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Sat 19 December 5pm
THE STETSON FAMILY
A toe-tappin’, fast-pluckin’ ride from lovelorn ballads to snake-handling preachers. Brilliant harmonies too.
Sat 19 December 9pm
DRUNKEN POACHERS
CHRISTMAS SHOW A rambunctious sextet of rabblers, playing harddrinkin’ tunes on banjo, mandolin and uke.
Sun 20 December 3.30pm
IAN COLLARD
Awesome harmonica and swampy Delta blues.
Sun 20 December 5pm
MORELAND CITY SOUL REVUE
CHRISTMAS SHOW Get on board the soul train and check out this allstar cast of musos playing old soul and soulful funk.
Tuesdays:
TRIVIA
With mysterious Mr. Drew, phone to book your table of up to 6
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HOT TALK / FREE SHIT UPCOMING TOURS & GIG OF THE WEEK COVER STORY: BLOC PARTY WHAT’S ON UV B OI • P G. 3 7 JULIAN ROSEFELDT: MANIFESTO ART OF THE CITY MAC MI LLE R • P G. 3 7 THE COMIC STRIP CALENDAR TERROR BYTE STAR WARS EPISODE VII: THE FORCE AWAKENS REVIEWS THE GRISWOLD S • P G. 3 8 OUT OF THE CLOSET BEAT EATS BEATS / CLUB GUIDE / SNAPS BARONESS KINGSWOOD THE WORD NATTALI RIZE ANGLESEA MUSIC FESTIVAL T H E ME A N I ES • PG. 3 9 B A LLA RAT B E E R F ESTIVAL • PG. 37 UV BOI MAC MILLER F O R B R E A K I N G N E W S , RE VIE W S , N E W C ONTE NT A N D MORE GIVE AWAYS VIS IT BALLARAT BEER FESTIVAL BRITISH INDIA THE DEADLIPS THE GRISWOLDS GET SOCIAL: FACEBOOK.COM/BEATMAG @BEATMAGAZINE @BEATMAGAZINE CORE & CRUNCH COLUMNS THE MEANIES LIVE may.and.elroy stardestroyer29 ShadowElectric Father John Misty | Meredith | 2015 Weekend At Bernies Have announced a huge summer film program ALBUM OF THE WEEK / SINGLES / CHARTS ALBUMS TAG US IN A PHOTO WITH A GIG GUIDE / ALL AGES BEAT MAG BACKSTAGE @beatmagazine INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH
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PUBLISHER: Furst Media Pty Ltd. MUSIC EDITOR: Cara Williams ARTS EDITOR, ASSOCIATE MUSIC EDITOR & ONLINE EDITOR: Tyson Wray SUB EDITOR: Augustus Welby ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE & EDITORIAL COORDINATORS: Thom Parry EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS: Michael Clark, Cassie Hedger, Gloria Brancatisano, Thomas Brand, Jess Zanoni, James Di Fabrizio, Kate Eardley. 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 Thom Parry (Hospitality/Bars) thom@beat.com.au Keats Mulligan (Backstage/Musical Equipment) mixdown@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 ACCOUNTANT: accountant@furstmedia.com.au OFFICE MANAGER: Lizzie Dynon ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE: Luke Forester: accounts@furstmedia.com.au DISTRIBUTION: Free every Wednesday to over 2000 points around Melbourne. Wanna get BEAT? Email distribution@beat.com.au CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Mary Boukouvalas, Ben Gunzburg, Anna Kanci, Charles Newbury, Tony Proudfoot, Laura May Grogan, David Harris, Emily Day, Lucinda Goodwin, Dan Soderstrom. SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR: Christie Eliezer SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR: Patrick Emery SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER: Ian Laidlaw COLUMNISTS: Emily Kelly, Peter Hodgson, Lachlan Kanoniuk, Anna Whitelaw BEAT TV/WATT’S ON PRESENTER: Dan Watt CONTRIBUTORS: Kelsey Berry, Graham Blackley, Gloria Brancatisano, Chris Bright, Avrille Bylock-Collard, Alexander Crowden, Liza Dezfouli, Jules Douglas, Jack Franklin, Emma Gawd, Chris Girdler, Joe Hansen, Nick Hilton, Peter Hodgson, Lachlan Kanoniuk, Cassandra Kiely, Billy Killing, Jody Macgregor, Nick Mason, Denver Maxx, Krystal Maynard, Paul McBride, Miki Mclay, Rhys McRae, James Nicoli, Adam Norris, Jack Parsons, Leigh Salter, Sisqo Taras, Kelly Theobald, Tamara Vogl, Dan Watt, Augustus Welby, Garry Westmore, Rod Whitfield, Jen Wilson, Thomas Brand, Alex Watts, Tyson Wray, David James Young, Bronius Zumeris, Simone Ubaldi, Natalie Rogers, James Di Fabrizio, Tex Miller, Emily Day, Matthew Tomich, Matthew Woods, Matilda Edwards, Lee Spencer Michaelsen, Joe Hansen, John Kendall, Bel Ryan, Izzy Tolhurst, Isabelle Oderberg, Navarone Farrell 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.
