Sat 12 Sept 5pm
DAVIDSON BROTHERS
Those award-winning brothers in bluegrass are back for a fast-pluckin’ ride of superlative bluegrass and mayhem.
Sat 12 Sept 9pm
THE DETONATORS Highly fuelled roots rock and roll. The Dets are original roots rockers that get the joint jumpin’.
Sun 13 Sept 3.30pm
ALICE WILLIAMS
You may know her from Cal Walker & the Major Dudes. Here she plays eclectic acoustic folk/rock.
Sun 13 Sept, 5pm
JVG GUITAR METHOD
The Joooooons are in town, featuring a highly JVG from RRR, Mark Ferrie from the RocKwiz Orkestra, Ash Davies from drum heaven and Dale Lindrea from bass hell.
Tuesdays:
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VOTE NOW TO DECIDE THIS YEAR’S WINNER OF MELBOURNE MUSIC BANK. If you’re serious about your music, vote in the competition that’s serious about helping artists kick-start their careers. Voting closes 27th September at 5pm. Go to bankofmelbourne.com.au/melbmusicbank. CREATED by
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BOM 0239 MMB_2phase_MixdownFP_FA.indd 1
28/08/2015 5:18 pm
in this issue
20
Hot Talk / free shit
24
touring
26
Bring me the horizon
28
What’s on,
the sleeping beauty,
Giveaway
30 art of the city,
the comic strip,
calendar 32
dance of the bee,
a drone opera, company 34 peter combe, muff,
Film review: STRAIGHT
OUTTA COMPTON
35
out of the closet,
beat eats 36
beats
37
brother ali
38
tijuana cartel,
sol nation,
jemma nicole
BROTHER ALI page 37
HOWQUA page 40 JAMES GRIM WOODCUTTERS
page 39
39
james grim woodcutters
40
howqua,
LUNA,
SHE’S THE DRIVER 41
MAX WATT’S
42
CIRCA SURVIVE,
ORSOME WELLES,
BUSY KINGDOM
43
CORE / CRUNCH,
FIDLAR
44
MUSIC NEWS
48 lIVE 50
album OF THE WEEK /
SINGLES / CHARTS
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
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 18
albumS
52
gig guide / GIG BITS / ALL AGES
56
BACKSTAGE / LOCAL
58
industrial strength
LUNA page 40
JEMMA NICOLE page 38 3 NEWTON STREET RICHMOND, VICTORIA 3121 Phone: (03) 9428 3600 Fax: (03) 9428 3611 email: info@beat.com.au www.beat.com.au
51
ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE & EDITORIAL COORDINATORs: Tegan Louise, Thom Parry SUB EDITOR: Augustus Welby EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS: Michael Clark, Cassie Hedger, Lauren Gill, Gloria Brancatisano, Kelsey Berry, Thomas Brand. PUZZLE MASTER: Thom Parry MANAGING DIRECTOR, FURST MEDIA: Patrick Carr BEAT PRODUCTION MANAGER: Michael Cusack GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: Michael Cusack, Andrew Rozen, Lizzie Dynon. COVER DESIGN: Michael Cusack Advertising: Cara Williams (Music: Bands/Tours/Record Labels) cara@beat.com.au Keats Mulligan (Backstage/Musical Equipment) mixdown@ beat.com.au Thom Parry (Hospitality/Bars) thom@beat.com.au Tegan Louise (Indie Bands/Beat Eats) tegan@beat.com.au Classifieds: classifieds@beat.com.au GIG GUIDE SUBMISSIONS: now online at www.beat.com.au or bands email gigguide@beat.com.au ONLINE EDITOR: BEAT.COM.AU Tyson Wray: tyson@beat.com.au
ACCOUNTANT: accountant@furstmedia.com.au OFFICE MANAGER: Lizzie Dynon: lizzie@furstmedia.com.au ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE: Luke Forester: accounts@furstmedia.com.au RECEPTION: reception@furstmedia.com.au distribution: distribution@beat.com.au Free Every Wednesday to over 2000 places including convenience stores, newsagents, ticket outlets, shopping centres, community youth & welfare outlets, clubs, hotels, venues, record, music and video shops, boutiques, retailers, bars, restaurants, cafes, bookstores, hairdressers, recording studios, cinemas, theatres, galleries, universities and colleges. Wanna get BEAT? Email distribution@beat.com.au CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Mary Boukouvalas, Ben Gunzburg, Anna Kanci, Cassandra Kiely, Charles Newbury, Richard Sharman, Tony Proudfoot, Laura May Grogan, Mark Stanjo, David Harris, Emily Day, Maddison Pitt SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR: Christie Eliezer SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR: Patrick Emery SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER: Ian Laidlaw COLUMNISTS: Emily Kelly, Peter Hodgson, Lachlan Kanoniuk BEAT TV/WATT’S ON PRESENTER: Dan Watt
CONTRIBUTORS: Kelsey Berry, Graham Blackley, Gloria Brancatisano, Chris Bright, Avrille Bylock-Collard, Meg Crawford, Alexander Crowden, Liza Dezfouli, Jules Douglas, Alexandra Duguid, Alasdair Duncan, Cam Ewart, Callum Fitzpatrick, Jack Franklin, Emma Gawd, Lauren Gill, Chris Girdler, Joe Hansen, Chris Harms, Andrew Hickey, Nick Hilton, Peter Hodgson, Lachlan Kanoniuk, Cassandra Kiely, Billy Killing, Joshua Kloke, Jody Macgregor, Wayne Marshall, Nick Mason, Denver Maxx, Krystal Maynard, Paul McBride, Miki Mclay, Rhys McRae, James Nicoli, Adam Norris, Jack Parsons, Sasha Petrova, Liam Pieper, Zoe Radas, Leigh Salter, Sisqo Taras, Kelly Theobald, Tamara Vogl, Dan Watt, Krissi Weiss, Augustus Welby, Garry Westmore, Rod Whitfield, Jen Wilson, Thomas Brand, Alex Watts, Tyson Wray, David James Young, Simone Ziada, Bronius Zumeris. DEADLINES Editorial copy accepted no later than 5pm Thursday before publication for club listings, arts, gig guide etc. Advertising copy accepted no later than 12pm Monday before publication. Print ready art by 2pm Monday. Deadlines are strictly adhered to. © 2015 Furst Media Pty Ltd. No part may be reproduced without the consent of the copyright holder.
VOTE NOW TO DECIDE THIS YEAR’S WINNER OF MELBOURNE MUSIC BANK - Head to bankofmelbourne.com.au/melbmusicbank
FREE $HIT SOL NATION
AWME ANNOUNCES SECOND ROUND OF ARTISTS MELBOURNE MUSIC WEEK ANNOUNCE TWO INTERNATIONAL ACTS Today, the City of Melbourne have announced two major acts that'll be gracing the Melbourne Music Week (MMW) bill ahead of the full program announcement on Wednesday October 7. San Franciscan psych-rock royalty The Brian Jonestown Massacre and Berlin's sound-art genius Robert Henke of Monolake fame will both perform at MMW. The Brian Jonestown Massacre will bring the Melbourne Town Hall to life with two hours of BJM bliss, melding their mind-expanding, hypnotic psych rock with the venue's historic Grand Organ – harnessing 90,000 cubic feet of air every minute to manipulate the sounds of almost 10,000 pipes across three Town Hall floors – on Sunday November 15. Meanwhile, legendary German sound artist Robert Henke, who is responsible for groundbreaking techno productions under the Monolake moniker, will perform the Australian premiere and exclusive MMW performance of Lumière II at Melbourne Recital Centre on Thursday November 19. A presentation on the edge of concert and visual arts, Lumière II explores the limits of what lasers can do, pushing the medium to an extreme in an ecstatic performance for both performer and audience. In a separate event for MMW on Friday November 20, Robert Henke Examines Lumière II will go behind the scenes to examine the history of Henke’s laser works, starting with his Fragile Territories installation, which will point a lens at the aesthetic challenges of the Lumière II project and include details of the code developed by Henke to drive the lasers and the interaction between the sound and the visual elements. These two world class musical outfits will join a collection of local Melbourne and Australian performers, alongside a selection of international guests at MMW from Friday November 13 till Friday November 20. Tickets for The Brian Jonestown Massacre and Robert Henke’s Lumière II are available from 10am on Wednesday September 9 on the MMW website.
YEO DROPS NEW SINGLE, LOCKS IN EAST COAST TOUR
TINY LITTLE HOUSES TEAR YOUR HEARTS OUT
Yeo has announced a run of east coast shows to celebrate the release of his latest single, Icarus. The single follows a busy 18 months for the Melbourne producer. As well as gracing the stages of many festivals across the country, Yeo has recently played his first international shows at Canadian Music Week, along with headliners in New York and Los Angeles. Catch Yeo at Shebeen on Saturday October 17. Tickets are on sale through the venue.
To celebrate their debut EP release, You Tore Out My Heart, Melbourne's Tiny Little Houses will head off around the country on a national tour. Tiny Little Houses will launch their EP at Shebeen on Friday October 16. Tickets are on sale through the venue.
JEMMA & THE CLIFTON HILLBILLIES LOCK IN ALBUM L AUNCH SHOW Melbourne alt-country extraordinaires Jemma & The Clifton Hillbillies are set to release their debut full-length album at the Northcote Social club in October. You may recognise the band, who've been gigging around the place since 2012, as their previous incarnation as Jemma & Her Wise, Young, Ambitious Men. Now, Jemma & The Clifton Hillbillies will launch their record on Sunday October 4 at the Northcote Social club. Grab your tickets through Ticketscout.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 20
The 2015 edition of the annual Australasian Worldwide Music Expo (AWME) has grown in size with their second announcement of performing artists. Boasting one of the largest lineups in the festival's eight year history, the 2015 incarnation with showcase over 500 local and international of acts. Joining the already huge lineup will be none other than Jess Ribeiro, Cash Savage & The Last Drinks, Rat & Co, The Audreys, HOWQUA, The Meltdowns, The Seven Ups, John Bennett, Yirrmal and Pirra. AWME 2015 will soon be announcing their list of high profile keynote speakers as part of this year’s Conference Program, too, so keep your eyes on Beat for more info. Early bird AWME passes are available now until Friday October 2 via www.awme.com.au.
BL ACK SABBATH CALL IT QUITS, REVEAL FINAL MELBOURNE SHOW Last week, Facebook erupted with the announcement that the greatest metal band in history, Black Sabbath, will embark on their final tour next year. Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler will slay the Rod Laver Arena stage on Tuesday April 19, bidding farewell to Australian fans and closing the final volume of the greatest metal band in history's story. Full ticket details will be announced via the Live Nation website on Thursday September 10.
LOREN KATE ANNOUNCES N E W S I N G L E , E P, NATIONAL TOUR
TEX PERKINS AND CHARLIE OWEN IN INTIMATE DING DONG SHOWCASE
Off the back of her Telstra Road to Discovery last year, Loren Kate has announced the release of her new single, When You Leave and EP, Til The Night Meets The Sun.Kate will be celebrating with a recording trip and a few gigs in Nashville, Tennessee in September before returning home for a national tour in October. She’s locked in a show on Wednesday October 14 at The Toff In Town. Grab tickets from the venue's website.
Tex Perkins and Charlie Owen will be performing as a duo for an intimate show at Ding Dong Lounge on Sunday October 4, for a one-off, three-course dinner and show. The evening will be catered by Girl With The Gris Gris’ Head Chef Chris Weysham. There's less than 70 spaces available, so it'd be worth getting your tickets early. It all goes down on Sunday October 4. Tickets are available via Ding Dong Lounge’s website.
GOLD CLASS LOCK IN MELBOURNE SHOW Melbourne's Gold Class have announced a headline show to celebrate the release of their debut album It's You. They'll warm up crowds supporting The Garden and The Fall before hitting up The Tote on Friday October 9 to officially launch the album. Tickets are on sale through the venue.
Melbourne’s bombastic sevenpiece Sol Nation are hitting the road off the back of their debut album Melting Pot and guess what? Beat’s got a bundle of double passes to give away to their gig at Rubix Warehouse on Saturday September 12. If reggae, samba, funk, salsa, East Timorese folksong and African dance music sounds like your bag, visit beat. com.au/freeshit to get yourself along to the show.
MELBOURNE SKA ORCHESTRA LOCK IN 2015 MELBOURNE SHOW Melbourne Ska Orchestra are heading back out on the road. Later this month the group are set to release their latest single Satellite, which is lifted from their forthcoming sophomore album SierraKilo-Alpha, which is slated for release in February through FOUR|FOUR. You'll get your first chance to hear new material from them live when they embark on a national tour this October. Catch them at the Prince Bandroom on Friday October 16. Tickets via their website.
D AV E L O M B A R D O L O C K S I N H E AV Y METAL DRUM SHOW Founding member of Slayer, Dave Lombardo, is heading to Australian shores this October to discuss his extensive musical career. Alongside his performances with Slayer, Lombardo’s recent achievements include recording the drum tracks for Californication (Season 7) alongside Tyler Bates, lending his talent to the soundtrack of Insideous: Chapter 3 at the side of composer Joseph Bishara, performing with a 75-piece orchestra by request of esteemed composer Christopher Young, and writing a score for a soon to be released Disney pilot. Catch ‘The Godfather of Double Bass’ when he hits Allans Billy Hide on Tuesday October 20. Tickets available from Allans Billy Hyde.com.au.
R E F U S E D J O I N S O U N D WAV E B I L L Another band has been confirmed for the 2016 incarnation of Soundwave. Punk icons Refused are the latest band to join the drip-fed lineup, which already includes Bullet For My Valentine, Dead Letter Circus and Failure. After spanning two days in 2015, the festival will return to a one-day format next year. The Melbourne leg of the festival will fill the empty space left by Big Day Out, running on Australia Day. Soundwave 2016 will be held on Tuesday January 26 in Melbourne. Visit the Soundwave website for tickets for more information.
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WEDNESDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER
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TOURING
WHO'S ON TOUR, WHERE AND WHEN
For all the latest tour dates check out beat.com.au
international JOSHUA RADIN Corner Hotel September 9 SCOTT BRADLEE’S POST MODERN JUKEBOX The Forum September 9 THE STORY SO FAR Max Watts September 11 LOWER CLASS BRATS Bendigo Hotel September 12 ANGIE The Curtin September 12 DEATH DEALER The Hi-Fi September 13 LUNA Northcote Social Club September 17 SAINT JUDE Shadow Electric September 19 KATCHAFIRE Max Watt’s September 19, Brunswick Hotel October 1 CIRCA SURVIVE 170 Russell September 20, September 21 (AA) SLEEPING WITH SIRENS 170 Russell September 22 LOS CORONAS The Gasometer September 24, Cherry Bar September 25 BILAL Prince Bandroom September 24 CANCER BATS The Bendigo Hotel September 24 THE GARDEN The John Curtin Hotel September 24 JOAN BAEZ Arts Centre Hammer Hall September 24 BIG K.R.I.T Max Watt’s September 24 STORMZY 524 Flinders September 25 SEBASTIAN BACH The Forum September 25 DEVIN THE DUDE Laundry Bar September 25 LISTEN OUT FESTIVAL Catani Gardens September 26 MAROON 5 Rod Laver Arena September 26 PENNYWISE 170 Russell September 28 BAHAMAS Howler September 30 WHITE FANG The Curtin October 1 GORILLA BISCUITS The Reverence Hotel October 1 REEL BIG FISH + LESS THAN JAKE Prince Bandroom October 1 AS IT IS The Evelyn Hotel October 1 (AA), October 2 CHUNK! NO, CAPTAIN CHUNK! Max Watt’s October 3 JJ GREY & MOFRO Northcote Social Club October 7 SILENT KNIGHT The Bendigo October 8 KISS Rod Laver Arena October 8, October 10 JAAKKO EINO KALEVI National Gallery of Victoria October 9 SICK OF IT ALL Corner Hotel October 9 KIASMOS Foxtel Festival Hub, Melbourne Festival October 9 CLINT MANSELL Melbourne Recital Centre October 10, 11 BABYLON CIRCUS Foxtel Festival Hub, Melbourne Festival October 10 HAMMERFALL 170 Russell October 13 LIFEHOUSE The Forum October 15 HELLOWEEN Metro Theatre October 16 COLM MAC CON IOMAIRE Foxtel Festival Hub, Melbourne Festival October 16, 17 BRANDT BRAUER FRICK Foxtel Festival Hub, Melbourne Festival October 17 OUT ON THE WEEKEND Seaworks, Williamstown October 17 SNOT Corner Hotel October 17 MEGADETH Festival Hall October 19 BIGBANG Rod Laver Arena October 21 RHYE Foxtel Festival Hub, Melbourne Festival October 21, 22 THE EXPERIMENT Merlyn Theatre October 21-24 JAI WOLF Howler October 22 ROBBIE WILLIAMS Rod Laver Arena October 22 – 24 ELDER AND EARTHLESS The Corner October 23 THOUSAND FOOT KRUTCH Max Watt’s October 23 THE RIPTIDE MOVEMENT Max Watt’s October 24 THE FIELD Foxtel Festival Hub, Melbourne Festival October 23 THE FALL Foxtel Festival Hub, Melbourne Festival October 23 – 25 DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT 170 Russell October 25 SOULFEST Sidney Myer Music Bowl October 25 DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT 170 Russell October 25, 26 NEIL DIAMOND Rod Laver Arena October 27 CANNED HEAT Corner Hotel October 29 ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK Palais Theatre October 29 10CC The Palms at Crown October 30 HOZIER Palais Theatre October 30 AT THE GATES Friday October 30 PULLED APART BY HORSES Ding Dong Lounge October 30, 31 ANATHEMA Corner Hotel October 31 AUDRA MCDONALD Hamer Hall October 31 DAY OF THE DEAD TBA October 31 HIGHLANDS FESTIVAL Yea October 31 – November 2 DAVID GUETTA Hisense Arena November 2 FLEETWOOD MAC Rod Laver Arena November 2, 4, Mt Dundeed Estate November 7 THE RUBBERBANDITS Max Watt’s November 6 NAUGHTY BY NATURE Trak Lounge November 6 THE DARKNESS Forum Theatre November 7 THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS Forum Theatre November 7 FLORENCE + THE MACHINE Sidney Myer Music Bowl November 10, 11 AUSTRALASIAN WORLD MUSIC EXPO Various Venues November 12 – 15 BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 24
THE TEA PARTY Palais Theatre November 13 MUMFORD & SONS Sidney Myer Music Bowl November 13 THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE Melbourne Town Hall November 15 POKÉMON SYMPHONIC EVOLUTIONS Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre November 13 HAUSCHKA Melbourne Recital Centre November 17 DEF LEPPARD Rod Laver Arena November 18 THE BEACH BOYS Palais Theatre November 18 LIVE The Forum November 19 ROBERT HENKE Melbourne Recital Centre, November 19 HANK MARVIN MEMO Music Hall November 21, 22 NILE Corner Hotel November 21 UB40 The Forum November 24 CALIFORNIA HONEYDROPS Caravan Music Club November 25, Northcote Social Club November 26 EARTHCORE Pyalong, Victoria November 26 – 30 MARLON WILLIAMS Prince Bandroom November 27 RON SEXSMITH MEMO Music Hall November 27, Northcote Social Club November 28 RISE AGAINST Margaret Court Arena December 2 GOAT + KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD The Croxton December 4 LAGWAGON Max Watt’s December 4 CHRIS CORNELL The Palais December 4 THE CORONAS Corner Hotel December 4 THE HOTELIER The Reverence Hotel December 4 ED SHEERAN AAMI Park December 5 STEREOSONIC Melbourne Showgrounds December 5 RATATAT 170 Russell December 6 UNWRITTEN LAW The Corner Hotel December 6 MERCURY REV Max Watt’s December 8 SAM SMITH Rod Laver Arena December 8 HALESTORM 170 Russell December 8 YELAWOLF Max Watt’s December 9 SHELLAC Corner Hotel December 9, 10 JESSICA PRATT Northcote Social Club December 10 FATHER JOHN MISTY The Forum December 10 BULLY Howler December 10 JULIA HOLTER Howler December 11 THE MISFITS Max Watt’s December 11 TAYLOR SWIFT AAMI Park December 11 MEREDITH MUSIC FESTIVAL Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre December 11-13 ELTON JOHN Rod Laver Arena December 11, Mt Duneed Estate December 12 THE EXPLOITED Max Watt’s December 12 UNCLE ACID & THE DEADBEATS Corner Hotel December 13 A DAY TO REMEMBER + THE AMITY AFFLICTION Rod Laver Arena December 17 FALLS FESTIVAL Lorne December 28 – January 1 GROUNDSWELL FESTIVAL Lake Tyers Beach January 2 NIGHTWISH The Forum Monday January 11 THE 1975 Festival Hall January 20 SOUNDWAVE 2016 TBA January 26 JAMES BAY Festival Hall February 3 SOILWORK 170 Russell February 16 REGGAE ROYALTY Palais Theatre February 18 JD MCPHERSON Corner Hotel February 19 FAT FREDDY’S DROP The Forum February 19 MADONNA Rod Laver Arena March 12, 13 BLACK SABBATH Rod Laver Arena April 19 JOSH GROBAN Palais Theatre April 25
national THE WHITLAMS The Corner September 10, 11 ORSOME WELLS The Workers Club, September 11 URBAN SPREAD 5 Plaza Tavern September 10, Chelsea Heights Hotel September 11, The Village Green September 12 SPEEDBALL Cherry Bar September 11, Woody’s Attic Dive September 12 THE CACTUS CHANNEL Shebeen Bandroom September 11 ACOUSTICANA MEMO Music Hall September 11 I’LLS Northcote Social Club September 12 ECCA VANDAL The Workers Club September 12 PERCH CREEK Howler September 12 THE JUNGLE GIANTS The Corner September 12 SOL NATION Rubix Warehouse September 12 HELEN RYDER The Toff In Town September 13 SCOTDRAKULA, CABLE TIES + SHRIMPWITCH Old Bar September 14 THIRSTY MERC Caravan Club September 14, MEMO Music Hall September 16 COSMIC PSYCHOS 170 Russell September 18 TIJUANA CARTEL Max Watt’s September 18 RAE HOWELL MEMO Music Hall September 18 DUSTIN TEBBUTT The Corner September 18 TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY The LuWow September 19 THE SNOWDROPPERS Northcote Social Club September 19 SLUM SOCIABLE Shebeen September 19 THE SMITH STREET BAND The Corner September 19, 20 BIG STRONG BRUTE The Evelyn Hotel September 20 A STATE OF GRACE: THE MUSIC OF TIM AND
proudly presents Ngaiire
nov 12-15
AUSTRALIAN WORLDWIDE MUSIC EXPO
Various Venues SEPT 11
oct 9
nov 20-22
JEFF BUCKLEY Melbourne Recital Centre September 23, 29 LITTLE MAY The Corner September 24 BLIND MAN DEATH STARE Bendigo Hotel September 25, Reverence Hotel November 20 FLYYING COLOURS Hugs and Kisses September 26 HAVE/HOLD Public Bar September 26 PARKWAY DRIVE Festival Hall September 26 JESS RIBEIRO Northcote Social Club September 26 MEG MAC The Corner September 27 DOGAPALOOZA Burnley Park, Richmond September 27 SKEGSS Grace Darling October 1 YOU AM I The Croxton October 1 THE STIFFYS The Tote October 1 LAST DINOSAURS The Corner October 1 THE DRONES AND AUGIE MARCH The Croxton October 2 CHOPPED FESTIVAL Newstead Racecourse October 2-4 MAT MCHUGH The Corner October 2 THE MEANIES The Tote October 2 THE PEEP TEMPLE + BATPISS Yah Yah’s October 2, Cherry Bar October 3 CITY CALM DOWN Howler October 3 TKAY MAIDZA Wrangler Studios (U18), Corner Hotel October 3 BODYJAR Northcote Social Club October 3 TEX PERKINS AND CHARLIE OWEN Ding Dong Lounge October 4 BEN LEE The Corner October 7 THE BEARDS The Corner October 8 COLUMBUS Reverence Hotel October 9 HANDS LIKE HOUSES Northcote Social Club October 9 ÁINE TYRRELL Shadow Electric October 9 PORT FAIRY SPRING MUSIC FESTIVAL Port Fairy October 9 - 11 THE RUBENS The Forum October 9 MAGIC AMERICA The Curtin October 9 AT THE DAKOTA Grace Darling October 9 GOLD CLASS The Tote October 9 HEAVY AND HAMMERED The Tote October 10 GAY PARIS Cherry Bar October 10 BASENJI Howler October 10 OUTLAND BROTHERS The Thornbury Local October 10 KISSCHASY The Corner October 10 VALLIS ALPS Northcote Social Club October 10 KIRIN J CALLINAN Foxtel Festival Hub, Melbourne Festival October 11 2015 SEED FUNDRAISER CONCERT Athenaeum Theatre October 12 THE BASICS Foxtel Festival Hub, Melbourne Festival October 13, 14 LOON LAKE The Corner October 14 THE BOMBAY ROYALE Foxtel Festival Hub, Melbourne Festival October 15 GRAND DIVISIONS Arts Centre October 15 – 17 PETE MURRAY Trak Lounge Bar October 16 MELBOURNE SKA ORCHESTRA Prince Bandroom October 16 THY ART IS MURDER The Corner October 16 LIOR The Athenaeum Theatre October 16 WORLD’S END PRESS Howler October 17 FLIGHT FACILITIES & THE MSO Sidney Myer Music Bowl October 17 KATIE NOONAN’S VANGUARD Foxtel Festival Hub, Melbourne Festival October 17, 18 LAURA MARLING Hamer Hall October 19 GEORGE MAPLE Foxtel Festival Hub, Melbourne Festival October 20 RUFUS The Forum October 22, 23 2015 CARLTON DRY INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS Meat Market North Melbourne October 22
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IVAN OOZE The Workers Club October 23 DAREBIN MUSIC FEAST Various Venues October 23 – November 1 THE PAPER KITES 170 Russell October 23 CITIZEN KAY Shebeen October 23 RÜFÜS The Forum October 23 AINSLIE WILLS Howler October 23 THE OCEAN PARTY The Tote October 24 CUT COPY DJS Foxtel Festival Hub, Melbourne Festival October 24 BAD//DREEMS Northcote Social Club October 24 THE WAIFS Palais Theatre October 24 DRUNK MUMS Howler October 24 SWAGGER MUSIC FESTIVAL Wandiligong October 24 – 25 LOVE STREET MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL Howler October 25 PONY FACE Darebin Arts & Entertainment Centre October 28 CHET FAKER Sidney Myer Music Bowl October 30 MY FRIEND THE CHOCOLATE CAKE Melbourne Recital Centre October 31 WOODLOCK Northcote Social Club November 1 JAMES REYNE The Corner November 2 DROWNING HORSE The Curtin November 6, The Tote November 7 JOY. Shebeen November 6 MONTAIGNE Northcote Social Club November 6 TUKA The Corner November 6 NORTHLANE 170 Russell November 6, 7 (U18) CW STONEKING Thornbury Theatre November 6, Corner Hotel November 7 MSO BACK TO THE FUTURE LIVE The Plenary November 6, 7 JAMGRASS FESTIVAL Spotted Mallard November 6, Bundoora Park November 7 TAME IMPALA Sidney Myer Music Bowl November 7 MOJO JUJU Max Watt’s November 12, Caravan Music Club November 14 CRAYON FIELDS Howler November 14 THE BENNIES The Corner November 20 THE BELLIGERENTS Northcote Social Club November 20 PIERCE BROTHERS 170 Russell November 20 COLD CHISEL Hanging Rock Reserve November 21 MY DISCO The Shadow Electric November 21 PANACEA FESTIVAL Riverview, Tatong, November 20-22 BRITISH INDIA The Forum November 27 ROBERT FORSTER Thornbury Theatre November 27 PARADISE MUSIC FESTIVAL Lake Mountain Alpine Resort, November 27-29 HERMITUDE Festival Hall November 28 QUEENSCLIFF MUSIC FESTIVAL Queenscliff November 27 - 29 AC/DC Etihad Stadium December 6 PAUL KELLY PRESENTS THE MERRI SOUL SESSIONS A Day On The Green December 6 LUCINDA WILLIAMS A Day On The Green December 7 UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA Corner Hotel December 8 XMAS EVEN The Evelyn Hotel December 19 – 20 NYE ON THE HILL December 31 – January 1 COURTNEY BARNETT Palais Theatre January 22 MSO PRESENT HITCHCOCK AND HERRMANN Hamer Hall February 5, 6 ST KILDA FESTIVAL St Kilda February 6 - 14
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BRING ME THE HORIZON LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL By Michael Edney
Bring Me The Horizon fans have been consistently surprised by the band’s releases, as each album has sounded reasonably different from the last. From the thrash metal roots of Count Your Blessings, up to the ominous keyboards in Sempiternal, the Sheffield band has undergone a remarkable transformation over the years, which has led them to become all the more popular. Yet, with their latest album, That’s The Spirit, Bring Me The Horizon have taken an extraordinary leap into unfamiliar territory. As evidenced by the massive triple j support for their single Happy Song, Bring Me The Horizon are set to reach bigger heights than ever before.
