics from overseas, I would send them this email, ‘Here’s a list of places to go in Melbourne if you want’. I didn’t want to pressure people to hang with me. But during the Melbourne International Comedy Festival people are here for a month. They need to know the places to go. So I would send this email around and then eventually I just said, ‘Screw it, I’m gonna make it into a proper website so everyone can see it’.” The site offers tips on favourite dishes, as well as the occasional threat: “If you go here and get drunk and ruin the place by being a dick, the Korean mafia will get you and then I will find you and destroy you. Be a good person here.” “There’s some threats in there because some places are sanctuaries,” he says. “Some places thrive on the obscurity. It’s so cool because no one goes there. I was BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 26

a little scared of mentioning them because I want to preserve that vibe. I was scared if I mentioned them then too many people would go. But then I’m kind of worried that if no one goes there, it’ll close down,” he laughs. At the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, there are really two levels of selling out your shows. One of them simply means your room is full. The other means that your demand is so astronomical that you’re moved to a bigger venue. The latter rarely happens, although Chieng finds himself upgrading almost every year. In fact, his popularity has grown so enormously that even Bill Burr invited Chieng to open for him both in Australia and in LA. “Bill Burr was so encouraging and friendly,” he enthuses. “We got to spend some time together. After the show, he would invite me over for a drink at his hotel and he’d give me some guidance. Most of his advice was – and I’m gonna paraphrase here – work hard and get good at your own thing and don’t worry about the politics of it. If you get good enough, all that stuff will happen. People want to see good acts, so there’s no conspiracy or anything. He said if I ever need help getting gigs, he’ll vouch for me, which is huge in comedy. If Bill Burr vouches for you, you can pretty much get any gig.” After seeing 147 shows in 2013 as part of the MICF Funny Tonne competition, I became fascinated with ‘hacks’ – clichéd comedy routines that usually guarantee a laugh while being unoriginal. While tempting to many up-and-coming comics, Chieng believes it’s a comedian’s responsibility to take unprecedented angles on topics. “The difference between a funny person and a professional comedian is you should be coming up with stuff that no one else could have thought of. That’s all. When we see hacky stuff, whatever your topic is, it’s still funny. It’s just that anyone could have thought of it in a bar. I’m not saying I’m perfect, but that’s what I strive for, I guess. Even if I say something that’s a pretty well-trodden topic, whether it’s Chinese people or whatever it is, I always try to come at it from a different angle, or at least add to it. I’m not always successful, but that’s my goal. “That’s another thing Bill Burr told me. He’s not forced to do a new show every year; he says he tries to do one every two years. But the point still remains. He says, ‘Every time you do a comedy special, like a onehour special, you should be trying to add something to your game so that people can see your improvement.’ “I think what I’m adding to my game is that I’m getting a bit more mature with it and the topics. I think I’m adding voices and performance aspects to it. I’m not a trained performer or actor, so it’s taking me a while to learn that stage craft of not just being a writer, but basically acting onstage. That’s what I’m adding to my game a little bit.” Following his Directors’ Choice Award in last year’s festival, Chieng’s new show is already receiving excellent reviews – and he doesn’t wait until the show to ridicule the audience. “There’s a double meaning in the title. Ronny Chieng

DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION

You Don’t Know What You’re Talking About obviously the surface level meaning is telling everybody that they don’t know what they’re talking about. I’m sick of people saying stuff when they don’t know what they’re talking about. The second meaning is Ronny Chieng ‘you don’t know what you’re talking about’ – referring to myself. My point being that nobody knows what they’re talking about and everyone needs to shut up.” Chieng’s hilariously arrogant onstage personality is significantly different to the humble, polite reallife Ronny Chieng. His Twitter feed, however, often vacillates between his split personalities. One of my favourite tweets of his was a swipe at the behaviour of some of his Facebook friends: “When I was at law school I must have missed the class where they taught us how to write our own laws via Facebook status updates.” “You’re misunderstanding the law and how the Internet, technology and copyright works,” he laughs. “But I’ve gotta tell you man, on Facebook, I don’t know if I’m an anarchist, but I’m like a libertarian. Anything goes. Baby photos, selfies – I don’t care because I think that’s what makes people happy. You’re not hurting anyone by posting a selfie. Just do it. “I hate it when people start complaining about that. Man, this is what it is. Selfies and baby photos humanise the Internet. I’m very contrarian with the hate. I usually hate on the haters. You know that dress thing? White and gold and blue and black? So that came out, and the postmodern response to that was, ‘Everyone’s looking at this dress but there’s more important issues going on.’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah well, shut up. There’s a lot of heavy issues. It’s good to be distracted by something silly. What do you want us to look at? Photos of ISIS beheading people all the time and just look at that? It’s good to get distracted.” On the topic of social media, Chieng’s facial expression in his Twitter profile is utterly confusing. It’s seemingly a look of disapproval, but I wondered what was actually going on when that photo was taken. “Someone said I look constipated!” he chuckles. “I think I’m looking at bunch of stupid idiots. That’s the official expression. That’s a great question, I’ve never thought about that. It’s like the Mona Lisa. I’m trying to keep from vomiting, from all the stupidity on Twitter.”

Ronny Chieng is performing his show You Don’t Know What You’re Talking About at The Forum – Upstairs until Sunday April 19 (except Mondays). The show takes place at 9pm (Sundays 8pm) and tickets are $22 - $34.40. Due to ticket demand on Saturday April 18 he will perform an extra show at the Melbourne Town Hall, Main Hall at 6pm, and on Sunday April 19 he will perform an extra show at the Melbourne Town Hall, Main Hall at 4.30pm. His shows on Friday April 10, Thursday April 16 and Friday April 17 have also been moved from The Forum to the Melbourne Town Hall, Main Hall. See comedyfestival.com.au for more details.

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MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL

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[UK]

‘AN EXHILARATING, DEEPLY SATISFYING SHOW.’ THE TIMES

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MELBOURNE TOWN HALL UNTIL 19 APR TUE–SAT 8.30PM, SUN 7.30PM TIX FROM $28

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ACMI AT FEDERATION SQUARE UNTIL 19 APR TUE–SAT 8.15PM, SUN 7.15PM TIX FROM $30

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GREEK CENTRE UNTIL 19 APR TUE–SAT 9.45PM, SUN 8.45PM TIX FROM $28

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★★★★ THE TIMES

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‘Chaos has rarely been so finely constructed and this much fun’

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‘An original and unflagging spirit, oozing enthusiasm and intellect’ ★★★★ THE TIMES

MELBOURNE TOWN HALL TIX FROM $28 CHECK WEBSITE FOR SHOW TIMES

JOHN KEARNS

ACCLAIMED US STAND-UP

JEN KIRKMAN I’M GONNA DIE ALONE

MAX&IVAN AWAR D-W

SKETC

‘Honest pragmatism, with a twist.’

[UK]

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(QLD)

GREG BEHRENDT [USA]

[USA]

JACOB MATT NINA CIARAN LINGARD STEWART OYAMA LYONS (QLD)

(VIC)

(NSW)

‘BIZARRE, DROLL, ALWAYS ENTERTAINING’ THE AGE

(WA)

DIRECTED BY KATE MCLENNAN

BOSTON GLOBE

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DISCOUNTED ENTERTAINER

MATT FORD

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james acaster

DEBUT

CHORTLE

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‘Inspired, steady, side-splitting hysterics’ DAILY TELEGRAPH, SYDNEY

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YAL , NO RO P. THE MPETS LI NO CRU STIFF UPPER M THE UK! NO FRO Y, T IL N M LE FA TA T NEW HOTTES

PHIL WAN

JOEL DOMMETT LAZY SUSAN

‘This is stand-up of the highest, most playful order’

★★★★ THE GUARDIAN

[UK]

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BOOK NOW! comedyfestival.com.au

[UK]

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SMASH HITOF 2014!

FESTIV

Y MED O C RGH ER INBU D WINN D E 2014 AWAR

SHTICK

(AND I FEEL FINE)

H COM EDY

THE E ND

‘A PHLEGMFILLED SACK OF PUTRID SELFLOATHING. TRULY EXTRAORDINARY’ ★★★★★

[USA]

L L E S S U R

[UK]

Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer 2014

the barry award winning

S K N EE PE O TW EX N

‘This was what it might have been like to watch Jerry Seinfeld when he was in his early 20s.’

WINNER

INNING

#YOUJUSTHADTOBETHERE

‘SMART, BITTERSWEET, RICH AND ABSORBING’

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1300 660 013

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BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 27

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.

Spiegelworld has arrived in Melbourne with their smash-hit Las Vegas show Absinthe, a followup to its record-breaking show Empire which was seen by an incredible 200,000 Australians. Inspired by the absinthe-drenched cabarets of late 19th century Europe, Absinthe is an adultthemed cocktail of circus, comedy, burlesque and vaudeville for a 21st century audience. Melbourne audiences at Absinthe are being treated to three new international acts, specially hand-picked for the Australian tour, which have joined the show’s lineup of jaw-dropping acts which have been wowing Las Vegas crowds. It’s currently playing at The Spiegeltent on the Rooftop at Crown. A new black comedy is set to screen at ACMI this month. Listen Up Phillip, directed by Alex Ross Perry, tells the story of misanthropic novelist Phillip ( Jason Schwartzman) who decides to boycott the publicity tour for his second novel after receiving a bad review in the New York Times. Phillip then decides to spend the summer writing at the country house of his literary idol. The film also stars Mad Men’s Elizabeth Moss and Breaking Bad’s Krysten Ritter. Listen Up Phillip will screen from Thursday April 2 to Sunday April 26. Red Stitch Actor’s Theatre is currently presenting the Australian premiere of Wet House. The debut play from Patty Campbell 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 is currently being performed until Saturday April 18.

PICK OF THE WEEK

One week down, two-and-a-half weeks to go. Yep, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival is in full-swing and you best get involved. Not sure what to see? Well, according to critics our cover star Ronny Chieng is smashing it with his show You Don’t Know What You’re Talking About, Wil Anderson is in career best form with Free Wil, the stars of the 2014 festival ONGALS are back with a killer dose of Babbling Comedy, Luisa Omielan’s festival debut show What Would Beyonce Do?! is said to be an early contender for the Barry, while Arj Barker, Papa CJ, Nina Conti, Joel Creasey, Alex Edelman and James Acaster are all hot tips. Head to beat.com.au for daily news, reviews and interviews.

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 28

The Astor Theatre: A Retrospective By Patrick Emery As he approaches the final screening at The Astor Theatre, George Florence, owner and proprietor of The Astor, remains passionate about the iconic cinema that he’s run for over 30 years. “I basically put my soul into this cinema,” Florence says. “All along, that’s been my philosophy – if I put my soul into it, then the audience will come along and they’ll get it. And if you read the testimonials that are on The Astor website, you can see there’s an incredible personal connection there.” Long before he took over The Astor, Florence was “around the cinema environment”. In the ‘60s and ‘70s, Florence’s uncle ran a series of about 15 Greek movie theatres in Melbourne, including The Astor Theatre (the only cinema for which his uncle didn’t own the freehold). With the Greek language cinema, business waning due to the establishment of SBS and the emergence of the video market, The Astor Theatre shut its doors in early 1982. When his father suggested he take up the leasehold on the property, Florence leapt at the chance. “I rang the owner, and went and had a look, and it was like walking into an Aladdin’s cave,” Florence recalls. “It was very derelict, but magical in its scope and style – especially the oval opening, which really caught my eye.” In September 1982, the modern incarnation of The Astor opened its doors for the first time. “The first film we ever showed was King Kong, the original 1933 version,” Florence says. “We also had a live performance that night from a group from La Trobe Uni called the African Drums, which did an African musical ensemble on stage, which my brother was part of.” The Astor Theatre business grew slowly, and Florence and his brother – who ran the business with George at the time – staged various rock concerts at the venue

“out of financial necessity”. Between 1982 and 1985, The Astor hosted concerts by high profile acts such as Midnight Oil, INXS, Men at Work, Lene Lovitch and Siouxsie and the Banshees. “The Astor was like the middle ground between a pub arena and a big arena,” Florence says. By the late ‘80s, The Astor’s cinematic fixtures were being gradually replaced, with a new, larger screen being installed. The Astor’s program reflected Florence’s deep understanding of film, past and present, and his sense of cinematic occasion. “We’ve always had a limited number of sessions every week because I think that each screening should be a special occasion, and I think that works very well because most sessions we’re guaranteed to have a large audience.” Over the years, The Astor has screened classic films from the Marx Brothers to The Blues Brothers, from A Day at the Races to Apocalypse Now, from Metropolis to Star Wars, from Dr Zhivago to Reservoir Dogs, augmented by the latest releases of the day. Florence cites the appearance at the cinema of cast members from his favourite film, Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey as a personal highlight. “We had Keir Dullea and Gary Lockwood [who played Dave Bowman and Frank Porter in the film] – we’ve had them now three times. That’s

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something you never think would happen, and to meet these people face to face was quite special”. Befitting its reputation as a haven for cinephiles, The Astor even ran the Melbourne International Film Festival between 1985 and 1993. In later years, The Astor also hosted various university student film festivals, as well as hosting a range of private functions. Beyond the films that he’s screened at The Astor, Florence cites the “inter-generational connection” that’s grown up around the cinema. “You have couples who’ve met for the first time at The Astor, and then they bring their children along to The Astor and they have an incredible time, and then they grow up and become an Astor fan,” Florence says. “Or you get a situation where the grandparents bring their grandchildren along to see a Charlie Chaplin film from ‘30s or a Harold Lloyd film from the ‘20s, and they’re both laughing at the same jokes, having the same experience as the grandfather did in 1924.” Despite weathering the storm of movie piracy and online streaming (“I don’t feel we have any competition from pirating, or any other mode of viewing at all,” Florence says), The Astor met its match in the form of recalcitrant landlords. In April last year, it was announced that The Astor Theatre business would cease showing films in 2015. With Florence and his current landlord at loggerheads over an extensive list of issues, the landlord decided not to renew The Astor’s lease on the property.

“You have couples who’ve met for the first time at The Astor, and then they bring their children along to The Astor and they have an incredible time, and then they grow up and become an Astor fan” Florence remains bitter at the turn of events, and the failure of his current and previous landlord to appreciate the cultural importance of The Astor. “Even before the current landlord, the landlord saw it as a potential development – which was only stopped because the building had been heritage listed,” Florence says. A promise by the present landlord of a not-for-profit trust that would control both the building and the business fell through and, Florence says, “it became a very hostile commercial relationship”. Florence remains hopeful that his current 11th hour negotiations may allow a new tenant to come into the building and continue its cinematic tradition. In the meantime, Florence is concentrating on the running the program for the last week of his own tenure at The Astor, which will culminate with screenings of 2001: A Space Odyssey in all its original 70mm glory. “The technology is a very important part of what we do,” Florence says. “It’s an experience you just cannot have in any other type of cinema.” The Astor Theatre will close this weekend, following four screenings of 2001: A Space Odyssey on Saturday April 4 and Sunday April 5. Visit astortheatre.net.au for more details.

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

Giveaway$ Supanova

Christopher Lloyd

Fluvial

Frame of Mind

A new music installation will feature at Arts House in May. Performed by emerging Melbourne-based musician Matthias Schack-Arnott, Fluvial explores tidal movement, erosion and transformations through a large-scale percussion instrument. Fluvial features suspended glass bottles, overlapping metal tubes and wind chimes. Fluvial will run from Wednesday May 13 to Sunday May 17.

Semaphore

Arts House will host the world premiere of an immersive new work by composer Kate Neal. Semaphore is a multimedia exploration of signalling, communication and miscommunication. It features three dancers and eight musicians, as well as Morse code, pennants, lights and binary code. Semaphore will run from Wednesday May 27 to Sunday May 31 at Arts House.

Off The Kerb’s Eighth Birthday

As part of its Australian premiere season, Sydney Dance Company is set to present a limited run of its acclaimed double bill, Frame of Mind, in Melbourne this May. Frame of Mind features two dance works, legendary American choreographer William Forsythe’s acclaimed masterpiece Quintett, and Rafael Bonachela’s newly created Frame Of Mind, direct from its world premiere Sydney performances. Created in 1993, Quintett was developed in collaboration with Ballet Frankfurt dancers Dana Caspersen, Stephen Galloway, Jacopo Godani, Thomas McManus, and Jone San Martin, as a final love letter to Forsythe’s wife, dancer Tracy-Kai Maier. One of Forsythe’s most closely guarded pieces, Quintett has rarely been performed outside of his direct supervision. In the 22 years since its creation only eight companies around the world have been permitted to present the piece. Sydney Dance Company is the first in the southern hemisphere. In Frame Of Mind, Bonachela brings together 17 of Australia’s most accomplished dancers, as time passes from day to night and back again as the dancers transition from solos to duets, trios and high energy ensembles. Frame of Mind opens at Southbank Theatre on Wednesday May 6, with just nine performances until Saturday May 16.

To mark their eighth birthday, Off the Kerb gallery is hosting a charity exhibition to raise money for Clowns Without Borders Australia. During the exhibition – called Arcadia – 25 per cent of all artwork sales will be donated to the charity. The opening night of the exhibition will see live music from Old Feather. Clowns Without Borders Australia aims to improve the emotional wellbeing of children living in povertystricken areas. Arcadia’s opening night will take place on Friday April 10, with the exhibition running from Friday April 10 to Friday April 24.

Supanova, Australia’s premier pop culture expo, is back for its 13th year showcasing sci-fi, fantasy, comic books, animé, manga, games and much more. This April, you’ll have the chance to meet Christopher Lloyd, Ryan Hurst, Dolph Lundgren, Danai Gurira and many more. You can check out the entire lineup on their website. We have a money-can’t-buy experience to give away to one very lucky reader and their friend. We have an invite to the exclusive Supanova VIP party, which will be held at a secret location, where you can rub shoulders with all of the Supanova stars and meet all of your favourite celebrities in an amazing oneon-one experience. On top of that, you’ll also get a weekend double pass. Five other lucky winners will also win a double pass. Sound too good to be true? You better believe it’s not. Get enterin’!

it FollowS Robert David Mitchell’s critically acclaimed supernatural chiller It Follows has been declared the scariest horror in a generation by critics and moviegoers alike. Stylish, creepy and dizzyingly intense, Mitchell’s retro approach recalls the genre’s most revered tales with the story of Jay (Maika Monroe), an everyday teen with a close group of friends. Following a date that goes all the way, Jay discovers that she is now the victim of a curse: she will be pursued by a deadly entity only she can see that can take the appearance of any person. Ratcheting up the tension without a need for gore or cheap scares, It Follows signals the arrival of a brilliant new filmmaker. We have five double passes to giveaway to a screening at Cinema Nova on Thursday April 9.

Head to beat.com.au to win.

Coming Up Meme Girls

Wednesday April 8 - Saturday May 2 Malthouse Theatre

Supanova Pop Culture Expo Saturday April 11 - Sunday April 12 Melbourne Showgrounds

Oedipus Schmoedipus

Wednesday May 6 - Sunday May 10 Arts House

Endings True North Festival

True North Festival will return to Reservoir, Thornbury and Preston for another year, showcasing the creative side of Melbourne’s north. The three-day arts festival will feature a range of exhibitions, plays, gigs and events at artist studios, theatres and warehouses around Darebin. The festival’s partnership with the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) in 2015 will see a range of emerging theatre works as part of the FR!SK series. The festival will also feature a number of interactive arts workshops and a two-hour bike tour, exploring public art and pop-up performances. True North Festival will run from Friday April 17 to Sunday April 19. For the full program, visit truenorthfestival.com.au. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 29

Dr. Cornel West

American activist/author/philosopher/academic Dr. Cornel West will visit Australia for the first time this year. West is a frequent guest on Real Time with Bill Maher, Colbert Report and CNN and is a strong champion for racial justice and progressive politics. He has also penned a number of books, most notably Race Matters and Democracy Matters; released three spokenword albums; starred in The Matrix; and taught at Yale, Harvard and The University of Paris. The night will see him discuss the role of gender, race and class in today’s society, comparing Australian society to the US. Dr. Cornel West will speak at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday June 12.

For its Melbourne premiere, Arts House will present Tamara Saulwick’s homage to loved ones no longer living in Endings, this May. Developed as part of Arts House CultureLAB, Endings is part chamber concert and part performance work that explores the experiences – both ordinary and extraordinary – that cluster around death, dying and afterlife. Tamara Saulwick employs portable turntables, reel-to-reel tape players and live performance in a moving meditation on cycles and the ending of things. Endings premiered at Sydney Festival 2015, and is built, in part, from one-on-one interviews-real people’s stories, reflections and voices that are cut onto vinyl records-operated, accompanied and extended through live performance and song. Endings opens at Arts House on Wednesday May 13.

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NEON Festival of Independent Theatre

Thursday May 14 - Sunday July 25 Southbank Theatre

But Wait... There’s More

Wednesday June 17 - Sunday July 12 Circus Oz Big Top, Birrarung Marr

Dylan Moran

Monday July 27 - Thursday July 30 Arts Centre Melbourne, State Theatre

MSO: Back To The Future Live In Concert Friday November 6 - Saturday November 7 The Plenary

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

Richard Epcar By Avrille Bylok-Collard As Melbourne’s edition of Supanova looms ever closer, the anticipation of all pop culture lovers grows ever more palpable. It’s hardly a surprise when some of the illustrious guests include Georgina Haig, Christopher Lloyd, Alfred Bester, Walter Koenig and George Takei. However, when you add Richard Epcar (Robotech, Ghost in the Shell and Bleach), one of the most prolific voice actors around and co-founder of Epcar Entertainment, to that list, you’re bound to feel an electrical current of excitement from any anime or game lover as they shiver in restrained joy.

As Melbourne’s edition of Supanova looms ever closer, the anticipation of all pop culture lovers grows ever more palpable. It’s hardly a surprise when some of the illustrious guests include Georgina Haig, Christopher Lloyd, Alfred Bester, Walter Koenig and George Takei. However, when you add Richard Epcar (Robotech, Ghost in the Shell and Bleach), one of the most prolific voice actors around and co-founder of Epcar Entertainment, to that list, you’re bound to feel an electrical current of excitement from any anime or game lover as they shiver in restrained joy. Epcar started off in Los Angeles with ambitions of becoming an actor. Fate had other aspirations for him. “I came to LA to become an on-camera actor,” confesses the Colorado-born man after a quick quip about originally wanting to become a gynaecologist in Beverly Hills. “I was in a lot of soaps, a lot of TV shows. I did a lot of films, [but] I kind of fell into this [voice acting] in a way. My wife [Ellyn Stern], who was my girlfriend at the time, was working on a film and they [the directors, producers, etc] were working on another film and they weren’t happy with the way the actor sounded and they wanted her to replace the voices. They asked her to come in and she asked if she could bring her boyfriend – me – with her. I showed up and I got the lead in this thing. I took to it like a duck to water and they were very happy with me that they started giving me more projects; and then from that I fell into [dubbing] Robotech,” explains Epcar fondly. Robotech is an anime that depicts the tale of an alien spaceship that crash lands on Earth. The sequential events that unfold from this moment fuel three destructive interplanetary wars and a hell of a lot of character development. In the English dubbed version, Epcar portrayed Dixon, a gregarious self-dubbed ladies man who dies an unfortunate, yet heroic, death. This role was the break into the dubbing industry that the actor needed: “I started doing a ton of anime. I started doing Ghost in the Shell, Bleach,” and he even played a part in the well-loved slice-of-life anime Lucky Star as Tadao Hiiragi, the father of everyone’s favourite purple-haired twins, Kagami and Tsukasa. This isn’t all that Epcar has done, though. Epcar is renowned as one of the ‘hardest-working actors’ in the industry – he’s given voice to over 400 hundred

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characters in animation, film, television and gaming since his acting debut 30 years ago – and he sure lives up to that title with three Batman games currently featuring his voice: Infinite Crisis and Injustice: Gods Among Us as The Joker and Batman: Arkham Origins as Judge Harkness, John DiMarcco and S.W.A.T. Officers, and the recent announcement that he will be portraying Raiden in Mortal Kombat X. When we talk, he adds that he has just spent the entire day being interviewed, is preparing for three jobs tomorrow and is going to a convention the day after that; while simultaneously organising his luggage for Supanova in a fortnight. Please note, that Epcar is doing all of this while recovering from knee surgery earlier this year, an operation which promises some nasty and impressive scars. “I’m not one of those guys. I don’t want to do that thing where people post their scars on Facebook. I think it’s a bit much, you know,” says Epcar, exhaustion tinting his voice. “I’ve got people [physiotherapists] coming to the house and working me out. I’m actually walking okay. It’s just painful. That’s the only thing about it. The other stuff is fine [physio]. It’s just the constant pain, which I’m hoping is going to go away at some point.” Despite the pain, the American is dedicated to his craft and is very excited to come to Australia this April. “I’m really looking forward to it. The last time we were in Australia was 2007. That was eight years ago, so there’s a huge [amount] of work that I’ve done since then,” over 30 titles, including stints in Nickelodeon favourite The Legend of Korra and Lupin the Third: A Woman Called Fujiko Mine). “It’ll be fun to see the fans and talk about the new stuff with them. We [Richard and Ellyn] had such a great time last time in Sydney, which is such a gorgeous city and we’re really looking forward to seeing more of Australia. We’re looking forward to seeing Melbourne and we’re looking forward to seeing the Gold Coast. We’re [really] excited about it. Ever since we went in 2007, we said ‘I hope we get to go back at some point’ and here we are: we’re coming back. So I guess it all worked out.” Catch Richard Epcar at Supanova Pop Culture Expo which will be held at the Melbourne Showgrounds from Saturday April 11 – Sunday April 12.

Hollywood Film Institute’s

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Anyone can Write, Produce, Direct and Distribute an independent feature film when given the basic information. Learn a step-by-step method to make your first feature film with budgets that range from $5,000 to $5,000,000. Learn how to market your film, find investors, secure a distributor, and discover many financing tricks to include Government Programs and Crowd Funding.

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MELBOURNE MAY 23 & 24

“I took Dov’s class, shot ‘Reservoir Dogs’ and ‘Pulp Fiction’ and launched my career as a writer who controls his scripts.” QUENTIN TARANTINO

(Director of Kill Bill, Pulp Fiction, Django Unchained)

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MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL COVERAGE

2015

COREY WHITE

GEN FRICKER MONSTERPUSSY

THE CANE TOAD EFFECT

Sydneysider Gen Fricker is about to open her third comedy festival show. MICF has already seen her in Party Pooper and The Pineapple. How is she? “Tired and nervous! I’ve had a last minute disaster – I’ve wrenched my shoulder and my show opens tonight!” Given that Fricker needs to be able to play piano and guitar for her performance, she’s in something of a quandary. “For a musical comedian, it’s about the worst thing that can happen. I might not be able to play any instruments; I won’t be able to do my songs. My arm’s in a sling.” She sounds surprisingly cheerful when Beat speaks to her. “I might have to get someone from the audience to help,” she says. “I’ll link it in with the show. I’m staying optimistic about solving this problem. There’s something about hitting a low point. You feel quite invincible afterwards.” She’s pretty relaxed, but admits that might be due to the painkillers: “Maybe I’m delusional!”. So how did she injure her shoulder? “I love stress. So I decided to move house the night before I flew down to Melbourne. I was moving a wardrobe with my father and he dropped it. He’s in a lot of trouble.” Monsterpussy is a memorable name for a show. The name occurred to her as something that would stand out. “This is my third comedy festival show,” says Fricker. “I wanted something that sounded aggressive, whimsical, unsentimental and hilarious. It’s informed the show, it started me off writing it. The show’s a hodgepodge of songs and stories, mostly about a big break-up I went through last year. But not only that. I’ve been travelling a lot.” The name suggests her show might be about pussy exploits. “It’s about that. All my comedy’s about that: female sexuality, feminism. But the show’s about what’s been happening to me and how I feel more empowered and comfortable with myself than ever before. Experiences have led me to that point.” Any experiences in particular? “The relationship. We didn’t have sex for a year and a half before we broke up, and trying to reconcile that after being in a relationship for almost four years. You think you’re building a life with someone. Sex defines a huge part of it.” None of this sounds terribly funny. “It sounds heavy,” Fricker agrees. “But it’s actually quite funny.” How so? “My first reaction to sad or traumatic situations is to make a joke about it. It’s how I’m wired.” With such personal material you’d think such self-exposure would be uncomfortable; how deep does she go? “If something’s personal or a bit sad, it’s easier to talk to a room full of strangers about it than to the people involved,” she answers. “‘Cause they’re silent, largely!” Fricker is described as hilariously

Last week, The Guardian reported methamphetamine use is the biggest drug problem facing Australian police. But Brisbane-cum-Melbourne comic Corey White seems to have found a pretty good solution: “Stand-up is the new meth for me,” he says. OK, so we’ve taken White way out of context here. He himself is an ex-ice addict, and he’s certainly not trivialising the major health issue that is addiction. However, on the other side of his drug struggles, White was led into stand-up comedy. At first, he was rather indifferent, but before long, he became completely wrapped up in this new pursuit. “My best friend from high school, Shayne Hunter – a really great political comedian – he dragged me kicking and screaming into comedy when I was 20,” says White. “I started out doing really bad surreal one-liners, because I love Mitch Hedberg, and I sucked for a long time. Then I slowly evolved.” White’s transition from the crack pipe to the comedy stage planted the seed for his current MICF show, Cane Toad Effect. The show’s founded on the notion of unintended consequences. To flesh out this theme, White looked way back into his personal history. “[The show’s] a combination of having grown up in foster care, having been an ice addict and combining those things with a love of philosophy,” he says. “It’s essentially animated by one of Plato’s quotes that ‘No man does what is evil to him.’ People are always trying to do the right thing and the suffering that comes about in the world is an unintended consequence of that. I think I’m the first ice addict to quote Plato. “I think it’s a clarion call for compassion,” White continues. “Even at their worst, people are doing their best. So reflecting on the idea of mistakes and unintended consequences should hopefully breed some empathy in us.” White’s hopeful attitude is admirable, if a little naïve. However, when it comes to on-stage subject matter, you can be sure he’s not the sort of comedian to pull punches. In spite of this, the desire to shock an audience barely factors into his creative process. “It’s not like I sat down and said, ‘How can I ruffle white Australia’s feathers?’” he says. “I try to say things I think are interesting and maybe other people aren’t talking about. If it so happens that people find that challenging or confronting, it’s not my intention. I actually find the whole idea of shock to be quite boring and banal. I think people like Jimmy Carr suck. Shock comedy is just a lot

unapologetically weird. “I do the comedy I would like to see,” she says. “People being honest. Owning the things they’ve done. Sharing the experiences they’ve been through. It’s so hard to be objective ‘cause I’m in it. This one’s been a lot easier for me to write. It’s an accumulation of thoughts around an idea.” Fricker says the talent of some of the other comedians she’s inspired by helps her work. “The comics I gig with in Sydney. And my dickhead friends,” she says. “I’m surrounded by people who are really talented and joyous. They put a fire under my arse; I think, ‘OK, you’ve got to get cracking’.” BY LIZA DEZFOULI