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THE BIGGEST IN INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS
PALMS Jess Ribeiro
BRUNSWICK MUSIC FESTIVAL REVEALS MORE ACTS FOR 2016 LINEUP The 2016 Brunswick Music Festival is set to be their biggest incarnation yet, and they’ve just announced a crop of tremendous local talent to perform over three special shows. Mia Dyson and Jess Ribeiro will play Estonian House on Friday March 18, Kylie Auldist will perform at Howler on Saturday March 19 and Emma Donovan, Shane Howard and Yirrmal will perform at CERES on Sunday March 20. It all kicks off with the Sydney Road Street Party on Sunday March 6, while the festival itself will take place from Tuesday, March 15 ‘till Sunday March 20. Hit their website for more details.
Following the release of their second full length LP Crazy Rack just over a month ago, Sydney’s Palms have confirmed they’ll be taking their newly written material on the road for national tour early next year. The trash rockers last Melbourne trip turned out to be a massive success, playing to a sold out Corner Hotel on their east coast tour with Violent Soho back in October, and things should be no different this time around. Palms plays at Shebeen on Saturday March 5. Book your tickets now through Ticketscout.
ERIK HOKKANEN TO PLAY ONE-OFF AUSTRALIAN SHOW AT THE SHADOW ELECTRIC Guitarist, fiddle player and composer Erik Hokkanen will be playing anything from western swing, gypsy jazz, gospel, bluegrass and surf rock when he takes to The Abbotsford Convent’s Shadow Electric stage this weekend. Backed by local musicians Peter Baylor, Steve Temple and Jason Liu Soon, this will be Hokkanen’s only show in Australia. Support will come from local oldtime performer Archer. A three-time winner of the Kerrville Folk Festival Music Awards Instrumentalist of the Year, Hokkanen has played and taught across the US and Europe for the past 30 years, fronting his own bands since the ‘80s as well as featuring in bands with Gary P Nunn, Diamond Teeth Mary (Bessie Smith’s Sister) Wayne Hancock and Junior Brown. Say hey to Erik Hokkanen on Sunday December 20 at The Shadow Electric. Tickets via the venue.
LINEUP FOR THE GASOMETER’S 2016 COLLINGWOOD OPEN SERIES ANNOUNCED After a successful debut of Collingwood Open last summer, The Gasometer has confirmed a return with a run of openair shows with headliners playing at dusk. This time around for the intimate sets to full-houses with the sky as the ceiling, we’ll see performances from the likes of Lanie Lane, Charlie Marshall & The Body Electric, Warren Ellis and Jim White (of Dirty Three), Oh Mercy, Ella Hooper, Mighty Duke and The Lords, Gold Class, Steve Smyth and Cash Savage & The Last Drinks, with more to be announced. Collingwood Open will take place at The Gasometer from Friday January 15 - Friday February 26. Hit their website for more details.
SWEAT IT OUT TO HOST XMAS DANCE PARTY Locking in Australian heavy hitter What So Not for the best pre-xmas dance party money can buy, Sweat It Out are revving up to host A Very Sweaty Xmas. The party will feature just about every artist affiliated with Sweat It Out as they team up at a secret warehouse location for a club night with a few twists – there’ll not only be food trucks to help kill those late night kebab cravings, but all the proceeds will go to Ajax’s family’s chosen charity Youth Off The Streets. It’s a good party for a good cause. Catch the likes of What So Not, Yolanda Be Cool, Indian Summer and many more at A Very Sweaty Xmas, going down this Friday December 18. Shoot on over to Sweat It Out’s website for tickets and a full lineup.
THE SWORD LOCKS IN AUSTRALIAN HEADLINE SHOWS Texas heavy metal legends The Sword are hitting the grindstone for a highly anticipated return to Australia in February, coming off the back of their critically acclaimed fifth album High Country. The album has smashed the US Billboard 200 charts with a number 30 slot, and ranked them in several Top 10 album lists for this year. This tour sees the band returning with Austin amigos American Sharks along with Melbourne’s Clowns rounding out the bill. Catch The Sword at Max Watt’s on Monday February 22. Tickets available through the venue’s website.
THE RESIDENTS ANNOUNCE 2016 MELBOURNE SHOW Experimental and avant-garde forefathers The Residents are returning Down Under for the first time in a decade, bringing with them the ambitious finale to a three part show project, titling the new show Shadowland. Shadowland will showcase new music alongside older tracks featuring the accompaniment of short videos about birth, rebirth, reincarnation and near death experiences. For over 40 years the trio have obscured their identities, hiding behind masks and incognito press appearances. This time around, they’ve decided to go by names ‘Randy’, ‘Chuck’ and ‘Bob’. Get grim with The Residents at The Croxton at the Wednesday March 23. Grab your tickets from the venue’s website.