“I guess our fans are used to being surprised by what we do now,” says vocalist Oli Sykes. “That’s The Spirit is not really an exception; it doesn’t really sound anything like Sempiternal. We have felt like we progressed as songwriters as we wrote Sempiternal, and to me I think we got there writing something we felt more comfortable with. It has just been a constant learning curve. None of us were musicians when we started this band so we learnt how to write, and we got better at it progressively. We are always learning, and we always will. “I think a big thing for us is we took our time and we never did anything we didn’t want to do. We really wanted to make a record that wasn’t just for people in our scene. It doesn’t matter what music you listen to, we just wanted to make a rock album that could really break into the mainstream and appeal to anyone. That’s The Spirit doesn’t have your breakdowns and your metal riffs like Sempiternal had, and I think that is just because we have really pushed metal to its capacity.” Despite Sykes’ confidence, there’s no denying Bring Me The Horizon have taken a big leap of faith with That’s The Spirit. Musically, it still has riffs strong enough to inspire circle pits, however the noticeable absence of screamed vocals could leave fans divided. “We do want to appeal to the mainstream,” says Sykes. “But everything we have done on the record was done for a reason – and it is not being done for any other reason than it works for the songs. It’s weird, when we started writing, we were like, ‘There is hardly any screaming on this record’. But every time we tried to put it in, it felt forced. It felt like we were doing it for the sake of it. We had this experiment one day where we just wrote this all out heavy song – something that would have fit in on Sempiternal. But for this record, it didn’t feel like us, it wasn’t working. We aren’t trying to send this message this time. We haven’t got this straight up anger. There is so much more emotion that had to be illustrated, and just screaming one note wasn’t going to cut it, and it felt weird.” Given the centrality of screaming to the band’s previous records, fans could interpret their exclusion from That’s The Spirit as ‘selling out’. However, Sykes is adamant that throughout the whole songwriting process, Bring Me The Horizon didn’t deviate from their core values. “We are obviously really proud of the music,” he says. “We knew that we were doing it all for the right reasons. We weren’t doing it just to become a bigger band; we were doing it because we can really write better music this way. We can really do something special and unique, and it wasn’t just for the sake of it. At the same time, we have got those old songs, and we knew that, but we wanted to try and challenge ourselves to write music that hits people heavily in different ways.” Whether you listen to metal or not, you can’t avoid BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 26
the Bring Me The Horizon frontman posing on the front cover of every music magazine around. However, the spotlight became too much for Sykes to handle, leading him into his darkest moments. One year ago Sykes shocked the music world when he stepped up to receive the award for Best Album at the inaugural AP Music Awards and admitted to his addiction to the drug ketamine – an addiction he’s been battling for a number of years. It’s this turning point in Sykes’ life that inspired That’s The Spirit.
“YOU BASICALLY AREN’T GIVEN A CHOICE IN REHAB TO OVERCOME ADDICTION. YOU PRETTY MUCH GET BETTER ON THEIR TERMS WITH THE 12-STEP PROGRAM WHERE YOU HAND YOURSELF OVER TO GOD, AND YOU APOLOGISE FOR THIS AND THAT, AND ACCEPT THAT YOU’RE A DRUG ADDICT, AND THAT THE REST OF YOUR LIFE WILL BE A STRUGGLE BECAUSE OF DRUGS. FOR ME, I THOUGHT, ‘FUCK THAT, THIS IS NOT WHAT IT IS ABOUT’.” “It was very important to me to figure out how to deal with sadness, my emotions, and my insecurities to overcome drugs,” he says. “You basically aren’t given a choice in rehab to overcome addiction. You pretty much get better on their terms with the 12step program where you hand yourself over to God, and you apologise for this and that, and accept that you’re a drug addict, and that the rest of your life will be a struggle because of drugs. For me, I thought, ‘Fuck that, this is not what it is about’. I didn’t always want drugs. At one time drugs scared the shit out of me, I didn’t want to touch them. I wanted to get back to that place.” Sykes admits it was a very emotional journey to get to this point, and there was a lot to learn about his own image during the recovering phase. However, this transition has made him stronger than ever. “To get back to that point was very important because I figured out why I was taking these drugs. It was all to do with this band and the way I had been built up in
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the media. Some people fucking hated me, and some people worshipped me like a god. I though that I could never live up to the unrealistic image that magazines and the media create of me. I used to beat myself up so much because of that. Everyday I just wasn’t how people thought I was in both respects. That’s what made me want to take drugs in the end. Instead of not fucking dealing with it, I’m just not going to feel it whatsoever; I’m just going to numb myself. So that’s what the whole album is about. It’s more about things I have realised or noticed that makes me a happy person.” Although fans were unaware of it at the time, Sykes’ drug addiction was so serious it almost split the band apart. Fortunately, it didn’t reach that point, and the band have been thriving ever since, especially with Sempiternal topping the Australian charts. Sykes has now reached the point where he can see the light in his dark past. “I went through the darkest point of my life, and so did the band. We have come out on the other end of it better than ever, and that’s what it is all about. That would have never happened if it weren’t for me to open up and accept my demons, and not let it go to the worst point it could go. That’s what the album is about. It’s about making light out of darkness. You can’t have one without the other. I could have gone through life coasting, it could have never gotten too bad, but it would have never become this good. That’s what every song on this album is about.” Having battled through the darkness that almost separated the band, Bring Me The Horizon have come out stronger than ever. In December 2014, the band headlined their first ever arena show in front of an enormous crowd at London’s Wembley arena; a feat that Sykes himself was blown away by. “We never thought that we could sell out Wembley in a million years. I’m not someone who believes in our hype, and last year we were proposed the idea of Wembley and I thought they were stupid. I’m really surprised by how much we have progressed and what we have achieved. I think Wembley really set this mindset that I’m actually going to listen to what people say about this band now, and accept it when they say that we could play arenas or headline festivals. It doesn’t sound as ridiculous now, and I think we have just surprised ourselves so much from playing that show. I think that now we are ready to give it a shot at going into the big league, and even at attempting to become one of the biggest bands in the world.”
BRING ME THE HORIZON will release their fifth studio album, That’s The Spirit, on Friday September 11 via Sony Music Australia.
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.
Arts House will present Dance of the Bee, a remarkable interspecies musical collaboration. Dance of the Bee is a work performed by three pianists, the vocalists of the Astra choir and a live swarm of bees, housed inside a sculpted, transparent hive. Woven through the mysterious song of the bees, the pieces range from soundscapes to intense virtuosic arrangements, punctuated by semi-improvised sonic excursions. As the bees sing, live video allows us to observe the marvel of the hive at work – and to ponder on the fragile connection between our world and theirs. Dance of the Bee will buzz through Arts House from Friday September 11 until Sunday September 13. Following a string of sell-out performances on the Fringe circuit, Justine Campbell and Sarah Hamilton are bringing their critically acclaimed work home for its first staging by a major theatre company. They Saw a Thylacine goes back to a September morning in 1936, when the last known Tasmanian tiger died in captivity at a Hobart zoo. The story of a zookeeper’s daughter and a thylacine tracker won the Best Performance at the 2013 Melbourne Fringe Festival and the Standout Performer Award at the New Zealand Fringe Festival. Catch They Saw a Thylacine at the Malthouse Theatre from Tuesday September 15 - Sunday October 4. Arts House will present the world premiere of A Drone Opera. Artist Matthew Sleeth directs an experimental multimedia performance featuring drones, their pilots and opera singers, combined with a new sound score, laser light design and moving image. A Drone Opera viscerally explores the rapidly developing technology of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), colloquially known as drones, and their social and cultural impact. Feeling the drones’ air displacement and hearing their rotor sound, audiences will experience this robotic technology first hand, shifting their knowledge of drones from political abstraction into embodied experience in time and space. A Drone Opera also features an inspiring lineup of collaborators, including experimental artists Kate Richards, Robin Fox, Phil Samartzis and Susan frykberg, lighting designer Bosco Shaw and choreographer Shelley Lasica. A Drone Opera comes to Arts House from Thursday September 10 until Sunday September 13. Bookings are available through the venue.
pick of the week Nina Forever
An acid dropping friendship, a treasure hunting caper, ‘70s crime-comedy and chilling psychological thrillers are all on the cards for this year’s Melbourne Underground Film Festival. Opening night brings Under A Kaleidoscope, the feature length debut from Addison Heath. Elsewhere, a special event will showcase Richard Wolstencroft’s experimental The Second Coming Volume 1 (featuring Michael Tierney, Gene Gregorits, Boyd Rice, Pete Doherty, Jerome Alexander, Kim Fowley, William Margold and a host of others) followed by an exclusive Q&A with the director. With closing night comes the world premiere of Timothy Spano’s hilarious Sizzler 77 followed by the revered MUFF awards. The program also includes Throwback, homage to vintage exploitation cinema Gone Lesbo Gone, The Search for Weng Weng, Fakeshemp double feature My Name Is A and Road To Hell, From Parts Unknown, Throwback and Nina Forever. Capping the bumper program off is MUFF Neu - featuring a selection of the best local and international genre features and the Mini MUFF series, bringing together short films under a common idea. Themed sessions include envy, bliss, happiness, despair, experimental and venomous vignettes of villainy and vengeance. Melbourne Underground Film Festival will run from Friday September 11 - Saturday September 19 at Howler and Backlot Studios.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 28
The Sleeping Beauty By Liza Dezfouli David McAllister, the Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet, is about to see the fruition of many months of hard work on The Sleeping Beauty, one of the world’s best loved dances. The Australian Ballet’s 2015 staging of The Sleeping Beauty is their first production of the dance since Maina Gielgud staged it in 1980. “I danced in that production myself,” says McAllister. “I danced the warrior’s role; I danced just about every role.” Does McAllister feel extra pressure to live up to the memory of former productions? “Not really. The Sleeping Beauty is one of the greatest classical ballets, with one of the greatest scores, it is the ultimate beauty, and the benchmark is the very first production in 1890. It’s an iconic classic. People always want to see it. When you think about the history of The Sleeping Beauty, it goes on all around the world. We want to add value to the production, not just do it for the sake of it. This is an amazing production, it will be beautiful.” How much has McAllister modified The Sleeping Beauty for modern audiences? “The original ballet is four hours long,” he answers. “At the time it was made, in the Imperial age, they didn’t get up until noon and they had servants so they had time to watch a four hour show. We’ve trimmed the length of it, tried to bring a sense of clarity to the story telling. Technically dancers dance differently than they did in the 1890s and we have brought The Sleeping Beauty closer to the current aesthetics – legs are higher, there are more jumps, it’s less close to the ground. But we haven’t done a complete renovation, it’s more wall papering and throwing a few scatter cushions.” Thinking about the differences in historical productions of The Sleeping Beauty compared to today, McAllister notes: “You can see the evolution of modern ballet when you look at the use of ballet mime, which was
accepted in the 19th century, something that happens in old ballets, often to progress the story but we don’t do much of that now.” What does he mean exactly by ‘ballet mime’? “A lot of theatrical gestured mime; it’s quite traditional,” McAllister answers. “We didn’t want lengthy periods of gesturing; we want to focus on realistic gestures, on clarity in telling the story. But we have a few ballet mime gestures in there as a nod to tradition; we have one gesture from the original suite of the ballet: crossing the wrist with the fist which means ‘death’, and the identifiable gesture, the hand on heart, meaning love.” The Sleeping Beauty is actually McAllister’s first fulllength choreography for The Australian Ballet. “Our show is about telling the story, about the drama in the dance so it’s about the story as much as it’s about the choreography,” he continues. “The Sleeping Beauty can become one of those dances which are always about the steps; with our 2015 production we’re moving it along a bit, moving it forward for modern audiences. The dramatic elements are now more to the front and the centre of the dance.” What has McAllister discovered, either about himself or about dance in the process of readying The Sleeping Beauty for the stage? “I’ve learnt so much about the history of ballet, about the importance of narrative in ballet. It’s daunting, but also exciting, to be part of that lineage. The challenge has been in not letting myself get overwhelmed. I’ve had to
face some scary things; you have to believe in yourself to keep developing as a person, push yourself to moments of greater challenge. When you face difficulties and wonder how you’re going to get through something, you can look at things in big terms but to realise your vision you just have to break it down into bite size chunks and push through; you learn resourcefulness. “It’s very interesting coming to this after that experience with Maina Gielgud, in being involved in creating her production. I look back and I remember what I felt about Maina then, and I think now ‘what will my dancers think of me?’ She had such high expectations of us: ‘Learn it quickly and do it brilliantly.’ She could see every little detail. Am I as good as that, as good at seeing detail as she was? It’s astonishing how much she had in her head, how she could remember so much, she was over every little part of it, everything that went on.” McAllister admits he might suffer from some of the same perfectionism as the formidable Gielgud. “But you learn that perfection doesn’t just happen. You see something and think ‘oh that’s beautiful’ but you forget the multitude of steps involved in getting there, that they’ve gone through all these steps.” The Sleeping Beauty is famously very demanding on its principal ballerina, in this case Lana Jones will be dancing the part of Aurora. “She’s got everything right,” McAllister assures us. “This is an incredibly difficult dance for ballerinas; it’s physically one of the most demanding of roles. All of the principals are really engaged.” A lot of attention has been paid to costume and design in this production, being as The Australian Ballet has declared 2015 ‘A Year of Beauty’. “She’s nailed it,” McAllister says, speaking of costume and set designer Gabriela Tylesova. “Seeing those drawings of the costumes and the set become 3-dimensional has really raised the bar. We’re nearly there now. We’re just sanding off the rough edges, making it perfect.”
The Sleeping Beauty will be performed from Tuesday September 15 to Saturday September 26 at Arts Centre Melbourne, State Theatre.
G I V E AWAY
A l M urra y Al Murray The Pub Landlord will bring his new live show One Man, One Guvnor to Melbourne this October. Al has hosted an array of TV series over the last few years including Compete for the Meat, Al Murray’s Happy Hour, Time Gentlemen Please and Al Murray’s Multiple Personality Disorder. He has also released eight best-selling live DVDs My Gaff, My Rules, Glass of White Wine for the Lady, Giving it Both Barrels, Live at the Palladium, The Beautiful British
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Tour, Barrel of Fun, The Only Way is Epic and One Man, One Guvnor. Al’s huge stand-up tours have made him one of the most popular live comedy acts in the UK. He won the Perrier Award (after a record four successive nominations) and secured Olivier Award nominations for both of his celebrated sell-out West End runs. Al Murray The Pub Landlord will come to The Forum on Friday October 16 and we have some double passes to give away. Head to beat.com.au to win.
tHE COMIC STRIP
For more arts news, reviews and interviews visit beat.com.au
Coming Up
Kevin Hart
The Odd Couple
Kevin Hart is set to make his stand-up debut Down Under when he brings his What Now? show to Australian shores early next year. The US comedian and actor will hit Australian following his 90-plusdate US arena tour, which saw him perform to an audience of over 52,000 people in Philadelphia last weekend. Over the course of his illustrious career Hart has knocked up film credits in the likes of Top Five, Get Hard and The 40 Year Old Virgin, was the executive producer of Real Husbands of Hollywood, and in 2013 became only the second American in history to sell out London’s O2 Arena. Catch him at Rod Laver Arena on Friday February 5.
Melbourne Fringe Festival
Wednesday September 16 - Sunday October 4 Various Venues
Muppets, Music and Magic: Jim Henson’s Legacy
Monday September 21 - Sunday October 11 ACMI
Melbourne Festival
Melbourne Theatre Company
Jurassica
From Australian musical theatre, world premieres and West End smash-hits, Melbourne Theatre Company’s 2016 program brings a diverse selection that strikes a balance between original works and new productions of well-loved classics. The 2016 season opens with Ladies in Black, a new musical with compositions and lyrics from Tim Finn. In collaboration with Simon Phillips and Carolyn Burns (2015’s North by Northwest), the production features Christen O’Leary (The Boy from Oz) and Bobby Fox (Jersey Boys) as Sydney edges towards cosmopolitanism in the ‘50s. Lungs makes its Australian premiere in a play described as ‘uproariously funny and unbearably poignant’ that follows one couple’s journey towards parenthood and the love required to hold it together. Similarly, The Distance makes its Australian premiere after a sell-out success in London, examining the emotional fallout as a woman walks out on her family. Also making its Australian premiere is Straight White Men, a razor edged comedy tackling social privilege and race with an acerbic wit. One of the most talked about plays of recent New York seasons, it comes from multi-award-winning writer Young Jean Lee. Helpmann award-winning director Kip Williams brings the theatrical classic Miss Julie to MTC for a modern revival of the psychological thriller. Elsewhere, David Hare’s Skylight returns to the stage 20 years after its Australian debut. Starring Colin Friels (Endgame, Red) and Anna Samson (Birdland, The Sublime), the drama explores old love and the conflict between reality and idealism. Hard hitting theatre is continued in the program with Disgraced, the 2013 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama that received international critical acclaim. Directed by Nadia Tass (The Other Place), the contemporary work delves into politics, religion and identity. Joanna Murray Smith’s Switzerland arrives at MTC with the original cast of Sarah Peirse and Eamon Farron. Fresh from an widely lauded Sydney run, the production takes inspiration from crime novelist Patricia Highsmith and evolves into an original thriller. Further delving into the world of crime, Double Indemnity is given new life with an adaptation from award-winning writer Tom Holloway. Oozing film-noir styling, the production revitalises James M Cain’s thrilling masterpiece for a world premiere starring Lachlan Woods (North By Northwest). Also making the transition from book to stage comes Jasper Jones, directed by MTC’s Associate Artistic Director Sam Strong. Often described as Australia’s To Kill a Mockingbird, the play retells Craig Silvey’s coming of age story while analysing a conflicted and complex national history. Balancing out the program comes Neil Simon’s comedic classic, The Odd Couple. Starring Shaun Micallef and Francis Greenslade as the famously mismatched duo, Director Peter Houghton guides the quick-fire comedy to contemporary heights. For tickets and more information, head to mtc.com.au.
Thursday October 8 - Sunday October 25 Various Venues
Friday October 9 - Saturday November 7 Red Stitch Actors Theatre
The Australian Movie and Comic Expo
Saturday October 17 - Sunday October 18 Melbourne Showgrounds
MSO: Back To The Future Live In Concert Friday November 6 - Saturday November 7 The Plenary
Stephen Fry
Monday November 9 Hamer Hall
Poppy Seed Festival
Wednesday November 11 - Sunday December 13 Various Venues
Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei
Friday December 11 - Sunday April 24 National Gallery of Victoria
The Astor Theatre
The Astor have revealed their second theatre calendar since the business was saved by Palace Cinemas in June. Featuring a range of classic, cult and new release films in digital and celluloid formats, the new program will see audiences through until Boxing Day. For the first time in years, the theatre will open its doors on weekdays during the school holidays with a collection of films tailored to children and the young at heart. Screenings include iconic titles such as Mary Poppins and Babe alongside newer favourites, Wreck It Ralph and Kung Fu Panda. As well as the family friendly sessions, audiences can revel in the return of The Blues Brothers and a Sing-A-Long edition of Grease. Continuing The Astor tradition of critically acclaimed double features comes back-to-back screenings from iconic film makers such as Stanley Kubrick, Billy Wilder, Francis Ford Coppola and Pier Paolo Pasolini. Other events include a James Dean special with East of Eden and Rebel Without A Cause, alongside Bring Me the Head of Alfrado Garcia paired with Rolling Thunder. The Great Astor Spook-Tacular returns to celebrate Halloween with an all-night movie marathon of classic horror features and rare titles that have remained unseen for years. Titles include Blacula, Swamp Thing, Return of the Living Dead, Killer Clowns from Outer Space and more. The evening also features trivia, prize draws and ghoulish surprises. Elsewhere, Edgar Wright’s Cornetto trilogy appears with cult favourites Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World’s End. Rounding out the selection is a diverse selection of films ranging from classic B-movies, Hollywood blockbusters, vintage gems and a closing night gala for the Italian Film Festival. The new calendar will run at The Astor Theatre from Sunday September 20 through to Saturday December 24. Hit their website for more details.
Pennsylvania Avenue
Five years after the runaway success of Songs For Nobodies, Joanna Murray-Smith, Bernadette Robinson and Simon Phillips team up once again for a one woman musical, Pennsylvania Avenue. In Pennsylvania Avenue, audiences are guided through a song cycle of iconic singers, whose relationships with the White House spanned concert recitals to friendships and presidential endorsements to tabloid speculation. As Joanna Murray-Smith’s narrative blends show business with political history, intertwined songs include tributes to Barbra Streisand, Eartha Kitt, Sarah Vaughan, Diana Ross and more. It marks the latest in a string of critically acclaimed one woman shows from Bernadette Robinson, including You Might As Well Live, Calling All Angels and Patsy Cline: Her Songs, Her Story. Pennsylvania Avenue will run from Thursday January 21 – Sunday February 14 at the Arts Centre. CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
Thursday Comedy Hannah Gadsby headlines at the European Bier Café this Thursday. She’s one of the most popular comedians in the country, with years of sold out shows, and you’ve seen her all over the MICF gala. Plus there’s David Smiedt, Tommy Dassalo, Matthew Klein and heaps more. It’s the biggest independent comedy room in Australia, so get down early to get a good seat. It’s all happening this Thursday September 10 at 8.30pm, at the European Bier Café, 120 Exhibition Street, CBD, all for only $12.
Kings of Comedy After a successful opening night full with a house, smiles and laughs all around, Kings of Comedy is back at La Di Da this Friday night. This week is hosted by Alex Fusca and Simon Hughes presenting another group of Melbourne’s best fresh talent, which includes James Masters, Ashley Fils-Aime, Thomas Smith, Jackson Clarke, Marc Oszhka, Jono Mastrippolito, Will Brain, Danielle Walker, Sofie Prints and David Rose. Make sure to stick around for the lip sync battles after the show.
Comedy At Spleen
Mondays at Comedy at Spleen are always full, and this week will be no different. The only place to be on Mondays will be chockers full of laughs with guests and it’s the place where anyone can drop in. Last week they had Fiona O’Loughlin and Tony Martin appear. Who knows who’ll surprise them this week? It’s this Monday September 14, at 41 Bourke St, CBD, at 8.30pm. It’s free to get in, but they appreciate a good gold coin donation at the door.
Catfish Comedy Catfish Comedy is Melbourne’s newest comedy offering, bringing you the biggest names in one of Fitzroy’s coolest bars. This week Tuesday September 15 their headliner is Peter Helliar (Before the Game, The Project) featuring Josh Earl (Spicks and Specks) and hosted by Xavier Michelides, plus a supporting lineup of Melbourne’s finest. Get in early for a good seat and a Philly cheesesteak from the kitchen. 8pm, The Catfish, 30-32 Gertrude St, Fitzroy. $12 on the door.
Comedy at The Wilde Tuesdays at The Wilde sees some of Melbourne’s best young comedians join with ‘sign up on the night’ open mic acts for one of the loosest nights in town. 2015 RAW national finalist Jess Perkins joins Danielle Walker, Beau Stegmann, Angus Hodge and more this week for another big, fun night of comedy. It’s this Tuesday September 15 at 153 Gertrude St, Fitzroy at 8pm. And, it’s totally free.