VENUE : Portland Hotel - Locker Room, Cnr Russell & Lt Collins St, CBD DATES: Currently being performed until April 19 (except Mondays) TIMES: 6pm (Sundays 5pm) TICKET S : $15 - $20

JOHN KEARNS

of white people jacking off.” Any comedy show steeped in substantial and reasonably complex issues put its own popularity on the line. But MICF isn’t simply a swimsuit contest and White’s determined to use this platform to say something forceful, while also making people laugh. “The whole worth of you as a comic is reducible to this one metric: getting laughs,” he says. “But then, that’s also the really appealing part of it. I love making people laugh and I love making people think. I feel as though we live in a society that’s increasingly crude and unsophisticated – people live in these bubbles of comfort. But stand-up’s one of the few places remaining where you can actually talk to people about ideas. I really appreciate that about stand-up. It’s just a person on a microphone, talking invisible things and being able to make other people think. I think that a lot of other art forms aren’t doing that. That’s why I love stand-up. From the moment I did it, I fell in love with it.” B Y AU G U S T U S W E L B Y

V E N U E : Portland Hotel - Pool Room, Cnr Russell & Lt Collins St, CBD DAT E S : Currently being performed until April 19 (except Mondays) T I M E S : 9.30pm (Sundays 8.30pm) T I C K E T S : $15 - $20

TONY LAW

SHTICK

ENTER THE TONEZONE

UK comic John Kearns is back again this year with his very idiosyncratic performances. This year’s show is called Shtick and Kearns thinks this show might be an easier ride for punters than last year’s Sight Gags for Perverts. “I don’t think anyone had heard of me last year,” he tells Beat. We saw it and ‘bizarre’ is how Beat would describe his comedy. Kearns agrees. “That’s the general consensus. This year’s show is much more accessible,” he tells us. Not too accessible we hope. “It’s a bit more measured,” he explains. “It’s more of a send-up show, a bit more grounded in reality. If you come on and start flying around the room you want to take the audience with you. As an audience member, you want to be taken by the hand, not punched in the face. When I left Melbourne last year to write a new show for Edinburgh, I didn’t want to have to rely on whether or not people understood me.” On stage, Kearns makes himself look as unappealing as possible with a very bad wig and horrible false teeth. “Shtick is about my shtick on stage, how I’ve created this monster,” he continues. “Now, I’m trapped in this alterego. It’s about me trying to break it off. I’ve considered the show a bit more. This one’s more tapered. And I’m enjoying it more. Last year at MICF was the first time I’d done a show more than 20 times. I was fucking knackered! I want to do a show that doesn’t drive me mad.” How would a show drive him mad? “I had five jokes that I’d done in London and in Edinburgh, but here nobody laughed at them,” he says. “Last year each show had me trying hard to make it work when sometimes there was no reaction. That drives you insane.” What does he think that was about? “It could be boring things like the time of the show, the venue at The Town Hall with horses clopping by, and the Hare Krishnas making noise and drowning you out.” It’s almost a show in itself. “This year, I’m performing at the Tuxedo Cat which is a venue that attracts more alternative audiences.” Kearns says he doesn’t aspire to perform in the Arts Centre to massive crowds. “I see Arj Barker, Ronny Chieng and I don’t envy them at all.” How so? “I’m playing to 70 people a night. With that you’ve got intimacy, there’s that connection. You can get people up on stage. I can see everyone. In a 1,500-seat venue, you don’t have that. Obviously it’s a different skill. The pressure’s a lot bigger. You’ve got the lights in your eyes, you can’t see anyone. The biggest room I’ve played was 900. I’m quite happy to perform to 100 people in a dark room and create a fan base that way. I think of myself as a little secret. And I can remain a little secret.” Kearns says that he’s sometimes genuinely surprised by what comes out of his mouth when he’s performing. “You have a freedom on stage when the words can run away with

you. That’s what’s so thrilling and exciting about it, when you realise how lucky you are. On stage, you have to rely on your wit and your instinct. You can’t please everyone. Although Kearns has noticed a few people who’ve come back to see him again this year who were in last year’s Sight Gags audience, after performing Shtick in Edinburgh, he had people grumbling that it was ‘a bit different.’ “You can only do what you do,” he says. BY LIZA DEZFOULI

VENUE: Victoria Hotel - Acacia Room, 215 Lt Collins St, CBD DATES: Currently being performed until April 19 (except Mondays) TIMES: 8.30pm (Sundays 7.30pm) TICKET S : $26 - $33

Tony Law has won a heap of awards over the last few years. He’s been described as ‘one of the most delightfully zany and disconcerting comedians around,’ who takes stand-up to a dangerously funny new level, performing a show where ‘chaos has rarely been so finely conducted and this much fun.’ “I try not to read that stuff,” says the UK-based comic. “But if people ask me what I do, I could read all that out to them.” Law is on his first visit to MICF in ten years; Melbourne last saw him when he was a relative newcomer, when his shows featured, among other things, a time travelling sausage dog called Cartridge Davison. How did Law find his way to comedy? “I was a funny child,” he answers. “My parents laughed at me a lot. I saw it as a way of trying to get what I needed.” But were they laughing at his humour or laughing at him? “I saw it as the former. I took the optimistic view.” Law has a hybrid kind of accent; people always ask him where he’s from. Sometimes he says he was born in Trinidad and Tobago, which then leads to him wondering how you can be born in two places at once, unless you were born on a plane travelling between the two islands. Law works in the absurdist flight of fancy vein, presenting stream of consciousness-type verbal scenarios that seem random and free flowing. “The world is absurd. It freaks you out if you think too much. Doing stand-up is a great way to open yourself, but masked up to be a surreal comedy routine. Underneath it all is your comment on life. On love, fear, responsibility.” Law points out that his routines aren’t as random as they might seem. “Those themes are totally planned. It’s not 100 per cent riffed although it’s all organic. I like to take the literal and the obvious and figure out another way of getting it across.” He thinks up his comedy on the way to those new material nights they have in London. “Whatever I think of on the Tube or on the bus on the way in,” he says. “I’ll think of five words to riff on. The ones that stick I’ll build up into routines. You’re constantly working. Just reading the paper is part of working. Stuff comes out. Over the years, I’ve built up a fan base, so I like them to know I’ve got a proper work ethic and I’m going to give them a new show. My audiences have been described as hipster dudes and freaks but nice people. My wife says there’s not one of them you wouldn’t want to have round for dinner.” If Beat were pushed, we’d compare him to say, John Kearns or Sam Simmons or even Eddie Izzard; it’s not jokebased comedy, in other words. “I don’t make gags, but sometimes I do accidentally, without planning to. Sometimes I’ll have a notebook on stage [and] pretend to read from it. I’m deconstructing the entire ‘process’ – I hate that word. There are so many layers to it. My audiences

are often a clever crowd and I want them to know I’m not taking myself too seriously. It’s good, I don’t want you to think that I think it’s good, but I do think it’s good. I’m not one of those people who are going to be ‘provocative’ or ‘edgy.’ But I did once do an entire routine about how dangerous I was.” BY LIZA DEZFOULI

V E N U E : Melbourne Town Hall - Cloak Room, Cnr Swanston & Collins St, CBD DAT E S : Currently being performed until April 19 (except Mondays) T I M E S : 9.45pm (Sundays 8.45pm) T I C K E T S : $25.50 – $33.50

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MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL COVERAGE

2015

NEW ORDER UK

THE COMEDY ZONE In a month-long Comedy Festival that features 400-plus performers, to name your show The Comedy Zone seems awfully ostentatious. So who could be behind such a title, which implies that this is where the comedy truly lies? Well, The Comedy Zone was actually coordinated and produced by the folks at Melbourne International Comedy Festival HQ. Essentially, they’ve selected five emerging comics from around the country to perform back-to-back sets each night. One of the group members is Melbourne comedian Matt Stewart, who placed first in last year’s RAW Comedy competition. Despite his previous success, Stewart hasn’t returned to MICF feeling all high and mighty. “I’m the least experienced of the five,” he says. “Watching the other four, I’m sort of blown away by their talent. They’re all a lot younger than me as well. Ciaran [Lyons, WA] is only 18 years old and he’s been doing comedy for over three years. He told me last night he’d performed in front of 4,000 people one time. So he’s a very confident and funny.” As well as Lyons, The Comedy Zone lineup includes Matt Ford (QLD), Jacob Lingard (QLD) and Nina Oyama (NSW). Additionally, Melbourne comedian Kate McLennan, who’s an old hand at all things MICF, directs the show. McLennan’s not there to push the comedians in a pre-conceived direction, however. Rather, she’s on board to bring out the best in each individual. “She’s giving us enough to rope to figure it out for ourselves as well,” says Stewart, “but as much help and guidance as we need, she’s there for. We all brought our spots to the group and then did a little bit of work shopping, guided by Kate, of our ideas. It was as much as we wanted and I definitely went through a few of my ideas with her. She’s been very helpful. She’s pretty cruise-y, which works well with me because that’s the personality I have as well.” Stewart’s RAW Comedy victory was seen as somewhat precocious, given he’d only been doing stand-up for a year at the time. Yet, while he entered the stand-up game only recently, he’s been involved in comedy-related projects for most of his adult life; most notably as a member of the sketch comedy team, Stupid Old Man. “I met some guys, who went on to form Stupid Old Man and Stupid Old Studios, at SYN Youth Radio and Channel 31,” he says. “We were all working on the breakfast TV show there in 2009. I hadn’t done much performance stuff before. Then I got more and more into sketch – a lot of online sketch stuff. But live performance only started with the stand-up a couple of years ago.”

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By now, stand-up is his chief pursuit and it’s clearly a field in which he excels. So why on earth did it take him so long? “People suggested it for a long time and I always wanted to do it, but I always told myself that there’s different kinds of funniness,” he explains. “Stand-ups have a different skill and I didn’t think I had it. But eventually I got the guts to give it a go and it went pretty well. Some of the jokes I did at RAW and my early gigs, I’d written them out five or six years earlier. It was a long slow process of building up the courage. “I still see myself as very much a beginner,” he adds. “It’s one of those things that you keep learning as you go. I feel more confident than I was a year ago, but it’s all incremental.” BY AUGUSTUS WELBY

VEN U E : Trades Hall – Old Council Chambers, 54 Victoria St, Carlton DAT E S : Currently being performed until April 19 (except Mondays) TIM E S : 8.15pm (Sundays 7.15pm) TICK E T S : $19.50 - $24

“I’ll know I’ve made it when I’ve got a fridge with an icemaker. Not only an icemaker, one that makes crushed ice,” says Dane Baptiste. “One where I can fit a whole pint glass in it.” Baptiste is one of the stars of UK comedy show New Order UK. We say ‘star,’ because Baptiste was nominated for the Fosters’ Edinburgh Comedy Best Newcomer Award, the first black comic to be nominated, although the title went to a white guy (Alex Edelman). Not for that the reason. ‘Observational comedy at its finest’ is what The Independent said about Baptiste. He was born in the UK to parents from Grenada in the Caribbean and this background informs much of his comedy. “I think I’m a bit more surreal,” he says about himself. “It’s my personal opinion about stuff. My ideas, my observations.” Baptiste saw himself as something of a misfit growing up, he wasn’t like the white kids, but he wasn’t like many of the black kids, either. “I grew up in London in a household full of women,” he notes. “I needed somewhere to escape! In my house, children were seen and not heard. My mum was a nurse and she wouldn’t let me ride my bike in London ‘cause the streets were too busy. My rebellion took a more cerebral form. I was the sort of kid who could name the worst song from Grease.” New Order UK is a showcase of up-and-coming UK talent, where Baptiste is performing alongside Lazy Susan (also nominated for the same Fosters’ Edinburgh Comedy Best Newcomer Award as Baptiste), a sketch comedy duo, Joel Dommett, and Phil Wang. “New Order UK is show with a variety of different types of comedy,” he says. “They’re all very good.” Who would Baptiste compare himself to? “I can tell you who I like, who I’d like to emulate,” he answers. “Chris Rock, Louis CK, Dave Schapelle. Russell Brand.” What does Baptiste think makes him funny? “There’s no original idea under the sun, so it’s how you personalise it,” he says. “Being able to take ownership of your observations. To be funny, you have to own your own jokes, tell them in the context of how you feel. That’s the only way you can be unique. You do it in terms of yourself and your vulnerability. You give the audience a sense of who you are by nailing your observations, by writing your material honestly.” Is there anything he wouldn’t joke about? “I’ve never heard a funny rape joke,” he says. Melbourne is reassured, because this issue does keep coming up at MICF. “You don’t punch down,” continues Baptiste. “Making fun of something and making a joke about it are two different things. You have to have self-awareness first. They say comedy is tragedy plus timing.” His parents were possibly more conservative than those

of his peers when Baptiste was growing up, so what does his family think of his choice of career? “They are skilled worker immigrants; the type of people who want their kids to be professional, to do legal or clerical jobs. Some of the older members of my family are still getting their heads around it. It could be a lot worse. As long as I’m not bringing illegitimate children into the world or leading an illegitimate life, they’re OK.” And he’d like us to know he can ride a bike now. Baptiste is working on a TV pilot but maintains that stand-up is his first love. “I want to develop a distinctive voice in stand-up comedy.” He’s on his way there by all accounts. BY LIZA DEZFOULI

V E N U E : Greek Centre – The Parthenon, 168 Lonsdale St, CBD DAT E S : Currently being performed until April 19 (except Mondays) T I M E S : 9.30pm (Sundays 8.30pm) T I C K E T S : $25.50 - $33.50

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MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL COVERAGE

2015

WAYAN KEENAN & VINCENT TSHAKA

BORIS & SERGEY’S VAUDEVILLIAN ADVENTURE

2 BROWN SUGARS TRYING TO GET IT (WHITE) RIGHT

“We are boosting the profile of puppetry,” says Dylan Tate of Flabbergast Theatre. “We’re keen to challenge the notion that puppets are just for children.” Tate, who voices Sergey in Boris & Sergey’s Vaudevillian Adventure, Flabbergast Theatre’s first MICF show, says acts like Flabbergast Theatre, Avenue Q and Sammy J and Randy are bringing a new awareness of just how ‘adult’ a puppet show can be. Traditional Punch and Judy puppet shows were never intended for child audiences after all. Described as ‘an improvised crossover cabaret featuring Bunraku puppetry for discerningly twisted adult audiences – riotous exploits, malarkey, molestation and mirth,’ the show will confront anybody expecting a cute, kiddy-friendly kind of performance. In their Vaudevillian Adventure, two Russian cardsharps, the aforementioned Boris and Sergey, take audiences on a very different kind of journey via a rigged poker game. “It’s weird and wonderful,” says Tate. “We scare and hoodwink the audience. The main concept is lots of vaudeville skits, and routines. Sergey and Boris are like a clown duo, they’re a bit like Laurel and Hardy, where you have a straight guy and a fall guy. Sergey is the straight guy, he’s putting on a show, he’s been doing it for a few years and his younger brother wants to get involved. Boris comes along and messes it all up.” Are there any particular challenges in putting the show together? “The trickiest part is that there’s lots of improv,” answers Tate. “You have three people on each puppet, working the legs, head, the arm and the back of the arm, so six people have to work together. It’s a nice relationship. We completely welcome hecklers! The puppets deal with them so well. They can get away with anything; they can get away with murder. Your darker alter-ego comes out, the puppets say all the things you’d love to say but don’t. Puppets are usually forgiven. It’s a cathartic experience; it can be a complete release. There are no barriers or restrictions; the audience can get on board with that. Anything can really happen.” Do they have plans for the future? “Boris and Sergey definitely have plans for world domination.”

REVIEWS

Tate is one of the founders of Flabbergast Theatre which came together in 2010. Does Tate describe himself as a puppet master? “We’re a puppet masterful company! We’ve been operating for five years. So we’re pretty good at it at this moment!” With ten five star reviews and sell out show in Edinburgh and Adelaide, there’s no need for false modesty here. “We came to Australia for the first time last year,” says Tate. “We went to Perth. We decided to do a bigger one for MICF.” Well, we in Melbourne do love a puppet behaving badly, being the home of Snuff Puppets and all. A trip to Prague is soon planned for Flabbergast, as well as a US tour. Is there a puppet community in the comedy scene? Tate says he’s caught up with Heath McIvor, (Randy of Sammy J’s and Randy fame) already and was looking forward to seeing their show. Who makes the Flabbergast puppets? “Henry makes all the props.” That would be Flabbergast’s Henry Maynard whose credits include War Horse, Blind Summit and Handspring. You don’t get much more masterful than that. Have there been any really hairy moments in performance? “We had a puppet malfunction,” Tate recalls. “Sergey lost his head once. It came flying off during the Matrix fight scene near the end, with some high action, and there was this disembodied head floating around. The audience were thoroughly on board with it, they loved it.” BY LIZA DEZFOULI

VEN U E : The Butterfly Club, 5 Carson Place, CBD DAT E S : Currently being performed until April 5 TIM E S : 8pm (Thursday - Saturday 9pm) TICK E T S : $25 - $38

2 Brown Sugars is a MICF show by a couple of blokes who’ve been keenly observing the rest of us and the dumb things we say to brown people. Kenyan-born Vincent Tshaka has been here five years now and tells Beat how he realised he could be as funny, if not funnier, than many of the comics he was watching on TV. “I watched Stand Up Australia every second week and thought, ‘I’m funnier than that’.” We’re not naming names, but the result of seeing rubbish comedy on TV meant Tshaka was compelled to give stand-up a go himself, and he may well hold the title of Australia’s only Zulu stand-up. He found he wasn’t so well-received in his home country, after being persuaded to perform an impromptu show at a nightclub on a visit home to Kenya. “The setting was not a proper comedy setting,” he remembers. “People hadn’t come to the club to watch comedy. They were dancing. My friend interrupted and said there was this guy from Australia, he’s a comedian and a Kenyan. I got on stage, but a few of the jokes didn’t go down too well. I was booed off the stage – they told me to go back to Australia!” This sounds like a hilariously singular and somewhat surreal experience, a bizarre reversal of something he may well have encountered here not all that long ago. Tshaka says he originally wanted to get into music, but there was no money in it. Now, he and Kurly have pooled resources to put together 2 Brown Sugars, which they’re hoping to take to Edinburgh. “We’ve been talking to one of the producers,” he says. “If everything goes well, we’ll get there.” How did Tshaka and Kurly (Bali-born Wayan Keenan) come to be doing a show together? “I’ve been thinking about colour for a while,” he says. “I sat down and decided to do a show. For two non-Australian comedians, two people not born here, it’s about our view of Australia, how we look at Aussies. Not understanding Australian culture got me into comedy.” So what does he joke about? “It’s mostly about racism, about being different. Comparing the way I was brought up with how I’m bringing up my kids here, [and] things that happen to me.” Being asked if he’s a runner as soon as someone hears he’s from Kenya, for

DAVID QUIRK

PAUL FOOT

THRASHER

HOVERCRAFT SYMPHONY IN

example. Has he had to deal with any hecklers here? “Not really. I haven’t been heckled so far during a show. I was talking to Dave Callan and he told me that if anyone does heckle, you just ask them to repeat what they said. Asking them to repeat it means you could take it off on another tangent and it could end up contributing to the show. People look at me and expect just black jokes but I do more than that.” What does Tshaka think makes him funny? “I leave that to the audience. Let the audience decide. I just go up there and try to make them laugh.” He and Kurly are splitting the show, doing a set each, but there’s some interaction between them on stage. “Some of our stories we can share,” Tshaka says. “We want to try and show that we do have things in common.” Interestingly, there are some cultural connections between Africa and Bali that you wouldn’t have expected. “There are a few Swahili words you hear in Bali,” says Tshaka. “There’s a little bit of African heritage in Bali, you meet Afronesians.” BY LIZA DEZFOULI

V E N U E : The Downstairs Lounge at The Grand

Mercure, 195 Swanston St, CBD DAT E S : April 7 - 19 (except Monday) T I M E : 7.45pm T I C K E T S : $16 - $20

GAMMON # MAJOR In the lead up to this year’s festival, David Quirk boldly described Thrasher as “unlike anything” he’d ever seen before. Without making a value judgement, it was undeniably a unique spectacle. Instead of the usual festival rooms and pub stages, the show went down in Fast Times – a skateboard shop that sits across the road from Melbourne Town Hall. This very shop has been Quirk’s place of work since 2001. He doesn’t own the joint, nor is he in a position power. In fact, he’s no more than a low-ranking peon, who scampers back here whenever comedy fails to pay the bills. Thrasher was specifically crafted for this location, giving Quirk unrivalled access to stage props and visual aids as he reflected on what it’s been like to work here onand-off for 14 years. However, that’s not the extent of its unconventionality. Before Quirk took the stage (uh, floor space), a seemingly bemused co-worker welcomed us to “David’s concert”. Then, on several occasions during the course of the show, she popped up to

engage in dialogue with Quirk. If handled inexpertly, this would’ve felt contrived and tacky. But in actual fact these scripted departures gave the show an extra dimension – fleshing out our image of life in the shop and inserting a contrasting perspective from Quirk’s own self-reflections. Despite successfully pulling off a unique show, the core attraction was still Quirk’s stand-up. Amid demonstrations of how to swear at customers and details of what qualifies someone as a dickhead, he looked soberly at his mother’s struggle with, and death from, motor neuron disease. Crucially, he didn’t push too far in either direction. Perhaps most significantly, Quirk maintained a conversational manner, which held the audience in a relaxed frame of mind. BY AUGUTUS WELBY

Comedy is a fickle flower - everyone has their own tastes. While some may bust their guts at every genitalia joke, others will prefer politically charged satire. This is why each comedian must acknowledge their target audience, and play to their heartstrings. Such is the case with Paul Foot. His particular brand of humour has etched him comfortably into a niche market for those who enjoy a healthy serving of childishness in their comedy. Much like Rowan Atkinson did with his Mr. Bean character, Foot launches into his stumbling buffoonery wholeheartedly. But it is here that the unsuspecting crowd will split. For those unwilling (or more likely unable) to track down the rabbit hole of stories about Tiger Prawn Raviolo, a vulgar homophobic woman, and a betting scenario involving the Hindu gods, the Hovercraft Symphony in Gammon # Major will surely be a few too many movements long. However, if you, like a large portion of those in

MATT OKINE

RONNY CHIENG

THE OTHER GUY

YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT

attendance, prefer your comedy to dwell in a realm of fantasy that does not require connection to real life, and instead frolics in the acknowledgement that it’s all just silliness for silliness sake, then Paul Foot is your comedian. With gyrating hips, spasmodic leg kicks, and a head banging frock of golden locks that would make Dee Snider jealous, Foot’s performance will have you twisting and turning through his roller coaster packed hour of outlandish scenarios, unlikeable characters and slapstick humour. Paul Foot may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but at the end of the night you can confidently say there is no other show quite like his…and as a bonus, you’ll finally know the proper etiquette for consuming a Scotch Finger biscuit during an S&M orgy. B Y J U S T I N WAT T S

YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT It’s not often you get a good belly laugh out of something that’s actually quite sad and depressing – which is pretty much exactly what Matt Okine sets out to do. He makes you feel sorry for him; but at the same time, you start to like him more – mostly because he’s so open and optimistic about a number of really unfortunate situations. It’s been four years since Okine debuted at MICF as part of the RAW Comedy Grand Final, and a lot has changed since then. Now co-hosting triple j’s breakfast show, the 29-year old’s life is completely different…almost entirely because he now has a shit-tonne more money. As he describes perfectly, he’s not “super rich” but for a former struggling comedian it’s enough to make some drastic changes. He now has zero qualms paying the extra $2 for half-and-half pizzas and no longer pushes the fuel pump to $20.02 for that few extra cents at no cost. But fame hasn’t brought only sunshine – it also has it’s downfalls. Mostly noticeably the non-provoked threats

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and insults he receives from members of the general public, particularly through social media. But the big surprise is just how big of a toll his newfound fame has impacted his personal life, particularly with his former partner of nine-years and some fairly miserable efforts in the sack in the interim. Even if you don’t particularly like Okine’s brand of humour on the radio, there’s a lot to like about this very well rehearsed routine. This show is like hearing the funniest joke you’ve ever heard while attending a funeral – you’ll feel bad for laughing but find it hard to control yourself. Brilliant stuff. BY CHRIS BRIGHT

Australian comedy has developed a fairly standard formula for self-depreciating humour over the years – but Ronny Chieng has always been one to stand above the crowd. Chieng has won a lot of awards, and he’s not afraid to tell you about them. He also has a law degree from an elite law school and will aggressively and relentlessly argue his opinion – a fact that you may have already gathered from the title of his show You Don’t Know What You’re Talking About. Chieng switches between topics without any attempt at a segue, which is amusing in itself as the audience tries to keep up with his fast-paced train of thought – jumping between everything from social media and budget airlines to French baguettes, irons and going through customs. Chieng’s annoyance with and rants against various individuals, groups, demographics, businesses and society in general ensure a fairly steady stream of laughter throughout the night. Particular highlights come

with his reflections on cultural differences and his relationship with his parents. An overwhelmingly funny show, Chieng’s quick wit and scathing criticism provide plenty of laughs for yet another year. B Y K E L S E Y B E R RY

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T O B I N

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THU 26 MAR– SUN 19 APR 7.15PM (6.15PM SUNDAYS)

STEPHEN K

AMOS WELCOME TO

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ATHENAEUM THEATRE 26 MAR – 19 APR 8PM (7PM SUNDAYS)

ATHENAEUM: 9650 1500

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MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL GUIDE

2015

DAVE THORNTON

LUISA OMIELAN

SPIT & POLISH

WHAT WOULD BEYONCE DO?!

“You know those moments in your life that make you want to vomit a little bit in your mouth every time you remember them?” asks Dave Thornton during his new show Spit & Polish. Thornton has had his fair share of these cringe-worthy moments throughout his life – as we find out throughout the show – but so have all of us, which is what makes his stand-up so enjoyable and heart warming. An engaging storyteller, Thornton covers the harsh realities of relationships and dating, the stresses that build up in everyday life and the pressure that comes with maturing and growing older. Stories are personal and genuine as Thornton discusses moving in with his girlfriend, travelling overseas and relationships gone wrong. The intimate setting at ACMI gives Thornton plenty of opportunity to interact with the audience, which he does frequently throughout the show. There are no strained accents and he doesn’t whine or yell – it merely feels like you’re listening to a friend share stories at Sunday afternoon drinks. For the most part, the show is a light-hearted affair that is easily relatable, but there are a few more poignant moments when Thornton reflects on his past mistakes and the anxieties that keep him up at night. It is comedy that appeals to all ages and genders, and you’ll find yourself chuckling along at some of Thornton’s more questionable decisions – and maybe some of your own as well. B Y K E L S E Y B E R RY

In Beat Magazine’s recent interview with Luisa Omielan, the UK comedian offered great insight into her smash hit debut show, What Would Beyonce Do?!. Early on, she had one aim in mind. “My only goal was to make the audience go batshit,” she explained. “I was like, ‘Just make the audience go crazy.’” By the end of 75 intensely fun minutes, there’s no doubting her commitment to the cause. Charged with Omielan’s infectious enthusiasm, What Would Beyonce Do?! is an empowering, feel-good affair and a must-see show this festival. Before we delve any deeper, it’s worth pointing out that this is not a tribute show. While a basic knowledge of Beyonce is obviously desirable (if only for the interludes of song and dance), Omielan effectively spells out everything you need to know about the American megastar, as a symbol for something bigger. What Would Beyonce Do?! is more concerned with introspection, self-respect and overcoming adversity. Omielan blends her observations with aspects of her own personal journey, striking a perfect balance. Omielan boasts a superb strike-rate too. Her consistency is key to her success: while the show is delivered at a blistering pace and covers a lot of ground, from dispelling suspect expectations of women to exploring the pitfalls of negotiating not-so-healthy relationships, it’s punchy and hilarious from start to finish. Omielan exudes a natural sass and sincerity, too, both endearing qualities that prove integral to the overall charm of the show. For each and every moment in which Omielan promotes extreme self-confidence, she’s equally open to tearing herself down with fits of brilliant self-deprecation. The ability to walk that line well should never be underestimated. It’s little wonder why What Would Beyonce Do?! has a legacy as one

ARJ BARKER

JEN KIRKMAN

GET IN MY HEAD

I’M GONNA DIE ALONE (AND

of the most successful debuts in Edinburgh Fringe history: Omielan knows how to connect with her audience in a way that would leave other performers distraught with envy. Not only that, What Would Beyonce Do?! proves a more-than-tickling experience for well over an hour. Overall, you can expect a hilarious show, a dash of girl power and to leave the Swiss Club feeling energised. BY NICK MASON

I FEEL FINE) Arj Barker packs out the Town Hall on the night that I see him, and he’s likely to do this for the next 20 shows that he has over the festival. He’ll do this because he’s that good. While you wouldn’t want to call someone with goofy hair and childish mannerisms a ‘veteran of the trade’, there’s no way around it. Despite his appearance, he has over 25 years experience as a comedian and it shows in his highly polished, yet low key delivery. Bouncing onto the stage he warms the crowd easily with polished conversational throw outs before getting into his bread and butter silly social observations and heartfelt advice. Despite his overarching silliness, Barker dips into the heavy stuff and smears it uncomfortably over the audience on frequent occasions, leaving it about as far as you can before saving it with a cutting punchline. Thematically, it’s a lackadaisical stroll through your usual comedy shop of subjects before taking a turn down the darker aisle. But after dealing with terrorism, politics and self-realisation, he’ll flick back and mention the skills needed to win a boner competition. It takes a real skill to think some intelligent jokes through and actually make a bit of a point along the way. Yet it’s Barker’s ability to deliver this so improbably with a mix of toilet humour and dumb banter that really impresses. Arj Barker delivers the goods and deserves to be the one of the biggest names of the whole MICF. He is charming, silly and unpretentious, but don’t ask him how he stays looking so young. B Y J U S T I N WAT T S

Jen Kirkman lays claim to notable TV credits, an award-winning web series, a New York Times best-seller and a hit podcast. Basically, she’s done alright. If she somehow hasn’t won over Melbourne audiences already, though, her show I’m Gonna Die Alone (And I Feel Fine) ought to make up the difference. There’s a very specific manner of control about Kirkman’s approach, the kind that requires some patience between explosive quips. Her show isn’t an exhibition of instant-gratification comedy: it’s a more immersive experience and, to Kirkman’s credit, crafted to a tee. She takes care of the necessary groundwork from the outset, offering insight into her personality (as well as her world) and sharing philosophies that filter through her experiences. She paints a portrait for her audience and generally endears herself in the process. The show lives and dies by understanding Kirkman as well as possible inside an hour and, pleasingly, she communicates herself incredibly well. An accomplished storyteller, Kirkman will have you hooked immediately as she attempts to make sense of an apparently dubious milestone (turning 40), misguided gestures and the surprising silver linings of divorce. Kirkman, unashamedly herself, possesses a commanding presence, her confidence and conviction automatically engaging. Her delivery is an obvious strength, too. Great comedy often boasts seamless architecture, its make-up wonderfully subtle. Pleasingly, this show bears those hallmarks. It’s difficult to imagine Kirkman

WIL ANDERSON

STEEN RASKOPOULOS

FREE WIL

CHARACTER ASSASSIN

“What’s your name?” and “What do you do?”. These were the two questions that led much of the fast and furious improvisation that provided most of the content for Wil Anderson’s latest show, Free Wil. Throughout the night, everyone from a teacher to a bean counter, a draftsman to an 18-year-old VCE student became punch lines in Anderson’s quick thinking, free flowing thought train. The show opened at quick fire pace, Anderson cycling through three audience members in less than five minutes, the speed only intensifying as the night continued. It was a delight to watch Anderson’s mind ticking over at a million miles and hour, his mouth doing its best to keep up. Between improvised introductions, Anderson kept the show going with tales from the road. From people that come with their own jokes, to sitting near your hero on a long haul flight, or even your worst fear being realised. Every story told with the wit and charm that has kept Anderson at the top of his game for the last two decades. Though the night wasn’t all teenage boys crusty socks and gun-wielding Uber drivers. Never one to shy away from topics other comedians may do their best to avoid, Anderson was openly critical of racism and homophobia, even throwing in a few political one-liners - a small taste of what’s to come in Political Wil, his second show during MICF. It is the way Anderson seems as at ease and adept with giggle inducing masturbation jokes as he is with condemning rape culture that shines a light on how long he has been standing on this stage.