Spring Break Cinema
Spring is nearly upon us and Howler is here to welcome the season back with the return of Spring Break Cinema. The bandroom will be transformed into an intimate cinema, bringing together independent films with a nod to music, fashion and ‘90s visionaries. The program kicks off with Mia Hansen-Løve’s latest, Eden. Informally known across the globe as ‘The Daft Punk Movie’, Eden is a semi-biographical drama that traces the birth of the French house music scene. Featuring commentary from Nas, Pharrell Williams, Sean Combs and Kanye West comes Fresh Dressed, a documentary that delves into the evolution of hip hop fashion as it moves from the streets to the runway. Elsewhere in the program, springtime cult classic L For Leisure returns with its revered synth heavy soundtrack and Empire Records wraps up the selection with a celebration of ‘90s music and culture. Jump out of hibernation and get down to Howler every Wednesday in October for some spring-time cinema. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 30
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The Cramps Live aT Napa sTaTe meNTaL hospiTaL ($24.95)
In June of 1978, The Cramps played to a room full of enthusiastic patients at the Napa State Mental Institute and instantly established a benchmark in public rock. The Cramps were at the peak of their engaging sound during this performance. They had just finished recording “Gravest Hits” and were midway through the second song, when a young woman commands the stage and begins sharing the mic with Lux. By the time the “Human Fly” is played, a real hoe-down is occurring on and off stage with the audience members dancing about, grabbing at the mic and embracing each other - all of which add to the spectacle of this once-in-a-lifetime performance. Songs include: “Mystery Plane,” “The Way I Walk,” “Human Fly,” “Domino,” “Garbage Man,” and more.
GoNzo: The Life aNd Work of huNTer s ThompsoN ($26.95)
In GONZO, director Alex Gibney creates a portrait of one of journalism’s most controversial and talented superstars. Famous in the 1960s for his wild, selfcoined “gonzo” style of reporting, Thompson’s most famous adventures include riding with the Hell’s Angels, chasing the American dream in Las Vegas, and covering the volatile George McGovern political campaign. The fact that Thompson did most of his reporting while throwing back large quantities of Wild Turkey and illegal drugs led to some of the most bizarre and imaginative journalism the writing world had ever seen.
hoWL ($27.95)
James Franco stars as the young Allen Ginsberg poet, counter-culture adventurer and chronicler of the Beat Generation. In his famously confessional, leave-nothing-out style, Ginsberg recounts the road trips, love affairs and search for personal liberation that led to the most timeless and electrifying work of his career, the poem HOWL. Meanwhile, in a San Francisco courtroom, HOWL is on trial. Prosecutor Ralph McIntosh (Strathairn) sets out to prove that the book should be banned, while suave defense attorney Jake Ehrlich (Hamm) argues fervently for freedom of speech and creative expression. The proceedings veer from the comically absurd to the passionate as a host of unusual witnesses pit generation against generation and art against fear in front of conservative Judge Clayton Horn. HOWL is simultaneously a portrait of a renegade artist breaking down barriers to find love and redemption and an imaginative ride through a prophetic masterpiece that rocked a generation and was heard around the world.
emperor of hemp ($29.95)
This is the film that contains the facts about one movement... one man... and one miraculous plant that could revolutionize the world. The best-selling book ‘The Emperor Wears No Clothes’ blew the lid off the anti-hemp conspiracy and explained all there is to know about an easy-to-grow plant with infinite, non-intoxicating uses. What began as a singular battle has turned into a massive movement to educate America about this environmentally beneficial plant. Emperor of Hemp exposes government and big-business efforts to keep the plant illegal, and takes you to the front lines of the pro-hemp movement. Meet the ‘Emperor of Hemp,’ Jack Herer, the man behind ‘The Emperor Wears No Clothes.’ Find out how his passionate journey began. Discover how he overcame hurdle after hurdle. Cheer his ultimate vindication. Narrated by Peter Coyote, ‘Emperor of Hemp’ could change the world.
some Yo-Yo sTuff ($19.95)
After quitting the music industry in 1982, Captain Beefheart reverted back to his original moniker, Don Van Vliet, and quietly established himself as a contemporary painter. Withdrawing from the public domain and preferring to let his artwork do the talking, little was heard from the reclusive genius until Anton Corbjin shot the 13 minute short film SOME YO YO STUFF in 1993. Presented here, Corbjin’s film draws on the thoughts and feeling of Don himself, alongside two questions posed by director David Lynch. Sue Vliet -- Don’s mother -- is featured, as are Corbjin’s feelings on why he made the film in the first place. Beefheart’s army of fans have stayed loyal to the enigmatic figure over the years, and this documentary provides some crucial, albeit fleeting, insights on the extremely influential artist and musician.
The siNfuL dWarf ($29.95)
For over three decades, Eurofans debated it while the Danish government denied it. And around the world, collectors could only whisper about it. Did the infamous sleaze sage the Sinful Dwarf ever really go all the way? The answer is... yes! Creepy dwarf actor Torben Bille stars in this fiendishly sordid and now even -filthier- 1973 classic that includes horny newlyweds, drugged sex slaves, drunken singing mothers & the cackling king of pint sized perverts. Private Screenings X presents the long-rumored & completely uncut version of perhaps one of the sickest films in grindhouse history, fully restored from a 35mm print recently seized from a sealed vault in a Copenhagen monastary!
CheCk ouT our WebsTore: poLYesTer.Com.au
FREE AustRAliA-widE shipping. Plus a huge range of graffiti mags in stock now – stylefile, Down By law, BaD taste, artillery anD more.
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BROTHER ALI DIAGNOSING DARKNESS, ADMINISTERING LIGHT By Augustus Welby Following a low-key cassette tape release, US rapper Brother Ali caught the attention of discerning hip hop fans everywhere with his 2003 LP Shadows on the Sun. The record was entirely produced by Ant (AKA Anthony Davis of the duo Atmosphere), and this collaborative partnership prevailed across Ali’s two subsequent LPs. However, prior to his latest release, 2012’s Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color, Ali hooked up with G-Unit affiliate Jake One. Despite the producer substitution, Mourning in America is no less potent than Ali’s earlier records, nabbing near-unanimous critical praise. “I work with people that are equally as enthusiastic about the project as I am,” Ali says. “Jake has been a friend since before either of us had a serious career and he always talked about doing a project together. I think it’s important to get a producer’s full attention when doing an album.” Throughout his career, critical discussion has tended to focus on Ali’s incisive lyrical focus and vocal delivery. This is no surprise, given his fierce left-wing political stance, but without engaging production it’d be difficult to get so many people paying attention. “I choose beats that put me in a mood and then try to identify when I’ve felt that in my life,” he says. “I start writing the song to describe that moment. On a rare occasion I’ll try the words on another piece of music and some really interesting magic can happen that way, but most of the time I write to the music and the songs are born that way.” Brother Ali’s lyrics regularly dig into less-thansatisfactory aspects of American life and the ugly mechanics of the political system. These can be difficult truths to digest, causing feelings of disgust or helplessness. But despite operating within the realm of popular music, Ali isn’t afraid to highlight issues that might scare off sensitive listeners. “I try to be of benefit to myself, my message and my audience,” he says. “There are definitely times when I try to explain things in a way that’s understandable to the listener, but I don’t water it down for them. I respect and trust their ability to hear what I believe to be true. The concern that I have is in delivering the message with precision and nuance. I want people to know that I love them, and hate injustice.” While Ali’s lyrical perspective never becomes naïve, he softens the blow somewhat by injecting signs of hope and encouragement for people to take a stand against injustice. “I live in a faithful, hopeful space and this allows the complete ugliness of the current state to be palatable for me,” he says. “It’s very cruel to diagnose darkness if you’re not willing and able to prescribe and administer light.” Along with broader societal/political themes, several Brother Ali songs disclose intimate details from his personal life. Mourning in America cut Stop the Press is a prime example; disclosing details of departed friends and family members, strains on his marriage and his eventual creative rejuvenation after the split with Ant.
“I include the details that I feel are necessary to convey feeling and meaning. I’m down to be open with my own information. I draw the line with my loved ones’ details, though. There are things that I could share about them that would make incredible songs, but it wouldn’t be right to mine other people’s treasures like that.” Ali’s huge emotional investment and unflinching activism means his live performances are liable to stir up myriad emotions. And that’s exactly how he likes it. “I’ll give a song a break if I start to get a sense that I’m going through the motions and it’s just becoming part of the show. I have to relive those things when I do the song live.” Considering much of Ali’s output aims to raise awareness, educate people and inspire pro-active behaviour, it raises the question of whether live performance or recorded music exerts greater power over listeners’ emotions. “I think the connection between hearts is what changes things,” he says. “All of the evil in the world has its origin in a diseased and hurt heart. If we can connect the hearts with something true, nothing is impossible. I try my best in the albums and live shows to make my heart as accessible as possible so that anyone whose antenna picks up on what I’m putting out can connect.” Hip hop has historically been an effective medium for protesting against injustice and rallying activism. Although it’s easy to suggest the glory days are behind us, when observing the state of contemporary hip hop, Ali sees plenty of men and women utilising it for this purpose. “There are a lot of artists offering greatness in hip hop: Rapsody, The Reminders, Amir Sulaiman, Jasiri X and Sa Roc are just a few. In the mainstream I think Kendrick is absolutely necessary right now. The dominant culture has never missed an opportunity to condemn black genius, which is responsible for every and all forms of modern music. That is, until they find a way to co-opt and steal it for their own devilish purposes. But the truth belongs to the Creator and falsehood isn’t rooted in anything. Ultimately falsehood and evil survives only as long as truth allows it.”
Tuesday 13 October 7pm & Saturday 17 October 7pm Melbourne Recital Centre, Elisabeth Murdoch Hall The crisp articulation and rich timbres of the acclaimed French Modigliani Quartet is a perfect match for music that demands both strength and clarity. Performing a selection of masterpieces by Haydn, Schubert, Beethoven, Dohnányi and Westlake.
Visit musicaviva.com.au/Modigliani Book Now melbournerecital.com.au or 03 9699 3333
BROTHER ALI performs at Laundry Bar on Sunday September 13. WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES..... WWW.BEAT.COM.AU/TV
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 37
TIJUANA CARTEL
SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW By Tex Miller
Last weekend, Paul George and Carey Sullivan released a strong contender for album of the year. Psychedelicatessen, their latest work under the Tijuana Cartel moniker, is stellar from start to finish. Drawing on both a love of world music and a healthy affection for electro beats, this album is endlessly intriguing and hard to put down. Upon its release, Beat sat down with George to speak about the record and the band’s current national tour. A few weeks prior to the release of Psychedelicatessen, the band staged a low-key launch at Byron Bay venue The Northern. “The Northern was huge,” says George. “We didn’t advertise it as much as we normally would have. We packed 600 people in there and I reckon there would’ve easily been 400 people out the front waiting to get in. It was a really cool feeling given that we hadn’t even released the album yet. [It was] a great start to what is going to be an epic tour.” In the lead up to its release, the band have been quite vocal about the fact that Psychedelicatessen is a concept record. A conceptual framework can sometimes be a constraining factor, but the album’s brimming with different ideas. As odd as it sounds, this release was actually 40 years in the making, as George explains. “We teamed up with Russell Guy, a broadcaster on Double J back in 1978. He hosted a radio play called What’s Rangoon To You Is Grafton To Me, and I heard this play four or five years ago on a car trip and
I loved it so much that we started to sample bits of it. It took a few years to develop into the album you hear today, but we are really proud of it and think it’s the most definitive thing that we have ever done.” Like many bands before them, Tijuana Cartel grew out of a musical bond that was established while the members were in high school. However, they’ve since massively expanded their horizons. “We went and studied in India for a year and it is throughout all these worldly experiences that we try and bring through to our music now,” says George. “We were working in the Marriot Hotel behind the bar and were playing background music to where the Bollywood stars would hang out. It was a crazy time, and I got to study the sitar for a while, which was cool.” One of Tijuana Cartel’s main influences is the British electronica duo, The Chemical Brothers. George was instantly drawn to them upon hearing their first album, 1995’s Exit Planet Dust. “What I love about
their music is that there is this constant feeling of adrenalin throughout their tracks”, he says. “Every song has a feeling and they are always trying to push the boundaries. This is a similar concept that we have tried to do with our music since the beginning. If you haven’t heard of Tijuana Cartel, start with Psychedelicatessen. It has many different flavours to it and encapsulates our career in an album.” Tijuana Cartel will launch Psychedelicatessen in Melbourne next Friday, and George is full of excitement for the gig. It marks the first time Tijuana Cartel have
played at Max Watt’s, and if the band’s live reputation is anything to by, it’s set to be a beauty. “We are really working on perfecting our live show and it’s going to be a visual experience like no other. We may have some funky costumes like Sgt. Pepper, so come on down for what will be one of the biggest parties of the year.” TIJUANA CARTEL play Max Watt’s on Friday September 18. Psychedelicatessen is out now via MGM.
S ol N ation
LIVING AS ONE By Patrick Emery
Colin Badger concedes there’s a subliminal political aspect to Sol Nation, the multicultural musical outfit he formed with lead vocalist Paulo Almeida in 2007. “I guess the subliminal message is that music brings people together,” Badger says. “We probably wouldn’t know each other if it wasn’t for the music, so we’re an example of how music brings people together – as long as you can play, you’re in. It doesn’t matter what your background is, or where you come from – it’s good if you’re different.” Sol Nation was conceived following the demise of the Dili Allstars, the Timorese-Australian band featuring Badger, Almeida and Badger’s Painters and Dockers colleague Paul Stewart. “With the Dili Allstars we were strongly focused on the Timor independence movement,” Almeida says. “After a while a lot of the members started going their separate ways, but we didn’t want to stop completely, so we started Sol Nation.” Almeida, who left Timor with his family almost 30 years ago, sat down with Badger and commenced writing songs for the fledgling Sol Nation. From the outset, Badger and Almeida were keen to create music that would fit a festival atmosphere, rather than the traditional pub circuit. “I’ve played in pubs for years and years, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but there are other things as well,” Badger says. “Being able to travel and go to
interesting places is exciting.” Along the way, Sol Nation picked up various musicians, each bringing a unique musical flavour to the band. The result is a vibrant potpourri of musical styles. “People ask us if we can describe our music, and I can’t,” Almeida laughs. “The idea is that we have people with different musical backgrounds, and we mix up the styles,” Badger says. “There’s a reggae bass there, but we kind of mess with that. That keeps it musically interesting. Mark [Grunden], the drummer, is good with African and Brazilian rhythms, so we mix that with the reggae and try and come up with our own thing rather than copy anyone else.” With such a diverse cultural profile – members include Black Arm Band vocalist/guitarist Deline Briscoe, Egyptian-born Ann Metry on bass guitar and Zimbabwe-born percussionist Zeca Mesquita – the risk is always a sound that’s too complex. It’s a risk,
JEMMA NICOLE
however, that Sol Nation have been able to avoid. “I think one of the tricks to writing songs is to keep it simple,” Badger says. “I might have been guilty of putting too many chords in at some stage, but then I say to the rest of the band, ‘It’s not kindergarten’.” The band’s debut album – aptly titled Melting Pot – was produced by former Little River Band guitarist David Briggs. With Sol Nation’s live set often featuring elaborate jams, Briggs’ quest was to condense the band’s music to suit the album format. “It’s turned out a lot more poppy than I expected, but if that helps it get on the radio, then who’s going to complain? Not me.” Badger laughs. Sol Nation’s journey has taken them across Australia, from Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory to Cairns in north Queensland, and over to New Caledonia in
the South Pacific. With the release of Melting Pot, Sol Nation are hitting the road again, intent on bringing people together and seeing as much of the country, and the world, as possible. “There’s a party vibe behind the band,” says Badger. “The whole idea was to get out there and play festivals and travel.” Almeida has an iron in the fire with a promoter in Japan, while Badger is sure there’s a market to be tapped across the Tasman in New Zealand. “Hopefully the new album will open some doors. We’ll go anywhere we can – have guitar, will travel.”
help with it and Lachlan kept popping into my mind as the right person for the song, so I asked him. We drank a truckload of red wine and got it finished within a couple of nights and it’s one of the best songs on the album.” Finding these collaborators has helped Nicole to create the kind of album she wanted to. Rather than waiting for everything to land in her lap, she has a proactive method for getting the collaborators on board. “I just simply ask people. You never get, unless you ask. I didn’t actually meet Jorma – he recorded his part in
LA in his bandmate Joby [Ford]’s studio. I really love the idea of blending genres and using musicians from different backgrounds. This is how you create new sounds and sub genres and this has helped me bring my ideas to life. I am so happy that I stuck to my guns and didn’t listen to people who doubted my sound. I got exactly what I wanted with my end result. I cannot wait to release this album, I’m so proud of this.”
SOL NATION play Rubix Funhouse on Saturday September 12 with Ribeleon, Yung Warriors and DJ Henrique Santos. Melting Pot is available now via MGM.
CURSED CHORDS By Thomas Brand
Jemma Nicole is on the cusp of an interesting future. She’s put an incredible amount of effort into her craft over the past few years, culminating in the debut album, My Darkest Hour. The album sees Nicole working with a curious assortment of contributors, expanding her own style of gothic Americana and working hard to arrive at a well realised goal. With an album preview show just around the corner, Nicole spoke to Beat about the passion that’s pushing her forward. “I’ve actually been performing non-stop for the past couple of years,” she says. “I’m slowing down a little in the lead up to my album preview show at the Wesley Anne on Saturday September 12. It’ll be the first time the album will be recreated in its entirety. Soon thereafter I’ll be heading north for a few coastal dates and festivals.” Strangely, despite the hard work she’s put into her music career, Nicole’s origins are in a very different realm. “I actually used to be a hair transplant technician,” she says. “I grew up in the cosmetic medical world with my dad being a cosmetic surgeon. I was caught way too many times printing out lyrics and writing songs during work time, so my dad sat me down one day and asked me what I really wanted. It was then I decided to give music a go. I started writing songs and performing at age 23 and released my first EP at age 25, so I guess I was a late starter. That EP now feels like forever ago, and although it helped me to get where I am now, that BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 38
chapter is over. It’s onward and upward.” One of the more surprising contributors to Nicole’s forthcoming album is drummer Jorma Vik of LA punk band The Bronx. Nicole’s music typically features gentle, stripped back guitar work, but Vik’s presence hints at the wider sonic ambition behind My Darkest Hour. “My new album is a lot heavier and darker and less mainstream country,” she says. “I remember seeing Jorma play in Mariachi El Bronx on their last Australian tour and I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be amazing to have him on one of my songs?’. I have a gothic/mariachi style song on my album that my boyfriend later sent to Jorma without telling me. It was a lovely surprise when he agreed to do it and said he liked the song. He did a perfect job and has been so lovely to deal with. “I also co-wrote one of the songs on my album with my friend Lachlan Bryan [Lachlan Bryan and The Wildes]. I had a half written song and needed some
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JEMMA NICOLE’s album preview show goes down at the Wesley Anne on Saturday September 12.
JAMES GRIM WOODCUTTERS WHITTLING IT DOWN By Adam Norris James Grim is one charismatic, fire-and-brimstone frontman, as anyone who has seen him fronting Brothers Grim will attest. He’s also one of the hardest working guys around who, through six years of intense gigging and writing, has built a reputation as a musician whose songs are almost brutally honest. With his latest incarnation, Woodcutters, Grim is once again pursuing songs of depth and sincerity, but this time the barnstorming bravado has been supplanted by a bevy of dark-country tunes that feature some of the most evocative lyrics you’ll be hearing any time soon. “The simple truth is, I just didn’t want anything to do with Brothers Grim when it ended,” Grim says. “We spent years in a van together, we know everything about each other. And I love those guys, but it takes it out of you being a touring band, and those boys sacrificed their lives to do it. They were barely paying rent, starving. Six years, that’s a lot to ask of anyone, so the fact they did that means I have nothing but respect for them. I loved the chaos of Brothers Grim. It was more of a party than a show. I mean, by the end it was kind of a race. Who would end up in the underwear first, the band or the audience? I loved it.” When he came out of that process, Grim wanted to get back to loving music for music’s sake. “Woodcutters set out to be the antithesis of Brothers Grim,” he says. “It wasn’t about touring intensely, it wasn’t about smashing out an album. It was about sitting down with musicians that I love and writing tunes that I feel tell the story I want to tell. Keep it simple. See, Brothers Grim was very complicated music, whereas Woodcutters is what it sounds like. It’s whittling down an idea until it tells the basic truth.” Though yet to unveil an official release, several demo recordings have begun to connect with audiences, such as the bittersweet sing-along Dancing Shoes. In spite of the more stripped-back sound, the exciting promise of their demos suggests Woodcutters will find the same passionate audience that Brothers Grim enjoyed. “Something like Dancing Shoes, you only have to hear that song once to know how to sing-along. That’s what I like about all of these Woodcutters tunes. You’ll catch on to what it’s about in a moment. That song,
I’ve never not had a room screaming along with the chorus. That was what I wanted when I wrote it of course, but to actually hear that happen when a room catches on, singing ‘The road might be long but baby we’re going to go far’, it just raises the hair on the back of your neck. Obviously the change of pace makes for a different kind of performance from Brothers Grim. I doubt I will be hanging from the ceiling in my Y-fronts for Woodcutters, but you know, I’m not ruling it out either.” The distinction between the two bands is immediately apparent. While Grim’s distinct, gravelly vocals are immediately recognisable, the context has shifted significantly. The raucous blues-rock has been pared down to a sombre, but no less catchy sound that emphasises the lyrics of Grim and Dan Waters, his writing partner. Though the songs are full of vivid imagery, of hope and despair, they’re hardly autobiographical. Instead, Grim and Waters pull their inspirations from a multitude of sources. “Someone once told me you should always be careful about how honest your songs are, because at the end of the day you’re going to have to sing that song over, and over, and over. So, in one song there will be around three different stories that have contributed. They’re rarely about one specific, certain event. In fact, some have been written over the course of two years. I spend a lot of time on lyrics, and fine-tuning them to say more with less. I cram a lot of ideas in, but I want them to at first appear quite straightforward and simple. I want that honesty to be beautiful in its transparency. “Whatever song I write, I want you to identify that
moment, that predicament I’m talking about. I want it to be real, I want the audience to question their own worlds. If it’s just about me they don’t have to. They just go, ‘Oh, well, James was having a bad week when he wrote that.’ I want someone to listen to these and think, ‘Fuck. He’s singing about me’.” Soon, James Grim Woodcutters will be taking the stage at Chopped, a festival he has strong roots with both as Brothers Grim and as a punter. Of the multitude of festivals that litter the country, it’s Chopped that fuels his anticipation year by year. “I’m really excited to get back and play to this crowd
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that I just love. I’ve been a supporter of Chopped since its beginnings, when it was a football field with a little hay shed for a stage. It’s the festival I’m always hanging out for, and the vibe they have is really how a festival should be. You really shouldn’t miss it.” JAMES GRIM WOODCUTTERS are playing Chopped 2015, which goes down from Friday October 2 – Sunday October 4 at Newstead Racecourse. The lineup also includes C.W. Stoneking, Fireballs, Steve Smyth, The Fumes and more.
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HOWQUA
THE LONG AND LONESOME ROAD By Thomas Brand Melbourne singer/songwriter Ben Campain (AKA HOWQUA) has recently seized some impressive opportunities. He’s currently plugging away up at BIGSOUND and has just been announced as part of this year’s AWME program. Plus, after turning heads at this year’s Canadian Music Week, he’ll head back overseas this month for a run of gigs through the US and Canada. Although these opportunities are a testament to Campain’s work ethic, a few years ago it was a different story. At the inception of the HOWQUA project, Campain was too preoccupied by curious impulses to think about chasing goals. “It was basically me just packing my life up in a van and driving off,” he says. “I drove across the Nullarbor just to see what was out there. I had pretty much no cash and was just winging it – probably about two and a half years ago now. I set up a Pozible campaign to fund my EP and then came back to record it.” Every artist reaches a point where it’s necessary to take a look in the mirror and ask whether a music career is worth it. When Campain came to this juncture, rather than letting the question linger, he opted to clear his head. “I’d originally done a bit of music, just playing around with some acoustic stuff, but I was a little lost trying to figure out what I wanted to do,” he says. “I went over to WA on a soul searching trip. That’s when I decided that if I was going to create music, I wasn’t going to do it safe, but tell it how I saw it – put it out there as
honest as I could. I suppose the HOWQUA name was a way to express that. It’s just a matter of saying, ‘Yeah, I’m going do this now and be as honest as I can.’ To not really be concerned about what people might or might not think – do it from the core. “Predominantly you do it for yourself,” he adds, “But it’s interesting to see if other people have similar thoughts or emotions, see if we connect that way.” HOWQUA’s experiences at Canadian Music Week are an indication of the extent to which people are connecting with his music. Along with establishing his name overseas, his appearance at the event reaped some less obvious benefits. “I think these sort of showcase style events seem to be a great stepping stone to getting the right team around you,” he says. “For us, Canadian Music Week was when I got spotted by The Agency Group over there. They saw
me play and booked me to tour America. I’m heading to North America in a week’s time for a Canadian tour and a few showcases over there as well. I’ve only played Canadian Music Week so far, but so far so good. It’s definitely been a step forward for what I’ve been doing.” The connections that Campain’s made as a solo artist have seemingly come easy. But, although he performs alone on stage, he’s assembled a strong team to help foster his career. Some members of the crew are just as emotionally invested in the music as he is, which is a major advantage. “It’s pretty important to have a bunch of people in your
team who, for starters, really connect with what you’re doing, along with having the ability to take it in the right direction. My manager, Charlotte, she saw one of my first gigs at the Corner and said she really connected with it. I think it’s one of those things that if people connect with your music and have the ability to help you in different aspects of it. With these showcases, it’s what they’re about.”
Alan Vega’s microphone.” In 1993 Luna were offered the support gig of a lifetime, accompanying The Velvet Underground on their European reunion tour. For The Velvet Underground, the tour was fraught: Lou Reed and John Cale struggled to overcome personal and artistic differences, and the band broke apart again shortly after the end of the tour. But Wareham says Lou Reed was a model of goodwill and kindness toward Luna. “Lou was always very nice to us. He always treated us really well, and always made sure we had the opportunity to do a sound check.” In 1999 Justin Harwood left Luna to be replaced by Britta Phillips. Wareham and Phillips began a relationship and married some years later (Wareham and Phillips continue to play and record as Dean and Britta). Luna would go on to record a total of seven
studio albums before disbanding in 2005. While they received constant critical acclaim during their 14year career, the band never achieved commensurate commercial success. Though, it’s not something Wareham spends too much time dwelling on. “I don’t know if I’d do anything differently if we had to do it all again. All we ever did was to try and make the best songs we could. We didn’t sit there listening to the radio trying to work out what we should try and sound like. I remember reading an interview with John Lydon in which he said once you start doing that you become everything you hate.”
to be a really good show, the crowd were fantastic. We also got to play some gigs with Magic Dirt before Dean Turner passed away, which was another highlight.” Having dealt with both the rises and pitfalls of the music industry, Kill That Sound finds the trio reflecting on their experiences over the past two decades. The title track looks at coming to terms with the self-doubt that plagues many musicians, and being able to let go of the negative thoughts that fill one’s mind. “I really like the title song, which is also the first song
on the album,” says Miljoen. “I like the premise of the song. When you’re a musician you have to question what you’re doing a lot and get rid of the negativity, the bad sounds in your head. I find it a really positive song and I’m quite proud of how it turned out.”
HOWQUA plays at The Toff in Town on Thursday November 12 as part of AWME 2015. The Naked EP is out now via Sonic Art Beat.
LUNA
THIS TIME AROUND THE PRESSURE’S OFF By Patrick Emery About five years ago, Dean Wareham was asked if he’d consider reforming Luna, the shoegazey art pop band he led from 1991 until 2005. In response, Wareham relayed David Byrne’s cynical comment on the possibility of a Talking Heads reunion: band reunions are like getting back together with an old girlfriend. So when Wareham and his former Luna bandmates – bass player Britta Phillips, guitarist Sean Eden and drummer Lee Wall – reformed to play a run of shows in Spain in 2014, the risks were already apparent. “Yes, I remember that David Byrne quote,” Wareham laughs. “But when we did get back together in Spain last year it was nothing like getting back together with an old girlfriend. It was actually a lot of fun, and it was exciting to play the songs.” Wareham formed Luna in the aftermath of the demise of his previous band, Galaxie 500. Galaxie 500 had imploded acrimoniously, with Wareham not speaking to his former Galaxie 500 band mates, Naomi Yang and Damon Krukowski, for many years. “It was hard being in a band with a couple,” he says. “So I wanted to have my own band – and I wanted to have a quartet, because a trio can be really difficult on stage.” While Wareham wanted Luna to explore different musical territory to Galaxie 500, there was no grand plan. “I think a band takes on a life of its own based on the people that are in it,” he says. “You can have something of an idea, but you don’t really know where
it’s going to go.” Wareham is mildly critical of Luna’s debut album, Lunapark, released in 1992. However, the follow-up EP, Slide, included Egg Nog, an instrumental track penned by the band’s original bass player Justin Harwood that Wareham once claimed was “just about the best thing the band ever committed to record”. “Sometimes doing an EP or a collection of B-sides can be better because there’s not as much pressure,” he says. Yet Wareham says it wasn’t until the release of the band’s third album, 1995’s Penthouse, that Luna “really hit [their] stride”. Penthouse is routinely lauded as Luna’s most impressive recording, and includes the elegant eight-minute dream pop track, 23 Minutes in Brussels. “I took the name of that track from a Suicide bootleg,” Wareham says. “Suicide were supporting Elvis Costello and they got booed off the stage and someone steals
The revitalised LUNA will play Northcote Social Club on Thursday September 17.
SHE’S THE DRIVER
SONIC ASSASSINS By Kelsey Berry
The Melbourne music scene, like all music scenes, features a revolving door of names. Bands mesh and mutate as members come and go and side projects start to take precedence. Spawned from the ashes of ‘90s band Violetine, She’s The Driver offered Sean Miljoen and Steve Leicester the chance to start again on their own terms. “With Violetine, we ended up with a good sized record contract and all that sort of stuff, but it was a bit of a bad experience in the end and I started to question what my motives were for playing music,” says Miljoen. “When you’ve got stars in your eyes, it’s easy to get away from the reasons you were doing it in the first place. “Steve and I got back together just because I was writing songs again and it was exactly how we started in the first place – just having some fun. We’ve vowed to keep it that way and so far we have. We made ourselves self-sufficient – we’ve got our own studio and record label. Having that control and being able to record from home makes it much more enjoyable creatively.” This ethos has paid tremendous dividends. After forming She’s The Driver ten years ago, Miljoen and Leicester recorded three albums as a two-piece before recruiting bass player Joe Golotta for their latest album Kill That Sound. “When we were a two-piece, I had a guitar setup that went from guitar to bass – I had one pedal on my BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 40
left foot, one on my right. My head would be going a million miles an hour to try and keep up with what I was doing,” laughs Miljoen. “When Joe’s band split up I told him he should come and jam with us, and he fit in straight away. It was really enjoyable for me to be able to just play guitar again.” The trio are all seasoned members of the Melbourne music scene – Miljoen and Leicester in Violetine, Golotta in The Jailbird Jokers. While they’ve faced their fair share of setbacks, they’ve also played alongside some Australian rock lynchpins, including The Living End, Magic Dirt and Sarah McLeod. “A couple of years back, we opened for The Living End at one of their secret gigs, which are the worst kept secret you’ve ever heard,” says Miljoen. “It was one of the first times I’d done the two-piece thing, tackling the bass and guitar setup and singing by myself, so I was really nervous – you feel a bit nude up there on stage. We drove into town and the queue was down the entire street and I started freaking out, but it turned out
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SHE’S THE DRIVER play the Prince Bandroom on Saturday September 12 with support from Claire Birchall & the Phantom Hitchhikers. Kill That Sound is out now via Black Garage Records.
MAX WATT’S A C O N V E R S AT I O N W I T H OW N E R K AT E H A M B LI N
By Thomas Brand , venue photos by Ian Laidlaw With the launch of Max Watt’s a few months behind us, owner Kate Hamblin is keeping a steady eye on the business. She’s been working hard to create a great experience for anyone who walks through the door, be it a band member, music fan or gig promoter. She’s also taking notes on the sorts of issues that have affected other venues and event managers. There’s external powers at play, and they’re changing the booking game. “With the Australian dollar, summer festivals over in the Northern Hemisphere and so many festivals going broke, many promoters aren’t taking the risks of bringing bands overseas,” she says. “Some poorly aligned stars there caused a lot of problems for the industry in general, but October and November are looking exceptionally strong. Comedy Festival is a go, and we’re moving forward.” The increased reluctance to bring international bands to Australia is something Hamblin is fighting to reverse. It’s an issue that’s affecting not just her as a business owner, but her local competitors as well. So, instead of making enemies, she’s taking a smarter approach to boost the strength of the three Max Watt’s venues (Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane).
“The music industry hasn’t got a lot of margin in it – we want to work together,” she says. “Something that pleases me about working with The Venue Collective – you could say that other business in the area are working as direct competitors, but we had messages from them welcoming us to come in with the Collective. Our attitude isn’t to compete with existing market share, our attitude is to make the pie bigger – anything we can do to encourage promoters to take that risk and bring bands out. We want to work together. That’s my saying, ‘Let’s increase the pie’. We’re not going to fight over pieces of pie, let’s increase it.” While Hamblin understands what needs to be done to expand the market, she also realises that captivating audiences is an equally strong tool. Performers have
already brought the venue high regard due to fun stage shows, sound quality and lighting, and she’s hellbent on continuing the tradition. “We’ve retained all the critical staff – the venue staff,” she says. “It’s very smooth in the point of view of promoter and performer. We’ve also put a lot of effort into the sound and lighting in all three venues, particularly in Melbourne. There’s improvements in look, performance and safety. We’ve put a capacity on it to make the punter’s experience a bit better as well – the punter’s experience obviously drives the performer’s experience to a major degree. We’re looking to our two customers, punters and performer. People are already coming in and complimenting the lighting and the sound.” Evidently, Hamblin has acknowledged that creating a great venue experience is critical to the success of Max Watt’s, and is ambitiously trying to create that from the back end as well. “We’ve done things like put in dry bars with handbag hangers, we’ve put in a cool room upstairs so the staff don’t have to run up and down stairs with heavy kegs. There’s a lot that we’ve done to improve the employee’s experience. You’ve got to have happy employees, and you’ve got to have happy customers. We’ve got those two types of customers, and we’re willing to work to make sure the experience we’re giving is as good as we can do. And we’re willing to learn, we don’t think we have all the answers. I think that’s a fresh approach too. “I do a lot of housing stuff, so I’m fairly attuned to the fix-up of the buildings themselves – including with the design and everything. I say to staff all the time, ‘What’s your experience?’ We have a feedback report
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that asks questions like, ‘What can we do better? What about if we try this?’ to our staff. We don’t want to limit the music either. It’s a room for hire, and we’re looking for anyone that it suits to use any of the venues.” Chief Executive of Max Watt’s, Greg Bourke, is the man responsible for launching the three refurbished venues back in April. Disregarding whispers of the death of live music, Bourke came out brandishing a new business strategy like a torch in the financial darkness of the Australian music industry. The underlying approach is somewhat surprising – instead of trying to fill the venue out for maximum revenue, they’re lowering the capacity. “You’ve got to get to the bar and get to the loo,” says Hamblin. “It’s got to be a good experience in that sense, and that’s something that The Venue Collective advised as well. Another way to look at that strategy would be to just stack them in. The better strategy we’re using is to give people a better experience so they’ll come back a second night. That’s worked for us a few times over so far and that’s good. The Venue Collective’s Richard Moffat – there’s nobody who knows the music industry like Richard Moffat in Australia – with the bookings and everything, and he’s been a big help. Industry’s had a bad couple of months and coming out of that, we’re seeing a lot of improvement.”
MAX WATT’S Melbourne is at 125 Swanston Street. In coming weeks the venue will host the likes of The Story So Far, Tijuana Cartel, Big K.R.I.T., Mew and more. Hit maxwatts.com.au for the full gig guide.
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Circa Survive
F amily M an By David James Young
Anthony Green is lucky enough to have multiple families in his life. One of these is Circa Survive, the atmospheric post-hardcore outfit that formed in the wake of Green’s departure from Saosin 11 year ago. Last year saw the release of the band’s fifth LP, Descensus; the third time they’ve completed a two-year cycle of record, release, tour, rinse and repeat. While the development of a new Circa LP might seem like clockwork, Green says the band’s consistency relates to the five members’ constant craving for new ideas. “We’re the kind of people that are always creative and always writing or recording something,” he says. “Even if it’s not for Circa, we’re always writing and making music. When we get back together to write a record, there’s always something there – the process doesn’t really stop for us. It’s really important for us to keep both going at the same time – to have things away from the band that interest us musically, focusing on different projects. As long as that creative muscle is working, we’re out finding new influences and new ideas, and that all comes back to the music itself. It might seem as though we’re on a factory line, but we’re just always making music. It actually makes it easier.” One of Green’s current outside endeavours is actually the very band he removed himself from originally – Saosin. In 2014, the band announced they’d reunite with their estranged vocalist for a run of shows to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of Green’s sole
release with them, the Translating the Name EP. The reunion has proved far more fruitful than any of them could have anticipated. “Originally, it was just going to be a one-off,” says Green. “Then we had so much fun with the shows and revisiting that time in our lives, we decided to start writing music again. We’ve been working on a record that is going to come out next year, and we’ll probably tour it in Circa’s downtime. It’s great to have this in the back pocket. It’s something that we’re all having so much fun with. We’ve all grown a lot in the last ten years, and the record we’ve been working on is so great. I can’t wait for people to hear it.” As for how the Circa camp have reacted to the reformation, Green assures us they’ve collectively approved. “I think they were a little wary at first,” he says. “I think they were unsure of my intentions. Ultimately, though, I think they’ve seen the world of
good that it’s done me and the rest of the guys in the band. It’s really helped me to make peace with who I was at that point in my life, and be able to reconcile it with who I am now.” Circa Survive will return to Australia this month for a run of headline dates backed up by Pvris, for which Green is audibly excited. “It’s always a kick down there man,” he says. “I am a huge Pvris fan – I can’t believe our luck that we get to watch them play every night.” For the time being, however, Green is spending time with his literal family – his wife, Meredith, as well as his three sons James, five, Luke, three, and Willy, 11 months. Green has gained a notable following on social media for videos and photographs documenting nearly
every step of the Green children’s young lives. It’s even moved into a clothing line, all of which was completely unexpected. “When my wife and I got Instagram, I think our first son was really little,” Green says. “We just got it as a way to send pictures to each other. We never really intended to have a following or anything like that. I don’t even think of it like that – it’s just a great way to show people what you’re involved in, whether that’s music, family, design, fashion, whatever it may be.”
nickname ‘BV’ is a bit of a mystery. “I got told that when he was young everyone used to call him Stevie but he couldn’t say it,” Stowers says. “The best he could manage was ‘BV’ and then everyone started calling him BV, even his parents.” Elocution issues aside, Angell and his six-string counterpart Toohey have an almost perfect intuitive bond. “We’ve never distinguished between lead and rhythm guitar, because in our very first rehearsal both of them brought in full finished songs. So it’s always been a process where they give each other a lot of space and respect when it comes to the guitar parts.” Showing respect for each other’s input is of crucial
importance for Orsome Welles. It’s given Stowers the freedom to utilise his voice in a powerful and sustainable manner. “Trying not to yell is probably the most important [thing], because over-use of the voice is what hurts a lot of people. You can get a lot of power out of using your breath well, and using your body. You sing with your whole body, don’t think that it is all coming from just your throat.”
Busy Kingdom’s self-titled EP is only a few months old, and Etherington feels this EP is more representative of the band’s sound than their previous releases. “Anyone who has heard our name, or is reading this, or wants to hear our music, this EP is our best. We’ve released a bunch of stuff, but this is the best thing we’ve done yet.” Having produced their strongest release to date, Etherington isn’t afraid to think big when envisioning the band’s long term fortunes. “Selling out Wembley,” he laughs. “I wish. That’s the dream. But realistically, in the next two years, it’d be great to have a really strong national following in Australia. And then I think the goal would be to have a serious crack at Europe, more so than America. I mean, we’d love to go and
play something like South by Southwest and a few of the other big showcases. But the plan is to start in Australia, get some radio airplay, and then, from what I’ve read and gathered, Europeans really get into bands. America does too, but I think America might just be a lot trickier to crack. Maybe we could busk at Wembley on our first European tour.”
CIRCA SURVIVE play 170 Russell on Sunday September 20 (18+) and Monday September 21 (U18 matinee). PVRIS will support at both shows.
Orsome Welles
N ot S inking By Dan Watt
Orsome Welles are a local progressive rock act who actively seek to defy all that’s come before. This practical credo isn’t driven by ego, but via the sheer musical talent of the band’s five members. Vocalist Michael Stowers, guitarists Steven Angell and Nick Toohey, bass player James Vihtelic and drummer Justin Price all met while studying music performance and production at JMC Academy in South Melbourne. They’ve spent the last four years building a robust collective identity. Ahead of the launch for the band’s new single Swim at The Workers Club this Friday, Beat checks in with Stowers for a rundown of the release. When the call comes through, he’s on his way to the band’s studio space in The Basin to put the finishing touches on the track. “We finished up in about June, but through the mixing process we realised that there were a couple of things we wanted to get right and that involved another go at the vocals, so here I am heading out for that,” he says. In December last year, Orsome Welles released their debut EP Erth News Bulletin; a six-track display of the intense, bone-crushing unison between the two guitars, bass and drums, with Stowers’ incredible vocal range dancing over the top. As one might suspect, Stowers’ incredible vocal ability isn’t just some happy accident. “I started singing when I was six,” he says. “I was in the national boys choir and I was lucky enough to
travel around the world singing before the age of 12, so I definitely learned a different style from most rock singers.” The arrangement of Swim lets Stowers showcase his voice in all its glory, with the vocals occupying centre stage for the first three minutes before the full force of the band comes crashing in. It’s an unorthodox structure from a band whose previous releases had as much subtlety as a freight train. “It was the first song that I have written and taken to the band as the singer,” says Stowers. “It is a brooding track, there is a lot of atmosphere at the start. I think nowadays we’re confident in our ability that we don’t have to punch it out and get so heavy so early.” The media release for Swim contains a picture of each band member with his nickname written across it. It’s pretty self-explanatory to whom the names Toohey, Justin, Jimmy and Stowers belong, but Angell’s
ORSOME WELLES are launching their new single Swim at The Workers Club this Friday September 11 with support from Glass Ocean, Tux and Arakeye.
BUSY KINGDOM
BUILDING AN EMPIRE By Rod Whitf ield
Melbourne four-piece rockers Busy Kingdom will live up to their name over the next few months, beginning with the release of their new single Good For You. They’ll accompany the release with a big stint of gigging around Melbourne and regional Victoria. Good for You is the second song lifted from the Busy Kingdom EP, which came out in July. Ahead of this weekend’s single launch, co-vocalist, guitarist and founding member Brendan Etherington fills us in on the track that he wrote with his brother, co-vocalist/guitarist Michael. “I like the fact that it’s got a bit of groove to it, and a bit of headbanging-ness to it,” he laughs. “Mick had kind of gone through a bit of a rocky relationship and a tough time, as a lot of songs are inspired by. The song is sort of themed around when someone close to you feels like they know what’s best for you when they don’t really. Ultimately we just wanted to write a good, riffy rock song.” The single will be officially launched at the Penny Black this weekend, which kicks off a big run of shows that’ll see the band through until the end of the year. The run of gigs includes a few very high profile support slots. “We’ve got the Good for You single launch on Friday night,” Etherington says. “Then we’ve got a couple of shows coming up, opening for Thirsty Merc, and then we’ve got one playing with The Getaway Plan. Then there’s one a little bit later, we’re opening up for Jon
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 42
Stevens. So yeah, that should be good, hark back to the good old days, the ‘80s. I love Noiseworks, they’ve got some awesome songs.” Etherington has a very positive philosophy on creating music, and the same goes for the presentation of Busy Kingdom’s live show. “We take our music seriously, but we don’t take ourselves too seriously,” he says. “I think with our live show, people are going to hear songwriting, they’re going to hear melodies and choruses that they can hopefully sing along to or get down to. I think at the moment, half our set is pretty upbeat, up-tempo sort of stuff, and the other half is just songs that people can enjoy. We always try to put on a pretty good show, because when people go and see a live band, they want to be entertained, and they want to pay for their ticket and take the ride. They don’t want to just watch a bunch of guys staring at their shoes for 45 minutes.”
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BUSY KINGDOM will play at Cherry Bar on Wednesday September 9 before they launch the single Good for You this Friday September 11 at The Penny Black with Neon Queen and Chev Rise in support. Busy Kingdom is out now.
Massachusetts bands The Hotelier are making their first ever trip downunder this year, with thanks to their friends in The Smith Street Band. “When we were in Europe, we met the members of The Smith Street Band and it was their idea to make this all happen” the band’s guitarist explained. Aussie audiences will be stoked to get an earful of their awesome album Home Like No Place Is There at The Rev in Footscray on December 4th. There’ll be an underage show on December 5 at Wrangler Studios, too. NotFest will once again celebrate not going to Florida for The Fest this year over three dates at The Public Bar in Melbourne. There will be over 40 bands participating across two Public Bar stages and there’s also some punk rock karaoke, acoustic karaoke and a potato gem triathlon. Paper Arms, Nerdlinger, Wolfpack, Foxtrot, Beaver, Release The Hounds, Daybreak, Army Of Champions, Brittle Bones, Camp Comp, Maricopa Wells, Jess Locke Band, Tired Breeds, Pitt The Elder and more will join the fun over November 13, 14 and 15. Tickets available via stickytickets.com.au Sydney’s awesome Lo! and Perth’ Forstora are heading out on the road together this October for a three show east coast run. Lo!’s EP The Tongueless spawned awesome song Orca, which is guaranteed to blow some minds at Old Bar on October 30. In Trenches and Old Love will support. My Disco are going to tour Australia this November and December in line with their new album Severe (out on October 30). If you’re keen to see some material from their fourth studio offering then lock in a stint at Shadow Electric in Melbourne on November 21. Unwritten Law sure stirred up some mischief when they were last in Australia. The stories floating around about that tour were wild, so we’re looking forward to seeing what craziness Scott Russo and Co can conjure when they return this December. The Aussie faves will smash out a Corner Hotel set on December 6 alongside Adelaide band The Grenadiers who have been gigging all over the joint since the release of their second album Summer. Tickets on sale now. Refused have been confirmed as the fourth addition to Soundwave Festival after Bullet For My Valentine, Dead Letter Circus and Failure were all revealed to fans over the past month. The band were out here shortly after their reunion but we haven’t seen them since the release of their new ‘comeback’ album Freedom.
CORE GIG GUIDE
SEE BLACK SABBATH FOR THE LAST TIME
Wednesday September 9:
By now you’ve probably heard the news but if not, Black Sabbath return to Australia for the final time ever in 2016 on their The End tour. They’ll be at Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday April 19. So far Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and the mighty Tony Iommi are confirmed, but Iommi has revealed they’ve made an offer to drummer Bill Ward to return one last time, and the ball’s in his court.
• Slowly Slowly, A Gazillion Angry Mexicans, Chambers at The Old Bar
Thursday September 10: • The Story So Far, Man Overboard, Relentless at Arrow On Swanston • In Hearts Wake, Make Them Suffer, Ocean Grove, Stories at Plaza Tavern, Hoppers Crossing • Pridelands, Annihilist, The Great City at Next
Friday September 11: • The Story So Far, Man Overboard, Relentless at Max Watts • The Resignators, No Idea, AADD, Speedball at Cherry Bar • In Hearts Wake, Make Them Suffer, Ocean Grove, Stories at Chelsea Heights Hotel • Cosmic Psychos at Barwon Club
Saturday September 12: • In Hearts Wake, Make Them Suffer, Ocean Grove, Stories at Village Green hotel • Imprisoned, Time Crisis, Rebirth, Urge To Kill, Broken at The Reverence • Glass Empire, One Day Maybe, Transit Gloria at Bang • Cosmic Psychos at Karova Lounge, Ballarat • Extinction, Bloodline, The Arbiter, Arcadia, Zeolite, Headless, Fail The Abstract, Behold The Defiant, The Weight Of Silence at The Tote • Hotel Wrecking City Traders, TTTDC, Bodies at The Bendigo
Sunday September 13: • In Hearts Wake, Make Them Suffer, Ocean Grove, Stories at Village Green Hotel, Mulgrave • FIrst Sight, Set The Score, Rooftops, Maybe I’ll Live Forever, Eat Your Heart OUt at The Bendigo • Cosmic Psychos at Golden Vine, Bendigo
BROOZER ALBUM LAUNCH Melbourne’s Broozer are launching their new album II on vinyl. The band said, “Following on from the debut 12.04.2012, II is a monolithic delivery of wicked tales and nightmares that you can only imagine of a psychopath’s journal. Fielding influence from classic and cult sci-fi/gore/horror, crime, cult mythology and personal illusive dreams, II is a brutal attack on the listeners psyche.” Catch them on Saturday September 12 at The Bendigo Hotel as they launch the album on vinyl.
NOCTURNAL GRAVES & FRIENDS Sometimes you read a gig notice that sounds like the opening preamble to a fantasy movie. Like this one, for Evoke Death at The Bendigo Hotel this Friday September 11: “Nocturnal Graves, a black death metal holocaust featuring former members of Destroyer 666, team up with black death dealers Anatomy (reunited – first show back in 15 years.) Debacle, apocalyptic crust and despair from Melbourne members of Pisschrist, Drunkard, Soberphobe. Contaminated, utter darkness, morbid death metal.” It happens this Friday September 11.
BLACK CONJURATION FEST Check out the line-up for this roadtrip-worthy Adelaide event: Bolt Thrower, Portal, Nocturnal Graves, Cauldron Black Ram, Abominator, Tzun Tzu, Nocturnes Mist, Tombsealer, King Fate, Dracula, Teuton, Hellbringer, Anatomy, Inverloch, Shadow Realm, Stargazer and Tyrannic. It’s at the Adelaide UniBar on September 25 and 26.
Mind Fuzz, Northlane for Node, The Peep Tempel for Tales and The Smith Street Band for Throw Me In The River. The awards are presented on Tuesday October 22 at Meat Market, 5 Blackwood Street, North Melbourne.
BOLT THROWER The mighty Bolt Thrower are at 170 Russell on September 27 – 22 years since their last Australian tour. Tickets from boltthrower.bigcartel.com and venue outlets.
RUINS AND MORE AT THE TOTE Killer night of music at The Tote on Saturday September 19, including Ruins (Tasmania), Brisbane progressive black metallers Vyrion, Graveir (Queensland), Mar Mortuum, Agonhymn and Greytomb. Doors are at 6:30pm and there’s a free BBQ. $20 on the door or presale tickets through The Tote’s website.
NEW COFFIN CAROUSEL EP Coffin Carousel breathes a passion for punk rock and grunge music, mashing in a mixture of spooky sounds, coarse-to-melodic vocals, supercharged guitar power chords, low note bass-heavy rhythms and versatile modern drumming. Conceived by Howard Noise (Diamond Noir, ex-Hatchet Dawn) early 2012, he aimed to build Coffin Carousel a solid foundation and an original horizon for growth as a vocalist and songwriter. In 2013 Howard Noise joined forces with Baron Todd (ex-Voltera) and later recruited Dr Sub Hiro (also ex-Voltera) to launch the EP, Fiend. They’ve now unleashed Doom Pop, paying homage to influential punk icons the Misfits with Static Age and The Ramones with I Wanna Be Sedated. It’s mixed by Grammy award winning Neil Kernon (Judas Priest, Sex Pistols, Queen) and mastered by Alan Douches (Misfits, Motorhead, GWAR). Doom Pop is available worldwide at all digital music stores and as a limited edition compact disk gloss-gatefold with bonus track, expanded artwork through the band’s website store.