Through Character Assassin, Steen Raskopolous consolidates his credentials as a one-man sketch comedy specialist. True to form, Raskopolous frequently rolls the dice and incorporates unwitting audience members within his show. While it’s true that participants appear less than empowered as they tentatively approach the stage, the fact remains that Raskopolous truly cedes an excess of control to those he plucks from the front, middle and back. Character Assassin requires Raskopoulos to expect the unexpected and he does so with aplomb. His ability to riff with his audience and ride each wave as it forms is exceptional. It’s a credit to Raskopolous that, as the show unfolds, you find yourself keen to be involved in his brand of silliness. Not many performers can make audience participation seem appealing, but Raskopolous has managed to crack the code somehow. Incidentally, the few segments that call upon audience assistance - in particular, an exercise in unorthodox roleplay and an impromptu movie pitch account for some of the show’s memorable highlights. His ceremony for a “fancy” drink - short but sweet, simple yet effective - might just top them all. Meanwhile, some bits still seem to be taking shape, particularly those that end with surprising poignancy. In these moments, Raskopoulos’ artistic license only serves to keep things ambiguous: should one engage with certain segments at face-value, with a stony silence? Or is the point to appreciate the absurd contrast and departure from the rest of the show? Instinct suggests the latter, though the hint may elude audiences. In all likelihood, Raskopoulos will tweak things as the season unfolds. Anyway, these things are minor points compared to one major plus: more often than not, Character Assassin captures the

PAGE 36

diligently studying notes and rehearsing for hours on end - rather, when you’re watching her, it seems much more likely that she is simply riffing on the things that matter to her. Just as you don’t see the mechanics of a magic trick, Kirkman’s comedy appears seamless. You won’t be slapping your knee or holding your sides every second, but Kirkman deals in a different kind of comedy. You could even argue it’s more rewarding: the journeys are longer, but the destinations are definitely worth it. BY NICK MASON

As smart as he is funny, Free Wil is a dynamic, riotous hour. If you can keep up. BY GLORIA BRANCATISANO

superb form of its acclaimed predecessor, I’m Wearing Two Suits Because I Mean Business. Essentially, there are no backwards steps taken here, Character Assassin offers sketch comedy with exciting twists. Raskopolous remains as funny and as daring as ever, presenting a revolving door of characters and a distinct fondness for the ridiculous. BY NICK MASON

BEAT’S 2015 MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL COVERAGE BROUGHT TO YOU BY GRAVITY ESPRESSO

Out Of The ClOset Over the last decade, most of the laws that formally discriminate against the LGBT community have been changed slowly but surely. But there are still pockets of discrimination. Nowhere is this more evident that if you want to have a family. Family is a loaded word when you are gay. Those who fight against same sex marriage are always using the idea of a nuclear ‘normal’ family as the defence for their belief in the idea that marriage should remain an exclusively heterosexual institution. While we as a society are becoming more comfortable with seeing gay people on our television screens, in magazines, in pop songs and in politics, we still haven’t quite gotten used to the idea that a children might grow up with two daddies or two mummies. For example, in Victoria, same sex parents still cannot legally adopt their own children ± even if they’ve been raising them for years. The nonbiological parent in a same sex couples can be appointed foster parents or guardians by an application to the courts but gay couples cannot adopt a child together. After nearly two decades of advocacy and campaigning for adoption reform, the new Andrews government announced last year it would remove the remaining formal discrimination against gay couples at a state level, including overhauling the state’s antiquated adoption laws. Last month, the state’s first ever Equality Minister Martin Foley announced he had appointed a Q.C. Eamonn Moran to oversee a review of Victoria’s adoption laws. The review is currently accepting submissions, and will hand down its findings in May. The proposed changes will hopefully be tabled in parliament by mid-year but there is no guarantee the new laws will pass the state’s Upper House. If they do pass, Victoria will be brought into line with NSW, ACT, WA and Tasmania where gay adoption is already allowed. At a federal level, Tony Abbott recently committed more funding to create a one-stop shop agency for overseas adoption to help encourage more Australians to adopt children from overseas, as the numbers of overseas adoptions hit record lows. But don’t get too excited these changes won’t help gay couples who want to adopt. As a legacy of Howard’s 2004 reforms, same sex couples still cannot legally adopt children from overseas. Abbott has no plans to change that particular piece of formal discrimination, so fuck you very much.

Queer happenings around town with Anna Whitelaw.

Girlthing

This Easter weekend, as we’ve mentioned there are a plethora of parties to keep you going for an unholy four day weekend. Kick off with POOF DOOF’s Good Friday Eve Doof this Thursday April 2. The Good Doof will see all the regular Doof residents playing against each other with Sunshine vs Luke McD, DJ Argonaut v Kam Shafaati and Salvador Darlings v Jive Wilson and more as well as a bevy of hairless and shirtless boys. At Chasers in Chapel Street from 10pm. $20 entry. For details, visit poofdoof.com. If you can’t be bothered crossing the river or if you prefer your gays to keep their shirts on, Thursgay will be throwing their own Good Friday Eve bash which promises to be packed with Fitzroy hipsters, baby dykes and ‘90s pop tunes. From 9pm till 1am. Mr Wow’s Wonder Emporium, Smith Street, Fitzroy. On Easter Sunday, CHURCH will throw the final Sunday session of the season with a big Easter bash ± the Resurrection before closing up for the winter months and going monthly. From 3pm till 11pm. Free entry at Mr Scruff ’s, 60 Smith Street Collingwood. This last hurrah will feature CC:DISCO, JLAW, MIMI and surprise special guests, free ice creams and prizes. For more information visit facebook.com/closetpartyoz.

For those who want to continue the theme of hairy and beary after the Thick N Juicy party on Saturday, The Peel and the Laird are together hosting Woof Club. Woof Club is a boys-only party with a dirty dress code and a “no cologne” policy. On Easter Sunday, Woof Club celebrates its 10th birthday from 3pm - 11pm at the Peel, with recovery at the Laird. Tickets are $40 and are available from mannhaus.com.au and Eagle Leather. The Sapphic sisters of the south side will also be coming together on Easter Sunday for Sundaylicious, the monthly LGBTIQ Sunday session thrown by Pinkalicious. Free entry from 4pm till late at the Wharf Hotel 18-38 Siddleley Street Melbourne (next to the World Trade Centre) with DJs Haylenise, Kista and Magnus. If you want to keep going after all that, Sydney’s lesbian party queens Girlthing will be throwing a Easter Sunday night party at Laundry with DJ Sveta, Mafia and Leather Locklear on the decks. From 9pm till 3am. For details visit facebook.com/girlthingparty. Got tip offs, praise, complaints or cat photos? Email closetpartymelbourne@gmail.com to be included in this column.

News Bites.

July and August. McConnell fans will be excited to know there will be precooked items for sale, including the unmatched Cumulus Inc. lamb shoulder. Meatsmith will be open at 273 Smith Street Collingwood in June.

Transformer Fitzroy Opens

The Public Bar’s New Kitchen

Ladies and gentlemen of Melbourne, you are hereby cordially invited to the grand opening of The Public Bar’s new kitchen: Sir Chicory St. Claire’s Sanctioned Digestive Parlour. A sandwich and snack parlour in the middle of a live music/dive bar, and man alive, do they have some damn good eating for you. Slow-cooked rabbit sandwiches, meatball subs, toasted jaffles, vegie options, with more to come and more to taste. There’ll also be sides of corn, potato gems, fries and slaw. Wipe that drool off your sweater, you slob. Find The Public Bar at 238 Victoria Street North Melbourne.

Andrew McConnell To Open Butcher

Andrew McConnell, of Cumulus Inc. and Supernormal et al fame, is set to open an up-market butcher called Meatsmith. Taking over Smith St’s former Soul Food Café, and in partnership with Troy Wheeler (Head Butcher for the past ten years at Hawsburn’s famed Peter Bouchier), Meatsmith will focus on heritage-breed meat, with McConnell’s own charcuterie, sauces and marinades. The wholesaler is set to open in June, while the retail side opening in CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU

From Laki Papadopoulos and Mark Price, the owners who brought you Panama Dining Room, Vegie Bar and Rice Queen, comes Transformer, a new vegetarian bar. Seating 100 people, Transformer will serve up more sophisticated and intriguing vegetarian and cocktail options, but Papadopoulos is adamant the food will be so interesting and gorgeous, diners won’t miss the meat. Transformer is found next door to Vegie Bar, 97-99 Rose Street Fitzroy.

Bluebonnet BBQ Busy Bees

The iconic Workers Club opened their Geelong venue last week and with them, they brought our mates Bluebonnet Barbecue, combining two of our great loves: live music and slow-cooked meat on (and off ) the bone. Head Chef Chris Terlikar will be tending Loretta (the custom-built smoker), serving up all the things that have made Terlikar one of Melbourne’s most respected smokesmiths. Bluebonnet will be busy over the next few months, because they’ll be popping up at John Curtin Hotel, taking over from Huxtaburger, who’ve resided in the Carlton venue since October last year. The Workers Club Geelong is located at 90-92 Little Malop Street Geelong. John Curtin Hotel is located at 29 Lygon Street Carlton. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 37

news tours club snaps + more

on tour

electronic + urban + club life

JURASSIC 5 [USA] Wednesday April 1, Festival Hall AUDIOFLY [ESP], MARTIN BUTTRICH [USA], BLOND:ISH [UK] Friday April 3, TBA LUMINOX [USA] Friday April 3, Laundry Bar APRIL

INNER VARNIKA: DONATO DOZZY [ITA],

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

TERREKE [USA] + MORE Friday April 3 - Sunday April 5, TBA MOBB DEEP [USA] Saturday April 11, The Espy JAMES ZABIELA [UK] Friday April 17, Brown Alley LUKE VIBERT [UK] Friday April 17, Boney JULIO BASHMORE [UK] Friday April 24, Brown Alley PEACHES [CAN] Friday May 1, The Hi-Fi Ø [PHASE] [BEL] Friday May 15, Brown Alley

UPCOMING

ghostpoet

EDU IMBERNON [ESP] Sunday May 17, Revolver Upstairs STEVE BUG [GER] Friday May 29, Brown Alley EARTHCORE: DANNY DAZE [USA], CHRIS LIEBING [UK], MISS KITTIN [UK] + MORE Thursday November 26 - Monday November 30, Pyalong

tour rumours

Kyle Hall, Nina Kraviz, Bicep, Motor City Drum Ensemble, Alex Niggemann

party profile: white noise Sunshine

It’s hard to pin down the style of music that London’s Obaro Ejimiwe releases under the Ghostpoet moniker. Is it rap? Trip hop? Grime? Spoken word? Urban folk? Or a hybrid of all of the above? It’s a conundrum made all the more difficult by Ghostpoet’s new LP, Shedding Skin. For this, his third record, Ejimiwe steers away from the murky electronics that dominated 2011’s Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam and 2013’s Some Say I So I Say Light. Instead, on Shedding Skin, Ghostpoet’s plainspoken storytelling is backed by live instrumentation. So while the title Shedding Skin is taken from the record’s fourth track, it also has a strong symbolic resonance. “In some ways I feel like I’m starting again,” Ejimiwe says. “I’ve decided to take another path, and in this world I’ve got to prove myself. But at the same time, I don’t feel like that. I feel like I’m enjoying making music and this is what I’ve chosen to make.” When you observe a few key factors, the rerouting of Ghostpoet’s stylistic journey isn’t as radical as it first appears. Firstly, Ejimiwe had already flirted with a guitardriven sound on tracks such as Plastic Bag Brain from Some Say I. Secondly, the musicians who appear on Shedding Skin – guitarist Joe Newman, drummer John Blease and bassist/co-producer John Calvert – have been a central feature of the Ghostpoet live show for the past couple of years. “I’ve always played with a band,” says Ejimiwe. “But I never was in a situation where I could work with a full set

news

of musicians over a period of time. I hadn’t really built up a relationship with anyone to that level. So the timing was just right, more than anything else. “I’ve always loved guitar music,” he adds. “For a while, all I was doing was listening to guitar music and that was influencing my thinking.” In spite of his deadpan spoken delivery, a key distinction of Ghostpoet’s body of work is his knack for penning memorable, almost mantra-like chorus refrains. Once again, the majority of Shedding Skin’s tracks are likely to stick in your head, yet none of them come across as overtly engineered singles. To attain this quality, Ejimiwe looked towards some dependable guides. “I was listening to a lot of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, a lot of Interpol, Massive Attack, TV On The Radio,” he says. “I was listening to their music and thinking, ‘What is it about their stuff that they have commercial appeal?’ It’s the balance – it’s still creative, but it appeals to a mass audience. I connect with those kinds of artists. So for me, that’s what I’m trying to do. I’m trying to reach that world, I’m not trying to reach a glossy pop world.” Although Ejimiwe is very open about his influences, Shedding Skin doesn’t get lost in referencing past artists. Conversely, even with the restyled backdrop, the record affirms Ghostpoet’s distinct creative personality. “As much as it’s a band record, I’m not in a band,” Ejimiwe says. “I’m still very much a solo artist and it was important that there

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

Ghostpoet’s Shedding Skin is out now through [PIAS].

- head to beat .com.au for more

off the record w i t h

t yson

w ray

Lived out my worst nightmare by getting stuck in an elevator with a stranger. Also while horrendously hungover.

luke vibert

edu imbernon When is it? Saturday April 11. Where is it? The Railway Hotel, Brunswick. Who’s playing? Sunshine, Jacob Malmo, Chestwig, Ben Abrahams, Sorceress, Luke Lawrence, Marta Kodo, Grahamos, Tim Meyer. What sort of shit will they be playing? Tech house, techno, progressive and hapno. What’s the crowd going to be like? Think the occasional bearded-hipster face hidden behind a jungle animal mask moving rhythmically to Sunshine’s sweet melodies under the stars. What will we remember in the AM? Losing your shit while sipping colourful aperitifs under hanging ivy at the crescendo of Chestwig’s hour peak-time steamrolling tech house set. What’s the wallet damage? $10 tickets, $15 at the door. Give us one final reason why we should party here. Where else can you get this up close and personal to Jacob Malmo wearing an animal mask playing the best techno you’ve ever heard? And of course, $9 jugs and $10 pizzas.

was that distinction. I think as long as people can have that connection, which is me and my vocals and my lyrics, I don’t think it matters to people so much. “I feel like I’m a Marmite – or Vegemite – artist. You either like me or you don’t, and that’s fine. I think it’s good that art can divide opinions and evoke discussion. I’m at a point now, with it being the third record, where I’ve established my name enough for people to realise that I kind of just make what I want. But at the same time, it’s always going to be a level of quality and that’s what’s important. I’m trying to make music that potentially will last in people’s existences for a long period of time.” Another prominent feature of Ghostpoet’s back catalogue is his tendency to veer towards darker lyrical themes. Some Say I was a particularly grim affair, steeped in heartbreak and despair – a reflection of Ejimiwe’s personal situation at the time. “The last record was a very insular record,” he agrees. “I was very much looking inwards and being down, being depressed, going through negative stuff personally, and realising I have to write through it, rather than abandon music.” Shedding Skin, meanwhile, comprises a series of socially alert character studies, encompassing homelessness, domestic abuse and relationship disparity. All the while, it’s held together by a narratorial emphasis on overcoming one’s demons. “I can only talk with some kind of authority on London, and the UK to a certain extent, because I live here,” Ejimiwe says. “Things aren’t great. There’s high unemployment, there’s massive homeless issues and social issues. And this isn’t from a political standpoint; it’s just sticking my head up and looking around and taking in the scenes of the people around me. I thought I had to write from that perspective. At the same time, as much as there’s things that aren’t great, there are amazing things happening here in all different aspects of life. So it was a combination of the two things. “I don’t like sugar-coating anything in life or lyrically or musically. If I’m talking about something, I want to say what I see, rather than try to romanticise it or put it through an Instagram filter. I want it to be what it is.”

Dance floor chameleon Edu Imbernon is coming to town. Since bursting through the stratosphere in 2009 with his mate Coyu with their worldwide hit El Baile Alemán, which took out the Beatport title of ‘Best Underground Track of the Year’, the Spaniard has continued to go from strength to strength, releasing on the ilk of Get Physical, Young Turks, Skint and Stil vor Talent alongside running and his own label Eklektisch. It goes down on Sunday May 17 at Revolver.

footsie, sk!tz beatz & dj bpm Some of the UK’s best grime artists will play Laundry Bar next month. The jam-packed night will feature performances from Footsie, Sk!tz Beatz and DJ BPM, as well as supports Strict Face, One Puf DJs, Smash Bros and Alex Jones. It all goes down on Saturday April 11 at Laundry Bar.

Luke Vibert will play a free show as part of the Red Bull Academy Club Night Series. Hailing from Cornwall, electronic producer Luke Vibert grew up down the road from fellow ‘90s UK dance pioneer Aphex Twin. With over 20 albums under his belt, he has spent his career weaving together influences from Herbie Hancock to hip hop. Seven years since his last Australian appearance, Vibert is returning for a single Melbourne show. Luke Vibert will play at Boney on Friday April 17.

hermitude Hermitude have just dropped some big news. The electronic duo have announced that they’ll release their sophomore album, Dark Night Sweet Light on Friday May 15 and they’re heading out on a national tour to celebrate. The album, which spawned single Through The Roof featuring Young Tapz, is the follow-up to their Australian Music Prize-winning project, Hyperparadise. The pair will hit 170 Russell on Friday June 19.

steve bug One of the most prolific producers in the techno world, Steve Bug, has locked in an Australian sojourn. Over the course of his career the German has put out over well over 80 releases, and alongside his remix and compilation work, has well over 500 release credits to his name. He’s also the owner of the Poker Flat Recordings label, and has played at pretty much every club and festival on the planet. Catch him at Brown Alley on Friday May 29.

ø [phase] One of Marcel Dettmann and Ben Klock’s favourite emerging artists, Ø [Phase], has announced an Australian tour. Taking influence from gritty Detroit and minimal techno, the Belgium-based DJ and producer has called upon to remix everyone from Robert Hood, Peter Van Hoesen and Mark Broom, and is a regular fixture behind the hallowed decks at Bergain. He’ll storm into Brown Alley on Friday May 15.

April 2

April 4

GenrAW

Deep SpAce eArth rADio: technoSiS Caspian, Cleverhands, Dave Pham, Caine Sinclair emerSe Bevin Campbell, Herc Kass, Danny Dobbs

Elle Spiral (Kissfm), Mandrax (Destroy Ordinary), D.M.B (Operation Phatty Attack), Undefined (Twisted Audio) E.M.F (Hard Kandy) , Telemikus (3D, Harder Faster) F R E E E N T R Y, 1 0 P M

April 10

April 18

Ranjit Nijjer and Juxtpose (EP launch)

Asdasfr Bawd, Hypersleep, J-Slyde, Simon Murphy Tetramorphia, Jekyll, AndroAaron Static

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

electronic - urban - club life

nius, Subsonic, Austin Driscoll

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

club guide wednesday apr 1

snaps laundry

LOOSE JOINTS - FEAT: WOZ + GRANT CAMOV + MIDNIGHT TENDERNESS + RORY MCPIKE + TUSCAN PRINCE Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. MELLOW DIAS THUMP Ferdydurke, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. REVOLVER WEDNESDAYS FEAT: DAN SAN Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm.

thursday apr 2 5 YEARS OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT - FEAT: MILTON BRADLEY + PWD + ADRIAN BELL + HAROLD B2B BEENAK Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. BIG DANCING EASTER WEEKEND SPECIAL - FEAT: LARRIE + MAFIA + MIMI Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. CHIDA + OTOLOGIC + ANDEE FROST The Mercat, Melbourne. 10:00pm. FLANAGANS THURSDAYS FEAT: DJ ONTIME + COLONEL Pier Live, Frankston. 8:00pm. GENRAW Loop, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. GIDDY UP La Di Da, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $15.00. GOOD FRIDAY EVE - FEAT: HANS DC + STEPHELLES + BUTTERS + MONTY MCGAW + JOEY & YANNI SARANTIS + JESSE YOUNG + JAMES STEETH + SAM GUDGE + OLLIE HOLMES + KIDS TABLE + JOHN DOE Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 6:00pm. MIDNIGHT EXPRESS - FEAT: PREQUEL + EDD FISHER + MATT NICO + SIMON TK Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. NIGHT FLIGHT - FEAT: CHIARA KICKDRUM + BEVIN CAMPBELL Ferdydurke, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. PLEASURE DOME + AOI + LOUISE LOVE + VDL WITCHES + REI BARKER Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 7:30pm. RAT & CO. & SLEEP D + DJ JESSE FULTONE + LA POCOCK The Shadow Electric, Abbotsford. 7:00pm. $16.00. RUIN - FEAT: JONNY TELAFONE + LUCY CLICHE + CHAIRMAN MEOW + WHITESIDE Little & Olver, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. SUMMER NIGHTS Chaise Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 4:30pm. THE RITZ - FEAT: KEN WALKER + ANDO + JOSHUA GILLILAND Trak Lounge Bar, Toorak. 10:00pm. $20.00. VARSITY - FEAT: PAZ + MATT RAD + PYZ Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 6:00pm. XS DISCO - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS Onesixone, Prahran. 8:00pm.

Melbourne Cbd. 5:00pm. $20.00. CIROQ FRIDAYS Cq, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. FABULOUS FRIDAYS Co., Southbank. 8:00pm. FAKE TITS - FEAT: BOOGS + SPACEY SPACE + SUNSHINE + SAMMY LA MARCA + BUTTERS + ADAM BARTAS + JUNGLE JIM Tramp, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. $15.00. 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. FRITZ KALKBRENNER + GUY J + EELKE KLEIJN + MARTIN BUTTRICH + AUDIOFLY + BLOND:ISH Brown Alley, Melbourne Cbd. 4:00pm. $44.90. GET LIT - FEAT: TWERKSHOP + THADDEUS DOE + D’FRO + HANS DC Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. LA DANSE MACABRE Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. 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: KATIE DROVER + SAFARI + JAMES STEETH + OLIBUSTA + WHO Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm. ROCK CITY GOOD FRIDAY FEAT: JOELBY + ESQUIRE + JOLYON PETCH + WAYNE G Trak Lounge Bar, Toorak. 7:30pm. ROMANTIC TREATMENT Ferdydurke, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. SLEAZY LISTENING - FEAT: ARKS + RICHARD KELLY + HYSTERIC + K HOOP Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 5:00pm. SUCK MUSIC X QUALITY PROJECT - FEAT: STEPH YEAH + SCOTTY T + JMCEE + DOAKES + SOPHIA SIN + NICK COLEMAN Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 11:00pm. 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. TOM SHOWTIME + D’FRO + MAARS Penny Black, Brunswick. 8:00pm.

friday apr 3 #MASHTAG - FEAT: NU-GEN + MALPRACTICE + FLAGRANT Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. CAN’T SAY Platform One, Melbourne. 9:00pm. CHEEKY TIKI FRIDAYS La Di Da,

saturday apr 4 ANYWAY - FEAT: VARIOUS DJS Bottom End, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. AUDIOPORN SATURDAYS - FEAT: DR. ZOK + JAMES WARE + GREG SARA + JACOB

MALMO + TOM EVANS + ROWIE Onesixone, Prahran. 9:00pm. $15.00. BIG MOUTH SATURDAYS FEAT: DJ’S ROWIE + ANDYCAN + NACKERS Big Mouth, St Kilda. 9:00pm. CQ SATURDAYS Cq, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. CUSHION SATURDAYS Cushion, St Kilda. 9:00pm. DEEP SPACE - FEAT: CASPIAN + CLEVERHANDS + BEVIN CAMPBELL + RANJIT NIJJER Loop, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. ELECTRIC DREAMS Co., Southbank. 8:00pm. $20.00. FAMILIAR STRANGERS The Emerson, South Yarra. 10:00pm. $20.00. HARDRIVE - FEAT: DAVID SPACE + TEE DUBYA + OSWALD + BROTHER FOX + ALASKA Little & Olver, Fitzroy. 5:00pm. HELMET Ferdydurke, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. HOT STEP - FEAT: 99 PROBLEMS + TIGER FUNK + SILVER FOX + ASKEW Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 6:00pm. MANIA - FEAT: M5K + THOMAS POLLARD + CLEVER HANDS Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. MIDNIGHT RUN (LATE NIGHT PARTY) Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 11:30pm. MIDNIGHT RUN (LATE NIGHT PARTY) Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 11:30pm. NQTRNL - FEAT: KIKI & GREASY + KENTA204 + JACKAL + MPDG + PAIGE PLAY + 007BADASS + GLASS MIRRORS + FNND + MAXWELL WEIRD + PERUW + VELATIX + PAUL LYNCH Rubix Warehouse, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $15.00. OBLIVEUS + MATT RAD + NAM Penny Black, Brunswick. 8:00pm. PLATFORM ONE SATURDAY NIGHTS Platform One, Melbourne. 9:00pm. PONY SATURDAYS La Di Da, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. ROLAND TINGS The Mercat, Melbourne. 10:00pm. 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. TEDDY’S Trak Lounge Bar, Toorak. 10:00pm. $25.00. 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: REX + DANIELSAN + PAZ + LEWIS CANCUT + DONALDS HOUSE & NAISE + DAVID SPACE Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm. THERAPY Level 3 @ Crown, Southbank. 9:00pm. $20.00. TRAMP SATURDAYS Tramp, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.

sunday apr 5 BEEN AROUND THE WORLD & I CAN’T FIND MY BABY Ferdydurke, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. 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. ESPIONAGE EASTER SUNDAY FEAT: KIRKIS + BILLY HOYLE + LUCIANBLOMKAMP + JACE XL + QUEEN MAGIC + HIGHTEA + SILENT JAY & JACE XL Howler, Brunswick. 5:00pm. $20.00. FOUR COLOURS - FEAT: SESTO SENTO + ROBERT ANTHONY + SIMON MURPHY + PAKMAN + LUCCA TAN + J-SLYDE + RICKY GARRA + JADE MAY + SOLAR FLEX La Di Da, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $44.90. HOSPITALITY - FEAT: LONDON ELEKTRICITY + S.P.Y + METRIC + FRED V & GRAFIX + EKKO & SIDTRACK + MONKEE & LICKWEED + EDDIE MAC 170 Russell, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. $44.00. JUNGLE - FEAT: HANDS DOWN + ZAC DEPETRO + PETE LASKIS + TRAVLOS + JOHN DOE Tramp, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00am. $15.00. KINGS OF DANCEHALL + KING RU + DIZZY DEE + DI APPRENTICE 24 Moons, Northcote. 9:00pm. LQ EASTER SPECIAL - FEAT: DJ MATT CROSS Trak Lounge Bar, Toorak. 8:00pm. $20.00. REVOLVER SUNDAYS (EASTER SUNDAY) - FEAT: BOOGS + SPACEY SPACE + T-REK + RADIATOR + SILVERSIX + PLANET D + TOKEN VS. DUCKFAT + TOGAR + LEIGHBOY Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm. SPITROAST SUNDAYS Cushion, St Kilda. 10:00pm. THE SUNDAY SET - FEAT: DJ ANDYBLACK & HAGGIS Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 4:00pm. WAX ON WAX OFF Lucky Coq, Windsor. 7:00pm. YALDI BOOMTIME! - FEAT: JANE FITZ Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm.

monday apr 6 CALL IT IN - FEAT: JAMES TOM & DYLAN MICHEL Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. MONDAY STRUGGLE - FEAT: TIGER FUNK Lucky Coq, Windsor. 6:00pm.

snaps khokolat koated

faktory

tuesday apr 7 SEE YOU NEXT TUESDAY Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. TWERKSHOP Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 6:30pm. $15.00.

urban club guide wednesday apr 1

AFTER DINNER MINT - FEAT: DJ HOOKEY Big Mouth, St Kilda. 10:00pm.

thursday apr 2

AFTER DINNER MINT’S GOOD FRIDAY EVE - FEAT: DJ JMCEE Big Mouth, St Kilda. 9:00pm. HIP HOP KARAOKE - FEAT: GET BUSY + MAT CANT Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $5.00.

friday apr 3

360 + COIN BANKS + LEVA Whalers Hotel, Warrnambool. 8:00pm. BAT COUNTRY - FEAT: ROBBIE RYAN Mr Wow’s Emporium, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. BIG MOUTH FRIDAY CLUB - FEAT: DJ OBLIVEUS Big Mouth, St Kilda. 9:00pm. 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.