AIR ANNOUNCES CARLTON DRY INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARD NOMINEES The Australian Independent Record Labels Association has revealed the nominees for the 2015 Carlton Dry Independent Music Awards. The nominees for Best Independent Hard Rock, Heavy or Punk Album are British India for Nothing Touches Me, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard for I’m In Your
fidlar TOO BOLD TO OBEY BY AUGUSTUS WELBY When news got out that FIDLAR’s second album, Too, was on its way, you’d have been forgiven for not expecting much in the way of artistic diversity from the LA skate-punks. However, while there are a number of songs of furiously bashed out power pop, lead single 40oz On Repeat is an indication the band haven’t phoned in a repeat of their self-titled debut. Interspersed with a bristling pop-punk backbone and lyrical references to booze-guzzling, 40oz On Repeat is a fairly bleak account of loneliness and financial insecurity, accentuated by sections of raw, acoustic vulnerability. The track presages a record that takes several unexpected turns, such as the speak-sung Sober, the downbeat confessional Overdose, and the funk-metal fuck-you Punks. “In rock’n’roll – garage, punk, whatever this world that we fit in is – it’s scary for bands to try new things,” says frontman Zac Carper. “Especially when one thing worked. It can go either of two ways: people can fucking hate it or people can like it. But you can’t live your life wondering what people are going to think about what you do. We needed to change it up, because we’re just those kind of people. I didn’t want to make the first record over again. For me that’s the most lazy, selling out kind of thing that we could’ve done.” With the release of the 2013 debut, and its lead single Cheap Beer, FIDLAR built a reputation as rowdy party boys. Unwittingly, Carper had begun to comply with this
public impression, before realising how insincere it was. “Max [Kuehn, drums] was fuckin’ in high school when he joined FIDLAR. I was 20 when I started FIDLAR. I just turned 28. Everything just changes,” he says. “For me, it’s not a bad thing. I know punk rock fans don’t really want you to change, they don’t want you to make money; you selling out means you have a career [laughs]. There came a point for me where I was just like, ‘You know what, I don’t fucking care about that anymore’.” Along with the increase in dynamics, Too is sonically harder hitting than its predecessor. Abandoning the DIY, self-recorded approach that gave birth to FIDLAR, the band hopped over to Nashville and teamed up with producer Jay Joyce. While the finished product vindicates this decision, Carper had some trouble adjusting. “First fucking day I almost lost my mind,” he says. “It
was one of those things where I produce records myself, so I want it to sound a certain way – I have a vision of it. But sometimes you’re a little too close to it, too. The song Punks, I wanted it to sound a certain way. I was arguing with the producer, I was arguing with the guys, and then finally at the end of the night I went home and thought about it and I was like ‘I’ve got to give up control over this, because I’m going to lose sight of what the journey is.’ So I just let go and once I did that I learned a lot more. I became a lot smarter because I realised that I didn’t know everything.” On the subject of relinquishing control, after wrapping up the mammoth run of touring behind FIDLAR, Carper went on a lone songwriting retreat, which is when the majority of the songs on Too took shape. After that process, however, the band’s remaining three members were given to opportunity to contribute.
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“Doing my first record by myself, it was so close to how I wanted it to sound, and I made the first record sound a certain way. It was the same thing with this record – I was too close to it. Then once I let go I was just like, ‘OK, I trust the producer, I trust my band members, let’s do this.’ Letting go of control was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Too by FIDLAR is out now via Warner Music Australia.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 43
Meth research D O YOU USE ICE, SHARD, SPEED? Rese arch study in Melb ourne recruiting adults who use methamphetamines You will need to participatE in a 90 minute interview at a location near you, and will receive a $30 voucher for your time.
Interested? Contact us on 0405 915 995 or Saru6@student.monash.edu to find out if you are eligible. Conducted by Monash University & Turning Point
MUSIC NEWS
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For all the latest news check out beat.com.au FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 11
South African alt-rockers Seether, trailblazed around the country with brothers-in-arms Caligula’s Horse, and have supported German prog juggernaughts The Ocean. Now, Melbourne’s own Orsome Welles are returning to Workers Club to launch their new single Swim on Friday September 11. The launch of Orsome Welles’ ferocious debut EP Erth News Bulletin was packed to the rafters, so best get yourself into gear and pick up your tickets now. They’ll be joined on stage by Glass Ocean (NSW), Arakeye and Tux. Tickets are $10 presale and $15 on the door.
SUN GOD REPLICA
THE POST OFFICE HOTEL
Well paint us green and call us Gumby. Sun God Replica are set to perform not one, but two free sets this Friday September 11 at The Post Office Hotel. Sun God Replica have quite the rock and roll pedigree, with the talented Linsay McLennan of The Meanies taking up the role of chief songwriter, singer and guitar shredder. Serial drum slayer Lochie Cavigan is now classified as Link’s main wingman, while bassman Lance Swagger rounds out Sun God Replica’s sound beautifully.
ACOUSTICANA
MEMO MUSIC HALL
Four award winning artists are coming together this Friday for Acousticana, a show held at MEMO Music Hall featuring acoustic songs from established Australian singer/songwriters. The lineup features Dave Mason (The Reels), Sean Kelly (Models), Rob Snarski (Blackeyed Susans) and Brendan Gallagher (Karma County). Each artist has featured on either an ARIA or APRA related award category, ensuring that the night will showcase some of the best acoustic music Australia has to offer. Tickets are now available for the show at MEMO Music Hall on Friday September 11. Be sure to head to the MEMO Music Hall website for more details.
LOOSE TOOTH THE OLD BAR
ORSOME WELLES
THE WORKERS CLUB
They’ve shared the Forum stage with
favourite gal with the gift of the gab, Kate Boston Smith is MCing, and DJ Woody Mcdonald aka Taste-MasterHit-Machine will welcome the morning in with a jig. Get down for this ripper of a show this Friday September 12 when the doors open at 8.30pm. Entry is $10.
MIGHTIEST OF GUNS
THE SPOT TED MALLARD
Evidently someone at The Spotted Mallard didn’t get the memo about Australia’s gun laws. The Mightiest of Guns are making an appearance at The Spotted Mallard this Friday September 11 to launch their debut album Drink Over Your Grave, jam packed with country licked murder ballads. Shoot on over to The Mallard from 8.30pm and get a load of this bolt action. Entry is $10.
yourself in for some catchy tunes. Entry is $13.
NICK BARKER & THE STUDIO INSTRUMENT RENTALS
T H E F LY I N G S AU C E R C L U B
Australian pub rock icon Nick Barker and his bespoke band The Studio Instrument Rentals will commemorate the 40th anniversary of the classic Neil Young album Tonight’s The Night with a special encore performance at The Flying Saucer Club on Friday September 11. The band will be recreating the record track-for-track together with an extended encore of other Neil Young gems. Neil Young’s Tonight’s The Night was the Canadian artist’s sixth studio album, and was actually recorded some two years before its release in one day on August 26, 1973 at Hollywood’s Studio Instrument Rentals. Celebrate the album’s anniversary with style this Friday September 11 at The Flying Saucer Club. Doors open at 6pm, tickets are $28 on the door.
SKYWAYS ARE HIGHWAYS YA H YA H ’ S
Loose Tooth are hosting a meeting of the minds to launch their debut hit single, Everything Changes on cassette at The Old Bar on Friday night. Joining them on this night of the notables will be local legends Girl Crazy, Pure Moods and Cable Ties. Everyone’s
This Friday September 11, Yah Yah’s is set to host Skyways are Highways for fans of pineapple pop – power-pop tracks masquerading as punk rock tunes. The Meet Wagon will also be roaring down the atmospheric motorway with a few other treats, so fly on down to Yah Yah’s from 5pm onwards and strap
THE STORY SO FAR M A X WAT T ’ S
Esteemed Californian punkers The Story So Far are joining forces with New Jersey’s Man Overboard to make their hugely anticipated return to our shores this September. ‘Bummer punks’
SPEED DATE WITH...
Perch Creek
1. Your Sound. Imagine if Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, The Beatles and Ray Charles had some kind of orgy, asexually producing a pack of 21st Century Steiner kids with ADD and too many instruments. 2. Keeping Busy We recently recorded our current single Mama Sings with Greg J Walker (Machine Translations) and shot an awesome video clip for it featuring an amazing hand carved marionette. We recently returned home from an awesomely fun tour of Canada and are now in the midst of touring in support the Mama Sings single across Australia, incorporating a bunch of brand new songs into the set list. 3. Best Gig Ever Playing at Golden Plains was pretty damn cool. A whole field full of people, many of whom kindly honoured us with that proud Golden Plains tradition of “the boot”. 4. Current Playlist Lately we’ve been digging the live sets by Masco Sound System. They’re a rock band who always perform with a live painter on stage and aren’t afraid to bust out some psychedelic minimalist disco vibes. In terms of record playlist, I’m digging Lanie Lane’s album Night Shade and Tame Impala’s latest, as well as my continued appreciation of The Beatles, who I honestly think are underrated. 5. Your Ultimate Rider In order to accommodate all the different personality types in our band we’d need to get a yoga mat, a joint, a bottle of Scotch whiskey, a shiny mirror, a Swedish masseuse and a mountain of strawberries and soft cheese. PERCH CREEK play Saturday September 12 at Howler, with James Teague and The Bakers Digest.
COMING UP WEDNESDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER
COTTON CLUB BLUE EYES CRY
SHOWTIME 8:30PM, NO COVER
TUESDAYS IN SEPTEMBER
FACT HUNT TRIVIA $5 TACOS + $16 JUGS OF THUNDER RD
Hosted by RRR’s Tristen Harris, this is a comfortably dumb trivia for music fans and couch potatoes, no sport, no politics and no book-learnin’. QUIZ FROM 8PM - RESERVATIONS - SAMANDA@SPOTTEDMALLARD.COM. NO COVER
WEDNESDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER
JC LITTLE BIG BAND PRESENTS:
BIG BAND KARAOKE
BEGINNER BLUES SWING DANCING LESSONS 7:30PM, $15 P/P
SUNDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER
KERRYN FIELDS
‘RASCAL’ DEBUT ALBUM LAUNCH $10 ENTRY FROM 4PM
SHOWTIME 7:30PM, NO COVER
FRIDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER
MIGHTIEST OF GUNS
‘DRINK OVER YOUR GRAVE’ - DEBUT ALBUM LAUNCH
+ LA BASTARD + MICK DOG’S BONEYARD + DJ MICK SYLIANOU $10 ENTRY FROM 8:30PM
SATURDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER
BROOKE RUSSELL & THE MEAN REDS + CAT CANTERI + BEN MASTWYK $5 FROM 8:30PM
SUNDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER
BULLHORN PERFORMING 2 X SETS $5 FROM 3:30PM
$8 Pints Craft Beer 4pm-6pm Daily
NEW WINE LIST! KITCHEN HOURS
Tues-Fri open 4pm till you’re full Sat & Sun open 2pm till you’re stuffed
TICKETS
For ticket sales visit www.spottedmallard.com 314 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
VOTE NOW TO DECIDE THIS YEAR’S WINNER OF MELBOURNE MUSIC BANK - Head to bankofmelbourne.com.au/melbmusicbank
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 45
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Lauren Elizabeth
You’ll be launching your new album Into The Stillness on Thursday, September 10 at St Kilda’s Cellar Bar. Can you tell us a little about the album? How does it differ from your debut EP She Won’t Love You? This is a blues/roots project, something I’ve wanted to explore for a long time. She Won’t Love You was a soul/Motown project, so they are very different. I love performing both genres of music, but this is where my music is at right now. You’ll be supported by Benjamin Smith and Simon Burke on the night. How does their music complement your own? Ben is a poetic songwriter who is a big inspiration to me and my music. With his groove ballad, followed by the soulful sounds of Simon Burke on piano, it will really set the tone for what we are doing. Simon’s project The Meltdown is a real soul/Motown style, and I am a huge fan. I have gigged with both these guys in the past, and we’ve always worked really well together. We are on the same page musically. I have a lot of respect and admiration for these guys and I thought they would both work really well as guests on the night. Who are some of your most prominent musical influences? Bonnie Raitt, Joni Mitchell, The Waifs, local girl Suzie Dickinson, Neil Young, even Amy Winehouse. If you go on an all expenses paid, extensive tour of any other country, which would you pick and why? Europe. I couldn’t think of anywhere better to play my music. They have a true appreciation for what you do as an artist. LAUREN ELIZABETH will launch her album Into The Stillness on Thursday September 10 at the Cellar Bar.
Q&A
Apart From This will be tagging along for the ride too. Between these two bands there are enough catchy hooks to ease the minds of even the most cynical of punk-rock fans. Doors open at 8pm this Friday September 11.
to accompany the refreshed name. If that sounds tantalising to you (and it should), then head on over to Howler this Saturday September 12. Doors open 8.30pm and tickets are $21.
MADELINE LEMAN
THE DRUNKEN POET
LUWOW
Madeline Leman is launching her debut EP Tennessee Diamond with the help of her band The Desert Swells. Taking place at the ever colourful LuWoW, strap yourself in for some jungle vibes and good times. Expect a night of Americana retro surf sound and a little bit country kitsch. Drop by LuWow this Friday September 11 from 8.30pm onwards and feel the swell. Entry is $5.
MIDNIGHT WOOLF
THE REVERENCE HOTEL
Round two of Midnight Woolf ’s residency is back at the Reverence. Every Friday in September, they’ll be stomping out their wild garage rock’n’roll show at The Reverence Hotel. Head on down to the ‘scray and watch the Woolf belt out two sets of their heady brew of surf-inspired garage dance floor killers, as the band gears up for the release of a brand new live album. Get savage at the Reverence this Friday September 11 from 8.30pm onwards. Entry is free.
FRAUDBAND play this Saturday September 12 with Pocket Calculators, Shrimpwitch and Strange Love at The Old Bar. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 46
Join Broozer and a few others riff lords for the vinyl launch of their record II. Expect a monolithic line up consisting of doom/sludge and noise rock on the night from Wrecking City Traders, TTTDC and Bodies. Entry is $15 on the night. Doors are 8pm.
SPEEDBALL
The Bendigo Hotel is playing host to a blood spilling black conjuration fest in the form of Evoke Death. First on the bill are Nocturnal Graves, a black/ death metal holocaust featuring former members of Destroyer 666. Shredding along on the night are Anatomy, Debacle and Contaminated. Blow your ears out this Friday September 11 at The Bendigo Hotel. Doors open at 8pm, entry is $15. SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 12
Sydney punk act Speedball are hitting the road for a national tour in promotion of their latest EP, Back From The Dead. The band will also be handing out free copies of their limited edition live EP Smashes, Thrashes And Pits, featuring a bonus studio track on the recording. The shows will include all the band’s classics from previous records, including the new track Struggle Street from their live EP. They’ll be playing at Woody’s Attic Dive on Saturday September 12. Tickets are $10 and come with a copy of their Back From The Dead EP. Doors from 7pm.
T H E GRACE DARLI NG
Volume 5 of A Sharp Knife will be launched in the Grace Darling basement with a night of live music this Saturday September 12. The lineup is pretty fucking ace too. It features The Girl Fridas, Holy Lotus, Xanthea (W.A) And The Mysterious Waterfall Person. Doors open at 9pm, entry is $7, and be sure to bring along some extra coins for the zines on sale, because we all love a good zine.
THEE WYLDE OSCARS T H E R E T R E AT H O T E L
Step closer, jaded and world-weary urchin, and gaze into this swirling cauldron. Conjure an image, if you dare, of Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry crashing a punk bus into Hamburg-era Beatles, and know this to be the modus operandi of Thee Wylde Oscars. Thee Wylde Oscars will drive the soul-punk garage rock’n’roll express to the Retreat Hotel front bar on Saturday, September 12. Catch two Wylde sets from 8pm onwards. Entry is as free as your mind.
SOL NATION
R U B I X WA R E H O U S E
ANGIE
THE WORLD AT A GLANCE THE REVERENCE HOTEL
HOWLER
ECCA VANDAL
Ecca Vandal has just released her third single Father Hu$$la and has announced a show at the Worker’s Club to celebrate. Produced by Ecca Vandal & Kidnot and featuring co-production and mixing by Hadyn Buxton, Father Hu$$la follows Ecca Vandal’s debut single White Flag, and Battle Royal, cementing Ecca Vandal as a creative force to be reckoned with. Her show at the Worker’s Club goes down on Saturday September 12. Tickets are $15, doors at 8.30pm.
A SHARP KNIFE ZINE LAUNCH
THE JOHN CURTIN
The first half of 2015 saw energetic Melbourne quintet Perch Creek take some time away from their busy touring schedule to focus on writing. The fruit of this can now be savoured as the first sweet taste of their upcoming third album, the brand new single Mama Sings. The band’s first official release under their recently shortened band name Perch Creek, Mama Sings showcases a revitalised sound
Come catch all your favourite Kiss classics when Kiss Alive hit Cherry Bar this Saturday. The night features a one-off lineup of Rusty Brown (Electric Mary), Dave Leslie (Baby Animals), Tim Henwood (The Superjesus and The Palace Of The King) and Paul Drennen, Travis Dragini and Matt Macauliffe (all from The Bruce Kulick Band). With DJ Bobby Lou Hellacopter taking the decks until 5am afterwards, come get your dose of Kiss while it’s ready this Saturday September 12. Doors open at 5pm, entry is $20.
THE WORKER’S CLUB
Angie’s forthcoming LP Free Agent illustrates her next incarnation. Formed from fragments of experiences, philosophies and travels, the project began in Paris with just one song and grew into a dynamic and eclectic album through Angie’s time in Brazil. Free Agent will be launched live with the support of Miss Destiny, Teuton and Power this Saturday September 12 at The John Curtin. Entry is $12, doors open at 7.30pm.
PERCH CREEK
KISS ALIVE
CHERRY BAR
W O O D Y ’ S AT T I C D I V E
DING DONG LOUNGE
Sol’ Manic is a 19 year old launching his debut project Los/Sol at Ding Dong Lounge on Friday September 11. Sol’ Manic is one of the founders of 90sRAWDivercity, a new age Melbourne based collective. Sol’ Manic released the first video from the project entitled Geez a few weeks ago, to an overwhelming positive response. His big debut kicks off at Ding Dong Lounge this Friday, and you’re invited to be a part of it. Doors open at 9pm, entry is $12. THE BENDIGO HOTEL
What do you love about making music? Making music, free beer, the allure of having a social life. What do you hate about the music industry? Have no clue what ‘the music industry’ is. If you could assassinate one person or band from popular music, who would it and why? Shit music serves a purpose: it takes idiots away from your gigs. What do you think a band has to do these days to succeed? If you’re playing music you want to play with people you want to be around, then you’re a success. Your main work after that is maintaining the musical relationship you have with band members and doing stuff that interests you as a band. Everything else will take care of itself. Where in the Melbourne music scene do you think you fit in, and how important is it to play with the right bands? Really don’t know about this. We just take each gig offer on its merits. If we like the bands on the bill, the venue and we’re available, then usually we play the gig. I’m sure there’s bands/people who can’t stand us, but every time we play to a new crowd we win over a few people who buy our music. We’re a band that fits everywhere and nowhere and we like to mix it up a bit. So, we’re happy to put our tunes out there live and let audiences decide.
Have you gotten along to see Blue Eyes Cry perform yet? If the answer is no, better get yourself down to The Drunken Poet on Saturday September 12. Blue Eyes Cry pop up at all the premier music venues and festivals around Victoria and throughout Australia, so you know you’re in for a live music treat. Their debut album Sleepin Alone reached #1 on The Australian Blues and Roots Radio Charts for June and July in 2013, while earlier this year the band received two Chain Awards (Nationwide Blues Music Award) for ‘Best New Talent’ and ‘Song Of The Year.’ Impressive stuff. They’ll play The Drunken Poet on Saturday September 12.
BROOZER
THE BENDIGO HOTEL
SOL’ MANIC
EVOKE DEATH
Fraudband
BLUE EYES CRY
of Sun God Replica, My Left Boot, Sheriff, The Dukes of Deliciousness and Swhat, this promises to be one memorable show. Doors open from 5pm, entry is $13.
Three-piece punks The World At A Glance are smashing Melbourne’s best punk venue this Saturday September 12. While they’re doing that, smash some vegan eats and beer down your gullet. You know it’s good for you. Support on the night comes from friends in Late Nights, Old Etiquettes and Miyazaki. Entry is $5, doors at 8pm.
GRINDHOUSE YA H YA H ’ S
Time for some desperate Melbourne garage punk rock at Yah Yah’s this Saturday September 12. Grindhouse are launching an LA recording fundraiser and you’re invited. With a killer line up of rock'n'roll royalty featuring the likes
Melbourne seven-piece Sol Nation are hitting the road to promote their debut album Melting Pot. The band have created one of the most exuberant, colourful, intoxicating and exciting stage shows in Australia. With a charismatic, high energy, infectious live show, and a strong global conscience, Sol Nation is a mustsee musical experience. They guarantee a performance to remember via their own unique fusion of reggae, samba, funk, salsa, East Timorese folksong and African dance music and are a great reflection of their multicultural hometown of Melbourne. Shake up a storm with Sol Nation this Saturday September 12 at Rubix Warehouse. Entry is $15. Doors from 8pm.
THE HIGGS
DING DONG LOUNGE
Saturday September 12 will be the very first time Melburnites will get the chance to see The Higgs live. Having been locked in the studio for the last year writing and recording their new record, the band will hit the stage at Ding Dong Lounge premiering the new album, which delivers a sizzling mix of edgy electronic and industrial sounds with a healthy dose of pure melody. Get ready when The Higgs unleash a torrent of noise at Ding Dong this Saturday September 12. Entry is $15, doors open at 9pm.
RAW BRIT
T H E F LY I N G S AU C E R C L U B
Raw Brit are returning to the Flying Saucer Club this September to perform a double album tribute show, featuring Deep Purple’s Machine Head followed by Bad Company’s self titled record. Featuring Mick Pealing (Stars, The Ideals), Bob Spencer (Skyhooks, Angels), John Favaro (The Badloves) and Peter Maslen (Boom Crash Opera) this time round, the group will be rocking out to not one, but two classic albums as well as a set of dance floor favourites. Get on down to The Flying Saucer Club this Saturday September 12 and prepare yourself for a night of old school rock’n’roll bangers. Doors open at 6pm, tickets are $25 at the door.
FRAUDBAND THE OLD BAR
Fraudband have released a new LP, recorded, mixed and mastered by Loki Lockwood. With this in hand they’re launching it at The Old Bar before their first lap of Europe. Support on this most auspicious of evenings comes from Pocket Calculators (Primitive Calculators in another form), the rockin Shrimpwitch and the mysterious Strange Love. If that ain’t enough to tickle your fancy, DJ Paul Rodgers is spinning the decks between sets. Pop your nog in to Old Bar this Saturday September 12 from 8.30pm onwards. Entry will set you back $10.
ADMIRAL ACKBAR’S DISHONOURABLE DISCHARGE
W H O L E L O T TA L O V E B A R
The cheapest entry to see Admiral Ackbar’s Dishonourable Discharge this weekend is $10 at Whole Lotta Love this Saturday. Follow it up with a dash of chaotic ska punk to round off the evening with Traumaboys’ psychobilly, Beyond Contempt’s thrash/punk/ groove and Monkey Grip’s punk/ alternative/grunge. It’s a night to celebrate the forward slash. Doors 8pm.
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The world’s biggest festival for unsigned bands has been locked in at Max Watt’s. The semi finals are taking place this Sunday September 13, full of unbridled and unsigned talent, waiting for your ears and your approval. Catch what might be the next big thing from 3.30pm this Sunday. Entry is $25.
Saucer. The recent SPORTS Reunion shows saw the timelessly groovy Cummings in action. The enthusiasm from those shows has prompted the singer/songwriter’s first proper tour across the country for 2015. The show will be going back to go forward; it’s going back to a time before anyone had ever heard of Stephen, so the show will be new, even though it’s old. Musicians of this caliber are rare in Australia so be sure to book your tickets for the show this Sunday September 13. Tickets are $22 on the door, doors open at 3pm.
ELWOOD MYRE
THE HORNETS
Sydney troubadour Elwood Myre brings his musical skills, head full of ideas and closet full of ghosts to the stage at The Drunken Poet on Sunday September 13. In late 2011, after receiving an old guitar from an estranged relative and experiencing a prolific series of recurring dreams, Elwood dropped everything and submerged into his own eclectic realm of songwriting. This change eventually led to him meeting mandolin player Hunter Beasley; a spirited young lad with a fervid appetite for song, beer and music. With no intent to waste time, the pair quickly started cutting their teeth around the east coast of Australia, embalming crowds with their folk-laden Americana flavour. Get down to The Drunken Poet on Sunday September 13 and catch Elwood Myre in action.
The Hornets feature some of the country’s well known and respected musicians. Singer/songwriter Craig Horne together with guitarist Jeff Burstin from ( Jo Jo Zep, the Falcons, The Black Sorrows), is joined by guitarist Wayne Burt ( Jo Jo Zep and The Black Sorrows), Wayne Duncan (Daddy Cool) on bass, Chris Tabone (Bad Loves) on drums and Bruce Haymes (Paul Kelly, Renee Geyer bands) on keyboards. A respectable lineup that’ll leave your ears stinging. Get on down to Cherry Bar from 3pm sharp, slap a fiver down at the front, and catch some home-grown talent in action.
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13
EMERGENZA FESTIVAL SEMI FINALS M A X WAT T ’ S
THE DRUNKEN POET
SOUL SUNDAYS
T H E R E T R E AT H O T E L
Get funked up this Sunday September 13 when Soul Sundays takes to The Retreat Hotel. Presented by Thunder Road, Melbourne’s best soul acts and DJs electrify the dance floor with the best down and dirty soul, funk, and vintage R&B, every Sunday at The Retreat Hotel. Bands from 7.30pm, DJs til 1am, free entry.
FIRST SIGHT
THE BENDIGO HOTEL
First Sight are a Brisbane based emotional / post-hardcore band formed in 2014 and hailing from the city of Brisbane. Driven to develop and maintain connections on both a creative and personal level with their audience, the ethos of First Sight is cemented within an explosively energetic, passionate and emotionally charged live performance. With supports from Gladstone, Set The Score and Eat Your Heart Out on the night, expect a hazy torrent of emotion and good riffs this Sunday September 13. Doors open at 6pm. Entry is $10.