LUMINOX - FEAT: FOSSA BEATS + SWISHER BEATS + TOMDERSON + LUMINOX Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. $10.00. PARTY & BULLSHIT - FEAT: CODA CONDUCT + JUZZY B + KAY Z Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 9:00pm.

saturday apr 4

360 + COIN BANKS + LEVA + MISTRESS OF CEREMONY Barwon Heads Hotel, Barwon Heads. 8:00pm. BIG DANCING Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. KHOKOLAT KOATED SATURDAYS - FEAT: DAMION DE SILVA + K DEE + DURMY + TIMOS Khokolat Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. RHYTHM NATION SATURDAYS - FEAT: DJ TIMOS + DJ KAHLUA + DJ ANGE M & ANDY PALA Chaise Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $10.00. WU-TANG IS FOR THE CHILDREN - FEAT: JADE ZOE + GET BUSY Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 9:00pm.

sunday apr 5

OF CEREMONY Westernport Hotel, San Remo. 8:00pm. BE. SUNDAYS Co., Southbank. 10:00pm. $15.00. CODIX + KWASI + NETTI Penny Black, Brunswick. 8:00pm. EASTER SUNDAY AFTER DINNER MINT FEAT: DJ TRAVESTY + DANNY DOBS Big Mouth, St Kilda. 5:00pm. EASY NOW - FEAT: AGENT 86 + TOM SHOWTIME + DJ MAARS Penny Black, Brunswick. 8:00pm. GIRLTHING - FEAT: SVETA + MAFIA + LEATHA LOCKLEAR Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.

monday apr 6

AFTER DINNER MINT - FEAT: DJ CLEGS Big Mouth, St Kilda. 10:00pm.

tuesday apr 7

AFTER DINNER MINT - FEAT: DJ K-SWIZZLE Big Mouth, St Kilda. 10:00pm.

360 + COIN BANKS + LEVA + MISTRESS

electronic - urban - club life

STEP OFF

Photo by Michelle Grace Hunder

T H E N EW G E N E R AT I O N O F H I P H O P D A N C E S TA R S

By Christine Lan Arna Singleton’s passion for hip hop dance is evident across her personal and professional life. Not only is Singleton one of the country’s top hip hop dancers, but she also helps young people discover their own passion through her roles as a hip hop dance teacher and Moonee Valley City Council’s Youth Programs Officer. One of the highlights of the latter is running Step Off. On Saturday April 18, 36 hip hop dance crews will battle it out at the 11th Step Off competition. Taking place at Festival Hall, the exciting hip hop dance competition – sponsored by Moonee Valley City Council and the City of Melbourne – has grown into a huge event that attracts almost 2000 people. Another sponsor of Step Off is Jason Coleman’s Ministry of Dance, where Singleton teaches. “I’ve been at Ministry since the doors opened about seven years ago,” says Singleton. “I teach full-timers there and I also teach an open casual class, so it’s been great to be part of a school that is about providing opportunity to young dancers to be a part of the entertainment industry and not just to gain experience in upgrading skills, but also experience in performance.” Her passion for hip hop dance was realised at the age of 12 (“I was brought up in the gangster era”). “The dancers that inspire me are hardworking dancers who are dedicated to their craft and really committed to making something of any opportunity that comes their way,” says Singleton. “It’s the idea of not giving up on a dream, and that dream is to dance for as long as you can in whatever form that is, rather than it being a passing moment that you’re experiencing for a certain time in your life.” Singleton’s stage name, Robotgirl, comes from her early days of doing robotic dancing at underage dance parties. Exposure is important to learning the vocabulary of the various hip hop dance styles. “When I was young, we went to underage parties all the time,” she says. “You saw somebody breaking, somebody popping; whereas now, unless you see a video clip or have a dance teacher, you might be none the wiser. There are styles that are associated with hip hop, but not necessarily hip hop, like locking or another social club dance called waacking, so unless they were exposed to it, they wouldn’t have

a clue what that is. The community itself is always inspiring and creating new concepts and you’re always being blown away by what’s going on around the world. You’re always motivated to keep pushing yourself and evolving with it as well.” Her dance crew, Hollabak, will be celebrating their 10th anniversary the day after Step Off. Singleton has already attained the artist’s goal of working with her idol. Last year, she won the competition to dance with Madonna at the Grand Opening of Hard Candy Fitness in Toronto, which was founded by the pop icon. “That was the best experience of my life,” Singleton affirms. “It was an amazing opportunity and an opportunity I wasn’t expecting to have in this country. She was the main artist I wanted to work with, so for that to have happened is surreal. I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to top something like that ever again, unless it was to work with her again. She’s my idol.” There’s no doubt hip hop dancing is challenging and demanding both physically and mentally. “When I auditioned for the Madonna competition, that day I gave 120 per cent to that experience,” says Singleton. “I flew back that day to go straight to a performance that I was committed to and the very next day I had a 12-hour shoot day to shoot a video with my dance crew. The next day I realised I pushed my body so extreme that my calves had pretty much seized up and I was struggling to walk. I had a week to get my body sorted to be able to fly to Canada, so I was getting consistent massages that week and I wasn’t able to take

any of my classes because I went into protection mode.” Thankfully, she recovered in time for her performance with Madonna. From a very young age, Singleton was inspired by TLC. “They’ve always been an inspiration in terms of their music, what their voices were in terms of what they say, their style and how they project themselves as performers,” she considers. “Also, Missy Elliott and artists who do their own thing like FKA twigs or Banks. I’m mainly inspired by female artists. It’s more to do with their lyrical content. With the boys, you find their beats and their music amazing to dance to, but nine times out of ten, what they’re saying isn’t really okay – that female representation – so you take it with a grain of salt.” Singleton believes it’s crucial for a hip hop dancer to have an understanding and appreciation of African American culture and street culture. “I think it’s

extremely important for any hip hop dancer to understand the history and have a sense of it,” she asserts. “As the generations go on, it’s a responsibility to be that person to mention the history and encourage them to do their own research and to understand why things are the way they are now. To understand the history of hip hop music allows you to be a better dancer. “When someone knows me as a dancer, that’s my proudest feeling. I enjoy being known as a dancer because it’s very much a part of my identity and who I am and how I like to express myself.”

fresh, there’s no jars of sauce. It takes up a bit of time, we don’t have a lot of storage so everything has to be continually turned over and made in small batches. “[After leaving radio] I may as well go back to what I know, I’m still creating and working for myself... I’m married to a vegetarian, so I know what it’s like going out and find places. Everything that we’re doing is still a work in progress... You won’t find an old menu with cobwebs on it, if something works, we keep it, [and] it’s constantly evolving.” Evolution in the Melbourne food scene is imperative to keeping the relatively short

attention span held by the public, and Farrel agrees. “Where we are there’s so much competition, so we have to keep evolving, otherwise you become stale... [But] I’ve got the short attention span, don’t worry about the customers,” he chuckles.

STEP OFF takes place on Saturday April 18 at Festival Hall and is sponsored by the Moonee Valley City Council and City of Melbourne. Tickets are available through ticketmaster.com.au

THE WORKERS CLUB R E S H U F F LE D A N D R E I N V I G O R AT E D By Soph Goulopoulos It’s pretty safe to say everyone knows The Workers Club – whether you’ve seen an upand-coming band (or one of the huge names brought in for the Rolling Stone Live Lodge, i.e. Slash, Funkoars, The Delta Riggs, et al), enjoyed a quiet meal, some bingo and a pint, or your housemate works the bar – The Workers Club has long been at the pinnacle of Fitzroy nightlife; it’s a bit like that bar in Cheers, but instead of Norm Peterson, you’ve got an entire family of current RRR identities and alumni. When Beat visits The Workers Club, venue manager Nat Presutto and part-owner and band booker Pat Delves, are discussing dimple glasses (you know those old-fashioned, textured pot glasses with handles?). Hours before their opening time at 4pm, the front bar is a hive of activity. It’s a whole new managerial team, rich in connections to the suburb of Fitzroy and community radio. When Delves and Presutto took over last July, the kitchen played host to American barbecue cuisine, but with the appointment of kitchen owner Stew Farrel, The Workers Club abandoned the barbecue fare and got back to basics, now offering half pub classics and half vegetarian options, and everything is made in-house, which has proven an overwhelming success. “Since we’ve gone to The Workers Club new kitchen, we’ve tripled in sales,” says Presutto. “We’re surrounded by people who are musicians, and it’s all about that great community vibe.” As Presutto reals off the list of identities who contribute to that community vibe, the connection to RRR, the independent music scene and Melbourne’s broader cultural landscape is palpable: Peter ‘Dr. Pump’ Lawler hosts the pub quiz on every Tuesday, Delves hosted Off The Record for over a decade, and Farrel, vice-captain of the Megahertz, also used to host the RRR breakfast show. Paul McCarthy – you’d recognise him from Steve Vizard’s legendary ‘90s comedy sketch show Totally Full Frontal – hosts bingo every Thursday. “It’s a great cross-pollination of different artistic backgrounds all culminating in the middle, i.e. producing a pub that’s multi-dimensional,” says Delves. Their ethos is simple: food, booze and music. “We’re everything that Fitzroy loves,” continues Delves. “You can still catch a game of footy, too. We’re very in BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 40

touch with our roots.” As part of the Pub League, The Workers Club footy team appear in the traditional Fitzroy Lions colours, which Delves explains is a very important part of the suburb’s history that they don’t want to neglect. “I am a Fitzroy supporter, so it’s not coming from a false perspective at all,” says Delves. “In fact, my grandfather was Mayor of Fitzroy in 19-something or other. So I’ve got great links [to the suburb], I’m a fifth generation Fitzroy supporter and as Fitzroy as they come.” They’re hugely dedicated to saying ‘thank you’ to their legions of dedicated and diverse clientele, by launching Nieuw Mondays, primarily catering for the uni crowd and locals, where drinks and meals are absurdly cheap: $2 pots, $4 pints, $6 spirits, $8 jugs and $10 meals. “With beer prices the way they are, that’s our way of saying thank you to everyone else,” says Presutto. “A lot of musicians have no money; [laughs] so it’s our way of saying, ‘Thanks very much, come and play, and you can come and drink now, too’.” To also say ‘thank you’ to the many staff from St Vincent’s Hospital who frequent the venue, The Workers Club last week held an evening where hospital staff drank for free. “For a negligible cost in the absolute long term, it’s a nice gesture to give back to the hospital,” says Delves. “We’re just trying to do the right thing,” adds Presutto. “We’re not trying to grab every cent out of every person; we’d rather give back to the arts... And help that next wave of musicians who don’t always get looked after the way they should.” In terms of food, Farrel discusses that simplicity is definitely key here. “It’s so simple,” he says. “We’re not buying in schnitzels, it’s all free-range, it’s all organic, it’s made here, it’s

DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION

THE WORKERS CLUB is located at 51 Brunswick Street Fitzroy. Check out cheap everything on their Nieuw Mondays every week, and see their Facebook page for weekly gigs.

T H E TA R A N T I N O S

RIGHTEOUS MEN By Adam Norris

Trace your gaze across walls scoured with bullet holes, step around the pools of blood and keep one hand on your holy water; if you’re lucky, you might make it out of here alive. Assuming, of course, you manage not to disturb the slumber of that Bad Motherfucker in the corner. Melbourne locals The Tarantinos have made it their business to summon the sounds of cinema’s most violent auteur, and their gigs have gained a steady reputation as some of the most entertaining (and gorily stylish) you’re likely to find. K Billy, drummer and occasional singer, talks us through a night in the life. “Initially, it was our lead singer, Cat Named Joe, who got the ball rolling,” he explains. “They were playing for around six months before I joined. Small shows, but then we did this warehouse gig and it was great. We obviously work a little better at a themed night, where people are already in a certain mindset for what you’re doing. Everybody is already planning on dressing up, you know, things like that. We’re always well-received, especially because we do have these notable songs that a lot of people recognise, so it’s a good way to immediately get their attention. But also there’s the attitude people get from the stage. Nobody is having a better time than us. It’s always a party, which is great because people really get into it.” The moment you learn there’s a band out there dedicated to the music of Quentin Tarantino, you’re instantly amazed nobody has run with the idea before. His oeuvre is brimming with quotes and references that have seeped into everyday culture, and his celebrated soundtracks are the stuff of cinematic legend. There are really few other director’s whose influences are

so varied, which makes a tribute band all the more exciting. That said, the world is poorer for not having a Spielberg Family Jug Band. “It was always going to be Tarantino, on the strengths of the soundtracks alone. They’re spread across nearly every genre. Rock, blues, soul, country, Spaghetti Western. You cross every border of music, and it gives us something interesting to learn every time we go to learn a new song. There’s a lot of iconography in their as well. The suits are recognisable, and anything from Kill Bill people will instantly get. You can even throw a line of dialogue out and people know where it’s from. We have dialogue interspersed through the whole set, and with just a single line you see this response in the audience, ‘Oh, of course,’ and then you get the followup song. It makes a bit of a narrative in a way.” With so many genres to choose from, catering a unique show has become something of a band strength. Plots begin to bleed into each other, while certain themes can spark unexpected directions. Add a splash of blooddappled theatricality, and you have a gig no one is going

to forget in a hurry. “We’ve had set lists where one song will thematically lead into the next one, rather than sticking to how they’re used in the films. But we’ve also done shows set in the Titty Twister [From Dusk Till Dawn] with a full vampire theme. By the end of the night, we were completely covered in blood and gore, it was great. We’ve had a couple of bloody gigs now where we’ve all been shot up by the end, blood all over the stage. Generally speaking, nothing’s off the table. We have

almost 50 songs now to keep things varied. If the gig has started to get a little dancey and we’re playing, say, Never Can Tell from Pulp Fiction, we might break out something like Angry Cockroaches from Dusk till Dawn. We’re always finding ways to keep the party going.”

of tracks: Jakob Keysell and Nate Porter from The Dinlows. I can tell, you it was a lot of fun.” From the sound of it, Ocean Alley find kindred spirits in cool customers from the Illawarra in NSW, Blueberry Circuit, who are supporting the guys on several of their dates: “We’ve played a couple of shows with them and we’ve always got along well, so we thought they’d be a pretty good fit to be on the road with us, they have a similar sort of vibe. We never had that connection with a band on tour before.”

Ocean Alley’s natural laid-back approach to live performance and on-stage chemistry, are two of the things that set them apart from their contemporaries. “Each of the boys is pretty easy-going, we never have any arguments,” he says. “It’s all about sarcasm for us and making each other laugh.”

THE TARANTINOS will hit up The Prince as part of RocknRolla, a Watts On Presents gig, on Thursday April 2, and at The Movie Reel’s closing down party on Saturday April 11.

OCEAN ALLEY

P S YC H E D E LI C S PAC E G OAT S By Natalie Rogers

The hazy days of summer may be behind us, but before you lock yourself away to ride out the wintery weather, check out the hottest sound coming out of Sydney’s Northern Beaches at the moment. Paying homage to their heroes Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and Bradley Nowell through their unique fusion of psychedelic-rock and reggae, Ocean Alley embody the spirit and soul of their hometown and they haven’t gone unnoticed, amassing a large and loyal fan base around the country. “We’ve just got back from playing a few gigs in Perth for the first time - it was an amazing experience,” enthuses bassist Nic Blom. “We spent the whole summer on the road and we loved it.” Not content to let the grass grow under their feet, Ocean Alley are loading up their faithful tour van once again and heading back out on tour to celebrate the release of Space Goat, the second single from their upcoming EP. “We’ve gotten pretty good at living on the road – we get a trailer for all our instruments and hook it up to the van. Can you believe that we manage to squeeze everyone in the back together? There are seven of us now; it’s always an experience,” he laughs. Best friends from way back, Blom says forming a band was the natural next step after realising they could all play instruments by happy accident. So from humble beginnings in the backyard shed, Ocean Alley was born. “When we were younger, a few of us were into heavy metal, hardcore stuff, and we’d go to the local underage club,” Blom explains. “They’d always have cool bands there so we thought, ‘Hey, we could do that.’ That’s also

why we like to play all ages shows as much as we can, too.” Blom says he and the guys are looking forward to playing their gig at Wranglers Studios so much that they’re willing to give up the Easter long weekend. “We’ve played there before and we were eager to get there again, and it just so happened that everyone was free that weekend, so we decided to jump on it. I can’t wait, because there are six tracks on the new EP and we’re planning to play three or four. There are a couple of heavier sections in these tracks, these songs are a bit grungier,” Blom reveals. But for those of you who can’t wait to get your hot little hands on the new Ocean Alley tracks, Blom admits you’ll be waiting a little longer. “We’ve recorded all of it, except one song. We need a chance to go back in, but because we’ve been so busy lately we haven’t had time. We’re hoping to put it out after this tour. “We’ve got some horns on this EP as well,” he adds. “We’ve got a couple of friends to play on a couple

OCEAN ALLEY will hit up Baha in Rye on Saturday April 4 and Wrangler Studios for an all ages gig on Sunday April 5.

Q&A Time out with...

Kagu

You’re well known as the co-vocalist and multi-instrumentalist from Snakadaktal. Tell us about your journey from Snakadaktal to Kagu. It was a pretty natural transition. I realised in the last few weeks of the Snaka tour that I definitely wanted to continue doing music. I really enjoy the whole shebang. Also, I want to become a better songwriter and there’s only really one way of doing that. I kind of write songs for a hobby so I feel like I’m not finished with it yet. I want to keep creating things for a while Your debut, self-titled EP has dropped recently. How’s the reception been so far?

It’s been nice. I don’t really read reviews, so I’m not too sure about the reception. I’m just happy to get some music out there. I wish it didn’t take so long to release this stuff. There’s always this weird imbalance between creating and releasing the songs. There can be such a huge amount of time between the two. It’s something I’m still not used to, and I find it hard to come to terms with. You’ll be playing your very first headline show at Northcote Social Club on Thursday, April 2. Tell us what we can expect from the night. We’ve got some really talented mates playing before us which I’m excited for (Luboku, Dog Whistle Politics). Then, we’ll play our set, which hopefully will capture the audience a bit. We’ll be playing a lot of tracks that haven’t been heard yet. It’s still the early stages, but I feel like we’ve got a really new group and

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a good set up. It’s quite nice testing the new waters, even having a really tight set up onstage. It should be exciting. What are your hopes for Kagu in the coming year? It’s always a hard question. I guess the main aim is to release a lot more music, to try and dip my toes into a few other areas. I’m working on a little score which is super fun. In answer to your question, I guess another EP, album and hopefully maybe overseas.

KAGU will be hitting up Northcote Social Club on Thursday April 2. Kagu’s self-titled EP is out now through Liberation.

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 41

GUTTERMOUTH P oliticall y I ncorrect

By Adam Norris To say the last few years of Mark Adkins’ life have been colourful is, well, something of an understatement. The US punk rockers’ last Australian performances left fans feeling fairly unimpressed and with good cause. Even their management acknowledges they delivered shitty, inebriated gigs, and their days of excess would eventually find Adkins himself destitute and abandoned in a Mexican prison. Flash forward, and having pulled himself together, the straight-shooting frontman is back in control and doing what he loves; touring the weird byways of America. “I consider the States to be like six different countries. And then you have all these little Third World pockets as well, the places the US Tourism Board doesn’t really bother to boost that much,” Adkins laughs. “We tour here a lot, mostly because it’s here. There are so many markets to hit. We’re a band that doesn’t just do LA, New York, Miami. We do the smaller markets too, and they are so much fun. These are people who are starving for music. They might have a movie theatre, a shopping mall, and their miserable life to contend with. And then we come around and bring a little excitement. Most other bands won’t go to these towns, but I love doing it. People really appreciate what you do, so it makes it a lot more satisfying. You feel like a Good Samaritan,” he chuckles. “Everybody wins.” With a dozen dates scattered throughout April, the month is shaping up to be a hell of a ride for a band still feeling a little cautious after its last gigs Down Under. Such is Guttermouth’s love of the country, though, that staying away for long was never really on the cards. It has also allowed Adkins to observe changes in Australians’ behaviour he finds rather troubling. “Australians can definitely be a little more wild, but the last couple of times I’ve visited I’ve seen it become more politically correct,” he says. “It’s shocking to me, because Australia was like the last safe haven on Earth. People were people, they spoke their minds. Now a lot of people I know there, they’ve grown different. Everyone is saying that we should all be treated the same, whereas we know in reality we’re not all dealt the same hand. I can’t stand the thought of people thinking we’re all alike, because we’re really not. There are huge

differences in a lot of people’s lives.” While he chalks a great deal of this down to conservative politics, there’s also a wider trend of social superficiality that has started to pervade not just Australian society, but is also entrenched at home in the US. This is evidenced not only in material wealth, Adkins has found, but has seeped into our very relationships with each other. “Most of my friends are miserable human beings,” he explains. “They’re so miserable. Their wives are like trolls: ‘You’re not making enough money, you need to do this, you need to do that.’ A big part of American life is this ‘keeping up with the Joneses’, unfortunately. It’s really shitty, and it’s something I don’t subscribe to. Over here, you try to find a nice girl to hang out with, you’ll go out on a date or two, but it’s going to come down to what you drive, how deep your wallet is, and what neighbourhood you live in. It’s very shallow. “We all have to make money to survive, and I’ve been lucky to land a job that I actually like. But most of my friends, and I think most Americans, are in jobs that they don’t want to be in. And while it’s nice to have a significant other around on a regular basis, it’s not a reality of where I am now. Most girls that I know want a super stable, steady thing. Come home from work with a glass of wine and watch reruns of Seinfeld, and then go to bed. That sounds like misery to me.” While Adkins is indeed one of the lucky ones who can sustain himself through music, it’s not without enduring challenges – not least of all the digitised landscape that bands have found themselves forced to adapt to. We are still a long way from the death of the

CD, but it’s undeniable that barring calamity, there’s no going back to the halcyon days of music retailers and album sales. That doesn’t mean you have to go smiling, though. “The market isn’t there like it once was,” says Adkins. “When we come out to Australia, we’ll be recording for six or seven days in Brisbane, and that will be an Australia-only release. And we’re doing a seven-inch here in the States. But it’s almost like, ‘What’s the point?’ We don’t even have outlets to sell through anymore. “Progress is progress and that’s fine, you have to embrace the way it is. But how do you stand out in a market which is so saturated with non-tangible products? I like the physical album. Linear notes are cool, art is cool. You can get a read from the entire package. When you go online and download something, you have no real

concept of what’s going on. It’s changed the game, and maybe I’m stuck in my era, but hey, tough shit. That’s where I’m at.”

something grounding that he can draw from every day. “The purpose of ritual and meditation in those schools of thought are what help you swim through the mire of technology, through the overwhelming claustrophobia of so much information out there. It makes you able to return to the self, before you start to fragment. I’m not a preacher, but this type of path is something that you have to discover for yourself, and it has to work for you. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. But certainly it has for me. Thelema allows me to keep everything in order. It’s almost like a spiritual filing cabinet so that nothing overwhelms me. People think, ‘Hey, Jeff Martin is into black magic,’ and all that, which couldn’t be further

from the truth. It’s all about positivity, and is ultimately about me being a loving human being with empathy and compassion, all of those beautiful things that a lot of us forget about.”

GUTTERMOUTH will play at Bendigo Hotel on Friday April 3 and Saturday April 4, and then head to Barwon Heads Hotel on Sunday April 5.

JEFF MARTIN M usic of the O ccult

By Adam Norris Either solo or as frontman of seminal pro-rock band The Tea Party, Jeff Martin brings to the stage a presence few artists are able to match. His voice glides between thunder and tenderness like an Old Testament prophet, and his songs are littered with lyrics inspired by some of the most radical and influential voices of the last hundred years. From Aleister Crowley to Jack Kerouac, Roy Harper to Daniel Lanois, Martin’s palette is ambitious to say the least. After close to a decade’s hiatus, The Tea Party returned with their eighth album last year, The Ocean at the End, and on the eve of an exhaustive Australian solo tour, Martin still finds himself humbled by the unusual shape of his career. “It’s quite funny,” he chuckles. “I’m doing a warm-up show down in Margaret River before the tour, and just before we started this interview, I went across the street to grab a six-pack for the drive. I’m literally standing in the middle of the street waiting to cross, and this car slows down. A guy I’ve never met before sticks his head out the window and goes, ‘Mr Martin? I say, ‘Yeah?’ And he cranks his stereo, and he was listening to the song, Ocean at the End. And the guy’s like, ‘This is so freaky,’ while all of these cars are honking their horns behind him and trying to swerve around. And I guess that’s one way to answer how that album sits with me today. For a band that had been away for all that time, for us to have the record still connecting with people as they’re driving down the street, I couldn’t be prouder.” Having released their first self-titled album back in 1991, the sound of Martin and The Tea Party is a difficult beast to categorise. Their affiliation with Middle Eastern music is well-documented, but over the years, the band has embraced a host of different genres and instrumentation. In turn, they’ve found themselves as unexpected avatars of rock-fusion, inspiring others just as they themselves move off into fresh directions. “Definitely as far as our artistry is concerned, it’s a matter of what the three of us are exposed to, and we all bring to the table many different things. For instance, when Edges of Twilight was created, there had been a tour of the Middle East. Ever since I was a little boy, I’d been fascinated with music from that part of the world; it was something that resonated with me for some strange reason even at 11 years old. So that’s always been a part of our musical psyche. It’s funny, BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 42

when we first came out in ‘93 we got these comparisons to Led Zeppelin and The Tourists, acts like that. But now things have come full circle, and a lot of bands these days who attempt anything Middle Eastern immediately get compared to The Tea Party,” he laughs. “Which is quite flattering, I guess, to see how in the consciousness of the critical press we’re that wellknown.” Of particular note are Martin’s reflections and investigations into occult studies. His forays into esoteric spirituality infuse much of his professional and creative life, which is arguably all the more remarkable given how often such philosophical engagements are dismissed by contemporary voices. “The spiritual belief in Thelema, which is something that [Aleister] Crowley founded back in the early 1900’s, is a big part of my life, especially here in Perth. Our business manager is an artist himself, but is known for being the number one curator of occult fine art, so here on the walls of my studio surrounding me are original Crowley paintings, paintings by James Gleeson, Kim Nelson, artists like that. So it’s very much a temple to the esoteric, which is always going to be part and parcel to the music that I write. Even though what I do is mostly rock’n’roll, it’s rock with a lot of layers underneath it.” It’s fascinating, yet a school of thought that remains largely unknown to many people. To hear a term like ‘occult’ brings with it all manner of baggage, most of which has little to do with the real-world application of beliefs like Thelema. For Martin, in a world so intent on the next piece of technology, the next glamour, it is

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Check out JEFF MARTIN at Sooki Lounge on Tuesday April 7, The Espy on Thursday April 9, Karova Lounge in Ballarat on Friday April 10, The Workers Club Geelong on Saturday April 11, Baha in Rye on Monday April 13 and The Workers Club Melbourne on Wednesday April 15. The Tea Party’s The Ocean at the End is out through Sony.

G U A N TA N A M O B AY WAT C H SURF CITY LIMITS

By Augustus Welby Chest Crawl, the 2012 LP from Portland’s Guantanamo Baywatch, announced the band as passionate adherents of early-‘60s surf music. However, despite what their name suggests, the Pacific Northwest trio aren’t hopelessly adherent to camp surf rock. In the last couple of years, Guantanamo Baywatch have released a run of singles pointing towards broader possibilities. First came the roots-rockabilly number Love This Time, then Love Kin, which welcomed in a country twang. Just last month, they premiered the smooth doo wop/R&B track Too Late, which is taken from the band’s forthcoming third LP, Darling… It’s Too Late. “I try to write songs that I like and are the kind of music that I like,” says vocalist/guitarist Jason Powell. “I’ve always loved surf rock stuff, but I like a lot of different kinds of instrumental rock’n’roll. It wasn’t a super conscious decision to get away from that kind of stuff. We were writing other things as well.” On paper, the aforementioned stylistic offerings seem to anticipate a nostalgic throwback act. However, even though Guantanamo Baywatch actively channel the music they enjoy listening to, they don’t settle with a tired imitation, nor a cheesy rip-off. “When you’re making that kind music, you have to be super careful,” Powell adds. “There’s a lot of kinds of music that some people would say are similar to our band that I don’t really like. I’m not into psychobilly; I’m not into revivalist weird country/folk stuff. You have to figure out what it is about those old songs that you really like. It can be so easy – the formula’s there, it’s been done a thousand million times. But, you have to seek out the little bits, like, ‘Oh this is the key to the thing that I really like about this song or this genre,’ and hopefully write your own songs. Use those old things as inspiration, but don’t try to re-do it.” On top of the stylistic diversification, Darling… It’s Too Late was recorded in a different manner to Guantanamo Baywatch’s previous two albums. Namely, they waved goodbye to the home studio and hooked up with Ed Rawls (Black Lips, The Coathangers) at Living Room Recording in Atlanta. It’s not as though they’ve embraced digital manipulation, but Powell says

it was time to move on from the lo-fi setup. “A lot of people listen to [old rock’n’roll] music and they think it’s really lo-fi, so they try to record it in that way. The thing is, back then when they were recording that music, they weren’t trying to be lo-fi. They were trying to be as hi-fi as possible. They just had old gear. It was new then, but it was different kinds of gear and I think that’s a big mistake people make – trying to make it super lo-fi sounding. I know that in the past, I’ve totally fallen into that. That’s one way to do it, but with the new album, we tried to do it differently.” Before Darling… It’s Too Late hits stores, Guantanamo Baywatch will arrive on our shores for the first time. The Australian east coast climate is more conducive to surf culture than the band’s native Portland, but it seems that’s of no great consequence. In spite of surf music’s formative influence on Guantanamo Baywatch, the band members aren’t actually surfers. “Both Chris and I skated a lot,” Powell says. “I grew up in Seattle and you actually can surf up there, but it’s not what people think of when they think of surfing. But for me, surf-rock is really not about surfing [anyway]. I think honestly that music had nothing to do with surfing. That was tagged-on later by record labels or a promotion company. At the same time as rock’n’roll was popular, Californian surfing was too. So they mashed those things together.” Meanwhile, when it comes to surfing the touring circuit, Guantanamo Baywatch are pros. Having spent the last five years trekking all over the US, they’ve built

a reputation for wild and unhinged live shows. Powell can’t deny things tend to get a bit freaky onstage, but he says the rough-and-tumble performance style isn’t the least bit contrived. “When you’re on the road you’re playing every night, you’re tired, you’re getting totally fucked up, playing drunk and a lot of us playing is like muscle memory. It’s loose, but if I had a choice I’d play it perfect every time. Most of our band time is on the road playing live, so when you play that way a lot of it is intuitive and you’re just trying to get through a set. A lot of your energy is being put towards engaging the audience and having fun, then also trying to wrestle with some shitty gear or a shitty sound system. But the looseness is not on purpose. “I totally believe in performance,” he adds. “If you’re

a band and you’re expecting the audience to really get into your show, to dance and to have a good time, you should probably be doing the same thing. I still get scared or tripped out when we get up on stage. When you feel that way, you automatically start going into a more manic mode. It’d be really hard for me to play standing still. I don’t think I could do that.”

the city has some of the best venues in the world, like the holy Tote, The Old Bar, and I fondly remember our last show at Yah Yahs. And in every one of them they have great sound guys too, so it’s always a pleasure to be invited there.” Los Chicos are Madrid natives and continue to perform regularly in their hometown. The city’s punk rock armoury mightn’t be equivalent to what we’ve got here, but Los Chicos aren’t the only beer-drenched punks in town. “When we started we shared some kind of scene with amazing bands like Aerobitch, Muletrain, Rojo Omega, Ginferno, Rhino Wrestlers, Suckin Dicks, Fumestones and many more,” Suñén says. “Some of them are still

around and many are not. But at the moment the city is experiencing a good bunch of bands again, like the Government, Fabuloso Combo Espectro, Terrier, Peluquería Canina, Jygüer, Sudor, Cal, Giganto. It goes in cycles and right now there’s more interest in guitars again, thank God.”