CHERRY BAR
After touring internationally and releasing the vinyl print of her latest LP Pilgrim through Beast Records, Lilith Lane returns to her hometown of Melbourne for a Sunday residency at the Reverence - featuring tunes from all three of her full band albums on piano and guitar. Slip on in to The Reverence Hotel and catch Lilith Lane from 3pm onwards this Sunday September 13. Entry is free.
STEPHEN CUMMINGS
T H E F LY I N G S AU C E R C L U B
Accompanied by guitar master Shane O’Mara, Stephen Cummings will be performing this September at The
Iconic Melbourne performer Rebecca Barnard will perform two sets at The Post Office Hotel this Sunday September 13 from 4.30pm. Barnard, renowned for her work with Australia’s seminal indie band Rebecca’s Empire in the 1990s, has a solid catalogue of solo albums under her belt, which incorporates blues, pop and country influences. The gig is free, so get on down to The Post Office Hotel and get it on the action.
MAKE LIKE A TREE
W H O L E L O T TA L O V E B A R
Make Like a Tree is a quintessention of travels expressed in music and photography created by Sergey Onischenko – a vagabonder from Ukraine who is hitch-hiking round the world and spreading his indie-folk tunes with a touch of non-conformism and beat generation ideas. Joined on Sunday by indie folk performers Sophie Officer, Bee Virginia and Simon Phillips. Free entry, doors open at 6pm. MONDAY SEPTEMBER 14
UKRAINIAN HOUSE
Melbourne’s record collectors and interstate stall holders will present a genuine 70,000 Records, 10,000 CD’s and music memorabilia from the past till present at the Essendon Record and CD Fair on Sunday September 13 2015 at Ukrainian House, 3 Russell St, Essendon (opposite Essendon Station ) between 9.30am and 5pm. This is Melbourne’s largest totally music related fair and the last fair for the year. Stall holders will have an extensive range of pop, rock, grunge, blues, jazz, country, folk, punk, progressive, heavy metal, electronica, dance, alternative, funk, soul, disco, easy listening, and selections of most other styles. Vinyl forms 75% of stock. Music magazines, books, music, DVD’s, and memorabilia will also be available. Shoot on down for a bit of a crate dig this Sunday September 13, at Ukrainian House in Essendon.
SCOTDRAKULA OLD BAR
It’s going to be one hell of a Mundane Monday at Old Bar as Scotdrakula, Cable Ties and Shrimpwitch gear up for a show on September 14. Scotdrakula are coming out of a three month hibernation as they prepare to release some more garage punk tracks in the later part of 2015. The Mundane Mondays sessions are cheap as chips and run at Old Bar every (you guessed it) Monday. Pop your head in, drop a crisp tenner at the door and make sure you catch Scotdrakula on September 14 before they leave again. Doors at 7.30pm.
Spread this on your toast - Cherry Bar are preserving the tradition of Cherry Jam on Mondays. For one night only (per week) you can play on the ol’ Cherry Stage. Shoot an email over to red@ cherrybar.com.au, let him know you want to play and let the local legends sort out the engineering for you. Shoot some rhythms out and see if the crowd loves it, or just jam it out til’ your ears bleed! It all goes down from 6.30pm every Monday at Cherry Bar, fire an email to Red and secure your spot.
T H E R E T R E AT H O T E L
Yet again at the Retreat on this fine Monday night, two established artists are randomly thrown together to play a setful of duets, preceded by a solo set from each. This free entry show is a chance to see the cream of the Melbourne scene in one-off, one-ofa-kind performances in the clubhouse environment of the Retreat Hotel front bar. This week’s festivities will be curated by the sounds of the most wonderful Tobias Hengeveld & Adrian Slattery (Big Smoke). Scoot on in to the Retreat this Monday September 14 from 7pm and catch a delightful show. Free, of course. TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 15
TASTE OF INDIE TUESDAY PRINCE PUBLIC BAR
Once again, Taste of Indie Tuesday hits Prince Public Bar. This week features three brilliant songwriters in Joshua Baker and Kat O from Kill TV alongside Jonathan Shaw from Summon The Birds. Music starts at 7.30pm and entry is free.
They’re back. Super Saloon are heading over to Cherry Bar for the next round of their September residency. Super Saloon are plain and simply some ‘good ol fashion, twelve-bar rock’n’roll’ between friends that had been talking about starting a band for longer than any of them would like to admit. Head over to Cherry Bar this Tuesday September 15 from 8pm and order a shot of rock at the saloon.
Open a can of mic on your Sunday. Yah Yah’s supplies the backline and their expert in-house operator Ryan Scoble handles your sounds all for free from 6.30pm to 11.30pm. You’ll provide the tunes, Yah Yah’s supplies the rest. Better way to spend a Sunday than hung-over with Netflix, come on. Get an email over to ryan@yahyahs.com.au and pop
Masco Sound System are back this Monday, continuing their month long residency at The Worker’s Club. With some of Melbourne’s finest playing over September, the shows promise to be extra special with new material and a few surprises each week, plus the guarantee of a unique, one of a kind journey for your ears, eyes, mind and booty. For the
THE WORKERS CLUB
So then, what’s your name and what do you ‘do’ in the band? Cassie Ward and I play rhythm guitar and sing in the duo Cass. What do you reckon people will say you sound like? A mellow mix of jazz, folk and blues. What do you love about making music? The magical opportunities it presents. Two years ago we found ourselves performing on the steps of Montmartre in Paris, which was unbelievable. What do you hate about the music industry? That music is pumped out, consumed and discarded so quickly by the public. These days music seems to be popular one moment and forgotten the next. I think that’s due to a lack of originality, especially in popular music. Everything sounds the same and therefore nothing sticks. If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why? If I were able to travel through time, I would go back and see Lena Horne, not necessarily to show her our music but to listen to hers. To see her live would be so moving. If you could assassinate one person or band from popular music, who would it and why? Definitely Pitbull. Crude and obnoxious; two things that I can’t stand in a person. What’ve you got to sell CD-wise? We recorded an EP a while ago but have sold out so we’re working now on getting some new material out as soon as we can. CASS playing their first headline on Thursday September 10 at The Brunswick Hotel alongside Sleepy West, Mac’s Peak and Rare Child.
Q&A
GHOST DICK
The next round of Ghost Dick’s month long residency at Public Bar is back, ready to counter those droning September blues. We both know you spent last September watching the spring leaves bud with a desperate loneliness as the possums filled your heads with dark screeching that tore your inner ear to shreds. Fuck doing that again; go see Ghost Dick at The Public Bar this Tuesday from 7.30pm onwards. Entry is $6. Don’t tell mum.
GILLIGAN SMILES
MASCO SOUND SYSTEM
Cass
THE PUBLIC BAR
THE WORKER’S CLUB
OPEN MIC SUNDAY YA H YA H ’ S
THE MUTUAL APPRECIATION SOCIETY
CHERRY BAR
CHERRY BAR
Melbourne based singer Helen Ryder has announced the launch for her debut album Someday Love at The Toff in Town, on Sunday September 13. Someday Love features Ryder performing eleven tracks of country and soul infused pop, recorded with some of Australia’s finest musicians. Ryder has had the distinction of previously performing with The Whitlams at the ARIA Awards and Jackie Orszaczky at the Darling Harbour Jazz Festival. Make sure you head over to The Toff In Town’s website for tickets to her show on Sunday September 13. Doors open at 7.30pm. Tickets are $20 on the door.
dirt cheap price of $3, who wouldn’t want to get their groove on? Hit The Worker’s Club from 7.30pm onwards this Monday September 14 and shake it like you don’t have commitments on Tuesday.
SUPER SALOON
CHERRY JAM
HELEN RYDER
LILITH LANE
REBECCA BARNARD
THE POST OFFICE HOTEL
ESSENDON RECORD AND CD FAIR
THE TOFF IN TOWN
THE REVERENCE HOTEL
your head in when the action starts from 6.30pm, every Sunday at Yah Yahs.
Once again, the ever rotating crew and cronies of Gilligan Smiles are setting up shop at The Worker’s Club for their Tuesdays in September residency. Gilligan Smiles have been busy beavering away, preparing to host a residential party movement at the Workers Club. They are ready to overwhelm and underwhelm all those who choose to listen, and bring with them some much loved folk friends. Run back down to the Workers Club this Tuesday September 15 for early to midweek beats. Doors open at 7pm, entry is $7.
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The Bobby Dazzler Market Motown & Soul
We’re thrilled you’re back with some more Bobby Dazzler Market action. Tell us about your next concept. Well, Melbourne’s got a whole lot of soul, and we’re bringing it all together for our next swinging ‘60s-style market party, Motown & Soul. We hear it’s an action packed line-up this time? Sure is. Headlining, we have Fulton Street, a sevenpiece soul band complete with horns. Spinning vinyl is DJ Lady Soul, DJ Honey and Daniel Harvey. Miss Jane Doe will be teaching go-go Tina Turner style and dancing along to our live dance off. Need some air after all that grab a bevvy and head out to the garden to watch Sarah Masson’s live art show. And then of course, there’s the shopping. Shopping you say? What can we buy? We’ve got vintage, new design, handmade, records and more. A couple of highlights include Closet Mod, Adelaide a super cool ‘60s label. Records available from Vinylrules Music and Richie 1250. And with a new perfume by Double Happiness candles, what’s not to be happy about? This Market Party is extra-special for Bobby Dazzler. Tell us why. It’s actually our launch day. Our online store will go live selling ‘60s and ‘70s threads from around the world. Expect to see Mary Quant and other ‘60s favourites. We also launch our new Facebook group Bobby Dazzler Online, which will keep you updated with both our threads and forthcoming events. If you love the ‘60s then hop on the soul train to THE BOBBY DAZZLER MARKET on Sunday September 13, 12pm-5pm at The Provincial Hotel, 299 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 47
LIVE
REPORTS FROM THE FRONT ROW
For more reviews go to beat.com.au/reviews A PL ACE TO BURY STRANGERS Corner Hotel, Friday September 4 Away from the early spring drizzle, the Corner Hotel played host to a night of noise rock terror. As early arrivals poured beer down their throats, they couldn’t have anticipated what was about to commence. It was an evening of optimum sound quality and evocative smoke and lighting – an evening to remember. Warming the stage for the NY headliners were local shoegazers Luna Ghost. The five-piece drowned the room in a progressive flood. Cunning bass lines patterned the low-end, while sharp chords splattered the highs. Distortion was cleverly employed, giving dynamics to the long feedback-soaked tracks. Finding a balance between My Bloody Valentine-esque shoegaze jams and the drawn-out vocals of Swervedriver, they had definitely done their homework and gave us a tight set. The night progressed and A Place To Bury Strangers took the stage, making the stage a portal to a noisy, deafening world. Wasting no time, the set began with a blasting noise rock solo, hard bass riffs and frantic drumming. The strap fell off Oliver Ackerman’s guitar as he thrashed away, but this didn’t stop him shredding across the stage. His hands were clawed around the neck of the instrument as if he were wrestling the life from a beast. The clean post-punk production of the band’s albums fell a bit flat on stage, but their showmanship more than made up for it. Along with Ackerman’s guitar wrestling, bass player Dion Lunadon decided to smash
THE DRONES Forum Melbourne, Saturday September 5
his bass into the stage in just the third song of the set, causing a seismic thump to ripple through the venue. Ackerman, still shredding like a man possessed, followed suit and chopped his guitar into the stage like an axe to wood. The set alternated between new tracks and old favourites, such as the rhythmically snappy And I’m Up and the big rocker Ego Death. However, nobody could’ve predicted the way the set concluded. As they played I Lived My Life To Stand In The Shadow Of Your Heart, Ackerman grabbed the lighting machine and cast its beam across the crowd like a searchlight. The light then cut out and the band continued in full darkness, letting nothing but harsh noise pour from the stage. As the song neared its end, the three band members jumped off stage and ran to the sound desk. They removed a sheet to expose a drum machine and a vocal distorter, and played a five-minute noise-punk jam as the crowd surrounded them in confused awe. BY THOMAS BRAND LOVED: Losing my hearing. I can’t get told off anymore. HATED: Losing my hearing. I can’t take compliments anymore. DRANK: $6 tinnies.
METHYL ETHEL Shebeen Bandroom, Friday September 4 It’s been just three months since Methyl Ethel released their debut LP Oh Inhuman Spectacle, but in that time the band’s profile has significantly blossomed. Despite signing with Remote Control Records’ Dot Dash imprint, the Perth trio were largely unknown away from their home city prior to the album release. In the past few months, though, they’ve jumped on stage at every opportunity, supporting the likes of San Cisco and The Babe Rainbow, and playing various label showcases and mini-festivals. As a result, they’ve gained an animated following and honed their approach to live performance. This brings us to tonight – a sold out Melbourne show as part of the official album launch tour. Oh Inhuman Spectacle is a deftly-carved work of guitar-led indie pop that flirts with trip hop beats and psychedelic electronics. It’s the product of frontman Jake Webb’s studio experiments, and not all of it lends itself to live performance. Never mind that though, as the threesome gave us a detailed presentation of the album material, with an extra dose of gusto. While the rhythm section were unwaveringly precise, most impressive was Webb. Despite the impression he gives of being a delicate, marginal character, tonight he was utterly in charge of proceedings – belting
out vocal lines and adding the occasional histrionic embellishment. Meanwhile, he made use of a massive pedal board and two guitar amplifiers to impressively represent the layered sonics heard on record. It’s been a busy few months for Methyl Ethel, but that seemingly hasn’t slowed Webb’s creative spirit, as the setlist included a number of yet-to-bereleased numbers. On an album launch tour, devoting considerable time to new material could be somewhat disappointing, but that concern was nullified by the strength and enveloping immediacy of the handful of tracks debuted. Oh Inhuman Spectacle is a worthy candidate for the year’s top releases, and tonight’s show made it clear that we’ll be hearing plenty more from Methyl Ethel in the future. BY AUGUSTUS WELBY
LOVED: Three-piece power. HATED: The relative brevity of the set. DRANK: Suspiciously.
Photo by Ian Laidlaw The ten-year anniversary show for The Drones’ sophomore album Wait Long Enough By The River And The Bodies Of Your Enemies Will Float By played out like a nostalgic celebration of one of the most important Australian bands of the current generation. The performance of the 2005 album was almost spiritual. This transcendence was sensed by The Drones frontman Gareth Liddiard, who didn’t address the crowd directly until they’d played the majority of the album’s tracks with impassioned force. Gigs where bands play an entire album in sequential order can be a little emotionally odd, because live sets tend to save the more popular songs for the end, whereas most albums are the opposite. Case in point, The Drones biggest ‘hit’ Shark Fin Blues was tonight’s first song. As such, from the instant Liddiard launched into the opening riff, all eyes in the mostly 30-plus crowd were glued to the stage. Liddiard stood front and centre, flanked by bass player Fiona Kitschin, drummer Christian Strybosch, keyboardist Steve Hesketh and guitarist Dan Luscombe. Despite being played first, the worshipped elegy to a doomed fisherman was just as enthralling and emotionally evocative as the first time I had heard it back in 2005. Back then, the Melbourne based band were gaining a surprising amount attention for a unique brand of rock music that shouldn’t have been popular, but it was.
From here, the intensity only increased. The album’s fourth song, Locust, was given a forcefully spiritual rendering. The first half of the song is an exercise in enormity through minimalism, as Liddiard recites a letter from a doomed ex-con to his lover “Georgie”. By the time the band arrived at This Time, the final song on Wait Long Enough By The River, you couldn’t help but feel a sense of dramatic irony, as Liddiard sang, “There’s a whole a lot more that’s waiting up ahead this time.” Thankfully, there was still more to come. After running through the album tracks, The Drones played a few fan other favourites, including a cover of Kev Carmody’s River Of Tears. Then for the encore, primary support act Batpiss joined them on stage to perform a song by 1980s Portland punk act Wipers. BY DAN WATT
LOVED: Locust. HATED: Not much. DRANK: Beer.
PETE EWING Gasometer Hotel, Wednesday September 2 There’s a film clip to Pete Ewing’s song We’re All Gonna Die published on YouTube. The song is lick-perfect alternative country rock – according to rumour, Ryan Adams loves it so much, he plays it in his touring van. The accompanying video is confronting: footage from the early 1980s featuring lycra-clad aerobic performers cavorting around a television studio stage. If the song wasn’t so fucking great, your digestive system would be gasping for attention. Presumably it’s the former aspect that underpins Ewing’s invitation to play and record at the famed Ardent Studios in Memphis. Because Ewing’s usually a solo performer, nestled in a corner at the Labour in Vain or similar understated venue, he’s assembled a band to accompany him to Memphis – the so-called Killer New Band. The description is gaudy, but an apt assessment of Ewing’s supporting cast: Tim McCormack (Downhills Home and Gruntbucket), Gus Agars (The Vandas and the Gentlemen of Fortune), Jeb Cardwell and Joe Cope (Dan Kelly’s Dream Band). Ewing brought his Killer New Band to the Gasometer Hotel tonight to help raise funds to get across to the States. With Warhol-like short films playing behind them, Ewing and his Killer New Band were in slaying good form. There was a stack of good songs – Lover, Genie, It’s A Crime, Fall Guy, Call Me. Some of these were classic meat and three veg Tennessee-style BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 48
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country rock, all rugged denim rock riffs, driving beats and whisky-and-smokes vocals. Some of them were stripped back and emotionally reflective, without being self-indulgent. Ewing traded banter with family, friends and sundry members of the audience. Everyone knew they were seeing something good tonight, one of those Melbourne musical secrets of unbridled pleasure. “This could be the start of something really good,” a friend remarked as Ewing and his band pulled up stumps at the end of the set. Yes, it could be and, if there is any justice in the musical world (which, sadly, remains a matter of spirited conjecture) a lot more people will soon know about Pete Ewing and his Killer New Band. BY PATRICK EMERY
LOVED: The laissez faire elegance of the songs. HATED: Can’t think of anything, really. DRANK: Mountain Goat Stout.
LIVE
REPORTS FROM THE FRONT ROW
For more reviews go to beat.com.au/reviews POISON CITY WEEKENDER
Photos by Ian Laidlaw
The Smith Street Band
Luca Brasi
170 Russell, Friday September 4 Poison City Records can put on a fucking show, that’s for sure. Since its first instalment back in ’09, Poison City Weekender has become a staple of the Melbourne music calendar. Not only does it give the right local bands a leg up, but it also by brings over acts that wouldn’t get the chance to play here otherwise. Perfectly representing those categories were Postblue and The Sidekicks (USA), who officially kicked off the three-day/night event at 170 Russell. As the venue filled to near capacity, Tassie’s Luca Brasi followed with an explosive, high octane set that proved once again why their name’s popping up everywhere. Anti-folk outfit Andrew Jackson Jihad (USA) followed, with a full band in tow for their debut Australian performance. Tracks from their 2007 album People Who Can Eat People Are the Luckiest People in the World were huge crowd pleasers. Set-closer Big Bird brought down the house, with lead singer Sean Bonnette coming off like a homeless Freddie Mercury. Next, Poison City mainstays The Smith Street Band walked out, looking ever so cool as Run The Jewels’ Blockbuster Night, Pt. 1 soundtracked their entry. It became instantly clear that, although the other acts captured attention, The Smith Street Band would be the true heroes of the night (beside Poison City founder Andrew Hayden, of course). Opening up with fan favourites It’s Alright, I Understand and Surrender, frontman Wil Wagner was quick to mention how great it was to play in Melbourne after a month in Europe playing to rooms half the size. Get High, See No One and Ducks Fly Together soon followed, along with set highlight Don’t Fuck With Our Dreams, which included an impromptu appearance from Jules and Craig of The Bennies. Don’t ask me why, there’s just something about the screamed line “Don’t fuck with our dreams” that can capture a room full of 20-somethings like nothing else. Lucy Wilson joined them during the encore for the debut live performance of I Scare Myself Sometimes. Closing the show with early single Young Drunk, Wagner thanked the crowd before eloquently summing up his feelings towards the record label: “You don’t get this shit from Universal.” You sure don’t.
Corner Hotel, Saturday September 5 Although they come from opposite sides of the country, Tired Lion and Oslow both symbolised the great things emerging from the outer reaches of the alternative rock spectrum in Australia right now; churning out noisy guitar and sharp hooks to an eager and attentive audience. As for cult favourites Self Defense Family, the old Propagandhi adage “less talk, more rock” would work wonders for them – the sextet often lost themselves in their uniquely-intense take on art-punk, but lost momentum whenever frontman Patrick Kindlon went on one of his rambling now-infamous tangents. The Bennies have become a staple of the Weekender. Does it really need to be said why? Theirs is one of the most exciting and fun live shows one could hope to encounter. A set full of their best-known tracks was enhanced by a massive song from their forthcoming LP, which saw the band unleash their inner Black Sabbath with gargantuan results. The energy in the room bled into Iron Chic’s set, who were making up for lost time on their first-ever tour. The sing-alongs came loud and fast, and a packed-out Corner Hotel got out just as much as they put in.
Andrew Jackson Jihad
The Reverence Hotel, Sunday September 6 Sunday began quietly and unassumingly, which worked just fine for the sorely hungover among us. Jess Locke, Camp Cope and Jen Buxton set up shop in the Rev’s parking lot; each showcasing their outstanding songwriting abilities to warmly-receptive early arrivals. Camp Cope, in particular, proved to be ones to watch; with the sharp and keenly-observant lyricism of firebrand wunderkind Georgia Maq leading a topnotch rhythm section. With a dozen acts on offer, Sunday at the Rev hosted the most diverse line-up a Weekender gig has ever seen. Where else could one go from the hip-shaking soul of The Sugarcanes – led by vocalist Lucy Wilson, who officially nailed the highest note of the entire weekend – to the scratchy, cacophonous fury of Batpiss, fresh from a tour with The Drones, by simply walking 50 metres from one stage to the other? Other highlights included a returning Mere Women – perhaps the most proudly avant-garde act on Poison City’s roster – getting some bodies moving; as well as Apart From This giving a preview of their forthcoming second album in the backroom. Hint: it’s going to be fucking loud. It’s also going to be really, really good. Despite some technical difficulties, Deep Heat powered through a half-hour of their visceral, garagedwelling post-punk with aplomb, closing out the front bar in a forthright and definitive manner. After ending last year gently with sets from Wil Wagner and Lincoln Le Fevre, it was quite a contrast to have The Meanies and Clowns taking out the final slots of the weekend. Still, it managed to work – after the former flaunted their veteran status with a fun run-through of favourites, the latter arrived with all the subtlety of a swinging hammer. Forget about the Sunday vibes, Clowns were here to fuck shit up. And that they did, with multiple stage-dives and a heaving pit screaming back every word in the band’s face. After all and sundry had made the most of the weekend’s final moments, the amps switched off, the conversation flowed back into the beer-garden and we all looked about, exhausted,
Clowns wondering when we’ll get to do this all again. By David James Young LOVED: The community surrounding Poison City Records. HATED: It was all over so quickly. DRANK: Lemon lime and bitters – The Rev’s are delicious.
Batpiss
By Michael Clark
Loved: Catching Andrew Jackson Jihad debut Aussie performance. Hated: No food at the venue. It was five hours, come on. Drank: Rum and coke.
The Sugarcanes
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 49
ALBUM
OF THE
WEEK
TOP TENS
PBS FM TOP TEN
1. It’s You GOLD CLASS 2. Stuff Like That There YO LA TENGO 3. Jemma & The Clifton Hillbillies JEMMA & THE CLIFTON HILLBILLIES 4. Uzbekistani Bizzare and Souk MUSLIMGAUZE 5. Role Play EP LERON THOMAS FT. BILAL 6. Illegals in Heaven BLANK REALM 7. The Burden of Memory JAMIE OEHLERS 8. Minecraft Volume Alpha C418 9. Imagori MUELLER ROEDELIUS 10. Company SLIME
HEARTLAND RECORDS TOP TEN 1. Heathen LP DAVID BOWIE 2. What Went Down LP FOALS 3. The Monsanto Years 2LP NEIL YOUNG 4. Secret History Of 2LP PAVEMENT 5. Freak Show 2LP SILVERCHAIR 6. Prison Bound LP SOCIAL DISTORTION 7. The High Country 2LP THE SWORD 8. Bad Magic LP/CD MOTORHEAD 9. Live At The Moore 2LP MAD SEASON 10. What The World Needs 2LP PIL
GOLD CLASS It’s You (Spunk Records)
Adam Curley roars, as drummer Mark Hewitt thunders along in Furlong, the opening track from Gold Class’ debut. It’s a pacey start to an album, and a true indicator of the nine tracks that lay ahead. The second song, Life as a Gun, diligently carries the pace set by the opener (if not intensifying it), and is charged with tension right until it abruptly cuts off into immediate and definitive silence. Later on, Michael bears a sad and ominous air. Curley starts by singing, “You give and you take, you take what you’re given/ They’re talking about the children you won’t have,” and towards the end cries out, “They call you Michael/ You are him/ And it all falls down/ When you don’t want it to.” It’s not clear who Michael is, or was, but that hardly matters given the concentration of emotion. Many of the song titles are gritty and dark, with Bite
Down and Perverts consuming the middle of the album, and Pro Crank and Shingles (Stay a While) filling the end. It seems that none of the songs or titles should be considered in isolation, which makes It’s You even more engrossing. Curley’s vocal likeness to both Morrissey and Ian Curtis is probably a comparison he’ll grow weary of, but it makes for an amazing tribute and journey back to the formative days of English post-punk. None of the songs on It’s You are particularly short, but you arrive at the end surprisingly quickly, hanging for more. The last track, Shingles (Stay a While) is the slowest and gentlest track on the album, and this point of difference serves up a surprise just before the show’s over. BY IZZY TOLHURST
SINGLES
BY LACHLAN
So many small Australian towns suffering from dwindling populations. Thousands of Syrians seeking refuge. If only there was a solution to both of these problems…
JANET JACKSON
Unbreakable (Rhythm Nation) Continuing the stellar comeback run started by No Sleeep, Jackson again nails it over timeless production. Breezing along with a tidy hook, Unbreakable is a tad faster than a slow jam but by no means a banger. Doesn’t have the impact of No Sleeep, but it isn’t exactly presented as a single. Rather, it’s the title track from the Unbreakable LP, which looks set to be a worthy addition to the canon.