Catch GUANTANAMO BAYWATCH at The Barwon Club on Wednesday April 8, The Tote on Thursday April 9 and at Queens Park, Moonee Ponds with The Bennies, Mesa Cosa and Grenadiers (AA) on Saturday April 11. Darling… It’s Too Late is set for release on May 15 through Create / Control and Suicide Squeeze.

LOS CHICOS

RUM, STUPIDITY & THE LASH

By Augustus Welby Los Chicos are a Spanish punk band. For many, Spanish punk music is probably an alien notion. The music Los Chicos make, however, won’t strike punk fans as unreachably foreign. In 2013, the band released their fourth album In the Age of Stupidity. Throughout the record, the influence of bands such as The Pogues, The Replacements and Bad Religion rears its head.

“I grew up listening to tapes of The Pogues in school,” says Los Chicos vocalist Rafa Suñén. “I had to hide from the teachers because some of them wouldn’t let you use the Walkman at school. I vividly remember The Pogues tape and also a Bad Religion tape being daily companions when I was 12. The Replacements came later on, but all of them are very important to us and they are on our top list of all time bands. “They do come up in our songs, but most of the time without much thought,” he continues. “The Pogues does come with an intention, because you can go and try to write something with those arrangements. Bad Religion and other melodic bands I notice it more [later]. I listen to a lot of bands with very pop melodies, from Bad Religion to Elton John, so I can get a melody different from the typical garage rock thing.” Los Chicos are known advocates of the good times – that is, cranking the stereo and drinking like there’s no tomorrow. But in spite of this reputation, they’re not hedonistic madmen. It’s no secret that Spain has been battered around by economic instability in recent years. With economic instability comes social unrest. Los Chicos haven’t turned a blind eye to these issues. “These last few years have been really ugly and makes you want to say something,” says Suñén. “We come from punk and we have opinions and act in that way, but we really wanted to make a point while having a lot of fun doing it – and not ruin anybody’s party by writing newspaper lyrics about the International Monetary Fund. We wanted to say that we are often asleep with what’s going on, that sometimes you get robbed by the ones above, and you have to be aware. But also that the only thing you have when this happens is the things you enjoy, like music, or a live gig, or your friends.” Los Chicos have just landed on Australian soil for

the third time. In the Age of Stupidity is now two years old and work on a follow-up LP is well underway. Nevertheless, the band have no issues conjuring the fearless, brash energy these songs depend upon. “We were really happy with the result of the record and we love playing them live,” Suñén says. “The thing with Los Chicos is, I don’t know how, but it doesn’t get boring by one bit, ever. There are some [albums] that I am more proud of than others, but I still think every album we have done has something fresh anytime you play it.” Over the years, the members of Los Chicos have frequently voiced their admiration for several Australian bands, such as Radio Birdman, The Johnnys and The Celibate Rifles. The fact, they’ve had the opportunity to come Down Under at all, let alone three times, inspires words of disbelief in Suñén. “That first visit was like a dream come true,” he says. “When we were preparing the trip we were thinking, ‘Man, this is actually happening.’ That tour went so well, we actually couldn’t wait to go there again. We did and it went even better, so we really are looking forward to make our third bombing.” Los Chicos’ current tour includes three Melbourne gigs, plus a visit to Boogie Festival. Let’s face it, Melbourne’s long been a mecca for loud and filthy rock’n’roll music and Suñén and co. haven’t failed to notice the number of quality bands, good venues and non-stop supply of gigs that give life to our fair city. “We freaked out the first time we went there,” he says. “Just one day in the city and we got Spencer P Jones playing for free at a pub. Then we had the chance to play with so many amazing bands everyday and the people that came to the gigs were such a nice bunch of people that we became friends with a lot of them. Also,

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Catch LOS CHICOS on Thursday April 2 at The Espy, Friday April 3 at The Tote, Saturday April 4 at Boogie Festival, Sunday April 5 at Barwon Club in Geelong, and Saturday April 11 at The Retreat Hotel. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 43

CORE

CRUNCH

PUNK, SKA, HARDCORE NEWS, REVIEWS & GOSSIP

By Emily Kelly: ek1984@gmail.com

With Peter Hodgson: crunchcolumn@gmail.com

THE HAUNTED & INSOMNIUM TOUR

WEDNESDAY APRIL 1: Luke Tooze, Leah Senior, Simon Bruce, Jess Parker at The Grace Darling

You probably heard the name mentioned more than once while SXSW fever was in full effect last week, but you’ll know the name much better soon. Waxahatchee will tour Australia for the first time in July following the release of her new album, Ivy Tripp, on Friday April 10. See her play The Toff In Town on Saturday July 4. Tickets are available now. The Resignators will release a six-track EP called Fish Outta Water shortly, and they’re playing at Cherry Bar on Friday April 3 to celebrate. LoPan, Tzatiki party and Jay Wars will be on hand this weekend at the show, which will also raise funds for the band’s return to Canada in April/May. Swedish metal legends At The Gates will tour Australia again this October (yes, that’s more than six months away), for the second time since they reformed. The band (against all odds) released a new album in 2014 and they’re coming over to play it for us. Two shows at The Corner Hotel are booked on Friday October 30 and Saturday October 31. Karnivool are tearing through tickets for their upcoming Themata tour. Two Corner Hotels are gone and the third one on Thursday May 14 will probably be sold out at the time of print. Go check The Corner Hotel website just in case, and if you have tickets, you MUST see Cairo Knife Fight when they open up proceedings. Rotting Out are dunzo. Vocalist Walter Delgado announced on his personal Tumblr last week that they’d broken up the week prior. “Thanks to anyone who ever cared. It was a great ride and a privilege. Don’t ask why. Thank you everyone.” Melbourne’s Feed Her To The Sharks will commence a headlining tour this April in support of the new album, Fortitude. They’ll be at Next on Thursday April 9 and then Wrangler Studios on Saturday April 11. Silverstein have invited Dream on Dreamer, Young Lions and Harbours to join them on their 170 Russell Melbourne show that’s happening on Friday May 8. Tickets are available now. Meanwhile, Dance Gavin Dance will jam alongside Acrasia, The Valley Ends and Gladstone when they play at The Corner Hotel on Sunday May 17.

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

THURSDAY APRIL 2: Lincoln Le Fevre and the Insiders, Robert Muinos, Georgia Maq at The Curtin Stealing O’Neal, Brighter At Night, The Valley Ends, Harbours at Next Glorified, Left For Wolves, Raise Atlantis, Rejuvenate at Bang The Duvtons, Foley, Max Goes To Hollywood at Bendigo Hotel FRIDAY APRIL 3: The Resignators, Lo Pan, Tzatiki Party, Jay Wars at Cherry Bar Captives, Cosmic Kahuna, Party Vibez, Strickland at Bendigo Hotel Caged Graved, In Trenches, Brittle Bones, Old Love, Pagan, Deadweight at The Tote Tim Maxwell, Grace Lawry, Harry Brown at The Reverence SATURDAY APRIL 4: Guttermouth, Blind Man Death Stare, Brittle Bones, Postscript, Take Your Own, My Echo at Bendigo Hotel I Valiance, Elegist, of Stolen Moments at Bang Georgia Maw, Slowly Slowly, Elliot Friend at The Old Bar (arvo) Laura Palmer, Nowhere, The Shadow League, Coffin Wolf at The Old Bar SUNDAY APRIL 5: Guttermouth, Crowbait, Wolfpack at Barwon Heads Hotel The Revenants, Tim Durkin, Josh Seymour at The Reverence

Luca Brasi have been touring manically in support of new 7” this month and they’re not really interested in stopping anytime soon. They’ll take off again with You Me At Six in April/May and they’ve planned some extra gigs around those supporting dates including Barwon Heads on Friday May 1 and Pelly Bar in Frankston on Saturday May 2. Sydney band Hellions have jumped on the lineup for the upcoming Enter Shikari tour. They just completed their lap for the launch of their new album Indian Summer and now they’ll be at The Forum on Friday May 22. Tickets available now.

CHRIS ADLER JOINS FORCES WITH MEGADETH

It’s official: Megadeth have confirmed speculation that Chris Adler of Lamb of God is playing drums on their next album. Adler won’t be joining as a fulltime member, and the band’s new lead guitarist is yet to be announced. The official announcement was made via a memory game on the Megadeth website: match two images and they fade away to reveal part of a pic of Adler in a Megadeth shirt. The images were of Megadeth album covers, lambs, and depictions of God from films (Morgan Freeman, George Burns and Alanis Morissette - clever). Adler is a huge Megadeth fan and the band have begun drip-feeding little snippets of video of him in the studio. So far so good, so awesome.

METAL AT BENDIGO HOTEL

Catch Decimatus, Envenomed, Alkira and Cryptic Abyss smashing it at Bendigo Hotel on Easter Sunday.

2015 MELBOURNE GUITAR SHOW

The 2015 Melbourne Guitar Show, on Saturday August 8 and Sunday August 9, will showcase our best brands with a monster exhibition of electric and acoustic guitars, ukes, effects and amps, and much more. It’ll feature the best in home-grown manufacture and craftsmanship, plus the cream of Australia’s guitar talent in live performances and educational seminars. Australianmusician.com.au will present the event at Caulfield Racecourse, and anyone needing any further information should contact organiser Rob Walker at rob.walker@australianmusic.asn.au.

YNGWIE OR THE HIGHWIE

Don’t forget: Swedish shred legend Yngwie J Malmsteen hits Australia in June for a run of shows including Wednesday June 10 at 170 Russell. Yngwie is unquestionably one of the greatest guitarists in the world and has been the inspiration for a legion of imitators over the years: so much so that he jokes that he started including the ‘J’ in Yngwie J Malmsteen to distinguish him from all the other Yngwie Malmsteens who sprung up in his wake. Tickets from tombowler. com.au/yngwiemalmsteen.

Sweden’s The Haunted and Finland’s Insomnium are teaming up for three very special shows in May. The Haunted (featuring guitarist Ola Englund, who also divides his time between Six Feet Under and Feared) is considered one of the benchmarks of the genre, with a highly successful career spanning close to 20 years playing in front of millions all over the world. Insomnium have made themselves a household name among the melodic death metal legions and have redefined and reset the boundaries of the genre and evolved constantly throughout their 18-year career and are finally making their very first (and highly awaited) visit to Australia. They’ll be at The Hi-Fi on Friday May 15. Tickets are on sale now and VIP meet and greet tickets are also available for each band (separately).

TWO FROM COSMIC PSYCHOS

Cosmic Psychos pop their heads up for two shows at The Bridge Hotel in Castlemaine on Thursday April 2 and Saturday April 4 at the Riverview Hotel in Tarwin Lower. Rumour has it Ross Knight may have come up with a few more words to rhyme with ‘beer’ and ‘pub,’ and the boys will be playing some new songs. They say they’ll sound like the old ones, just new. Dragged along by their ears, Bendigo louts Black Aces will join them for both gigs. Tickets on sale now through oztix.com.au for $20 or it’s $25 at the door if available. Doors open at 8.30pm.

NEW VAN HALEN LIVE ALBUM

This Friday, Van Halen will release Tokyo Dome Live In Concert, a two-disc set recorded in Japan in 2012. I’ve heard an advance copy and it’s freaking amazing. David Lee Roth is as loose and free-form as he was in the ‘80s (it wouldn’t be live VH without Dave forgetting the words), Eddie’s playing is godly, and his son Wolfgang Van Halen does a killer job on bass and backing vocals. VH are touring North America in the northern summer. Anyone else thinking of flying over to check them out?

NEW TONY MACALPINE ALBUM

Speaking of guitar virtuosi, Tony MacAlpine’s new album Concrete Gardens will be released on Tuesday April 21, and you can now pre-order it in digital download, standard edition CD, and special edition CD/DVD versions at tonymacalpine.spinshop.com. In addition to MacAlpine on guitars and keys, Concrete Gardens features Aquiles Priester on drums, a guest guitar solo from Jeff Loomis, and bass duties divided between Tony, Pete Griffin (Zappa Plays Zappa, Dethklok), Lucky Islam and Sean Delson.

FUCK THE FITZROY DOOM SCENE BUT BUY IT A DRINK FIRST By Dan Watt It seems slightly obscure to describe Melbourne stoner rock outfit, Fuck The Fitzroy Doom Scene, as one of the city’s fastest growing local bands, but it’s entirely true. The group, who only performed their first live gig in 2014, is the brainchild of guitarist and vocalist Dave Ferguson, who started the band by recruiting three of the best musicians he knew to come and jam out music in drop C tuning. Having formed in February of 2013, FTFDS took almost an entire year until they played their first show, which only came about at short notice. “I would say for a whole year we rehearsed at Bakehouse, whenever we could get together and we kept building it up,” Ferguson says. “It pretty much all happened in rehearsal. There were no songs of each other’s brought to rehearsal, it just all happened between the four of us jamming.” It comes as a surprise that Fuck The Fitzroy Doom Scene’s first live gig was just last year, but since their maiden onstage debut, things continue to skyrocket. “Our first gig was last year at The Tote and since then it BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 44

hasn’t stopped,” Ferguson says. “We had sent The Tote our film clip for our first song Dream, and they had a cancellation that weekend. After seeing the clip they rang us and said, ‘Hey, we have a cancellation, do you guys want to play?’ I don’t think we’ve had to look for a gig since then, and in some cases, we have to turn them down because there are so many offers.” In December last year, FTFDS released their debut album Facing The Ruin; an ominous shard of stoner rock and metal. The aforementioned Dreams is the opening track, but for many, including Ferguson, the highlight of the album is the epic 9.45-minute title track. According to Ferguson, one thing that FTFDS share is an innate synergy between each band member: Alejandro Adams on drums, Luke Bolton on bass, and Jake Hills on guitar (all share vocal duties). “Besides the

quality of the other guys as musicians, we are all really good mates who enjoy each other’s company and have a ball,” he states. “There’s a connection between all four of us, we love making music together.” The band’s musical excellence is what resonates the most with punters, resulting in the band’s early success. However, another memorable aspect of the band is that name: Fuck The Fitzroy Doom Scene. “A friend of a friend, who is in a doom metal band, had said, ‘Why don’t they like doom?’ And we do like doom, it was a silly comment that stuck. We were all out prebeing in a band together and I don’t even know how

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it arose, but I remember saying, ‘Ah, fuck the Fitzroy doom scene,’ and Ali always remembered it. When we got together and started jamming, he said, ‘Remember that? Let’s call the band that’.”

FUCK THE FITZROY DOOM SCENE are playing at Boogie over the Easter long weekend, from Friday April 3 to Sunday April 5 and at CherryRock015 on Sunday May 10.

WEDNESDAY APRIL 1

SIR CHICORY ST. CLAIRE’S SANCTIONED DIGESTIVE PARLOUR THE PUBLIC BAR

Fun fact: did you know Jeff Martin went to Sandwich Secondary School? In light of that, you are hereby cordially invited to the grand opening of The Public Bar’s brand new kitchen: Sir Chicory St. Claire’s Sanctioned Digestive Parlour - a sandwich parlour in the middle of a dive bar. Smash some beers and please your ears as Lorikeet, Evil Twin and Bleeding Flares play rock tunes throughout the night. Doors open at 8pm. Entry is $6.

received notable attention as of late for their balance of precision and freedom, and with supports from Darts Of Old and Fenn Wilson, you’re set for a night of noisy tunes and shaking rooms. Doors open at 7.30pm and entry costs a cool $8.

THE ELLIOTTS

T H E GRACE DARLI NG

Australian indie rock outfit The Elliotts are back with their latest single Impossible Dream, and they’re putting on a great night at The Grace Darling to celebrate the launch. This Thursday April 2, The Elliotts are bringing their brand of pop to the Darling, along with electropop rockers The Karmens and roots up and comers Lamb Boulevard. $12 entry, doors open at 8.30pm

THE BLACK SORROWS

T H E F LY I N G S AU C E R C L U B

KALACOMA

THE WORKERS CLUB

Kalacoma surprised everyone when they announced the band had moved on from playing with a drummer. Considering their music is all about the crazy rhythms, it’ll be interesting to see what the band does without one. Expect beats, live looping and sampling, delivered in true Kalacoma style: intensely. They’ll be taking over The Workers Club every Wednesday in April, with supports this week coming from Jaala and Owen Rabbit. Doors open 7pm with $5 entry.

LUKE TOOZE

T H E GRACE DARLI NG

Luke Tooze’s vocals have been compared to Thom Yorke, being able to swim in that high range that few men can reach. Soothing harp sounds couple with bold guitar under soft stage lights, it’s not hard to see how Luke’s fanbase sprung up. Come down to The Grace Darling this Wednesday April 1 and see Luke Tooze do what he does best. Music from 7.30pm onwards.

LIAM LINLEY

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

Liam Linley is best known as the frontman of Melbourne rock’n’rollers The Bowers and guitarist/ singer in folk pop group HOY. Writing, recording, performing and touring for the past eight years, Linley’s musical adventures have taken him to the far reaches of the globe, touring extensively throughout Europe and the UK. A lover of harmony, a catchy melody and earnest, soulful songwriting, come see Liam at his best. Wednesday April 1 at the Retreat, from 8.30pm. Entry is free.

Due to popular demand, The Flying Saucer Club welcome back Joe Camilleri & The Black Sorrows on Thursday April 2. Witness first-hand two big sets of passion and a joy for music with tracks from their upcoming dual vinyl release of Endless Sleep - a tribute to the likes of Lou Reed, JJ Cale, John Coltrane, Captain Beefheart, Hank Williams, Skip James and more. General admission is $33+bf or $35 at the doors, which open at 6pm.

WOODLOCK

DING DONG LOUNGE

After a huge tour to release last year’s Labour of Love EP, Woodlock are back with a special Good Friday Eve show this Thursday April 2 at Ding Dong. Sure to be a sell-out, this show gives the boys a chance to play some new material to their fans before heading back into the studio in June. You’ve most likely seen them busking down at Bourke Street Mall, don’t miss the chance to see them live on stage. Doors open 9pm.

THE GLORIOUS NORTH THE REVERENCE HOTEL

Celebrate Easter at The Reverence as slacker country troubadours The Glorious North are joined by Melbourne country rock gentry Michael Meeking and the Lost Souls, along with geniuses in disguise The Bits at The Reverence Hotel on Easter Thursday April 2. For a cheeky $7, come down for a night of country and good times - and don’t forget to take the next day off. Doors open at 8pm.

RUIN LAUNCH PARTY L I T T L E & O LV E R

The weekly party house Ruin is at Little & Olver, with their launch party going down this Thursday April 2. Getting in on the fun is headliner Johnny Telafone and DJ’s Lucy Cliche, Chairman Meow and Whiteside sending the night out. With free entry, $4 pots and $10 Ruin cocktails, sure sounds like a party. For good times, head to Little & Olver this Thursday from 8pm.

EDITH LANE

THE WORKERS CLUB

Having spent the past year moving away from their roots as a(nother) Melbourne grunge band, Edith Lane has now developed a sound bridging no wave, punk, shoegaze and familiar pop. This Thursday April 2, they’ll be celebrating the release of EP Akita Len with a gig at The Workers Club. Supports include Thrasher Jynx, Jarrow and a promised special guest appearance. Head down to The Workers Club this Thursday April 2 from 7pm, entry is only $5.

AXE GIRL

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

Axe Girl is a testament to the great things that can grow from a combination of serendipity, dedication and good old-fashioned irresponsible life choices. Hailing from Perth, the band were overwhelmed after fans poured $10,000 into their crowd funded debut album back in 2013. To see what all the fuss is about, or if you’re just looking for some upbeat punk and good vibes all round, catch Axe Girl at The Retreat Hotel this Thursday April 2. Free entry.

Q&A

Riff Fist

So then, what’s the band name and what do you ‘do’ in the band? RIFF FIST. We play Riffs. What do you reckon people will say you sound like? The perfect music to get drunk to. What do you love about making music? Playing live is always like a party for us. Drinking beers and ripping out huge riffs. What do you hate about the music industry? Not much. Lugging massive amps around kinda sucks, we could use a roadie or two. If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why? We’re influenced by a lot of great ‘70s heavy bands. Would love to go back to around the early ‘70s and have an epic jam with Grand Funk Railroad. What can a punter expect from your live show? A damn good time. We crank the riffs that make your head bang, arse shake and your ears bleed. Anything else to add? We are heading off to Europe after this, so this will be the last chance to cop a fisting for six months or so. Catch RIFF FIST on Sunday April 5 at The Brunswick Hotel with Wildeornes, Olmeg and Master_BETA.

LENT OUTTA SHAPE

THE JOHN CURTIN HOTEL

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 April. This week, they’re bringing along special guests Little Wing for support. $5 entry, bands start at 9pm with DJ Mermaid playing afterwards till 3am. THURSDAY APRIL 2

GENRAW

L O O P P R O J E C T S PA C E & B A R

Free parties are great parties. Loop Project Space & Bar are well aware of this, so strap yourself in for an absolute banger of a night as Genraw throw in a $0 sample of funky, fresh and bouncing beats to season your EDM tastebuds. With the intention of showcasing a new kind of event to open everyone’s mind on EDM genres, expect a wild night that will challenge your perception of the normal. Entry is free and the party kicks off from 10pm into the depths of the night.

TINY GIANTS

THE PUBLIC BAR

It’s Good Friday Eve which is more than enough of a reason to get down to Public Bar for a night of garage blues psychedelia as Tiny Giants take to the stage. They’ve been described as compelling and have

The good folks at The John Curtin Hotel are determined to make your Good Friday Eve extra mega good, so they’ve cobbled together their Lent Outta Shape lineup chock full of Melbourne’s most disarmingly charming songwriters. Following last year’s smashing Good Friday Eve gig, this year’s set to top it with Lincoln Le Fevre & The Insiders, along with Rob Muinos (Saskwatch) and Georgia Maq, all for the bargain price of a pint and half a beer. Three charming performers and a public holiday the next day. Did we mention The John Curtin now boasts Huxtaburger? Tickets are $15+BF from the venue.

BLOOD BURGER & SPOILS THE POST OFFICE HOTEL

This Thursday April 2, the bookers at The Post Office Hotel have jumped on two of Melbourne’s most exciting acts. Blood Burger spawned as a side project for members of Blood Red Bird; taking some existing melodies, adding a drum machine, and going for that loud industrial noise. The Spoils have been doing the live rounds for longer than you can count, with talented multi-instrumentalists Sean Simmons and Bronwyn Henderson using harmonica, accordion, glockenspiel and a wok among others to craft their sound. See Blood Burger and Spoils in this double headline show from 8pm. Free entry.

ASH H KING

W H O L E L O T TA L O V E

He’s that guy who plays guitar for Smoke Stack Rhino, but whether performing with his bands or by himself, Ash H King’s guitar-based blues and rock‘n'roll is sure to have the joint pumpin' and the cats jumpin. Make sure to catch his free entry gig going down this Thursday April 2 at Whole Lotta Love, doors open 8pm. CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 45

Q&A

THE B.EAST

With their unique fusion of traditional Ethopian music featuring jazz, Afro-funk, soul and Latin rhythms already well established, The Lalibelas have jumped in on an April residency at Brunswick’s best burger joint, The B.East. Head down Lygon every Thursday in April as The Lalibelas combine bass driven melodies, over riding harmonica and saxophone solos together with guitar, drums and keys. They’ll be playing two free entry sets from 9pm. FRIDAY APRIL 3

TIM MAXWELL

THE REVERENCE HOTEL

Brunga’s Band

You’ll be playing at the Prince Public Bar’s first instalment of their new, monthly live rock show RocknRolla. What can we expect from the night? You can expect loud noises that will make your head feel good and make the first RocknRolla memorable. Your sound has been described as ‘sensitive and soulful, yet complex.’ What musicians/bands would you liken yourselves to? We liken ourselves to The Strokes and The Beatles. Can you describe the atmosphere of an average Brunga’s Band live show? Lots of boners, people having a great time and a lot of singing along What’s on the cards for Brunga’s Band in the coming year? We hope to release an EP and get as much exposure as we can while playing many fun gigs. Catch BRUNGA’S BAND as part of RocknRolla at The Prince of Wales on Thursday April 2.

Q&A

THE LALIBELAS

How about that? The frontman of alt-punkers Apart From This, Tim Maxwell, is flying solo for a night on Friday April 3 and wants you down so badly that he’s willing to play a free show for your ear-sockets. Joined by Grace Lawry of Kissing Booth & Harry Brown, The Reverence is the place to go if you’re looking for a beer and some six stringed stage shenanigans. Entry is free, doors at 8pm.

ALEISTER JAMES BLUES ASSEMBLY THE B.EAST

It’s the first Friday of the month, which means its time for some blues down at The B.East. Headlining is Aleister James, a bearded Kiwi troubadour leading one of Melbourne’s most exciting young blues ensembles through two tasty sets of blues classics and originals. Catch them this Friday April 3 at 9pm.

LANKS

W H O L E L O T TA L O V E

Lanks, or Will Cuming as his mum knows him, launches his latest single Hold Me Closer this Friday April 3. Supported by Leisure Suite and Canary, Lanks’ unusual style evokes folk storytelling within the framework of electronic music, drifting between tales of vengeful samurais, desert bandits and the lonely deep sea, to the suburban mundane – lost love and daydreams of paradise. Head down to Whole Lotta Love on Lygon.

THE RESIGNATORS CHERRY BAR

Brass instruments, fedoras and black and white checkered shorts. Have you guessed we’re talking about Ska yet? Genre legends The Resignators are putting on a show at Cherry Bar this Friday April 3. They’ve stacked the bill with supports Lo Pan, Tzatziki Party and Jay Wars all getting their shot at the stage, with DJ Lucy Arundel playing out the night 'til 5am. The night starts 8pm, tickets are $13 at the door.

THE WORKINGHORSE IRONS YA H YA H ’ S

The WorkingHorse Irons are hard working, hard touring, punkabilly psychobilly locals. If you like face melting guitar solos, thumping double bass, driving jungle beats, and roaring vocals, head to Yah Yah’s this Friday April 3 and catch The WorkingHorse Irons tear it up. Support comes from The Annie Crooners and Six Shooter. Doors open 8pm with $13 entry. Get to it.

THE SKA VENDORS

Dream In Colour Kidz

Define your genre in five words or less: Punk, rock, ninja kick. So, someone is walking past as you guys are playing, they then go get a beer and tell their friend about you... What do they say? “This band is known for playing naked, if they don’t get naked and play my favourite song, I might not buy them a beer. Also, the bass player looks like a lunatic and probably wants to kiss you all. Just a heads up.” What has been your favourite gig you’ve played to date? We went to Canberra in 2014, and played at the closing down and NYE party of a well-known music and skate venue called The Chop Shop. It was so much fun, and one of the loosest nights that we have ever had as a band. Do you have any record releases to date? What? Where can I get it? We have some old demos on YouTube and PornHub, yes that’s right, PornHub. It’s called Score Mashup with DICK, look it up – but maybe not at work. Why should everyone come and see your band? We always put on a great show, we print a new and unique t-shirt for every show (we print them ourselves) and we always aim for maximum crowd involvement in our show. The more chaotic the better. DREAM IN COLOUR KIDZ are hitting up The Brunswick Hotel on Thursday April 2.

THE LUWOW

After a stomping launch at Way Out West, The Ska Vendors are itching to bring their grooves to The LuWow this Friday April 3. Jamaican brand ska, R&B and rocksteady will fill the venue with DJ Fez Puskas on the decks, and The GoGo Goddesses making an appearance. The night kicks off at 8.30pm with $5 entry.

DR CRASK & HIS SWINGIN’ ELIXER THE LUWOW

Whatever ails you, a dose of Dr Crask and his Swingin’ Elixir is guaranteed to get you on your feet. Playing swing tunes predominantly of the ‘30s and ‘40s, the Swingin’ Elixir kicks out the dancing tunes with Lindy Hop in mind. The good doctor and co perform at The LuWow this Saturday April 4, with DJ Matt McFetridge sending out the night. Entry is a cheap $5.

ZULYA AND THE CHILDREN OF THE UNDERGROUND + MZAZA T H E F LY I N G S AU C E R C L U B

STONEFOX

GRACE DARLI NG

Stonefox are packing up their unique chill indie-pop and ambient vibes and bringing them to The Grace Darling this Friday April 3. Not only is this Stonefox’s first 2015 gig, they’ll also be launching their new single This City on the night. Joining them are When We Were Small with their indie-shoegaze explorations, Jaymie Deboucherville’s blend of folk and soul, and last but not least Seb Monta, a recent addition to the Melbourne music scene. Doors open 8pm, tickets are $12 on the door. SATURDAY APRIL 4

DEEP SPACE

L O O P P R O J E C T S PA C E & B A R

Deep Space returns from their long voyage in hyperspace to bring you the latest sounds and styles in house, beats and techno. Supporting will be Juxtpose, launching his latest EP Subterranean along with Ranjit from Technoir, Cleverhands from Mokumo, Bevin Campbell (Blendcorp) and Caspian (Backyard). Beats and tasty treats for the movement of your feets. Throw yourself into the black hole of beats on Saturday April 4 at Loop Project Space & Bar. Doors are at 10pm, entry is free. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 46

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

Don’t miss a fantastic double header show featuring two leading bands showcasing Australian world music. Melbourne’s very own Zulya and the Children of the Underground, alongside Brisbane-based world music darlings, Mzaza, fronted by Pauline Maudy, return to Melbourne to launch their highly-anticipated album, Ghosts. Come see why Zulya and The Children of the Underground won an ARIA at The Flying Saucer Club this Saturday April 4. Tickets are $23+BF, doors open from 6pm.