KELELA
Rewind (Cherry Coffee) Banging with some Afrika Bambaataa vintage realness, Kelela tempers the energetic beat with a vocal that switches from velvet punch to wing-spreading soar to create an entrancing synergy. It’s a rush with winding paths, which Kelela floats
S
I
N
G
L
E
down like a gymnast in low gravity.
SUMMER FLAKE
The Sun Won’t Shine (Rice Is Nice) The Sun Won’t Shine opens with a restrained, disjointed beauty in despair, veering brilliantly into a glorious wave of guitar in the chorus. It goes the distance, employing the loud-quiet dynamic in perfect measure. Taken from a new five-track EP, out next month.
JEREMY NEALE
The Love Calling (Dot Dash/Remote Control) Jeremy Neale has a tendency to present memorable ideas in a forgettable way, leaning on a featherweight aesthetic that drifts on by without cause or effect. The Love Calling joins previously released cuts The News and Hold On Together (both with strong melodic hooks that hold up better
O
F
THE GOON SAX
T
H
in memory than in recorded ‘80s schtick) on new EP, Let Me Go Out In Style, chaining thematic links while burdened by an overt safeness. Let’s hope Neale can charter unsafe territory next.
BEVERLY KNIGHT
Keep This Fire Burning (Amateur Dance’s Crush Edit) (Independent) Taking a mid-2000s Robyn cover by UK mainstream-fringe vocalist Beverly Knight, Melbourne producer Amateur Dance flips Keep This Fire Burning into another dimension completely, as if this is how the track was meant to exist in the first place. It’s one of those wonderful instances where it’s best not to question how or why such a re-contextualisation came about, and just fucken enjoy it.
E
W E
E
K
Sometimes Accidentally (Chapter) “I don’t care about much/ But one of the things I care about/ Is you”. Sometimes Accidentally is a beauty. The Goon Sax – three Brissie teens – possess a character of their own that distinguishes them from guitar-pop contemporaries, imbuing the Go-Betweens’ lineage with a resolute charm. Syllables stretch over beats, the seams are evident, and the song is all the more richer for it.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 50
RECORD PARADISE TOP TEN
1. Depression Cherry BEACH HOUSE 2. High ROYAL HEADACHE 3. Illegals In Heaven BLANK REALM 4. Stuff Like That There YO LA TENGO 5. Kill It Yourself JESS RIBEIRO 6. Multi-Love UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA 7. Tuxedo TUXEDO 8. Key Markets SLEAFORD MODS 9. Universal Themes SUN KIL MOON 10. Commune GOAT
COLLECTORS CORNER MISSING LINK TOP TEN 1. High LP/CD ROYAL HEADACHE 2. Bulls And the Bees + Electroretard CD MELVINS 3. Cure For Pain LP/CD MORPHINE 4. Filth deluxe 3CD SWANS 5. Those Of The Unlight CD MARDUK 6. Meliora LP/CD GHOST 7. Motherslug LP MOTHERSLUG 8. Cum The Raw Prawn LP COSMIC PSYCHOS 9. When Sharpies Ruled CD VARIOUS 10. We Live LP ELECTRIC WIZARD
BEAT’S TOP TEN HAPPY SONGS
1. Happy Idiot TV ON THE RADIO 2. Shiny Happy People R.E.M. 4. Happy Go Sucky Fucky DIE ANTWOORD 5. Birthday THE BEATLES 6. Happy Holidays, You Bastard BLINK 182 7. Happy Birthday CLOUD CONTROL 8. Happy Up Here ROYKSOPP 9. Happy Healthy Citizen Of The Developed World BALL PARK MUSIC 10. Happy Birthday STEVIE WONDER
VOTE NOW TO DECIDE THIS YEAR’S WINNER OF MELBOURNE MUSIC BANK - Head to bankofmelbourne.com.au/melbmusicbank
ALBUMS New music in review this week - For more reviews go to beat.com.au/reviews
Tijuana Cartel
Bring Me The Horizon
Psychedelicatessen
(Tijuana Cartel Music/MGM)
Last Dinosaurs
That’s the Spirit
Wellness
(Sony) Tijuana Cartel are one impressive musical outfit. Combining delicate mariachi guitar with electronic details – think Jose Gonzalez with the electro beats of The Chemical Brothers – it’s a fresh, innovative genre fusion. Wowing audiences all over the world, they’re back with the new album Psychedelicatessen. If you’ve heard the band before, you’ll know what you’re getting yourself in for. However, if you’re only just discovering Tijuana Cartel, you’re definitely in for a good time. In an age where there’s so much music to consume, it’s easy to be numbed by the endless glut of radio singles and half-baked albums. However, with Psychedelicatessen, this is not possible. With diverse instrumentation and intriguing sounds throughout, after a few listens you become fully immersed in this record. Endlessly draws you in with massive synth drops and flamenco guitar, plus a nice bit of distortion in the background. The multiplex elements create something interesting enough to prevent it getting stale during its three and a half minute duration. Music Parasol is one of many tracks to feature a trance-like disco beat, which is certain to get you dancing around your lounge room. Tijuana Cartel frontman Paul George was inspired to write this album after hearing Russell Guy’s gonzo journalism radio rant from 1978, and sampled outtakes from the rant show up throughout the album. With each new album, one of Tijuana Cartel’s main philosophies is to completely reinvigorate their sound. On this record, they’ve created another unique stack of worldly tunes, which are set to captivate your next dinner party or dance floor session.
The fifth album from Bring Me The Horizon, That’s the Spirit, has been hailed as the ‘rock album of the decade’. While I certainly wouldn’t go that far, it is extremely impressive. After a lush atmospheric opening, the album lurches into 11 dynamic, varied modern rock tracks. Although the two aspects can seem mutually exclusive at times, this is an album of soundscapes and excellent songs – songs that feature massive, fist-thumping anthemic choruses and a strong emotional content. Despite the bombastic nature of the music, I also found the album to have an ethereal quality, with the overall production and subtle use of electronics giving it a dark but appealing atmosphere. Highlights include True Friends, which is grandiose and quite exhilarating, and Blasphemy, which features more of that same pomp and circumstance. Oh No is an almost bouncy, poppy closer to the album; quite unexpected and adds yet another flavour to what is a highly diverse record. That’s the Spirit is diverse, though still choc-full of momentum and absolutely sure of its overall direction. This is a multi-faceted, multidimensional rock album that impresses with its musicality, creativity and its broad appeal. Bring Me The Horizon are onto a winner here. BY ROD WHITFIELD
(Dew Process/Universal)
Last Dinosaurs are back with their highly awaited second album, Wellness. It’s peppered with impressive indie guitar pop, making it a big step up from their 2012 debut In A Million Years. It’s been a while between drinks for the Brisbane indie rock kids, but Wellness is an assured return to the Australian music landscape. Together with reverby electric guitar and glittering synth runs, first single Evie plants you firmly in a beachside setting, beer in hand, grooving away to the glorious summertime sounds. Taking influence from all across the board, the record’s second single, Apollo, is inspired by the red pill/blue pill scene from The Matrix. It’s the moment where Neo’s forced to choose between continuing on the crazy sci-fi journey or returning to reality. Listening to this record from start to finish, the idea of returning to reality becomes less and less appealing. Produced by legendary Australian producer Scott Horscroft (who’s worked with Silverchair, The Presets and Empire of the Sun), Wellness is the perfect companion for a summer roadtrip down the coast. Whack this on the stereo and relax while the wind blows through your hair as you travel down the open road. By Tex Miller
By Tex Miller
Blind Man Death Stare
The Snowdroppers
Business
(Independent)
By Lee Spencer-Michaelsen
When The Storms Would Come (Wonderlick/Sony Music Australia)
Born a Centimetre From the Finish Line
(FourFourMusic)
The Snowdroppers – not the perverse thieves who pinch knickers from clotheslines, but the Sydney blues rock group – have returned to the scene after 18 months away with their third effort Business. The band’s first record, Too Late to Pray, boasted a rockabilly, tin-shedshindig sound, and included the breakout track, Do the Stomp, which came to prominence after being featured in the 2011 Aussie film Red Dog. Their second LP, Moving Out of Eden, moved into a darker blues rock space that was almost brooding. Business has notes of both – it maintains the well-articulated, lyrically-driven songwriting and tight guitar forms, but progresses into blues rock/pop territory with regimented rhythms and staccato hooks. There’s an energetic live vibe inscribed on the record, captured by producer Ryan Hazell (who’s one half of The Fumes). The record opens with the title track, which parodies our current economic environment and the asphyxiation of our love for the programmed drudgery of clocking in and out from nine to five. “I finish off the day with a drink or two/ Then it’s back to fantasising ‘bout the lottery again/ The government ain’t gonna pick up the cheque/ Because it’s the recession that we had to have”. Lead single Love Letters continues to showcase the band’s new sound, but it comes across a little too manufactured. Maryanne strikes a chord, guided by ominous bass and guitars that complement heartfelt lyrics yearning for love that isn’t meant to be: “Maryanne, let’s bury our heads in the sand one more time”. They hit their stride in the back half. Everybody’s Losing My Mind and Down the Street harness deeper, darker tones, akin to Arctic Monkey’s AM; I Don’t Think I Want You To Come Over Tonight and Devil Child are a return to the rockabilly sound off their first album; and they finish by giving an Australian twang to a Tom Waits gem, Hold On. Business is pretty good, but it’s not great. For me, it’s all about the B-side, where exploration beyond the norm is evident.
Holy Holy
If you were ever a fan of punk outfit The Pints, get ready to have your socks blown off. After a several year hiatus, the boys recently re-emerged under the new name Blind Man Death Stare. After heading into Melbourne’s Goatsound studios, they’ve released their first EP under the new title, Born a Centimetre From the Finish Line. The EP features three equally outstanding tracks that not only stay true to their former reputation, but also incorporate some fresh and exciting new elements. The title track and first song on this short-but-sweet EP is a straight-up punk rock anthem. After an almost progressive intro, the song builds up anticipation before escalating into ripping guitars and impressive vocals. This track in particular is reminiscent of early Propagandhi, though the band still manages to convey their own unique sound. The second song, Old People Should Grow Up, seamlessly ups the ante, creating something that’s nearly within the realm of old school hardcore. Faster drumming, grungier vocals and explosive guitars take the intensity to a whole other level. Despite Despair wraps up the EP flawlessly, showing a more melodic and emotive side to the band. Despite the brief length of Born a Centimetre From the Finish Line, Blind Man Death Stare are still able to showcase their versatility. While all the songs illustrate an undeniably punk backbone, the band manage to layer this with a variety of other influences. The only downside to this record is that because it’s so short, you’ll find yourself playing it over and over again to revel in its awesomeness. One thing’s for sure, this tasty little morsel certainly doesn’t disappoint. By Bel Ryan
When The Storms Would Come is the long awaited debut full-length from Australian duo Timothy Carroll and Oscar Dawson, AKA Holy Holy. In the lead up to its release, the band have played some huge supports, sold out their own headline shows and built a devoted fan base from the ground up. As a result of all this development, When The Storms Would Come arrives sounding fully formed, cohesive and complete. Vaster and wilder than anything the group have recorded previously, the album is a darkly hued haze of guitar hooks, cavernous vocals and stadium-sized drums. All of this is filtered through a dramatic 1980s lens, with hints of Dire Straits and Bruce Springsteen creeping in. Opener Sentimental and Monday sets the tone for the rest of the album, introducing Carroll’s controlled and tender vocals with Dawson’s lush guitar work floating alongside. Throughout the album Dawson proves to be an inventive and talented guitar player, providing an integral part of the Holy Holy sound. Lead single You Cannot Call For Love Like A Dog is pushed to the next level by the visceral shred-fest that brings the track to a close, while Outside Of The Heart Of It demonstrates Dawson’s ear for melodic ear worms. Elsewhere, the group return to their more psychedelic roots with A Heroine acting as a polished summation of their first EP. History presents a slow burning groove that’s accentuated by Carroll’s gritty, slurred vocal take. The second half of the album moves into a more meditative zone, with Wanderer beginning as a sparse slow-jam before bursting forth into an anthemic chorus. Even in their quieter moments, Holy Holy know how to infuse their compositions with drama and tension. Holy Gin follows suit as modulated vocals swirl through washes of synth before an explosion of duelling guitars and pounding drums. It’s a testament to the inspired production that these tracks can sit comfortably beside heavier tunes and still sound thoroughly natural. When The Storms Would Come is a dramatic album filled with hooks, exciting textures and ideas. Debut albums don’t get much stronger than this, and Holy Holy are set to go from strength to strength as they further both their career and their sound. By James Di Fabrizio
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 51
GIG GUIDE
WHAT'S ON AROUND MELBOURNE THIS WEEK
For all the latest gigs check out beat.com.au
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 9 INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ••bat country + jamil zacharia + surface Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. $5.00.
••broke and wasted - feat: sweet whirl +
phillipa omega + infra ghosts Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm.
••busy kingdom (good for you launch) Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.
••jc little band (big band karaoke) Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 7:30pm.
••lowther hall (annual music concert) Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 7:00pm. $35.00.
••scotch college foundation day concert Hamer Hall, Southbank. 7:45pm. $32.00.
••spencer street soul Carters Bar, Northcote. 5:00pm. ••spring awakening - feat: dj
sunshine + dj salvador darling 1000 Pound Bend, Melbourne Cbd. 6:30am. $18.00.
••miss miss + michael j fux + battle taco Public
••the belle company Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne
••open mic + hosted by mark gardner Whole
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK
••residual + revolution + children of the
••duncan phillips & the long stand + jimmy
Bar, North Melbourne. 7:30pm. $6.00. Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 6:00pm.
sun Workers Club, Geelong. 7:00pm.
••scott bradlee (postmodern jukebox) Forum Theatre, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $69.20.
••shit sex + diploid Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 7:00pm. ••slowly slowly + a gazillion angry
mexicans + chambers Old Bar, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. $6.00.
••tetrahedra + tulalah + mondegreen +
elkkle(dj) Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. $5.00. ••the new savages John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 8:00pm. ••the night before tomorrow Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm.
••wild meadows + shepparton airplane + vhs
dream Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ••big easy soul sessions Carlton Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.
••bohjass 303, Northcote. 8:00pm.
••bopstretch Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
GIG OF THE WEEK!
Cbd. 6:00pm. $10.00.
stewart Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm.
••joshua radin Corner Hotel, Richmond. 7:30pm. $59.00. ••melbourne ukulele kollective beginner’s
class Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 6:00pm.
ANGIE
If names like Straight Arrows, Circle Pit and Ruined Fortune get your ears a tinglin’, you better believe Angie’s show at the John Curtin this Saturday September 12 is for you. The serial collaborator is launching her LP Free Agent with the support of Miss Destiny and Teuton. What a goddamn monstrosity of a bill. Free Agent is the product of a musical journey that’s taken Angie from France to Brazil and finally to Carlton to launch the record into the world. Do you consider yourself a free agent? Yeah? Well get on down to the Curtin for some Angie action.
••open mic Yacht Club Hotel, Williamstown. 7:30pm.
••open mic night Purple Emerald, Northcote. 8:00pm. ••rum-ble in the jungle - feat: dj joey
elbows The Luwow, Fitzroy. 6:00pm. ••wine whiskey women - feat: lilith lane + de’may Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8:00pm.
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 10
JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ••arthur penn & the funky ten + big words +
trick dog syndicate Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $8.00.
••casey bennetto’s winter sets + angie hart Bella Union Bar, Carlton. 7:00pm. $15.00.
$10.00.
••secret valley + waterfall person + footy Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8:30pm.
••see you in the soup - feat: mc kylie belling
+ lawrence austin jr + night high + north city 303, Northcote. 7:00pm. $10.00. ••seedy reed + cabbages & kings + claire birchall Public Bar, North Melbourne. 7:30pm. $8.00. ••showcase nights Purple Emerald, Northcote. 8:00pm. ••super best friends + first sight + of stolen moments + the comfort + turn south Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. $10.00.
••cass + sleepy west + mac’s peak + rare
••the arbiter + bury me in autumn + feast of
••galliano sommavilla Ruby’s Music Room,
child Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. ••creations Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 7:30pm.
••the citradels + bloodhounds on my trail +
••huanchaco Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.
••dany maia Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm.
••dizzy’s big band with peter hearne Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8:00pm. $14.00. Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $12.50. $15.00.
Q&A
$29.00.
••melbourne improvisers collective Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
••midnight express - feat: prequel + edd
fisher Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. ••rob vincs & james wakeling Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $12.50.
••ruyton school Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 7:00pm. $10.00.
8:00pm.
••the shackmen + dj vince peach + dj pierre
baroni Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $10.00.
••the shakes + diamonds of neptune + blac
belladonna Old Bar, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. $8.00.
••steinway piano series Ruby’s Music Room, ••strathmore secondary college big band
••urban spread #5 - feat: in hearts wake
Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 7:00pm.
••the billie ella & louis show Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $30.00.
Define your genre in five words or less: Contemporary, hypnotic, cinematic instrumental music. How long have you been performing and where did you get your start? I’ve been performing since 2001, sprouting from Melbourne, performing with my ensemble Sunwrae. I ran the Eavesdropping Concert Series for years, that was where things grew. What has been your favourite gig you’ve played? Golden Plains was fabulous, and I’ve always enjoyed the Famous Spiegeltent, followed closely by a Thornbury Theatre show a few years back. What inspires your music the most? I’d say my travels are definitely rich with inspiration. I’ve been fortunate to visit many different parts of the world for various projects or residencies, so immersing myself in other cultures and their music plays a big part. You’ve played some spectacular shows around the world, what has been the highlight? Highlights include the Ho Chi Minh City Opera House in Vietnam, SXSW in Austin Texas, the Museum of Modern Art in Salvador, Brazil – all quite different, but equally memorable. Tell us about your new release. I’ve just released a double-volume solo record, Invisible Wilderness Vol I & II. It’s available on raehowellmusic.com or sunwrae.com and the usual iTunes et cetera. Would you rather be able to speak every language in the world fluently, or play every instrument in the world naturally? Good question. I’d chose the every-instrument option, only because I think music says more than words sometimes. Well, music is a language to me anyway.
••the good egg thursdays - feat: henry who
RAE HOWELL and the Sunwrae String Quartet play Memo Music Hall on Friday September 18.
••peter bibby & his biggest boys + gorsha +
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 52
hooper crescent Catfish, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $5.00. ••the dull joys + the gooses + gonzo + boxcrunch Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. $6.00. ••the over easys Claypots Evening Star, South Melbourne.
••the whitlams + battleships Corner Hotel,
Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. $12.50.
Rae Howell
crows Karova Lounge, Ballarat. 9:00pm. $8.00.
+ tigerfunk + lewis cancut Lucky Coq, Windsor.
Richmond. 7:30pm. $42.00.
+ ocean grove + stories Werribee Plaza Tavern, Hoppers Crossing. 8:00pm. $34.70.
••walk the moon Howler, Brunswick. 8:00pm.
••we tigers + dreamcoat + pink harvest Workers Club, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. $5.00.
7:00pm.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK
Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 5:30pm.
••b-3 breakout + julitha ryan The B.east, Brunswick
••the gumbo club - feat: the blues bash Ding ••the lagerphones Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $15.00.
INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ••benjamin provest + the darjeelings +
wishful Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $7.00.
••birthday girl + sugar teeth + the football
club + sneaky pats Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 8:00pm. $5.00.
••capsule presents - feat: big words +
kaseone + dj mat cant + get bu$y + dj larrie Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. ••danny kransky + elbrus + the backs Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. $8.00.
••dead set ledger Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 6:00pm.
East. 9:30pm.
••backstage blues night - feat: safari motel
+ the shake shack boogie house band + dj barry maxwell Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm. ••big smoke + caitlin harnett + elwood myre Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:30pm.
••heaven the axe + shadows at bay + cannon
shiver + dojo collectors Some Velvet Morning,
Clifton Hill. 8:00pm. $5.00.
••jackson mclaren Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6:00pm.
••jayne west Charles Weston Hotel, Brunswick. 6:30pm. ••kalana senanayake & nick cocklin Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8:00pm.
••mick turner + tall shores + caroline no Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm.
••dumb punts + sewer side + woo who Grace
••nun of the tongue + wet lips + silver moon
••fear of flying + paul reid + late nights Whole
••open mic nite Inkerman Hotel, Balaclava. 7:30pm.
Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. $10.00. Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 8:00pm.
••hiatus kaiyote + mike gurrieri Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:00pm.
••hiatus kaiyote (after party) - feat:
swooping duck 24 Moons, Northcote. 11:00pm. $12.00.
••kim volkman + sonke + scrub wrens +
patches Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $8.00.
••next - feat: pridelands + annihilist + the
great city Colonial Hotel, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $10.00.
••open mic Station 59, Richmond. 8:00pm.
chief richards Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm.
Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:30pm.
••the railway gang string band Railway Hotel, Fitzroy North. 8:30pm.
••tingy celestino Yacht Club Hotel, Williamstown. 8:00pm.
••toni swain trio Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 8:30pm.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 11
INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ••acousticana - feat: dave mason + sean kelly
+ rob snarski + brendan gallagher St Kilda
Memo, St Kilda. 8:00pm. $28.00.
••busy kingdom (good for you launch) + neon
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
queen + chevrise Penny Black, Brunswick. 9:00pm.
••captain spalding Customs House Hotel, Williamstown. 9:30pm.
••cargo cult + doggerel Public Bar, North Melbourne. 4:00pm.
••cold irons bound Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 8:00pm.
••cosmic psychos (bum for grubs tour) Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong. 8:00pm.
••dub fx + spoonbill + andy v Prince Bandroom, St Kilda. 8:00pm. $33.15.
••einsteins toyboys + totally 80s Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm. $10.00.
••emergency rule + elephant gun + dave
eastgate Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 8:00pm.
$10.00.
••evoke death + nocturnal graves + anatomy
+ debacle + contaminated Bendigo Hotel,
Collingwood. 8:00pm.
••fitzroy idol Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:30pm.
••gonzo + diana radar + the running english +
iv league Public Bar, North Melbourne. 8:30pm. $10.00.
••hey hey it’s friday - feat: astro boys Royal Hotel, Essendon. 10:00pm.
••jaded cats Inkerman Hotel, Balaclava. 8:00pm. ••juke box racket Catfish, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
••katana cartel + shadows at bay + sentia +
for pluto Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 8:00pm. $5.00.
••la danse macabre + brunswick massive
resident djs Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:00pm.
••loose tooth + girl crazy + pure moods +
cable ties Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.00.
••midnight woolf Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 8:30pm.
••mightiest of guns + la bastard + mick dog’s
boneyard + dj mick sylianou Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 8:30pm. $10.00.
••morth + sisters doll + dangerous curves Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbottsford. 8:00pm.
••my old dutch & the workinghorse irons +
little lamb & the rosemarys + lasseters reef Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm. ••nick barker & the studio instrument rentals (40th anniversary of neil young’s tonight’s the night) Flying Saucer Club, Elsternwick. 6:00pm. $25.00.
••pony face + penny ikinger Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 7:30pm. $18.00.
••public nuisance Black Hatt, Geelong. 9:30pm.
••sharrow + the electric i + dr moth Bar Open, Fitzroy. 9:00pm.
••skyways are highways + sans + si the
philanthropist + one day maybe Yah Yah’s,
Fitzroy. 5:00pm. $13.00.
••sun god replica Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 9:30pm. ••the jungle giants + art of sleeping +
hockey dad Karova Lounge, Ballarat. 8:30pm. $32.00.
••the preatures + the creases + rolling
blackouts 170 Russell, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm.
••the resignators + no idea + aadd +
speedball Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 5:00pm. $13.00.
••the story so far & man overboard +
relentless + the playbook Max Watt’s, Melbourne. 8:00pm.
••the whitlams + battleships Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:30pm. $42.00.
••threezzacrowd Montmorency – Eltham Rsl,
Montmorency. 8:30pm.
• TONI BRAXTON Hamer Hall, Southbank. 8:00pm. $69.00. • URBAN SPREAD #5 - FEAT: IN HEARTS WAKE
+ OCEAN GROVE + STORIES Chelsea Heights Hotel, Chelsea Heights. 8:00pm. $34.70.
• THE SCRIMSHAW FOUR + A PARLOUR O’LALA Open Studio, Northcote. 8:00pm.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 12
INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS
• WATT’S ON PRESENTS Prince Public Bar, St Kilda .
• 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF KISS ALIVE Cherry Bar,
• WINTERPLAN + KAKARIKO + INFRAGHOSTS +
• A MAN CALLED SON + ONE WAY RADIO + LEE YEE
8:30pm.
BRODIE Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $5.00.
• WOOBY & JEZZY’S PARTY - FEAT: ANGUS BELLE-
SHIMA SET + THING + GUY PARKMAN + TALL SHORES + KASHIKOI Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. • XAVIER RUDD & THE UNITED NATIONS Palais Theatre, St Kilda. 7:00pm. $64.65.
• YUMI ZOUMA Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm. $15.00.
JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC • BERNADETA & SCOTT GRIFFITHS Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $20.00.
• DADDY + LA SIGNORE (LAHIRU PERERA) Trak Lounge Bar, Toorak. 10:00pm.
• DJ RAVS Littlefoot Bar, Footscray. 8:00pm.
• GETTING FROM A TO B - FEAT: CHRIST CHURCH
GRAMMAR SCHOOL Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 7:00pm. $20.00.
Melbourne Cbd. 5:00pm. $20.00.
303, Northcote. 8:00pm.
• A SHARP KNIFE (ZINE LAUNCH) - FEAT: THE GIRL
FRIDAS + HOLY LOTUS + XANTHEA Grace Darling
Hotel, Collingwood. 9:00pm. $7.00.
• ADMIRAL ACKBAR’S DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE
+ TRAUMABOYS + BEYOND CONTEMPT + MONKEY GRIP Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 8:00pm. $10.00. • ANGIE (FREE AGENT LAUNCH) + MISS DESTINY + TEUTON + POWER John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 8:30pm. $1.50.
• BANG - FEAT: GLASS EMPIRE + ONE DAY MAYBE
+ TRANSIT GLORIA Royal Melbourne Hotel, Melbourne
Cbd. 9:00pm. $20.00.
• BLOOD LINE + THE ARBITER + FAIL THE
ABSTRACTEX + BEHOLD THE DEFIANT + THE WEIGHT OF SILENCE + MORE Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 4:00pm.