HARDDRIVE

L I T T L E & O LV E R

12 hours of rave. Let's repeat that, 12 hours of rave. Probably all I need to say to get you at Little & Olver this Saturday April 4. Need more? DJ’s David Space, Tee Dubya, Oswald, Brother Fox and Alaska are all sharing music duties over the course of the night. 5pm till 5am of pure NRG. Free entry too.

FATS WAH WAH

RAINBOW HOTEL

Funk, blues, reggae and country, they've got it all. Fats Wah Wah’s songs are sometimes characterised by a killer riff, some have weird chord structures and play with time signatures. Others are heavy on the harmony chorus and hypnotic vocal chants. All are uniquely ‘Fats’ with the rasping bluesy lead vocals of Luke Spekes sometimes giving way to a more Dylan-esque whine, or sometimes a whispered plea. Catch them as they bring the Fats to Rainbow Hotel, this Saturday April 4 from 9pm.

Q&A

Coda Conduct

What’s your name then? Oh, hi there. We’re Sally and Erica, aka Coda Conduct. And what do you do? Among other things, we make a mean stir-fry, knit beanies, and rap, but we mostly we rap. When did you start doing that? We first stepped on stage a little over two years ago, but our first release came out about three weeks ago. Why did you start doing that? We’ve both been really into hip hop for years, but it wasn’t until we met while travelling through India that it occurred to us we could rap if we tried. What makes you happiest about what you’re doing? Performing live. You can’t keep the grins off our faces – we look like total goofs, but being on stage is the best feeling. And what makes you unhappiest about what you’re doing? When the only thing our friends ask about nowadays is our music. We still make stir-fries and knit beanies, you know. What’s you proudest moment of doing what you do? Sometimes, girls and women come up after a gig and say that this is the first time they’ve realised they can be a participant in hip hop, not just a listener. That’s awesome. And your least proud? Sometimes we forget to call our mums because we’ve been really busy. Sorry, Mum.

BLUE EYES CRY

THE DRUNKEN POET

Fronted by a brilliant voice in Iseula Hingano, backed by a cooking band through Nathan Brett (guitarist), Cameron Smith (drums) and Stuart Prendergast (bass), Blue Eyes Cry cemented themselves in the local roots scene after taking home two Chain Awards for ‘Best New Talent’ and ‘Song Of The Year’ back in 2013. Performing ever since at premier venues and festivals throughout Australia, Blue Eyes Cry are settling in for an intimate performance this Sunday April 5 at The Drunken Poet. They play live from 9pm, with free entry.

THE COLOUR CODE YA H YA H ’ S

After whetting our appetites with their debut single Alibi, Melbourne four-piece The Colour Code are back with their second single It’s Up To Me, bringing their celebrations to Yah Yah’s this Saturday April 4. Rounding out the night are locals Séb Mont and Revolution. Doors open 8pm with $13 entry.

BLACK MAYDAY

THE REVERENCE HOTEL

How great is Mexican food? How great is Stoner Metal? How great are both of those things at once? Come down to The Reverence for a couple of gut belting tacos and ear-shattering tunes as Black Mayday, Michael Yule Band, Skymoth & The Grey File rock the front bar from 8pm this Saturday, April 4. Entry is $5.

CODA CONDUCT will be launching Butter Side Up at Laundry on Saturday April 4.

BANOFFEE & KLO LAURA PALMER THE OLD BAR

Laura Palmer began 2015 by supporting Frenzal Rhomb on a Victorian tour and signing to a European Booking Agency Klownhouse Booking. The madness continues as they play The Old Bar on Saturday night with Berlin based friends Nowhere – a fast, melodic and heavy three piece punk rock band from Berlin Germany. Doors open from 8.30pm, entry is $10.

SOUL-A-GO-GO

SHEBEEN BANDROOM

HOWLER

After both dropping critically acclaimed debut EPs last year, Melbourne acts Banoffee and Klo are joining forces on Saturday April 4 for a special one-off show at Howler. Attendees will be treated to a feast of intelligent, engaging pop music, with both acts starting to hit the peak of their powers before impending trips over to the UK. Tickets can be found on moshtix.com. au for $18+BF. Doors open at 8.30pm. SUNDAY APRIL 5

Shake off those autumn chills with Soul-a-Go-Go back at Shebeen. The all soul party kicks off this Saturday April 4 at 9pm, going through till the early hours. Catch PBS DJs Miss Goldie, DJ Manchild, Richie 1250, Vince Peach and Chelsea Wilson, plus special guest Andrew Young. Tickets are $10 for PBS members, $15 if you aren’t.

MINISTRY OF PLENTY YA H YA H ’ S

CRACKED ACTOR THE PUBLIC BAR

Fancy yourself a bit of doom pop on Saturday? Feel free to get weird down at The Public Bar with experimental aficionados Cracked Actor as they shake down the walls with their deeply layered sound. Supporting will be Electric Sea Spider, Matthew Keneally and Bad Ambulance – come down for a night of electronic vibes and good times. Doors open from 8.30pm, entry is $10.

Ministry Of Plenty are an eclectic Melbourne four piece, experimenting with song structures and themes within the familiar framework of guitars, drums and synthesizers. Drawing on their psychedelic influences, Ministry Of Plenty’s thought provoking lyrics and intelligent arrangements are complemented by satisfying hooks, creating the ideal blend of experimental and accessible music that showcases multiple vocalists, moods and tempos, for a complete listening experience. Catch Ministry Of Plenty at Yah Yah’s this Sunday April 5, with supports Horace Bones and Canary, from 8.30pm. Entry is free.

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

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 47

THE OPERATIVES PRESENT ESPIONAGE HOWLER

Monday Nights

MIX ’N’

MATCH SLIDERS

$5 A SLIDER!

Tuesdays

$10

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Wednesday Nights

1/2

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Featuring a collection of '80s indebted funk pop music for current-day dancers, hip-shaking hip hop, rolling jazz basslines and undeniably soulful vocalists, The Operatives are gearing up to hold an absolute banger of a party come Sunday April 5. Espionage will see both the front and back rooms of Howler transformed into an overflow of good times and even better tunes, so get your tickets from theoperatives.com.au to round off your long weekend in style. Early bird tickets are $15+BF so get ‘em while they’re hot. Doors open from 5pm.

BEN KNIGHT

L O O P P R O J E C T S PA C E & BAR

A proud owner of three “World’s Best Teacher” mugs, Ben Knight is set to throw a brutally honest night of musical/ stand-up fusion about what teachers really think of their kids at Loop Project Space & Bar. A night of uncut songs, lessons and rants straight from the classroom, be prepared to get educated either on Sunday April 5 from 6.15 or Monday April 6 from 9.00pm.

EAST BRUNSWICK ALL GIRLS CHOIR RESIDENCY THE OLD BAR

Every Sunday throughout April, Milk! Records will present the East Brunswick All Girls Choir’s Sunday residency at The Old Bar. Playing songs from their critically acclaimed debut album Seven Drummers and previewing brand new material, they’ll be joined by an incredible line up of special guests including Time for Dreams and Walking Flame (Witch Hats/Pets with Pets) this week. Nothing says Easter like $10 Jugs and $5 Cans, so get down to The Old Bar from 8pm for a free gig and cheap beers.

Graceland Presents have booked a night of north-side’s best live locals at Little & Olver this Tuesday April 7. Cosmos Creatures are headlining and will be joined by fellow north-siders Entro Beats. $2 pots, $2 ribs, a vegan carnivore grill, all the favourites will be there. Doors open 7pm, with free entry.

ZOMBIE MOTORS WRECKING YARD

THE WORKERS CLUB

CHERRY BAR

This is what Easter’s really all about, Cherry Bar’s Easter Sunday Stoner Session. Fuelled by gasoline and weed out in a barren Victorian wasteland comes ZMWY, slow, groove ridden dirty slide stoner rock. Having been described as the missing link between Kyuss and Ministry, this bearded beast mixes its love of choppers, muscle cars with B-grade films and dirty sexploitation sci-fi and monster films. This Sunday April 5 sees an epic lineup of dirty rock and stoner metal at Cherry Bar with Low Fly Incline, Agonhymn and El Colosso also on the bill. Bands start at 8.30pm, with $10 entry.

JULES

BOULT FRIENDS

AND

RAINBOW HOTEL

Jules Boult draws from a plethora of genre influences, jazz, blues, country or folk, he doesn’t care. Hearing his father play live blues as a child, live music has fuelled Jules Boult’s hunger to explore, create and develop his act for audiences everywhere, having previously impressed at Chicago’s infamous Blues Music Festival. This Sunday April 5 sees Jules Boult kicking off his Rainbow Hotel April residency with good friends Which Redeemers? Entry is free, music starts 4pm. MONDAY APRIL 6

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BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 48

SARAH BAXTER

Sarah Baxter has been teaming up with local musicians, artists, and designers over the past year or so in order to release the long awaited One Little Warrior LP. The explosive new album is getting closer to fruition, and what better time to launch the new website. Sarah Baxter blends soulful vocals, high energy performance, and wicked lyrics to captivate audiences and leave you with that tingly, hair standing on end feeling. This Tuesday April 7, Sarah Baxter hits The Workers Club stage with a full band behind her, along with supports Amarina Waters and Ben Franz. Doors open 7pm with $5 entry, don’t miss it.

LOOKING FORWARD POKEY LAFARGE

Wednesday April 8

Caravan Music Club

MARLON WILLIAMS & THE YARRA BENDERS

Thursday April 9 The Gasometer

HOBBLE DAY

Thursday Nights

WINGS

L I T T L E & O LV E R

Friday April 10 John Curtin Bandroom

THE SUGARCANES

Friday April 10 The LuWOW

THE GREY FILE

W H O L E L O T TA L O V E

There’s Easter Sunday goodness a plenty down at Whole Lotta Love. This Easter, Sunday April 5, The Grey File are launching their latest EP Burning Out and are sure to bring some high energy, emotive rock’n’roll they’re known for. Maps of Tasmania and Dean Lombard of The Phosphenes round out the line up of this chill recovery session. Get down from 5pm, free entry.

THE HORNETS

THE DRUNKEN POET

The Hornets, described by The Age as “Melbourne’s best blues band,” feature a who’s who of Australia’s blues and roots music scene from the past four decades; including bassist Wayne Duncan (Daddy Cool), Jo Jo Zep & The Falcon’s founding songwriter and guitarist Wayne Burt and singer/songwriter Craig Horne. Open your ears and sink some beers as The Hornets play at Melbourne’s favourite watering hole The Drunken Poet this Sunday April 5. They play from 4pm onwards, with free entry.

THE LAGERPHONES THE B.EAST

From a furious stomp to some sweet, lowdown blues, Melbourne six-piece The Lagerphones bring fire for the dance floor types, gentle sways for the wallflowers and ocker chants for the truly rowdy. The group, featuring members of local synth-prog legends Sex On Toast, has rocked audiences

Q&A

FITZROYALTY

into a larrikin stupor from Fitzroy to Northcote then back down to the CBD. Featuring a set of old-timey tunes, deconstructed pop songs and irreverent originals, this group is a sweet, if a little foul-mouthed, homage to all things Melbourne jazz. This Sunday April 5 sees The Lagerphones play two free entry sets at The B.East, music kicks off at 8pm.

MUNDANE MONDAYS THE OLD BAR

Carry on the long weekend this Monday at The Old Bar. Melbourne’s own Midnight Woolf will get the party started with their sleazy greasy '60s rockabilly, along with rock’n’rollers Wrong Turn. There’s even a surprise international appearance booked. It’ll be a party, and we’ll give you one hint about the headliner; you can find them somewhere on Boogie’s lineup. Doors open 8pm with $10 entry. TUESDAY APRIL 7

UNDERGROUND LOVERS

Friday April 10 The Post Office Hotel

THE KILL DEVIL HILLS

Saturday April 11 John Curtin Bandroom

ANDREA MARR

Saturday April 11 The LuWOW

ROLLS BAYCE

Thursday April 16 John Curtin Bandroom

BUDDY GLASS

Thursday April 16 The Old Bar

Edith Lane Describe your music in five words. Really, really, really, loud stuff. How long have you been gigging and writing for? I have been writing music for six years and gigging for roughly five years with bands here and there, as well as gigging solo regularly for about three years. What’s been your favourite gig to date? It was in October at The Dancing Dog in Footscray, for the most part of the night it was empty, but as we started setting up our equipment to headline the whole room packed out with almost everyone we know who’d been following our gig at the start. The mood was ultimately really intense. What advice would you give to other aspiring musicians? Firstly; get out of Australia, secondly; write good music for yourself, thirdly; have a band of people you actually enjoy being around, fourth; network, know who can support you really well in the scene and remember not to smother them, and finally; smile and don’t take yourself too seriously. Why should people come to your gig at The Workers Club? I’d love for everyone to come because in a music scene that struggles to break the cliquey boundaries. You’ll notice a lot of the popular local bands share the same friends and they have the same people coming to all the bands within their cliques gigs, it’s like high school in that sense. Unintentional of course, but still dismal. EDITH LANE are playing at The Workers Club on Thursday April 2.

SOAK + JESSIE DAVIDSON Friday April 17 Shadow Electric

JORDIE LANE

Saturday April 17 Sunday April 19 The Toff In Town

SOAK

Friday April 17

THE RAINBOW HOTEL'S

KERRYN FIELDS

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

Kerryn Fields is a country roots musician with a huge personality and striking voice to match. Emerging from her backyard bungalow with an album as full of life and soul as she is, Kerryn Fields’ debut Rascal resonates with sounds of Toni Child and the substance of Tracy Chapman. Off the back of her new single Just Because, Kerryn Fields comes to The Retreat Hotel this Tuesday April 7 for a free entry gig. She performs at 8.30pm.

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BEER OF THE WEEK 4 Pines Pale Ale (brewed in Manly N.S.W.) We think the blurb from the lads of Sydney's Northern beaches says it best "An American style pale ale with a colourful deep ruby amber appearance. Aromas of pine and grapefruit overlay a malt background. On the palate full bodied malty flavours with a tight and bitter finish".

LIVE

REPORTS FROM THE FRONT ROW

For more reviews go to beat.com.au/reviews MESA COSA The Public Bar, Saturday March 28

HOZIER The Corner Hotel, Saturday March 28

Photo by Ian Laidlaw

Photo by Mark Stanjo

Mesa Cosa wrapped up their east coast tour at The Public Bar on Saturday Night with what can best be described as a garage rock fiesta that, aside from the aforementioned garage rock, included some of the greatest karaoke the world has seen, and half an hour of champagne comedy courtesy of MC Purple Duck. Jurassic Nark were everything you could want from an emerging garage rock band: their instruments were too loud, their playing was loose and they didn’t give a fuck about anyone or anything. They laid out their influences by playing a Fidlar cover, Cheap Beer, and their final song, Big Kahuna was a tribute to their music’s surf rock origins. Next up were Dumb Punts. This is a high impact garage rock act, but initially, the biggest impact Dumb Punts had was frontman James Gallagher’s new haircut, that had him looking like a member of ‘80s band Slade, and an awful lot like his sister Ciarn, who’s the band’s drummer. Singles Hey You and Chiller were highlights, but the big one for crowd participation was a cover of Fat Boy Slim’s Praise You. Now that Katie’s Crab Shack has (sadly) left The Public Bar, there was practically no one on the non-band-room side, so it was very easy to chill out in between bands. However, this ‘chilling’ led to me missing the start of MC Purple Duck’s set – something I will regret for the rest of my life. MC Purple Duck is a nerdy looking dude that raps ridiculous anecdotes over basic beats he cues up on his PC. The highlight was the Sex Falcon triptych that popped up at the beginning, middle and end of his set. It told the tale of a falcon that terrorised townsfolk by swooping down and molesting them at random. When Mighty Boys took to the stage, a buzz enveloped the room. What followed was 35 minutes of rollicking garage rock that had punters rallying around the massive choruses of Sexpo, Daddy’s Back and their epic single Hippy Shakes, which tells the tale of doing too many drugs at a bush doof. Mesa Cosa, the headline act and curators of this awesome night of mayhem, were the perfect cherry to top this delicious night of entertainment. The band churned through a hurricane of tunes that featured a scorching sweatdrenched setlist of boisterous crowd pleasers; Why Yo, Church Of The Snake and Frozen Eyes drove the audience into a frenzied rapture, while the band roadtested new material with Blood and Brains. Midway through the set, in a move that will surely go down in live music history, tambourine smasher and co-vocalist Chris Penney astounded the audience by presenting a three-foot-tall marijuana plant, which he furiously shoved into the semi-alarmed yet elated faces of the crowd, before leaping onto their flailing arms and crowdsurfing to the back of the room. The peculiar stench of perspiration and pot permeated the entire venue, and once he returned to the stage, Penney handed members of the audience leaves off the plant as though they were delicate flowers, before devouring the rest himself. Following Mesa Cosa, and to close out the night, was Bone Soup Karaoke that went until 4am and featured Mighty Boys members doing Abba’s Dancing Queen, a Mesa Cosa/Mighty Boys collaboration of Cat Stevens’ The First Cut Is The Deepest, Mesa Cosa’s stirring rendition of Limp Bizkit’s Break Stuff and the Drunk LOVED: MC Purple Duck (the best MC in the Mums boys singing Sheryl Crowe. This was a seriously world). entertaining event. HATED: Nothing, really. DRANK: Bone Soup. DENVER MAXX

There is a woman in the queue outside the venue that has paid $500 for two tickets to tonight’s show. Five hundred dollary doos! For a good-looking Irishman with one album to his name, it’s a bit ridiculous, but such is the tsunami of hype that arrived on our shores before the man did himself. A nomination for Song Of The Year at the Grammys will do that and evidently, so will a well-oiled man-bun. Arriving on stage to a reception that could only be described as euphoric, the pitch some members of the crowd were screaming at couldn’t be heard by the human ear, you could see them going a shade of purple in the face, but the sound was apparently supersonic. Supported by a small army of a band on stage, Hozier began the set with Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene – if this is a reference for la petit mort, the French slang for the female orgasm, then the irony wasn’t lost on the crowd. Neé Andrew Hozier-Byrne, he proved to be an immensely likable and humble man, his first show in the Southern Hemisphere was seemingly not any different to his other sold-out, shriek-inducing gigs around the world, but he seemed genuinely happy to be in Melbourne and rather surprised by the level of fandom he has across the Indian Ocean. Working his way through the self-titled album, each song was given a short introduction; thankfully they weren’t self-indulgently long-winded, just cute stories of where he was when he wrote the tracks and what he wrote them about. It was achingly clear after From Eden, Jackie & Wilson and the latest megahit Someone New that Hozier is a readymade pop star, he’ll have no problem sitting in between Paolo Nutini and Ed Sheeran at the dinner table. His voice is effortless and the strength he has within his range is remarkable, but the range itself is small, he struggles to the hit high notes from his record and stays safely in his comfort zone. Things became more interesting when he went off script, leaving the band behind for a cover of Skip James’ Illinois Blues, on the acoustic guitar, Hozier showed off his considerable talent, something the majority of his own catalogue doesn’t exemplify. If he wants to break the Top 40 mould, he needs to write himself harder, more complicated guitar parts; why condemn yourself to simple and boring chords when you’re capable of so much more? He asks the crowd if anyone is from Ireland and everyone but the Kiwi bouncer at the door roars and throws their hands in the air. “There’s actually no one left in Ireland, before we left, we had the job of turning off the lights,” – that sort of Irish wit would be just as welcomed at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival as The Corner Hotel. The duet In a Week is another break from the pop structures that serve him so well, with folk and bluegrass harmonies that lilt and create a lovely juxtaposition to Hozier’s go-to powerful belting delivery. No prizes for guessing what the finished the set with; Take Me To Church was sung by 300-odd punters like the hymn it is and with the tall, Wicklow-born preacher hollering from the pulpit, the very foundations of The Corner felt like they were trembling. The encore kept it simple, Cherry Wine highlighting Hozier’s strength that when he dirties up the pop clichés with the blues and doesn’t over-complicate his arrangements he can be so much more than a pop singer. Then the unexpected happened, a welcome surprise considering how predictable one-album gigs can be, the band dropped a cover of Amerie’s One Thing – one of the best pop singles of the last decade. Did it completely work? Of course not, but it was a lot of fun and garnered one of biggest responses of the night. He finished with Work Song, but LOVED: Dat voice. having won over the crowd with the opening bars of the HATED: “MARRRRYYY MEEEEEE gig, its finish was just a celebration, Hozier will have to get HOZZZIIEERRRRRRRR” x 200 used to them, his party seems like it’s just getting started. DRANK: Multiple pints of Mountain Goat CHRISTOPHER LEWIS

Die Line

MASTODON Festival Hall, Friday March 27 One of the finer things about Mastodon is they were once an act that evolved on an album by album basis – fusing wild conceptual narratives, with equally wild instrumentals, to create some of the most revered metal that the modern era had seen. The band’s recent albums have resulted in Mastodon playing a show that departs from these roots, failing to reflect what made the band so successful in the first place. However, their show at Festival Hall proved they still knew how to work the crowd. In terms of the band, there was plenty of stage space for Mastodon to run around. Vocalist/bassist Troy Sanders constantly bobbed his head about in between howls like a bobble head doll, guitarist Brent Hinds ran up to the edge and shook the sweat off of his beard as he thrashed out some intense solos, with plenty more showboating as members chugged out riffs next to each other at intervals. Arguably, the showmanship was still on point, especially with thunderous drum-work that shook the room with near seismic force. Crowd participation is a dead giveaway to the quality of a show, and there was a noticeable difference between times when people were gently nodding to when they were at risk of giving themselves whiplash. This boiled down entirely to what was playing as tracks off their heavily conceptual albums, Blood Mountain and Crack the Skye, had the entire hall in arms, whereas their later songs barely caused a stir. Even the band were putting most of the effort in for the old tracks – Hinds’ solos, his leaning off the stage and the several picks he discarded into the crowd all happened during the songs that the fans had actually turned out for. Besides that, some absolutely God-awful lighting plagued the final 15 minutes of the set as three painful white lights blinded onlookers with the sharp, blinding irritation of flash photography. If the lighting world needed an equivalent of water board torture, Festival Hall had perfected it. As the set closed, interaction from the band towards the crowd warmed up as Brann Dailor stepped from his drumkit to the microphone – sharing a few warm words, throwing around a bit of banter and chucking a set of drumsticks to a guy who air drummed the whole set from the front row. The show was over, and while it wasn’t by LOVED: Catching metal-heads peeing in public any means a bad show, it left a certain lack of satisfaction, post show. Everywhere. maybe the fond thought stuck that if Mastodon ever did a HATED: Sherlock bouncer who was convinced my Blood Mountain or Crack The Skye album reissue/tour, fans bag had hidden beer in it (it’s usually in my jacket, would see the band at their finest. detective). THOMAS BRAND BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 49

Steam Ale.

DRANK: Very little.

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ot Print Does N

THIS WEEK AT

THURSDAY 2ND APRIL

WEEKLY TRIVIA

by Question 1 – Prizes & giveaways! Starts at 8pm. Contact the venue for table bookings! FRIDAY 3RD APRIL MAIN BAR FROM 9PM

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$10 LONGNECKS $4 PIZZA & FREE POOL + FREE WORKSHOPS – Call venue for details TUESDAY 7TH APRIL

FREE MOVIE NIGHT:

BATMAN RETURNS

FREE Popcorn + Candy Bar purchases available. 8:30PM

WEEKLY FOOD SPECIALS

SUNDAY - $10 ROAST MONDAY - $10 STEAK TUESDAY - $10 FISH N CHIPS WEDNESDAY - $10 BURGER (BEEF/ CHICKEN/VEGO) THURSDAY - $10 PARMA

ALBUM OF THE WEEK Breathe EP (Illusive)

SINGLES

tracks on this album, Anderson and Trevisan’s slightly post-punk guitar tweaking perfectly suit the mood created by the vocals. It’s deeply satisfying to hear a local band lift their songwriting and production value to that of an international standard. DAN WATT

BY LACHLAN

For all the latest singles check out beat.com.au Here’s a tip for you folks: buying eggs from the supermarket? Have a quick look under the lid for any cracked shells, and check the underside of the carton for any leaks. Might not seem like a ‘cool’ thing to do in public, but trust me, it avoids any kitchen headaches down the track.

KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD

God Is In The Rhythm (Flightless/Remote Control) Shifting gears, as is their commendable wont, the Gizz cruise along on the deft, schmaltzy God Is In The Rhythm, smooth in execution, drifting along in a blissed-out ‘50s haze. The first taste is a truncated edit of what’s set to be four ten minute, ten second jams from new album, Quarters. It’s hard to imagine what the remainder of God Is In The Rhythm entails, but more of the same wouldn’t be overstaying its welcome. But who knows? It could jump into a frenetic thrasher with a steel drum solo and King Gizzard could pull it off.

RIHANNA

BBHMM (Universal) A change of pace from the chill campfire jam FourFiveSeconds, RiRi goes in on a stonking trap banger. It ticks the boxes, a dancefloor-commanding beat (produced by Yeezy, no less), an acronym-friendly hook, self-congratulatory, victorious sentiment. It’s damn solid, but not crazy spectacular, reminiscent of Big Sean’s IDFWU (Rihanna is a better rapper here, to be honest), but not quite as playful.

JAPANESE WALLPAPER FEAT. AIRLING

Forces (Zero Through Nine) Breezy and pristine, Melbourne producer Japanese Wallpaper finds a perfect vocal match with Airling for Forces, generating enough atmosphere to lure in beyond any overtly safe, played out xx similarities. It’s nice, but not in the pejorative sense.

KARATE DANCER

Main Roads (Independent) There’s little subtlety on Main Roads, from Spanish twopiece Karate Dancer, but there’s still a certain uninhibited charm. It’s big, goofy, just enough to distinguish from the glut of similar acts worldwide. I like it. Also, shouts out to YouTube algorithms for making the suggested video connection between Karate Dancer and Ralph Macchio’s guitar solo-off with Steve Vai in Crossroads.

JAMIE XX FEAT. ROMY

Loud Places (Young Turks/Remote Control) Let’s face it, the last album from The xx was a bit of a snoozer. I literally can’t remember any tracks from it. I can’t even remember its name. But here is Jamie xx, following on from solid standalone tracks released last year with a track that sounds like what The xx LP2 should’ve sounded like, with a guest turn from bandmate Romy on vocals. It achieves a large-scale intimacy, the logical progression from The xx’s debut full-length, resplendent with choral explosions while loaded with nuanced tonal character. This is memorable.

420 SYDNEY RD, BRUNSWICK (03) 9380 8667, INFO@THEPENNYBLACK.COM FACEBOOK.COM/THEPENNYBLACK.420SYDNEYROAD @THEPENNYBLACK THE_PENNYBLACK

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 50

Terraplane STEVE EARLE AND THE DUKES 2. The Race for Space PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING 3. Self-titled TUXEDO 4. To Pimp a Butterfly KENDRICK LAMAR 5. Penguins RABITSSS 6. Ghosts MZAZ 7. Split Lip BRASS KNUCKLE BRASS BAND 8. Escape from Evil LOWER DENS 9. I Want To Grow Up COLLEEN GREEN 10. Big Hearted Lovin’ Man: A Retrospective 1999-2014 DAN BRODIE

HEARTLAND RECORDS TOP TEN

Asunder LP GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR 2. It’s Midnight LP THE HOOKERS 3. Self-titled LP ANTEMASQUE 4. Superhero 7” FAITH NO MORE 5. Kintsugi LP DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE 6. American Recordings LP BOX JOHNNY CASH 7. Blaster LP SCOTT WEILAND 8. Carrie & Lowell LP SURFJAN STEVENS 9. Hits 50! 2LP THE WHO 10. Golem LP WAND 1.

RECORD PARADISE TOP TEN

Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit COURTNEY BARNETT 2. Melbourne, Florida DICK DIVER 3. Pretend You’re Mine PEARLS 4. It Is What It Is OLD MATE 5. The Electric Guitars THE ELECTRIC GUITARS 6. Burn Your Fire ANGEL OLSEN 7. A Flourish And A Spoil THE DISTRICTS 8. Blast LOVE OF DIAGRAMS 9. About Time CHOOK RACE 10. Gon’ Boogaloo C.W. STONEKING 1.

RRR TOP TEN

To Pimp A Butterfly KENDRICK LAMAR 2. Policy WILL BUTLER 3. Primrose Green RYLEY WALKER 4. Diamonds In The Bloodstream RAISED BY EAGLES 5. Women Of Soul VARIOUS 6. Pulsating Time Fibre PRIMITIVE MOTION 7. Culture Of Volume EAST INDIA YOUTH 8. Sonic Soul Surfer SEASICK STEVE 9. Undertow DRENGE 10. Dark Red SHLOHMO 1.

BEAT’S TOP SONGS FOR YOUR EASTER ROADTRIP Roadrunner THE MODERN LOVERS 2. The Golden Age BECK 3. Two of Us THE BEATLES 4. California PHANTOM PLANET 5. On The Road Again WILLIE NELSON 6. Mr. Blue Sky ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA 7. I’ve Been Everywhere JOHNNY CASH 8. Graceland PAUL SIMON 9. Road to Nowhere TALKING HEADS 10. Listen To The Music THE DOOBIE BROTHERS 1.

$4 PIZZAS MONDAY TO THURSDAY ALL DAY & NIGHT, FRIDAY TILL 5PM THEN FULL PRICE THEREAFTER.

ALWAYS FREE ENTRY INSIDE & OUTSIDE

PBS TOP TEN 1.