• INVENIO SINGERS (CLARION/WHISPER) Melbourne
• BON JOVI TRIBUTE + SUNSET STRIP Musicland,
• JOE RUBERTO TRIO + CHARLOTTE JANE Paris Cat
• BROOZER + HOTEL WRECKING CITY TRADERS +
Recital Centre, Southbank. 7:00pm. $25.00.
Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. $20.00.
• JULIE O’HARA & ULTRAFOX Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $20.00.
• KATE CEBERANO & MONASH STUDENT
ENSEMBLES + ROB BURKE + JAMES MUSTAFA
Fawkner. 7:30pm. $20.00.
TTTDC + BODIES Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. • COSMIC PSYCHOS + THE KILLERBIRDS + TSUGNARLY Karova Lounge, Ballarat. 8:30pm. $25.00. • DARREN MIDDLETON + SAHARA BECK Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $30.00.
Monash University, Clayton. 7:00pm. $10.00.
• ECCA VANDAL (FATHER HU$$LA LAUNCH) +
$10.00.
• FRAUDBAND + POCKET CALCULATORS +
• LOUNGE ROOM DISCO Bella Union Bar, Carlton. 8:00pm. • MASHAKA Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 9:00pm. $16.00. • PHILA PARA Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 6:00pm.
• PRINCIPLE SPINNERS (ORIGINAL SWING) Loop, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm.
• RACHEL CAMERINO & GENTLEMEN OF JAZZ Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 6:30pm. $12.50.
• REBECCA MENDOZA Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $25.00.
• RHYTHM SECTION - FEAT: AL DOBSON JR +
BRADLEY ZERO + PREQUEL + EDD FISHER Hugs &
Kisses, Melbourne. 10:00pm. $10.00.
• SLEAZY LISTENING - FEAT: STEELE BONUS + ARKS
+ RICHARD KELLY + HYSTERIC + K HOOP Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 5:00pm.
• SOL’ MANIC Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm.
HEADS OF CHARM Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $14.30. SHRIMPWITCH + STRANGE LOVE Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.00.
• GRINDHOUSE - FEAT: SUN GOD REPLICA +
MY LEFT BOOT + SHERIFF + THE DUKES OF DELICIOUSNESS + SWHAT Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
$13.00.
• HARD ROCK NIGHT - FEAT: MORTH + KILAMAINE
+ VENDETTA + DIRGE + KOPIOUS Black Hatt, Geelong.
$10.00.
• HIATUS KAIYOTE Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. Collingwood. 5:00pm.
Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm. $15.00.
• IMPRISONED + TIME CRISIS + REBIRTH + U2K +
• TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC SESSION Drunken Poet,
BROKEN Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 8:00pm. $15.00. • JOHN KENDALL & THE SHOT GLASSES Inkerman
• WHAT THE FUNK FRIDAYS Purple Emerald, Northcote.
• KOLLAPS + MOSAICZ + HOOPER CRESCENT John
West Melbourne. 6:00pm. 9:00pm.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK • ANNA CORDELL Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6:00pm.
• BASEMENT SPACEMAN Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8:00pm. $10.00.
• CHRIS WILSON Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 5:00pm.
• DAVEYS FRIDAYS - FEAT: ROB & TARQUIN +
SUPERFLY DJS Daveys Bar & Restaurant, Frankston.
9:00pm.
• DESERT SWELLS + GOGO GODDESSES The Luwow, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.00.
• DON COSTA & THE DALTON GANG Pascoe Vale Rsl, Pascoe Vale. 8:00pm. $8.00.
• FRIDAY LIVE MUSIC - FEAT: BO JENKINS Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully. 8:00pm.
• JESSE WITNEY Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8:30pm. • JOHNNY CASH TRIBUTE SHOW Big Huey’s Diner, South Melbourne. 8:00pm.
• LOONEE TUNES Kelly’s Bar, Olinda. 8:00pm.
• MADELINE LEMAN & THE DESERT SWELLS
(TENNESSEE DIAMOND LAUNCH) + TOM DOCKRAY & THE HOUSE RED The Luwow, Fitzroy.
10:00pm. $8.00.
• ORSOME WELLES + GLASS OCEAN + ARAKEYE +
TUX Workers Club, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. $10.00. • SHADOWS AT BAY + KATANA CARTEL + FOR PLUTO + SENTUA Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 8:00pm. $5.00. • THE ALLEGED ASSOCIATES + MELANIE WASON Smokehouse 101, Maidstone. 7:00pm.
• THE ANTI-FALL MOVEMENT 303, Northcote. 8:00pm.
Hotel, Balaclava. 8:00pm.
Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 3:00pm.
• MAKING + DIECUT + CAMP COPE + JAALA Public Bar, North Melbourne. 8:30pm. $10.00.
• RAW BRIT (MACHINE HEAD & BAD COMPANY)
CANTERI + BEN MASTWYK Spotted Mallard, Brunswick.
8:30pm. $5.00.
JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC
• CAITLYN PARK (THE SLEEPER AWAKES TOUR)
• BARNEY MCALL Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank.
• DAVIDSON BROTHERS Union Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm.
6:30pm. $25.00.
• BULLHORN + JESSE WITNEY Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 9:00pm.
• DANA CZARSKI Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. $12.50.
• DAVID SUTTON (SCHOOL SPECTACULAR) Musicland, Fawkner. 12:00pm. $10.00.
• FROM BROADWAY TO LA SCALA - FEAT: TEDDY
TAHU RHODES + GRETA BRADMAN + DAVID HOBSON + LISA MCCUNE Hamer Hall, Southbank. 8:00pm. $109.00.
• JAMES SHERLOCK QUARTET Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
• JOE RUBERTO TRIO Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 9:00pm. $16.00.
East. 2:00pm. $8.00.
+ GOGO GODDESSES The Luwow, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $5.00. • MORE FIRE 175 + JESSE I + RAS CRUCIAL + TURBOFLEXX + MUSKRAT + DJ MAARS + DI APPRENTICE The Mercat, Melbourne. 10:00pm. $10.00. • MOZART’S FORTEPIANO - FEAT: KRISTIAN BEZUIDENHOUT Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 7:00pm. $31.00.
• RACHAEL COMTE QUINTET Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $20.00.
Shebeen, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $15.00.
• DOGSDAY & THE SCREAMIN’ HONKIES Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 5:30pm.
• DOM TURNER & IAN COLLARD Piping Hot Chicken & Burger Grill, Ocean Grove. 2:00pm. $20.00.
• GLEN FORD & THE RECORD MACHINE Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:30pm.
• HORNETS Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:30pm. • I VAGABONDI Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm.
• JEMMA NICOLE Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8:00pm.
• JUKAI FOREST DUO Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6:00pm. • KARAOKE WITH ZOE Customs House Hotel, Williamstown. 9:00pm.
• KIM VOLKMAN & THE WHISKEY PRIESTS + THEE
WYLDE OSCARS + MISS WHISKEY + DJ MERMAID Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm.
• PAUL MADIGAN + DAN ROBINSON + LES
STACPOOL Esu House, South Yarra. 8:00pm. $10.00.
• PERCH CREEK Howler, Brunswick. 8:30pm. $18.00. • ROOSTAR Littlefoot Bar, Footscray. 8:00pm.
• SHANE HOWARD Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8:00pm. $30.00.
• SMOKIN’ SAM SYNERGY BLUE + SONIC ROAD Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbottsford. 8:00pm.
• TEN GALLON HEAD + SEAN MCMAHON & THE
MOONMEN + JOSHUA SEYMOUR Workers Club, Fitzroy. 1:00pm. $10.00.
• SARAY ILUMINADO Boite Surrey Music Cafe, 8:00pm.
• TENDERLOINS & RUTH LINDSEY Labour In Vain,
• SOL NATION + RIBELEON + YUNG WARRIORS
• THE BERKELEY HUNTS Old Bar, Fitzroy. 3:00pm.
$16.00.
+ HENRIQUE SANTOS Rubix Warehouse, Brunswick. 8:00pm.
• TAMARA KULDIN Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $25.00.
Fitzroy. 7:00pm.
• THE DETONATORS Union Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm.
• VAN WALKER Charles Weston Hotel, Brunswick. 6:00pm.
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13
Hotel, Essendon. 10:00pm.
• THE SARAH MCDONALD QUINTET Paris Cat Jazz Club,
• BARCELOS + BEARS + GREEVE Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK
• BEERSOAKED SUNDAYS - FEAT: MALLEE SONGS
• SATURDAYS R COVERED - FEAT: RADIO STAR Royal • SHE’S THE DRIVER + CLAIRE BIRCHALL & THE
PHANTOM HITCHHIKERS Prince Bandroom, St Kilda. 8:00pm. $17.85.
• SHIMMY SHIMMY #3 - FEAT: BENNY & FLY-BY-
NITERS + MOHAIR SLIM + CECE BROWN + EMMA PEEL + BRUCE MILNE + SIMON LAXTON + BUDDY LOVE + ANDREW YOUNG Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood.
8:30pm. $17.50.
Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $25.00.
• BENNY C & THE ASSOCIATES The B.east, Brunswick East. 9:30pm.
• BLUE EYES CRY Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 9:00pm.
8:00pm. $8.00.
+ PURE MOODS + HIDEOUS TOWNS Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $5.00.
• EMERGENZA FESTIVAL (SEMI FINALS) Max Watt’s, Melbourne. 3:30pm. $25.00.
9:00pm. $15.00.
• SOCIETY OF BEGGARS Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 2:00am. $7.00. • THE ADELAIDE CROWS + ERN MALLEY & THE
CLOSET STRAIGHTS Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:00pm.
• THE CACTUS CHANNEL Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong. 8:00pm.
• THE FURBELOWS Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 9:30pm.
• THE HIGGS Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $12.50.
• THE HYBERNATORS + THE INTERCEPTORS + THE
RED MOTORS + OM Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm.
• THE JUNGLE GIANTS (SPEAKERZOID TOUR) + ART
OF SLEEPING + HOCKEY DAD Corner Hotel, Richmond. 12:30pm. $40.25.
• THE JUNGLE GIANTS (SPEAKERZOID TOUR) + ART
OF SLEEPING + HOCKEY DAD Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:30pm.
• URBAN SPREAD #5 - FEAT: IN HEARTS WAKE
Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm.
• BROOKE RUSSELL & THE MEAN REDS + CAT
INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS
• THE MIDNIGHT SCAVENGERS + ANDREW
MCCUBBIN Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:30pm.
Melbourne’s Orsome Welles are preparing to penetrate your ear holes with some progressive heavy rock this Friday night. They’ll be launching their smashing new single Swim so hopefully that ear penetration doesn’t do much damage because swimming with damaged ears can be very dangerous. Get down to the Workers Club in Fitzroy on Friday September 11 and catch Orsome Welles do their thing. They’ll never let me write one of these again.
• TANGO MUNDO Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd.
• THE FLAMING MONGRELS + HOT WINGS The B.east,
• THE RETREATS REBETIKO + DJ SHAKY MEMORIAL
ORSOME WELLES
Flying Saucer Club, Elsternwick. 6:00pm. $23.00.
• TRENCH SISTERS + SPLIT TEETH + NOSEBLOOD
Brunswick East. 9:30pm.
• ZEON Catfish, Fitzroy. 9:00pm.
• MISS LIZZY & THE NIGHT OWLS + MOJO JUJU DJ
• HEART OF GLASS Bella Union Bar, Carlton. 9:00pm.
• ILLS + GOOD MORNING + ASDASFR BAWD Northcote
Cbd. 7:30pm. $12.00.
8:00pm. $5.00.
Eastern, Ballarat East. 8:00pm. $15.00.
• HARRY FREAK + NO IDEA + 23RD OF ELVIS The
10:00pm.
HUMPS + CACTUS CHANNEL DJS Shebeen, Melbourne
ETIQUETTE + MIYAZAKI Reverence Hotel, Footscray.
• LIVE IT UP SATURDAYS Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick
• HOLY SERPENT + ROUNDTALE Tote Hotel,
• THE CACTUS CHANNEL + BULLHORN + RAW
After recently supporting none other than The Prodigy on their recent Australian tour, the raddest lady in the biz, Ecca Vandal, is set to hit up the Workers Club to launch her third single Father Hu$$la this Saturday September 12. There’s going to be some serious volume, a lot of hooks, some damn good beats and little to no reason not to go along and support her. Head to the Workers Club on Saturday September 12 at 8.30pm and get loud with Ecca Vandal. We dare you.
6:30pm. $10.00.
$8.00.
• THAT GOLD STREET SOUND Sooki Lounge, Belgrave.
ECCA VANDAL
CATHARSIS + BIN KICKER Bar Open, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. + OCEAN GROVE + STORIES Village Green Hotel, Mulgrave. 8:00pm. $34.70.
• WORLD AT A GLANCE + LATE NIGHTS + OLD
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 ••eves the behavior + paul conrad Northcote
••soul sundays - feat: deep street soul Retreat
••first sight (the hardest year launch) + set
••sunday soul sessions Purple Emerald, Northcote.
Social Club, Northcote. 7:30pm. $12.00.
the score + rooftops + eat your heart out Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 6:00pm. $10.00.
••in hearts wake Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong. 7:00pm. ••jam at musicland sundays Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm.
••jane cameron + these flawed whores +
rachel clark Bar Open, Fitzroy. 6:30pm.
••jvg guitar method Union Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm. ••make like a tree + simon phillips + sophie
officer + bee virginia Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick
East. 6:00pm.
••middle street Inkerman Hotel, Balaclava. 4:00pm. ••minimum wage - feat: no wave +
slothferatu + diploid Public Bar, North Melbourne.
4:00pm.
••plebs + jerkbeast + the vinyl splinters +
the krunchy om-let experience Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 5:00pm.
9:00pm.
••the winnebago lounge - feat: kerri simpson
& the belmar playboys + fiona maynard St
Kilda Memo, St Kilda. 5:00pm.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK ••alice williams Union Hotel, Brunswick. 3:30pm.
••andy phillips & the cadillac walk Lucky Coq, Windsor. 4:00pm.
••benny c & the associates 303, Northcote. 7:30pm. ••benny peters blues review Gem Bar, Collingwood. 8:00pm.
••bullhorn Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 3:30pm. $5.00. ••chris wilson Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 4:00pm.
••duncan phillips & the long stand Royal Oak Hotel, Fitzroy North. 4:00pm.
••elliot cline + cannon shiver + death of art
+ shadows at bay Open Studio, Northcote. 8:00pm.
$5.00.
••stephen cummings & shane o’mara Flying
••elwood blues club Prince Public Bar, St Kilda .
••the preatures + the creases Karova Lounge,
••etienne & the sankayi 303, Northcote. 4:00pm.
Saucer Club, Elsternwick. 3:00pm. $20.00. Ballarat. 7:30pm. $30.00.
••waco social club + the casquederos + john
danyii duo Workers Club, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. $10.00.
••yowo music + mia & ava + gummi venus +
tiaryn Bella Union Bar, Carlton. 3:00pm. $5.00. JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ••andy phillips & the cadillac walk +
lionhouse + happy go blues Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm.
••ella Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. $10.00. ••happy wanderer festival - feat: that gold
street sound + the sugarcanes Gasometer
Hotel, Collingwood. 6:00pm. $12.00.
••mezz coleman Littlefoot Bar, Footscray. 6:00pm.
••monash sinfonia + paul dyer Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 2:30pm. $15.00.
••mozart’s fortepiano - feat: kristian
bezuidenhout Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 5:00pm. $31.00.
••musical theatre open mic night Ruby’s Music
8:00pm.
••ghost towns of the midwest + rich davies
& the low road + emilee south Yarra Hotel,
Abbotsford. 4:00pm.
••gospel sundays The B.east, Brunswick East. 1:00pm.
••jonathan meur & one hat town Carters Bar, Northcote. 8:00pm.
••lilith lane + van walker + josh seymour Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 3:00pm.
••michael meeking & the lost souls Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 5:00pm.
••michelle gardiner Customs House Hotel, Williamstown. 3:00pm.
••mike oliphant + alex formosa-baudo +
michael doyle Big Huey’s Diner, South Melbourne. 4:00pm.
••mitchell a. power + lachlan stuckey Open Studio, Northcote. 5:00pm.
••open mic sunday Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 6:30pm. Catfish, Fitzroy. 5:00pm.
5:30pm.
••pitcher of health & elwood dyre Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 4:00pm.
••rebecca barnard Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 4:30pm.
••stackhouse + luddites + simon mccullough Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.
$5.00.
$30.00.
••jayne barker 303, Northcote. 8:00pm.
••the gami gami devils + the rusty terminals Carters Bar, Northcote. 7:30pm.
••tobias hengeveld & adrian slattery Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:00pm.
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 15
JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ••a celebration of music - feat: brighton
grammar school Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 7:30pm. $15.00.
••anna’s go-go academy Bella Union Bar, Carlton. 6:30pm. $10.00.
••irish session Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 8:00pm. ••peter voglis Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. $10.00.
••scotch college + howard belling Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 7:00pm. $10.00.
INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ••fresh industry showcases Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm.
••sunday session - feat: brunsy Ferntree Gully
••ghost dick + lux ovareye’s weird time +
••sunday sessions - feat: various artists
••gilligan smiles + splendidid + best press
Hotel, Ferntree Gully. 2:00pm. Lucky Coq, Windsor. 4:00pm.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 54
cable ties + shrimpwitch Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK
Town, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $15.00.
••pheasant pluckers Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East.
FOUND Pants. Dear employeeofthemonth, I found your pants. They were on the floor at The Reverence along with the rest of your clothes. #Keepupthegoodwork
Northcote. 8:00pm.
••mundane mondays - feat: scot drakula +
••jane mcarthur Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6:00pm.
Fitzroy. 6:00pm.
TUITION SONGWRITING CLASSES starting soon by Australian Songwriter of the Year 2013 Award Winner & music publisher. In 20 sessions learn all about writing marketable songs & the business side (collaboration, publishing, agreements, copyright, etc.) You’ll complete the course with a record-like song & get published. More info: www.magesongs.com Ph: 0417 585 767. Email: admin@magesongs.com
Number fives are worth celebrating. Fifth birthdays are pretty much the best ones going around because you’re old enough to eat all the candy, but you’re also at the age where the presents are beginning to get a little more savage. High fives rule, regardless of your age. Shit, I high fived an elderly woman in a supermarket the other day because she passed me a tin of tuna that was just out of arms length. Solid effort, nanna. And five star hotels obviously reign supreme, because they’re plush as fuck but you can still thrash them and get away with it. This Friday and Saturday night, Urban Spread are celebrating their fifth incarnation with a heavy-as-hell lineup. In Hearts Wake, Make Them Suffer, Stories and Ocean Grove will nail the stage at The Chelsea Heights Hotel on Friday September 11 and The Village Green Hotel on Saturday September 12. So, grab five of your closest buddies, knock back five drinks apiece and high five the fuck out of life at Urban Spread #5.
••thirsty merc Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8:00pm.
••patrick wilson & the bare river queens
WANTED Acts wanted for Sunday rock shows contact: mark@gunnmusic.com.au Bands/Duos/Solo acts wanted for Acoustic/Indie Fest - contact: mark@gunnmusic.com.au Rock/Metal acts wanted for local rock shows - contact: mark@gunnmusic.com.au SKILLED AND PASSIONATE PRO KEYS PLAYER/PROGRAMMER WANTED TO COMPLETE LINE UP. Covering early 80’s New Romantics genre; Simple Minds, INXS, Mondo Rock, The Cure, Nik Kershaw, Split Enz, Icehouse, Dragon, Duran Duran etc. We plan to take this very seriously, do a quality demo, video promo, join agencies and play big well paying gigs. We jam in Moorabin. We are in our 40’s, however, age is open. links to my vocals from past projects https://www.triplejunearthed.com/jukebox/play/ track/322541 https://myspace.com/heath.doolan/music/ songs. Email Heath to discuss further doolman@outlook. com
URBAN SPREAD # 5
••helen ryder (someday love launch) Toff In
Room, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $10.00.
••paul williamson quartet Uptown Jazz Cafe,
With ruth mihelcic
Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm.
••the hornets + rattlin’ bones blackwood Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 3:00pm. $5.00.
••the steve martins Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:00pm.
••the woodland hunters Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm.
••toni swain trio Standard Hotel, Fitzroy. 7:00pm.
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 14
JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ••charlotte roberts (variety night) Open Studio, Northcote. 8:00pm.
••ella’s live swing quartet Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $17.50.
••loreto mandeville hall toorak Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 7:30pm. $20.00.
cable ties Public Bar, North Melbourne. 7:30pm. $6.00. Workers Club, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. $7.00.
••kooyeh + dubcraft + quantum milkshake Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $7.00.
••murrumbeena primary school concert Palais Theatre, St Kilda. 6:30pm. $28.90.
••nmit showcase Wesley Anne, Northcote. 7:00pm. ••open stage Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK ••a tribute to muddy waters - feat: boadz 303, Northcote. 7:30pm.
••jesse witney + nathan slater Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm.
••lakyn Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm.
••morning melodies - feat: paul hogan: swing
classics Powell Hotel, Footscray. 10:30am. $5.00.
••matteo motto Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd.
••open mic with matt mcfarlane Tago Mago,
••swinburne college Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond.
••super saloon + the vendettas + whales
INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS
••taste of indie tuesday - feat: aspiring
6:00pm. $10.00.
7:00pm. $8.00.
••cherry jam Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.
••children of the sun Public Bar, North Melbourne. 7:30pm. $6.00.
••eves the behavior Shebeen, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm.
••jarrow + lunatics on pogosticks + gangz +
Thornbury. 7:00pm.
Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.
songwriter sessions Prince Public Bar, St Kilda .
8:00pm.
••tim durkin Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:30pm.
••wendy rule + melody moon Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 7:00pm.
130 Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $6.00.
••masco sound system + scurvylicious Workers Club, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. $3.00.
••monday night mass - feat: tam vantage +
contrast + karli white Northcote Social Club, WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
It’s almost the end of the school term, and what better way to get into holiday mode than by checking out Banyule’s free Youthfest? There’s a sweet line-up of bands (including Just Can’t Stop Us, 5PIN, Monday Night Rockstars and Power Rangers On The Keyboard) as well as rides, stalls, a photo booth, prizes and more. It’s happening in Macleod from 12pm5pm on Sunday September 13. Telstra Road To Discovery is teaming up with Bliss n Eso for a unique, interactive music education masterclass and they want you to join. If you’re interested in learning about Bliss n Eso’s career and the processes of making music from the guys themselves, register for the chance to come along. The masterclass will be held at Telstra’s Customer Insights Centre in the Sydney CBD on Friday September 25 at 5pm. Entries are limited and close September 13 so get in quick and register at www.beinvolved.com. au/telstraroadtodiscovery. Can’t make it all the way to Sydney? The class will be streamed live and you can also watch it back later. If you’re aged between 16 and 22 and live outside the big cities, enter the Heywire competition to be heard. Tell your story using video, audio, photos or text. Winning stories will be featured on ABC TV. Entries close September 16 and more info is at www.abc. net.au/heywire The New Palm Court Orchestra is seeking an energetic “go getter” for a three month part-time public relations and marketing intern position, joining the Marketing and Communications team. The purpose of the position is to support communications campaigns to promote performances of the orchestra and to focus on client relations, social media and marketing. Submit your CV and cover letter discussing the selection criteria to Andy Lee, Non-Executive Director, The New Palm Court Orchestra at info@npco.com.au. Applications close September 21. The Darebin Music Feast Songwriters’ Award seeks to recognise, showcase and promote the talents of local songwriters. Over 100 entries are received each year with finalists performing before a panel of distinguished local musicians as part of the Darebin Music Feast. There’s an amazing price package to be won including cash and studio time. Past winners include Jordie Lane, Sal Kimber, Ben Mason, Dan Flynn and Maddie Duke. For more info or to apply go to www.musicfeast. com.au/take-part and enter by September 23. In other news, SYN Media is hosting a free one-day workshop this month for young people from regional areas to build their skills in radio. If you’re under 26 and living outside metro Melbourne and are keen to learn how to present or produce a radio program, join them for the sessions taking place at the House of Syn (16 Cardigan St, Carlton) on September 24. Places are limited so book early by emailing national@syn.org.au.
All Ages Gig Guide
Sunday September 13 • Banyule YouthFest 2015 w/ Just Can’t Stop Us, 5PIN, Monday Night Rockstars, Power Rangers On The Keyboard, Steched Out, Ashleigh Sumpter, James Mark, Brittany Leo, Banksia, Dougal James, Cielo Drive, OverNight Proposal, Avenues, Amchors & Alibis, Winterless, Big Sammy and the Fellas, Emparin, XURE, Freak and the Fat Cats, Furious George, Kid Sidney, Lost In Moments, TYRIAN, Sam Di Nucci, Arisha, Alex M, JAZC, DJ JC, Sandy Hsu, Camdogg, Babarrbunin Beek, New Hope Collective, Spectrum, Saami & Co., Georgia Pitts and DJ Riley at Macleod Park, Birdwood Ave, Macleod, 12pm-5pm, Free, www.banyuleyouth.com/festival, AA • National Skate Park Day - Cowes Skate Park Jam w/ DJ, plus Scoot, Skate, BMX participants at 10-14 Church St, Cowes (Enter via Park St), 11am-2pm, Free, www. facebook.com/BassCoastFreeza, AA
Wed 9th September
W I N E , W H I S K EY, W O M E N 8pm: De’May 9pm: Lillith Lane Thurs 10th September
8pm:
Kalana Senanayake 9pm: Nick Cocklin Fri 11th September
6pm: Traditional Irish Session
Jesse Witney (SYD) Saturday 12th September 9pm: Blue Eyes Cry Sunday 13th September 4pm: Pitcher Of Health 6.30pm: Elwood Myre (SYD) 8:30pm:
Tuesdays
weekly trivia The Drunken Poet, 65 Peel Street (directly opposite Queen Vic Market), Phone: 03 9348 9797. www.thedrunkenpoet.com.au
KIndRED STuDIOS 13 REHearsal ROOMS $65 FLAT RATE*
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kindredstudios.com.au
03 9687 0233
PA HIRE Comprehensive PA systems delivered, set up and operated with crew. Compact, easy, sound systems you can pickup and assemble yourself.Components such as microphones, speakers and effects are also available separately. Lights also available. For details phone Mark Barry on 03 9889 1999 or 0419 993 966
www.bssound.com.au bssound@bigpond.com
• 2000 WATT HK AUDIO/MACKIE PAs • TEN CLEAN, 30M2 ROOMS • STORAGE • DRUMKIT/AMP HIRE • AIR CON
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