LURCH & CHIEF

Halfway through the opening song on Lurch & Chief ’s Breathe EP, I had to eject the CD from my computer to check I hadn’t put the wrong CD in. That’s not to say the song Echo is not a brilliant exercise in neogrunge, but I had to make sure it wasn’t an unknown Alvvays or Warpaint album. It’s clear Lurch & Chief ’s six members are now all working from the same page. As indicated by the welcome sonic misdirection of Echo, female vocalist Lilibeth Hall has taken the roll of lead singer from male vocalist Hayden Somerville on three of the EP’s five songs. The first single released from the album is the highly accessible Fading Out. It captures the same radness of Sons & Daughters, with dueling male/female vocals placed over the top of a driving Celtic punk rhythm. Hall’s revelation as lead vocalist has not resulted in a lessening of Somerville presence on the record. The song that his slightly nasal intonation and brooding lyrics really comes to the fore is Reasonable Man, the yearning and hunger communicated by Somerville is stirring. As with all the

TOP TENS:

SINGLE OF THE WEEK SHEER MAG

Button Up (Katorga Works) I can’t remember the last time I heard a new rock‘n’roll song that was this fucking good. Maybe it was Royal Headache’s Really In Love. It embraces dickhead classic rawk riffs, spittin’ and snarlin’ all over ‘em with spit and elbow grease, pin-balling from one gnarly moment to the next. It grabs ya, from the moment of that belter of a first line. Astonishingly good stuff, straight outta Philly. Crank it loud, crank it often.

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ALBUMS ALISON WONDERLAND

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

MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS

SOKO

My Dreams Dictate My Reality (Warner)

Run

Froot

(EMI)

(Atlantic Records)

Australian DJ turned producer Alison Wonderland is the latest breakout star of electronic dance music. To say Wonderland’s music is trippy is an understatement; her music is like falling down a rabbit hole and arriving at a massive rave. Run is all about the grand scale production. Wonderland provides her own vocals on the record, but they leave a lot to be desired, with guests tending to outshine her. Run is a mixture of pop songs and club bangers, which experiment with house, electro and alt-trap. The album features a host of other artists including Norwegian hip hop artist Lido, New York rapper Johnny Nelson and frontman of Flaming Lips, Wayne Coyne, who add their own unique flavour to the record. Run is about striving for greatness but never quite fulfilling it, which is reflective of what the album achieves. U Don’t Know, featuring Wayne Coyne, describes an abusive, dysfunctional relationship. The song has an ominous mid-tempo sound, which contributes towards the eerie lyrics sung by Coyne in the chorus. Alison Wonderland’s debut album Run rightfully focuses attention on the experimental club beats rather than her vocals or lyrics. She makes creative use of sound featuring everything from a ticking clock (Cold), to what can be described as drumsticks hitting metal pipes (Ignore). Despite the album’s creativity, Run provides little substance.

For most Australians, Stéphanie ‘Soko’ Sokolinski is best known for her late2000s alt-radio hits I’ll Kill Her and I Will Never Love You More, all off-kilter quirk and sweetly sardonic in nature. In her native France, she’s regarded highly for her acting, spanning several feature films and a handful of TV shows. In America, she most recently came to attention when her song We Might Be Dead by Tomorrow was used in the viral video First Kiss. For her second studio album, Sokolinski has thrown out all perceptions and preconceived notions, resulting in an album quite peculiar indeed. It’s an album primarily concerned with reverb-soaked post-punk, exploring dark corners and venturing through influences like The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees and even Ariel Pink, who contribute to two tracks here. There was no smooth transition into this new style, which will leave many thrown by it ± it could even be argued Sokolinski herself wasn’t quite prepared. Still, once the initial shock wears off, there remains hope that one will be charmed by this intriguing new endeavour ± there is even room for those originally put off by Soko to find merit here.

Welsh singer Marina Diamandis is unlike any other female pop artist. The lead singer of Marina and the Diamonds thinks outside the box. Diamandis explores elements of human behaviour in her lyrics and regularly alters her musical direction. The latest release from Marina and the Diamonds, Froot, is a mixture of indie pop and synth pop. Unlike its overproduced predecessor Electra Heart, which involved Diamandis’ adopting a famehungry alter ego, Froot is honest and authentic. The record is at its ripest when the vocals are stripped back, displaying Diamandis’ unique sound. However, there are times when Marina Diamandis’ impactful lyrics are lost among the musical production. Froot is ultimately a breakup album. It mostly celebrates independence and emphasises that you don’t have to rely on someone’s affections to happy, heard in wannabe feminist anthem Can’t Pin Me Down. On the other hand, synth pop-rock track, I’m a Ruin, conveys the guilt associated with ending a relationship. The title track is a mash-up of disco and synthpop, which exhibits the quirkier side of Diamandis’ musical persona. The album compares Diamandis to a fruit hanging from the tree, ready to be picked (“Leave it too long and I’ll go rot,”). Froot is the strongest album from Marina and the Diamonds to date and showcases Diamandis’ unusual vocal delivery, but there are a few tracks that fall flat.

DAVID JAMES YOUNg

JACK LACY

SAY LOU LOU

HEADS.

Lucid Dreaming

(A Deux Records/Remote Control)

The duo, Say Lou Lou, comprises of twins Miranda and Elektra. They hail from Sweden, look remarkably like those girls from Abba, their father is Steve Kilbey and they take some parts of Dead Can Dance as their blueprint. The sum of their musical output is quaint dance pop, a sort of aural candy smorgasbord. Except that, unlike a smorgasbord, you can dance to this. The debut record seemingly comes at a time when there’s no strife in their life. Full of youthful exuberance and good looks, they’re yet to fully experience the catharsis that will undoubtedly darken their road in the future. Peppermint is a charming love song. Not a sordid easy fix in the disco toilets love, but a tender reflection with a hint of self-scrutiny and regret. Beloved picks up on this theme in a whimsical, less precious and more careless manner, albeit it’s just uncomfortable to suggest that it is a song you would not wish to play as you overstay your own party. The single Nothing But A Heartbeat is suitably radio friendly and confident, although it would be fascinating to find out whether Say Lou Lou will not be submerged in this time of short memories and shorter attention spans. As a debut, Lucid Dreaming is neither particularly good not bad. It’s reinvigorating and sophisticated in parts, befitting these heady, hopeful and inventive days. Nevertheless, the flip side is that is can also descend to being no more than incidental music in other parts. BRONIUS ZUMERIS

THE PRODIGY

Self-titled

The Day Is My Enemy

(Heart of the Rat Records)

One of the key features of HEADS.’s self-titled debut is the touting of noiserock/sludge act Young Widows as a main influence ± an incredibly detectable feature in the structure and delivery of the music. Despite doing many things right on this record, inspirations included, making a six track album with stylistic similarities to Young Widows is a gamble that didn’t pay off for HEADS. Outside of boasting the mastering techniques of Magnus Lindberg of revered sludge metal act, Cult of Luna, the most consistently impressive part is the strong, sludgy bass tone, driving the music as it dominates on a track by track basis (featuring some flashy and unexpected descending riff work). Unfortunately, the guitar is rarely exciting, taking a detectable influence from Lindberg’s Cult of Luna, but there are occasional blowout moments where the guitar is either dark and haunting or the key part of a cacophonic harmony. Trying to draw out a narrative on a song by song basis and seldom coming close to anything other than dull, the lyrics on the album damage it; the attempts to sound brooding and tortured seldom succeed. Although there are plenty of unexpected hooks and a heavy sludgy feel to the music that incites all sorts of head-banging. At the end of the day it’s hard to shake off the idea that HEADS.’s debut isn’t just a watered down copy of Young Widow’s amazing 2014 release, Easy Pain ± which if given the option should be thrown on instead. THOMAS BRAND

(Cooking Vinyl)

What do we expect from The Prodigy in 2015? Probably some forceful rhythms and crunching synths, along with rabblerousing lyrics and ageing aggression. There’s also a strong chance of garish bass drops and guitar sounds that escaped the grave of nu-metal. Essentially, this is what the band’s sixth LP The Day Is My Enemy has to offer. The Day Is My Enemy comes five years after Invaders Must Die and nearly 20 years on from the band’s biggest hit, their third LP The Fat of the Land. Despite such distance, there are plenty of commonalities between the three records. Track titles such as Nasty, Rok-Weiler and Rebel Radio give you an indication of this record’s prominent meanness. But hey, at least you can’t accuse The Prodigy of breaking character. Nevertheless, The Day Is My Enemy does contain a few novelties to pique fan interest. The opening number and title-track features Massive Attack/ Tricky collaborator Martina Topley Bird interpolating Ella Fitzgerald’s All Through the Night. Topley Bird’s creamy elegance dresses a militaristic dancefloor bulldozer. The contrast works wonderfully well and it’s a shame she doesn’t show up later in the piece to provide respite from Keith Flint’s barked lead vocals. The album’s other standout is Ibiza, which features vocals from Sleaford Mods’ Jason Williamson. Williamson joins The Prodigy to take aim at lazy DJs who get paid stacks of money for plugging in USB sticks. This is a soft target, sure, but it’s an issue that the fuddy-duddy in all of us has probably felt urged to bitch about. Williamson’s snarled mockery is a perfect fit for the video-game punk rock arrangement. As ever, he sounds utterly irascible yet strangely endearing, a la Vyvyan from The Young Ones. At the same time as demonstrating The Prodigy’s loud, brash strengths, The Day Is My Enemy clearly delineates their limitations, which they seem to have sealed off sometime in the late-‘90s. AUgUSTUS WELBY

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29 Lygon ST, CarLTon / T: 9663 6350 BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 51

GIG GUIDE

WHAT'S ON AROUND MELBOURNE THIS WEEK

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

WEDNESDAY APR 1 INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ••CAROLINE NO! + LOVERS OF THE BLACKBIRD +

SIMON J KARIS + TIME FOR DREAMS Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $7.00.

••COQ ROQ WEDNESDAYS - FEAT: VARIOUS DJS Lucky Coq, Windsor. 7:00pm.

••BLOOD BURGER & THE SPOILS DUO Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 8:00pm.

••BRAT FARRAR + MIDNIGHT WOOLF + SPACEJUNK +

MOTEL LOVE Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8:30pm.

••CENTRE & THE SOUTH Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 8:30pm. ••COSMIC PSYCHOS + THE BLACK ACES Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine. 8:30pm. $20.00.

••D.I.C.K. + BAD UNCLE + TRANS PARANOIA +

8:30pm. $10.00.

DING DONG DEATH HOLE + DJ KIT CONVICT + DJ ATTACK JACK Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. ••DRUNK MUMS + DEPARTMENT + TIP RATS Yah Yah’s,

$66.00.

••ECHO DRAMA The Loft, Warrnambool. 8:00pm.

••DIDIRRI + THE CARNIVORE + JAMES TIMOTHY

FRAHM + JAMES MOONEY Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. ••FLY MY PRETTIES 170 Russell, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. ••JURASSIC 5 Festival Hall, West Melbourne. 8:00pm. $92.70. ••KALACOMA + JAALA + OWEN RABBIT Workers Club,

Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $13.00.

••EDITH LANE + THRASHER JYNX + JARROW Workers Club, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. $5.00.

Fitzroy. 7:00pm. $5.00.

••EZEKIEL OX + SEEKA + KRYPTIC + HUCCI LUV Espy,

Bar, North Melbourne. 8:00pm. $6.00.

••FIREBALLS + LOS CHICOS + THE KAVE-INN + KIT

••LORIKEET + BLEEDING FLARES + EVIL TWIN Public ••MISS EILEEN & KING LEAR + LITTLE WING + DJ

MERMAID Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. $5.00. ••PENGUINS + SUBDISCIPLINE + INSIDE OF BOUKUGO + GRACE ANDERSON + SISSYSOCKS Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8:30pm.

••THE ATTRACTOR BEAMS + PLEBS + THE HAPPY

LONESOME Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $7.00.

••THE COMMONLY INSANE + THE WASH + WING

ATTACK PLAN R + FORTNIGHT JUMBO Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm.

St Kilda. 9:00pm.

CONVICT & THEE TERRIBLE TWO Espy, St Kilda.

8:00pm.

••GOOD FRIDAY EVE Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 12:00pm.

••HOLY HOLY + AINSLIE WILLS + FOREIGN/NATIONAL

••KISSTROYER + LOS AMIGOS Commercial Hotel, Morang South. 8:00pm.

••LINCOLN LE FEVER & THE INSIDERS + ROBERT

••CHARLES BRADLEY + WILSN Corner Hotel, Richmond. 7:30pm.

••CAPTIVES + THE QUARTERS + MARICOPA WELLS +

Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.00.

••BROADS & CHRIS PICKERING Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford.

••FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE - FEAT: SINGLE INCOME &

NIGHT + THE VALLEY ENDS + HARBOURS Colonial

••HOUSEWRECKERS + TASH J + THE GIRLS Mr Boogie

••PLASTIC - FEAT: STEALING O’NEAL + BRIGHTER AT Hotel, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $20.00.

••TASH SULTANA + GRIM FAWKNER + RUEBEN

••DIZZY’S BIG BAND Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8:00pm.

••THE DUVTONS + FOLEY + MAX GOES TO

••HUGH STUCKEY & JAMES GILLIGAN DUO Brunswick

••THE ELLIOTTS + THE KARMENS + COUSIN TONY’S

Green, Brunswick. 8:30pm.

••MATHEW ROCHE + MANTICORE 303, Northcote. 8:00pm.

••MAVIS STAPLES Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 7:30pm. $55.00.

••SAIDIN SALKIC & DOMINIC BYRNE Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm.

••THE ROOKIES The Rooks Return, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.

••TRIO Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $12.50.

Hotel, Richmond. 7:30pm. $55.00.

HOLLYWOOD Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm.

BRAND NEW FIREBIRD + LAMB BOULEVARD Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. $12.00.

••THE LIVING EYES + HIEROPHANTS + EXHAUSTION

+ ROSS DE CHENE’S HURRICANES Tote Hotel,

Collingwood. 8:30pm.

••THE PRETTY LITTLES + THE HARLOTS +

BLACKWOOD JACK + YAKINI + DJ LIAM BRADY Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $10.00.

ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK

••THURSDAY UNI NIGHT Purple Emerald, Northcote.

••ALICE TERRY + DEAR PRUDENCE Drunken Poet, West

••TINY GIANTS + DARTS OF OLD + FENN WILSON

Melbourne. 8:00pm.

••BABY BLUE, DAVID CRAFT & MICHAEL WAUGH Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:00pm.

••JOE CHINDAMO & ZOE BLACK - FEAT: JOE

CHINDAMO & ZOË BLACK Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 6:00pm. $38.00.

••LIAM LINLEY + BROOKE PENROSE Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm.

••LUKE TOOZE + LEAH SENIOR + SIMON BRUCE +

JESS PARKER Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 7:30pm.

$10.00.

••OPEN MIC Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 7:00pm. ••OPEN MIC Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbottsford. 7:00pm. ••OPEN MIC Purple Emerald, Northcote. 8:00pm.

••PAOLO NUTINI + LIAM GERNER Palais Theatre, St Kilda. 7:30pm.

••REBECCA BARNARD & BILLY MILLER’S

SINGALONG Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 7:00pm. $15.00. ••RICHIE LANGFORD The Loft, Warrnambool. 8:00pm. ••THE BRUNSWICK HOTEL’S OPEN MIC Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 7:00pm.

••TONY JOE WHITE + WAGONS Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.

••WHITETOP MOUNTAINEERS + DAVIDSON

BROTHERS Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 7:30pm. $18.00.

THURSDAY APR 2

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ••ANDREW RIGGO Customs House Hotel, Williamstown. 9:00pm.

••AUDITION NIGHT - FEAT: WATERLINE + IGOR

ALEINIK + MULLEN + BRETT FRANKE Musicland,

Fawkner. 7:00pm.

••AXE GIRL + BLIND MUNKEE + JULES DOUGLAS +

DJ SHAKY MEMORIAL Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:30pm. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 52

Collingwood. 8:00pm. $10.00.

••BETH HART Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 7:30pm.

••DANIEL WELTLINGER (KOBLENZ) Paris Cat Jazz Club, $14.00.

+ OLD LOVE + PAGAN + DEADWEIGHT Tote Hotel,

8:30pm. $15.00.

STONE Shebeen, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $12.00. ••THE BEAT + THAT GOLD STREET SOUND Corner

Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $20.00.

Cbd. 9:30pm. $25.00.

••CAPTAIN SPAULDING Customs House Hotel,

••PIKELET + MUTTON SHINY COIN + LOOBS Old Bar,

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

••THE RANDY ANDERSON Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne

ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK

••THE WAIFS + JIMMY DOWLING Thornbury Theatre,

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC

Spanish party rock five-piece Los Chicos need to either give their manager a raise or fire them. Somehow they’ve locked in four gigs over the next four days, and another at the tail-end of their tour. You should be able to make one. Los Chicos play at The Espy on Thursday April 2, The Tote on Friday April 3, Boogie Festival Saturday April 4, Barwon Club Sunday April 5, and The Retreat on Saturday April 10.

Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm. $20.00.

MUINOS + GEORGIA MAC John Curtin Hotel, Carlton.

Thornbury. 7:30pm. $55.00.

LOS CHICOS

••KAGU Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:00pm. $10.00.

••THE TWOKS Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $18.00.

GIG OF THE WEEK!

8:00pm.

Public Bar, North Melbourne. 8:00pm. $8.00.

••WEEKENDER - FEAT: YARD BOUNCE Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $10.00.

••WOODLOCK + FOREST FALLS + HARRISON STORM Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $10.00.

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ••BOMBAY ROYALE The Luwow, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $25.00.

$55.00.

8:30pm.

Man Bar, Abbottsford. 7:00pm. $5.00.

••HUME BLUES CLUB - FEAT: DREAM BOOGIE +

SHAKE SHACK BOOGIE BAND + TROY WILSON MATHEW WHITE Musicland, Fawkner. 8:00pm. $15.00. ••JORDIE LANE Major Tom’s , 8:00pm. ••MONICA WEIGHTMAN BAND Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 8:30pm.

••MORNING MELODIES - FEAT: BRENDAN SCOTT Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully. 10:00am. $17.00.

••MZAZA + LA MAUVAISE REPUTATION Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $15.00.

••OPEN MIC The Farmer’s Place, 8:00pm.

••OPEN MIC Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8:00pm.

••THE BLACK SORROWS Flying Saucer Club, Elsternwick. 8:00pm. $33.00.

••THE GLORIOUS NORTH + MICHAEL MEEKING

& THE LOST SOULS + THE BITS Reverence Hotel,

Footscray. 8:00pm. $7.00.

••WHOLE LOTTA BLUES - FEAT: ASH KING +

BRENDAN FORWARD Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East.

8:00pm.

FRIDAY APR 3

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ••THE RESIGNATORS + LO PAN + TZATZIKI PARTY

+ JAY WARS + DJ LUCY ARUNDEL Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $10.00.

••GEOFF KLUKE QUARTET Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond.

••ALEXANDER BIGGS + LAMB BOULEVARD Penny

••HAMMOND SESSIONS - FEAT: TIM NEAL QUARTET

••BAPTISM OF UZI + WHITE BLEACHES + TRULY

8:00pm. $14.00.

303, Northcote. 8:00pm. $10.00.

••LUKE HOWARD Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $18.00.

••MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD + TREVOR HALL Prince Bandroom, St Kilda. 8:00pm. $94.90.

Black, Brunswick. 9:00pm.

CROWN + DJ VINCE PEACH & PIERRE BARONI Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $10.00.

••STEINWAY PIANO SERIES - FEAT: CHRISTOPHER

GORDON + SELENE MESSINIS + CRAIG MATTINGLEY Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. $17.50.

••THE GOOD EGG THURSDAYS - FEAT: HENRY WHO

+ TIGERFUNK + LEWIS CANCUT Lucky Coq, Windsor.

7:00pm.

••THE JAWA PITU BAND Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. ••THE LALIBELAS The B.east, Brunswick East. 9:00pm.

••THE MELBOURNE IMPROVISERS COLLECTIVE Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.

PARTY VIBEZ + COSMIC KAHUNA Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm.

••JARRYD JAMES Howler, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $20.00.

••KILL DIRTY YOUTH + THE BURNING ROACHES +

RUSTY JAMES & THE HELLFIRE FLAMES + PAUL CONROY + NATE DOG RIPPINLIFE Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm.

••LANKS + LEISURE SUITE + CANARY Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 8:00pm. $10.00.

••LOS CHICOS + MESA COSA + THE PINK TILES +

RICHIE 1250 & THE BRIDES OF CHRIST + GIRL CRAZY + WET MEAL Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm.

$20.00.

••MILLIONS + ALI BARTER + WARMTH CRASHES IN Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm.

••SNARK + COFFIN UP + THE COMMONLY INSANE 303, Northcote. 5:00pm.

••STONEFOX + WHEN WE WERE SMALL + JAYMIE

DEBOUCHERVILLE + SEB MONT Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $12.00.

••THE MURLOCS + THE OCEAN PARTY + THE STEVE

MILLER BAND Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm.

••THE SINKING TEETH + THE UNION PACIFIC +

Justin Townes Earle

EAGLE + THE SUNDAY REEDS Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8:30pm.

••BLACK NIGHT CRASH Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne

••SOUL IN THE BASEMENT - FEAT: KINGSTON

RESPONSE Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm.

••GUTTERMOUTH + MY ECHO + STRICKLAND +

••BASKERVILLAIN + THE NEW POLLUTION + RED

••ROCK-A-BYE BABY MUSIC SESSIONS - FEAT: 11:00am. $5.00.

EASTWOOD REVINE Pier Live, Frankston. 8:00pm. $5.00.

••GHOST GUMS + DIVIDE & DISSOLVE + FIRST

HOLY + HOLLOW EVERDAZE Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm.

••REBECCA MENDOZA Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd.

BLACK JESUS EXPERIENCE Fitzroy Town Hall, Fitzroy.

YARD APES Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm.

$10.00.

••BLACK DOG + BEAR KICK + THE HEAVY KICKS +

8:30pm. $25.00.

Williamstown. 8:00pm.

MESSED UP Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm.

Cbd. 11:30pm.

••BOOGIE 9 - FEAT: POKEY LA FARGE + JUSTIN

TOWNES EARLE + ROCKET SCIENCE + THE MURLOCS + TONY JOE WHITE + STRAND OF OAKS + THE BOMBAY ROYALE + LOS CHICOS + DRUNK MUMS + DARREN HANLON + DORSAL FINS + PONYFACE PLAYS NEBRASKA + SCOT DRAKULA + DAVEY LANE + THE PEEP TEMPEL + ALI BARTER + PEARLS + FUCK THE FITZROY DOOM SCENE + PARKING LOT EXPERIMENTS + MANGELWURZEL + THE FINKS + COOL SOUNDS + BROADS + EATEN BY DOGS + GOAT PISS GASOLINE Bruzzy’s Farm, Tallarook

. 12:00am. $218.30.

••BUDDHA IN A CHOCOLATE BOX The Loft, Warrnambool. 8:00pm.

••CAGED GRAVE + IN TRENCHES + BRITTLE BONES

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

BOOGIE 9

It’s that time of year where we all pack our shit and head up to Bruzzy’s Farm in Tallarook. Boogie 9 is going down this weekend with an amazingly stacked lineup, featuring Pokey LaFarge, Justin Townes Earle, Rocket Science, The Peep Tempel, The Murlocs, Tony Joe White, Los Chicos, Drunk Mums, Scotdracula, Darren Hanlon, Fuck The Fitzroy Doom Scene and more. Boogie 9 runs from Friday April 3 to Sunday April 5.

CHARLES BRADLEY

Talking about motherfunkers that got soul, this motherfunker right here. Charles Bradley commands your attention as he walks on stage, and at 66 years old, you’d probably think he’d be slowing down by now. No. You’re wrong. Nice one dude. Catch the man himself Charles Bradley at The Corner this Wednesday April 1.

MERCIANS Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $10.00.

• WATT’S ON - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 8:30pm.

• WORKING HORSE IRONS + THE ANNIE CROONERS

+ SIX SHOOTER Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $13.00. JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC • ADRIAN CUNNINGHAM QUARTET Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $25.00.

• CROSS STREET MUSIC AFROBEAT NIGHT - FEAT:

BIGFELA Cross Street , East Brunswick. 8:30pm. • FELIPE CAMARA Open Studio, Northcote. 6:00pm. • FLAMENCO NIGHT Open Studio, Northcote. 8:00pm. • GEORGE CLINTON & PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC + EDDIE MAC 170 Russell, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $92.00. • MOVEMENT 9 Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $10.00.

• WHAT THE FUNK Purple Emerald, Northcote. 9:00pm.

ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK • ABBOTSFEST 2015 - FEAT: GUZZLER +

PROPHETESS + ION DRIVE + CROSSBONE CARNIVAL + VINTAGE RUIN + FALLEN ENDS + DIVINE FLUXUS + HELOTRY + THE WEIGHT OF SILENCE Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbottsford. 1:30pm. $15.00. • ALEISTER JAMES BLUES ASSEMBLY The B.east, Brunswick East. 9:00pm.

• BANDAOKE Pier Live, Frankston. 9:00pm.

• CHRIS WILSON Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 5:00pm.

• SPENCER P JONES Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 5:30pm. • THE TIPPLERS Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8:30pm.

• TIM MAXWELL + GRACE LAWRY + HARRY BROWN Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 8:00pm.

• TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC SESSION - FEAT: DAN

• SARAH MACLAIN Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd.

BOURKE Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 6:00pm.

8:30pm. $22.50.

• SECRET ARMY Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 11:30pm. $15.00.

• SKA VENDORS The Luwow, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $5.00.

• THE FURBELOWS Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne

SATURDAY APR 4

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS • BUDDHA IN A CHOCOLATE BOX + DANIEL

CHAMPAGNE Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 9:00pm.

Cbd. 8:30pm. $25.00.

GEORGE CLINTON & PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC

Living legend George Clinton and the funkadeliteful Parliament Funkadelic collective have flown into town for Bluesfest. If you don’t have tickets all good, lucky for us they’ve locked in a sideshow this week at 170 Russel. Catch George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic at 170 Russel on Friday April 3. • MYRIDIAN + RISE OF AVERNUS + ATRA VETOSUS +

MATTHEW KENEALLY + BAD AMBULANCE Public Bar,

North Melbourne. 8:30pm. $10.00.

ARBRYNTH Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. • BANG - FEAT: I VALIANCE + ELEGIST + OF STOLEN MOMENTS Royal Melbourne Hotel, Melbourne Cbd.

• DJ JOEY ELBOWS Gem Bar, Collingwood. 7:00pm.

• EINSTEIN TOYBOYS + JIMMY CUPPLES Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm. $10.00.

7:00pm. $20.00.

• FIFTH FRIEND + POLY + THE JAKKRABBITS +

• BANOFFEE & KLO + BANOFFEE & KLO + GOOD

MITCHELL A POWER Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East.

MANNERS DJS + ASDASFR BAWD + PLANÈTE

8:00pm. $5.00.

Howler, Brunswick. 8:30pm. $18.00.

• G LOVE & SPECIAL SAUCE Thornbury Theatre,

Penny Black, Brunswick. 9:00pm.

• GUTTERMOUTH + TAKE YOUR OWN + POSTSCRIPT

• BEAUTIFUL BEASTS + ENLIGHT + MICHAEL HOOD

Thornbury. 7:30pm. $49.00.

• BLACK MAYDAY + MICHAEL YULE BAND +

+ BRITTLE BONES + BLIND MAN DEATH STARE

SKYMOTH + THE GREY FILE Reverence Hotel, Footscray.

Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm.

8:00pm. $5.00.

• KARAOKE WITH ZOE Customs House Hotel,

THE HAZARD CIRCULAR + THE NUREMBERG CODE + EVOLUTION OF SELF + BEHOLD THE DEFIANT

• KING OF THE NORTH + CHILD + THE BLACK ALLEYS

• BURY THE FALLEN + VENOMARTYR + ARCADIA +

Williamstown. 9:00pm.

+ THE HOUSEWRECKERS + PHIL PARA BAND Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm.

Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm. $10.00.

• LAURA PALMER + NOWHERE + THE SHADOW

• CHRIS WATTS + AMBER ISLES + MOODY BEACH +

LEAGUE + COFFIN WOLF Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm.

DOLLY DENKO Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm. • COUNTING CROWS (SOMEWHERE UNDER WONDERLAND TOUR 2015) Palais Theatre, St Kilda.

$10.00.

• OOLLUU + DEVILMONKEY + PELORUS + TER Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm.

8:00pm. $101.80.

• OWEN RABBIT + ALEX ELBERY & THE STRANGERS

• CRACKED ACTOR + ELECTRIC SEA SPIDER +

+ HOSPITAL Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 9:00pm.

Saturdays

hardrive

Jonny Telefone (Live)

one puf + all good + eighty nine

thursday april 2nd public holiday eve

ruin Lucy Cliche (dj set)

Chairman Meow (dj set)

cold wave / no wave

Whiteside (dj set)

lucy cliche 2

2 friday april 10

Mariachi El Bronx official after party - matt (bronx) DJ set

monday - saturday 6 pm

(naked on the vague)

dj cassandra + dj whiteside

jonny telefone (live) monday - saturday 6 pm

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

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 53

GIG GUIDE

WHAT'S ON AROUND MELBOURNE THIS WEEK

THE PUSH PRESENT

ACCESS ALL AGES

For all the latest gigs check out beat.com.au $10.00.

••PALACE OF THE KING + THE UGLY KINGS + DJ

PAUL MILES Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $13.00.

••SLOWLY SLOWLY + GEORGIA MAQ + LIAM MILNER Old Bar, Fitzroy. 3:00pm.

••SUITCASE ROYALE Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm.

Brunswick. 5:00pm.

SUNDAY APR 5

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ••DAVID GRAY Palais Theatre, St Kilda. 7:00pm. $97.85.

••THE COLOUR CODE Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $13.00.

••DECIMATUS + ENVENOMED + ALKIRA + CRYPTIC

••THE CROOKEDS + THE TINY GIANTS Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $12.00.

••THE FIFTHS + DADA ONO Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $10.00.

••THE MURLOCS + ORB + CREPES Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm. $20.00.

••TWINSY + GANGZ Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.00. ••WHIPPER + CHUGGA & THE FUCKHEADS + ORB +

LAW & ORDER Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8:30pm.

••WORM CROWN + YACHTBURNER +

V-ACT CHORES 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. ••YUNG WARRIORS (TURNT UP LAUNCH) + JNR BOY + SPITFIRE + KILLA B + DJ KIDD BENNY 24 Moons, Northcote. 8:00pm.

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ••ALINTA & THE JAZZ EMPERORS Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. $25.00.

••CAMASOS & MAREK PODSTAWEK Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 9:00pm. $20.00.

••CANNONBALL Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $25.00.

••CHRISTOPHER GORDON & FRIENDS Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $17.50.

••GOOD MUSIC - FEAT: ETHAN MCLAREN Prince Public

••DEAN RAY + THE PEOPLE Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm.

ABYSS Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. ••EAST BRUNSWICK ALL GIRLS CHOIR + TIME FOR DREAMS + WALKING FLAME Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. ••EZRA LEE Clare Castle Hotel, Port Melbourne. 8:00pm. ••GUTTERMOUTH + CROWBAIT + WOLFPACK Barwon Heads Hotel, Barwon Heads. 8:00pm.

••HUSKY + GRACE + FOREST FALLS + HARRISON

STORM Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm. $25.00.

••I OH YOU PARTY - FEAT: THE HARPOONS +

MILWAUKEE BANKS + COLLARBONES Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $15.00.

••KIERON MCDONALD Gem Bar, Collingwood. 7:00pm.

••MATT DWYER & THE MAGNATONES Big Huey’s Diner, South Melbourne. 4:00pm.

••MINIMUM WAGE - FEAT: COLD LIFE + MILITARY

POSITION + SOW DISCORD + INSOMNIA Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 7:00pm.

••MINISTRY OF PLENTY + HORACE BONES + CANARY Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 8:30pm.

••MOMENTUM - FEAT: THE FOREIGN BROTHERS Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. $10.00.

••RIFF FIST + WILDEORNES + OLMEG + MASTER_

BETA Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm.

••ROCKABILLY SUNDAYS - FEAT: HEELS ON DECKS

••LIFEBLOOD Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 6:00pm.

DJ Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 4:00pm. ••SKYSCRAPER STAN & THE COMMISSION FLATS

••LIFEBLOOD Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 3:00pm.

••SOUTHBOUND SNAKE CHARMERS + DOUBLE

Bar, St Kilda . 8:00pm.

$38.00. $38.00.

••SOUL-A-GO-GO - FEAT: MISS GOLDIE + RICHIE 1250

+ VINCE PEACH + CHELSEA WILSON + ANDREW YOUNG Shebeen, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $15.00. ••THE JC LITTLE BIG BAND WITH LILLY TUNLEY Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $20.00.

••THE MELTDOWN Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $25.00.

ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK ••BLUE EYES CRY Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 9:00pm. ••CROOKED CORNERS & LITTLE OCEAN Open Studio, Northcote. 5:00pm.

••FATS WAH WAH Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:00pm.

••LARISSA TANDY + STRINE SINGERS Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine. 8:30pm. $10.00.

••LOMOND BARRACUDAS SEASON LAUNCH -

FEAT: TULLY ON TULLY + GRANDSTANDS + THE ADELAIDE CROWS + JOEL JENKINS Lomond Hotel,

Brunswick East. 9:30pm.

••MZAZA + ZULYA & THE CHILDREN OF THE

UNDERGROUND Flying Saucer Club, Elsternwick. 8:00pm. $23.00.

••RON S PENO TRIO Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 4:30pm.

••SAINT HENRY + THE DELVENES + SIREN SUN + THE

CONCLUSIONS Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbottsford. 7:00pm. $10.00.

••SNAKE EYED ROLLERS The Luwow, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $5.00.

••THE BLACK SHEEP Union Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm.

••THE PRAYERBABIES Union Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm. ••THREE KINGS + DJ MAX CRAWDADDY Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 3:00pm. $5.00.

The Loft, Warrnambool. 8:00pm.

SHOT BLUES BAND + DR MALONE Brunswick Hotel,

Brunswick. 4:00pm.

••SUNDAY SCHOOL - FEAT: V + B.A.A.D.D.D +

VACUUM Public Bar, North Melbourne. 5:00pm. ••THE GREY FILE + MAPS OF TASMANIA + DEAN LOMBARD Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 5:00pm. ••THE REVENANTS + TIM DURKIN + JOSH SEYMOUR Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 3:00pm.

••ZOMBIE MOTORS WRECKING YARD + LOW FLY

INCLINE + MOTHERSLUG/REDRO REDRIGUEZ Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $10.00.

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ••BRARSEY SUNDAYS - FEAT: JACK EARLE BIG BAND Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 4:30pm.

••THE HORNETS Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 4:00pm. ••YOLANDA INGLEY II Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 5:30pm.

••Z-STAR Standard Hotel, Fitzroy. 5:00pm.

MONDAY APR 6

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ••88 WITH MOSE Espy, St Kilda. 7:00pm.

••BRONSON + COFFIN’ UP + SUBURBAN PROPHETS

+ DOG SLED GIRL + LIQUOR SNATCH Mr Boogie Man

Bar, Abbottsford. 3:30pm. $10.00.

••CHERRY JAM Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.

••GUTTERMOUTH + DREXLER + RETRACE + ORGAN

DONOR + MAGGOT MEN + THE WRECKS Twe12e, Frankston. 8:00pm.

••LORDFEST - FEAT: PEEZO + DUMB PUNTS +

THE KREMLINGS + WOD + GRIFFIN BRAIN + DEPARTMENT + NORTHSIDE Tote Hotel, Collingwood.

4:00pm.

••MONDAY NIGHT MASS - FEAT: KROMOSOM +

SOMA COMA + HAVITTAJAT + TOL Northcote Social

Club, Northcote. 2:30pm.

••MUNDANE MONDAYS - FEAT: MIDNIGHT WOOLF +

WRONG TURN Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $10.00.

••PHATQUAD + THE RIMS + BIDDLEWOOD 303, Northcote. 8:00pm.

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ••BENNETTS LANE BIG BAND Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $18.00.

••CHRISTOPHER GORDON, MUJI + CHRISTOPHER

GORDON + MUJI Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd.

7:00pm. $12.50.

••LADY SINGS THE BLUES - FEAT: YVETTE

JOHANSSON Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd.

7:30pm. $40.00.

••LUKE WINDSLOW-KING Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 8:30pm. $20.00.

••FELIPE CAMARA Open Studio, Northcote. 5:00pm.

••HUNTER HAYES Prince Bandroom, St Kilda. 7:00pm.

3:00pm. $12.50.

••LADY SINGS THE BLUES - FEAT: YVETTE

JOHANSSON Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd.

7:30pm. $40.00.

••MULLER MAGNUSSON PROJECT Bennetts Lane Jazz

$55.60.

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

TUESDAY APR 7

Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $20.00.

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS

8:00pm.

••AXE GIRL + STRAND OF OAKS Cherry Bar, Melbourne

••TARA WALSH & BEN KIMBER Open Studio, Northcote. ••THE LAGERPHONES The B.east, Brunswick East. 8:00pm. ••THE UNIT + THE ROBBIE MELVILLE TRIO 303, Northcote. 7:00pm. $7.00.

••TROMBONE SHORTY & THE ORLEANS AVENUE +

KEZIAH Corner Hotel, Richmond. 7:00pm. $60.00. ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK

••CLIP CLOP CLUB Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 4:00pm. ••JAM SUNDAYS Musicland, Fawkner. 6:00pm.

••JESSE VALACH PRESENTS BLUE MOUNTAIN Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 5:00pm.

Cbd. 9:00pm.

••BAND OF SKULLS + SPOOKYLAND Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm. $54.50.

••FITZROYALTY - FEAT: COSMOS CREATURE +

ENTRO BEATS Little & Olver, Fitzroy. 7:00pm.

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

••SUNDAY SESSIONS - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS Lucky Coq, Windsor. 4:00pm.

••SWEET FELICIA & THE HONEYTONES Standard Hotel, Fitzroy. 7:00pm.

A reminder that applications for the NIDA and triple j Unearthed competition close this Sunday April 5. It’s such a rare opportunity, don’t miss out and get those entries in. Also a reminder that FReeZA groups are already starting to plan their first FReeZA Push Start Battle of the Band heats. If you’d like your band to battle it out against other young musicians in your area, find your local FReeZA crew and let them know of your interest. If you don’t know who your closest FReeZA committee is, you can jump on www. freeza.vic.gov.au and find out.

ALL AGES GIG GUIDE

THURSDAY 2 APRIL • Bunny Time w/Local acoustic soloists, 60 Little Malop Street, Geelong, Free, www. corthouse.org.au, AA FRIDAY 3 APRIL-5 APRIL • Boogie Festival, Bruzzy’s Farm, 210 Pyalong Road, Tallarook, $75-$209, www.boogie. net.au, AA SATURDAY 4 APRIL • Counting Crows w/ guests, Palais Theatre, Lower Esplanade, St Kilda, 7.30pm, $101.84, www.ticketmaster.com.au, AA

••RODRIGO Y GABRIELA + DANIEL CHAMPAGNE Palais

••JOHN MAYALL Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank.

••SARAH BAXTER + AMARINA WATERS + BEN FRANZ

••SANTIAGO CAÑÓN VALENCIA Melbourne Recital

Theatre, St Kilda. 7:00pm. $90.68.

Workers Club, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. $5.00.

••SPACE RIOT Public Bar, North Melbourne. 8:00pm. $5.00.

••THE BRUNSWICK HOTEL DISCOVERY NIGHT -

••SUNDAY SESSIONS - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS

What’s new in music this week? 17-year-old electronic dream-pop producer Japanese Wallpaper has just released a new track entitled Forces featuring Airling that premiered on triple j last week. Get on Soundcloud to give it a listen. Tame Impala fans, if you love newly released, eight-minute single Let It Happen, did you know you can get a free download of it by going to letithappen. tameimpala.com? The things you know.

••DOUBLE STANDARDS Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond.

$43.00.

••KEN MAHER, AL WRIGHT & TONY HARGREAVES ••KIM SALMON Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine. 4:00pm.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival kicked off on Wednesday March 25 and runs to Sunday April 19. So now’s a good time to have a look at what shows you might like to catch. Highlights include Centrelink the Musical, Avenue Q, Noel Fielding, Stephen K Amos and Hari Kondabolu. Check out www.comedyfestival.com.au for all acts and tickets.

AT THE END LAUNCH) Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 8:30pm.

••TAM VANTAGE + JAMES TEAGUE + LEAH SENIOR

Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:00pm.

International students: check out the free Walk This Way hip hop program. Over five weeks, participants will be mentored by professional artists in the hip hop forms of MCing, DJing, breakdance and street art. This will coincide with key speaking tours of some of Melbourne’s peak cultural institutions, including the Arts Centre Melbourne, ACMI, and Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA). To round things off, there’ll be a cultural dinner at various spots around Melbourne and a celebratory jam with all mentors and participants at DJ MzRizk’s Block Party event. It’s for international students and local residents aged 18-30, free and will run during April/May. Applications are open NOW and close Friday April 17, check out www.thepush.com.au.

••JEFF MARTIN (RETURNING FROM THE OCEAN

••JULES BOULT & FRIENDS Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 4:00pm.

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 54

The world’s top selling retro Bollywood band, Melbourne’s The Bombay Royale have teamed up with DJ Mojo Juju and The LuWow for a soulful Easter pakora party, Mumbai style. Along with these killer acts, the pre-Good Friday party will also features LuWow staples the GoGo Goddesses. Head down to The LuWow this Thursday April 2 and catch The Bombay Royale doing what they do best.

ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK

Melbourne. 6:30pm.

MUSINGS HAVE YOU EVER, ever felt like this? Like you had to pee really bad but your bedroom was at the top of a lighthouse.

THE BOMBAY ROYALE

••CATHERINE MCKAY Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd.

••ALEX BURNS WITH JEN HAWLEY Drunken Poet, West

WANTED BANDS/ACTS WANTED for Espy Shows. Shoot an email through to mark@gunnmusic.com.au for more details

A happy Easter to you all in advance. To those of you who are spending it at Bluesfest, you’ve got the best weekend ahead and we’re super jealous.

WOODWARD + WARREN ROUGH Victoria Hotel,

••THE CHRIS ROBINSON BROTHERHOOD Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm. $60.00.

WITH JESS ZANONI

••VIC OLD TIME JAM SESSION - FEAT: CRAIG

Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $6.00.

FEAT: SHADOWS AT BAY + KATANA CARTEL + SIBERIAN EYES Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. ••WINTER MOON + TULLY ON TULLY Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $10.00.

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ••BEBOP DUO Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $12.50.

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

8:00pm. $14.00.

7:30pm. $80.00.

Centre, Southbank. 7:00pm. $55.00.

••STEPHEN MAGNUSSON & JAMES MULLER Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $20.00.

••WIRELESS Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm.

ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK ••KLUB MUK 303, Northcote. 7:30pm.

••DISPATCH Prince Bandroom, St Kilda. 7:30pm. $49.00. ••KERRYN FIELDS + BROOKE TALOR Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm.

••VICTORIANA GAYE Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:00pm.

Thursday 2nd @ 8.30pm

MONICA WEIGHTMAN BAND (Country blues roots)

good friday - closed - happy easter Saturday 4th @9.30pm

SATURDAY 4TH APRIL

LOMOND BARRACUDAS SEASON LAUNCH

EASTER SUNDAY - 5TH APRIL

Sunday 5th @ 5.30 pm

GOOD FRIDAY - CLOSED

OPEN 2PM-1AM JESSE VALACH PRESENTS

BLUE MOUNTAIN (FIERY BLUES/SOUL INFUSED)

featuring TULLY ON TULLY, GRANDSTANDS, THE ADELAIDE CROWS & JOEL JENKINS

JOHNNY CASINO LARGE NO 12’S WEREWOLVES OF MELBOURNE ALL MUSIC IS FREE

WINE, WHISKEY, WOMEN

Dear Prudence 9pm - Alice Terry(SYD)

8pm -

Thurs 2nd April

OPEN MIC

YOLANDA INGLEY II & BAND

8pm:

(Retro R&B grooves)

Sunday 5th @ 9pm

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

Tuesday 7th @8pm

COMING UP

Wed 1st April

IRISH SESSION!

Fri 3rd April

CLOSED FOR GOOD FRIDAY Sat 4th April

BLuE EYES CRY

9pm:

Sun 5th April

(Fiesty fiddlin’)

ALL GIGS ARE FREE EXCELLENT RESTAURANT AND BAR MEALS

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

4pm:

THE HORNETS

ALEx BuRNS with JEN HAWLEY

6.30pm:

Tues 7th April

W E E K LY T R I V I A The Drunken Poet, 65 Peel Street (directly opposite Queen Vic Market), Phone: 03 9348 9797. www.thedrunkenpoet.com.au

WEDNESDAY 1ST APRIL

THURSDAY 2ND APRIL

NIGHT FLIGHT CHIARA KICKDRUM WITH

& BEVIN CAMPBELL FRIDAY 3RD APRIL

ROMANTIC TREATMENT SATURDAY 4TH APRIL

HELMET(FINALE) SUNDAY 5TH APRIL RIZKY PRESENTS

BEEN AROUND THE WORLD & I CAN'T FIND MY BABY....

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

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 55

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

Q&A

60 SECONDS WITH..

Oolluu So then, what do you ‘do’ in the band? We are Oolluu and I’m the bassist.

John Entwistle, but he’d probably just laugh and call me an Aussie trollop twat.

What do you reckon people will say you sound like? A fusion of Pink Floyd and A Flock of Seagulls.

What can a punter expect from your live show? Australia’s finest synth rock band.

What do you love about making music? You’re completely in the moment when you play music. What do you hate about the music industry? Art and business is like wax and water; it combines to make a curious slurry. If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why?

What’ve you got to sell CD-wise? Does anyone listen to CDs anymore? However, we have nine songs mixed and ready for release that I’m excited about. Anything else to add? Cometh ye all to The Brunny Hotel, drink of their finest ale and see the impassioned OOLLUU play live. Catch OOLLUU at The Brunswick Hotel on Saturday April 3 with Devilmonkey and Pelorus.

Q&A

TIME OUT WITH..

Nantes Hey there! Who are we chatting to and what do you do in the band? Hello, my name is David. I am responsible for the bottom end and the vocals.

What’s in the cards for Nantes in the coming year? At this stage, we’ll continue to write and record music and see where it takes us.

Describe your sound in five words. Melancholic, introverted, ambient, moody pop.

Tell us why we should come to your show at Shebeen on April 24. We have been working hard on our live set and are really excited to give the audience something that would hopefully last for longer than the evening. We also just printed some epic shirts.

You’ve just released your new mini album Limbo. Can you tell us a bit about it? Josiah and myself were at a crossroad as to whether Nantes would continue or if we would endeavour onto other musical adventures. It was the opening track that really forced us to make another Nantes record. From there, we wrote a bunch of tracks where six of them really found themselves to be kindred spirits. We felt this body of work had everything it needed; it was a concise, clear direction.

NANTES will be hitting up Shebeen on Friday April 24.

Kevin Costner is the greatest ever actor of all time. This is an undisputed fact. If you don’t believe me, I don’t want to know you and you are the devil. I have given you a list of characters he has played and you just have to tell me the film title. If you can’t do that, we can’t be friends. ACROSS

DOWN

puzzleguy@beat.com.au

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 56

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

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BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 57

INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH

MUSIC INDUSTRY NEWS & GOSSIP

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

NO SALE OF UNIVERSAL MUSIC

Vivendi, the owner of Universal Music Group, has firmly insisted the music company is not going to be sold. This follows US activist hedge fund P. Schoenfield Asset Management (PSAM) calling for its sale since December to increase the value of its one per cent stake. Vivendi says UMG and its other asset, film and TV studio and distributor Canal+ Group, “Constitute the strategic pillars in the building of a major industrial media and content group.”

ARE METALLICA INTO THE RED?

Metallica’s sale of 100 million records worldwide put them in the top league. But their biographers, Paul Brannigan and Ian Winwood, who wrote their twovolume book series, Birth School Metallica Death and Into the Black, reckon they’re strapped for cash. They told literary site The Weeklings the band’s two Orion festivals, now defunct, “were disastrous financially,” and they’d only recoup a fraction of the $32 million cost of the Through The Never movie. They also run a huge entertainment complex with large salaries for staff and roadies.

VANCE JOY CREATES MORE GLOBAL RIPTIDES

Vance Joy’s Riptide continues to pick up certifications around the world. The first single from an Australian artist to spend 100 weeks inside the Top 100 of the ARIA Singles chart, it’s 3 x platinum in Canada and platinum in New Zealand, and sold 1.5 million copies in the US, where it reached #20 at Top 40 radio. The Dream Your Life Away album sold over 150,000 in the US, gold in Canada and 50,000 in Australia. The single Mess Is Mine is poised to enter the Top Ten alternate rock charts in the US and had over 3.5 million views on YouTube. Joy returns to the US for further touring, before teaming up with Taylor Swift in May for worldwide dates which sees them in Australia at the end of 2015. New single Georgia is climbing up the ARIA chart, coming with a video shot with Luci Schroder.

EUROPEAN DEAL FOR PALACE OF THE KINGS

Melbourne six-piece rock blues band Palace of the Kings have landed a European deal with Listenable Records. Their debut album, White Bird/Burn The Sky, will be released there in mid-June, after which they tour Europe in October through Teenage Head Music. The band formed in late 2012, toured nationally, cut a three-track demo and count Airbourne among their fans. They are playing this Saturday at Cherry Bar with The Ugly Kings.

COURTNEY BARNETT GETS SXSW AWARD

in concert? When 2DayFM’s Dan & Maz gave away tickets to see him play on the 2Day rooftop last Friday, the deal was listeners had to “trade in” something. Among those handed in were three invitations to weddings in October, a bar fridge, a piece of jewellery inherited from someone’s grandma, and an acoustic guitar. • While a fierce debate goes on in the US hip hop community as to how “cred” Australian-born Izzy Azalea is, Compton rapper Skeme claims he ghost wrote the lyrics to her #1 hit, Fancy. He told Sirius XM, “That’s what the [ghostwriting is] about. I’ve got a certificate and a nice arse suit and four or five plaques… We had something to do with [the words], a lot of vibe, a lot of push. We put trust funds up for that song.” • So maybe you couldn’t give a horse’s petunia if Zayn Malik left One Direction because of stress or if he got booted out because of his partying, but have a thought for Wholesale Clearance UK, an English company which spent a fortune making 1,000 full size cut-outs of the five to sell during their tour. Now they’re irrelevant, and now they’re forced to sell them for £1 each.

AUSSIES SEEK PROTECTION FROM ‘THREE STRIKES’

The proposed code by Australian ISPs and content owners – which includes a three-strikes penalty – won’t come into effect until September. But Aussies are already starting to protect their privacy by searching for the best Virtual Private Network (VPN) to gain an anonymous connection to the Internet, The Music Network reports searches have doubled in recent weeks. VPN provider TorGuard told Torrentfreak traffic has come primarily from NSW (34.04 per cent), Victoria (26.27 per cent) and Queensland (16.32 per cent). Because of this, TorGuard has added many new VPN servers in Australia and New Zealand.

SCOTT ESTATE REJECTS FINANCIAL OFFER FROM BON MOVIE

Bon Scott’s estate continues to refuse to cooperate with the unauthorised movie being made of his life. In the latest saga, it rejected an offer of financial incentive from the US producer High Voltage Productions, LLC to allow story rights. The estate’s letter, sent via Brett Oaten Solicitors in Sydney, also told producers not to contact them again. HVP responded: “Our legal team has made it quite clear that we do not even need to secure or option story rights as Mr Scott is deceased and the estate cannot preclude us from making an unauthorized biopic or docudrama.” It has announced a preliminary open casting call for roles and plans to launch a crowdfunding campaign.

Courtney Barnett, among the acts who set fire at the SXSW confab in Austin, was awarded the festival’s Developing Act Grulke Prize. Named after its late Creative Director Brent Grulke, it’s given to acts who break new ground and display the most promising careers. Previous recipients were Haim, The Flaming Lips and Damon Albarn. Barnett is getting a great response to her album, with one critic calling her the new Dylan.

Meanwhile, it’s revealed that Malcolm Young and wife O’Linda bought a $10 million Palm Beach waterfront home in Sydney. The 520sq m property sale is the biggest on the northern beaches this year. It’s expected to be used for breaks for O’Linda and their two kids while Young is in full-time day care.

MEG MAC CREATES GLOBAL INDUSTRY BUZZ

Twitter launched the Periscope app allowing people to stream from their phones to their followers on the social networking site for free. It’s a rival of Meerkat which went down a storm at SXSW recently.

Meg Mac, noted by Buzzfeed as the #1 SXSW act to watch out for and drooled over by the New York Times and Flavorwire, is now being chased by multiple publishers and booking agents from the US and UK. She’s on her first US dates with Clean Bandit behind the US release of her debut EP after signing to Lyor Cohen’s 300 Entertainment a few weeks ago. After returning to Oz for Groovin’ The Moo, she returns for more US dates in May.

THINGS WE HEAR

• Which bunch of ageing Aussie musos are talking about going on a motorbike tour through New Zealand? • Which festival is about to get some bad publicity from a charity for initially refusing to allow it to collect donations for a fundraiser, and then changing its mind when a journalist started to ask questions? • Who stole $4,000 worth of speakers from Osmanthus Garden’s Lantern Festival? • Are the hush-hush Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement talks pushing for a GST-free threshold on foreign purchases leading to online shopping in Australia becoming more expensive? • Are Ed Sheeran fans so fanatical they’d even give up going to a friend’s wedding so they can see him BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 58

TWITTER LAUNCHES STREAMING APP PERISCOPE

ABC KEEPS MUM ON TAYLOR BAN

There have been four Freedom Of Information (FOI) requests to the ABC to obtain relevant documents on why Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off was dropped from the triple j Hottest 100 list after voting put it at #12. Among the reasons given were that the track had not been played on triple j, and that the involvement in Buzzfeed Australia and KFC in urging votes for Swift contravened the rules. The ABC invoked the clause in the FOI Act that it does not have to divulge documents acquired or created when making a program.

FOUR | FOUR SIGNS BORN LION

ABC Music imprint FOUR FOUR’s latest signing is Sydney hardcore Born Lion. “We are super excited to sign with FOUR FOUR. It’s an amazing label that has had belief in this band from the beginning.” says Born Lion’s John Bowker. “To be on the same label as Tim Rogers, The Snowdroppers and Little Bastard is an honor. We’re strapped in and ready for all the rockin’ good times ahead.” Their debut album, recorded with

Sydney producer, Dave Hammer (The Snowdroppers, Die!Die!Die!, Thundamentals) is out in July.

CHRIS DOHENY DONATES ‘GALLIPOLI’ PROFITS TO RSL

Geisha’s Chris Doheny is donating all proceeds from his single Gallipoli to the RSL. It was released last ANZAC Day and played across Australia and the US to two million listeners. Coming from a family of servicemen, it was written about the servicemen and women in Australia and New Zealand who died in conflicts in the last hundred years. This year the RSL gave him permission to use the ANZAC Appeal logos and will screen the video clip on rotation throughout all the main RSL branches through 2015. Doheny performs song this ANZAC Day at Darebin RSL (early) and Waverley RSL (arvo).

TRUE NORTH ARTS FESTIVAL TEAMS WITH VCA

Darebin’s True North Arts Festival teams up with Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) to present emerging theatre works at the Compass Club venue, Darebin Entertainment Centre. This is one of the events at the festival which features musicians, writers, artists and elders through Reservoir, Thornbury and Preston between Friday April 17 and Sunday April 19. Full info www.truenorthfestival.com.au

MELBOURNE FINALISTS FOR INTERNATIONAL SONG CONTEST

A large number of Melbourne songwriters had songs chosen as finalists in the International Songwriting Competition 2015. Kimbra and Dreamers Ft. Phoebe Lou are up against each other in the pop/Top 40, music video and performance categories. Others were Vance Joy (AAA), Kingswood (rock), Apes (rock), Hamish Anderson (blues), Bertie Blackman, Louis Schoorl & Marashric (performance), Mojo Juju (pop/Top 40), Akira (pop/Top 40, and unsigned only), Peta Jeffress of Peta And The Wolves (adult contemporary), Gretta Ziller (Americana), Vita Adam, Jeremy Fowler and Luke Batterbury (gospel/ Christian), Shane Timmo (lyrics only), Rita Satch (performance), Jaron Natoli (teen), Bec & Sebastian (unsigned only), Canary (unsigned only), Howqua (music video) and Belbel (music video).

CHILD HEADING TO EUROPE

Melbourne blues trio Child are setting off to tour Europe after the vinyl edition of their self-titled debut album through Nuclear Blast Europe sold out. Child have been touring the traps for the last three years.

5SOS SIGN US BAND TO LABEL

In the way they got a helping hand from One Direction, Sydney’s 5 Seconds of Summer have signed US pop punk band Hey Violet to their Hi or Hey Records. 5SOS posted on Facebook that since setting it up last year, “We’ve been looking for a band we really believe in and whose music we love.”

VIVID COPS CRITICISM OVER MALE DOMINATED BILL

The Listen Collective, a group including active and vocal female musicians, have added to the chorus of criticism against Vivid Live bill. Of its 150 acts, there were only two bands featuring women (The Drones, The Preatures) and one female solo act, George Maple. Listen founder Evelyn Morris said, “It’s disappointing to see this lineup at a festival that purports to be ‘cutting edge’ and ‘ground breaking.’ Within The Listen collective, in Australia, we see a lot of women and gender diverse people making exciting, challenging and relevant music. It’s inconceivable to me that these voices are deemed irrelevant, and it’s truly mind boggling that, when given access to a variety of musicians across the world, Vivid choose to book a lineup so lacking in diversity.” Among Listen’s members are Beaches, Chicks on Speed, Love of Diagrams and Pikelet, as well as many from the experimental scene.

ED SHEERAN LAUNCHES GINGERBREAD

While on tour in Australia, Ed Sheeran revealed that his record label (to be distributed through Warner) is called Gingerbread. Its first signing is Jamie Lawson,

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LIFELINES Split: Ed Sheeran admitted on Australian radio it’s over between he and Athina Andrelos (she works for celebrity chef Jamie Oliver) after a year, following rows including one at the BRITs over his endless touring. Split: One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson and Eleanor Calder after four years. Recovering: Perth guitarist Errol Tout, 55, is back performing after battling kidney and liver cancer over the past two years. A month ago he had eye surgery to relieve tension created by a benign tumor lodged in his brain. Hospitalised: Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship founding member Paul Kantner, 71, from a suspected heart attack. Charged: Slipknot guitarist Mickael Thomson over the brawl he had with his brother Andrew, for which both were hospitalised with stab wounds. Fined: Sydney man Stewart Robert Duffy, aka Wodger Stew Duffy, a total of $4,000 for holding a doof for 330 ravers in a national park near Newcastle last June and scaring wildlife. Rangers began to investigate after four passing campers tried to sneak in, and one fell 60 metres. He had to be rescued by helicopter and suffered a dislocated shoulder and internal injuries. Fined: a rave party promoter was fined $1,500 by Clarence Valley Council NSW over an unauthorised rave this month to 1,800. The Council has been cracking down on such raves, warning property owners they can be fined $100,000 for allowing their land to be used for these. In Court: country singer Luke O’Shea and his father Rick escaped with no convictions from Narrabri Court. They were arrested at a January 27 protest against Whitehaven Coal’s water pump facility was using 300 litres per tonne of coal from Maules Creek, causing problems for farmers. In Court: Beastie Boys won a lawsuit by TufAmerica over two samples used on two tracks their Paul’s Boutique album on behalf of ‘80s Washington DC R&B group, Trouble Funk. The judge didn’t dismiss the case on copyright infringement, but on the technicality that TufAmerica had no exclusive deal with Trouble Funk and hence no right to represent them. Suing: a 24-year old kicked out of a Social Distortion concert in Eugene, America takes action against two cops who tasered him when he was on his knees surrendering. The music fan was jailed for six days for bad behavior. Died: Boyd Groenveld, chairman of 5THE FM in Millicent, SA, after a yearlong battle with a brain tumor. He was known as a solicitor who gave free advice to local music groups, arts groups and acts. Died: UK singer Lil’ Chris, 24, of Gene Simmons’ TV show Rock School. Died: UK folk guitarist and songwriter John Renbourn, 70, best known for his work with Pentangle which he founded with Bert Jsnsch. His body was found at home by police after he failed to turn up to a gig. Died: Gabriela Lujan Maumus, 28, bassist with Argentine shoegaze band Asalto Al Parque Zoologico was among those who perished in the Germanwings plane crash in the Alps.

who has been opening on his dates. Sheeran said he launched the label and Lawson in Australia “because Australia is a country that I feel would really dig Jamie. I’ve known Jamie for about five or six years. He’s a phenomenal talent.” He’ll pick up acts on his tours, so one wonders if an Aussie act is set for a signing and ride on his influence. During his Sydney visit, Sheeran surprised a couple by singing Thinking Out Loud at their wedding. Kya and Matt Debono, who’d been having some family and financial problems, had their $80,000 wedding paid for by KiisFM’s Kyle & Jackie O. They then got the singer/songwriter to drop in to play his unofficial wedding song. “Make lots of babies,” he told them after he sang the song, posed for pics and left.