Mighty Duke and the Lords
SASKWATCH GEAR UP FOR 2016 NATIONAL TOUR Melbourne soul outfit Saskwatch have announced a massive 30-date national tour with support from Brisbane’s indiepop trio Cub Sport. Releasing their third studio album Sorry I Let It Come Between Us earlier this year, the six-piece will be hitting all the major capital cities to celebrate the album release, as well as an extensive run of regional dates and festivals. After performing regionally with Groovin The Moo in May, and rounding out 2015 supporting The Rubens on tour nationally, Saskwatch will finally be able to showcase a slew of new material off their latest album including lead single I’ll Be Fine and Everyone’s Giving Up, along with all the favourites from previous albums Nose Dive and Leave It All Behind. Check them out at The Corner Hotel Friday April 8. Tickets via oztix. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 18
ABABCD ANNOUNCE THE HARPOONS, MANGELWURZEL, SUI ZHEN AND CC:DISCO FOR UPCOMING SESSION Melbourne based filmmakers BANALRAMA presents ABABCd, a series of live video recordings from some of Australia’s most interesting bands and a handful of international acts. Filmed live from the Gasometer Hotel’s illustrious open-air band room, ABABCd’s next showcase will feature The Harpoons, Mangelwurzel, Sui Zhen and a secret special guest performer yet to be announced. Melbourne’s first lady of disco CC:DISCO will be spinning tracks between live sets. Get down to the Gaso on Friday January 8 2016. Tickets via the venue. HOT TALK
SOUTH MELBOURNE NIGHT MARKET UNVEILS MUSIC LINEUP The South Melbourne Night Market is set to return for its seventh year running this January, setting up shop every Thursday night to offer food, fashion, drinks, and a whole range of live music. Calypso rhythm group Mighty Duke and The Lords lead the artist announcement, joining La Rumba, Sugar Fed Leopards, Kim Salmon, Ayleen O’Hanlon, Krista Polvere and stacks of more legendary locals. For the full program and lineup, head to southmelbournenightmarket.com.au.
BAR WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER
OPEN MIC
Show the Boogie Man what you’ve got! THURSDAY 17 DECEMBER
STEVE PERRY BIG HOUSE ROB WALKER FRIDAY 18 DECEMBER
STEVE LUCAS
HAPPY HOUR FROM 5PM THEN AT 7.30PM
DESTROY SHE SAID BALLS PROPHETESS SATURDAY 19 DECEMBER
MC BABY JESUS & THE GRINGE BANDITS WHO STOLE XMAS SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER
JOHNOTHON DEVOY SARAH EIDA PATRICK ARNOLD
AFTER WORK HAPPY HOUR FROM 5PM:
WED, THURS & FRI 160 HODDLE ST ABBOTSFORD
WWW.THEPUBLICBAR.COM.AU
2 3 8 V I C T O R I A S T, N O R T H M E L B O U R N E
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theoldbar.com.au OPEN 4PM - 3AM MON-FRI 2PM - 3AM SAT-SUN FREE WI FI
$8 PINTS EVERY DAY UNTIL 7PM $10 JUGS EVERY DAY UNTIL 8PM $5 CANS ALL THE TIME
MON - FRI TIL 7PM - $8 PINTS MONDAYS - $15 JUGS MT GOAT SUNDAYS - $10 JUGS UNICORN LAGER $5 CANS EVERY DAY/NIGHT
WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER
WORLD AT A GLANCE ENDUT HOCH HECH
WEDNESDAY 16TH DECEMBER
THE MUDGE BROTHERS
DIPLOID, TWO STEPS ON THE WATER NOSEBLOOD CATHARSIS 7PM $8 THURSDAY 17 DECEMBER
DREAMIN WILD, GREEN BLANKET
PLEBS - LAUNCH BRAD POT, GREAT PLACES
BONE SOUP & FUTURE POPES XMAS PARTY:
7.30PM $7 FRIDAY 18 DECEMBER
NUN OF -THE TONGUE LAUNCH
SCOTDRAKULA LAZERTITS TEMPURA NIGHTS (SYD) CABLE TIES
CLAWS & ORGANS WOO WHO, MISS MISS 8.30PM $10
OUCH MY FACE
ARRESTOR DAN SOUTHWARD
THE DACIOS, DARK FAIR, CAMP COPE GUNK 8PM $10 SATURDAY 19TH DECEMBER
4PM FREE SATURDAY 19 DECEMBER
HALT EVER - LAUNCH
VINTEN - LAUNCH JP KLIPSPRINGER, JOHN KENNEDY NEW BIRDS
ROSS COTTEE’S TIMEZONE 4PM FREE SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER
BAR & KITCHEN OPEN 4PM FREE MONDAY 21 DECEMBER
TAYLOR PROJECT - LAUNCH TIM WOODS 7:30PM $6 TUESDAY 22 DECEMBER
SISSY SOCKS EGYPT LIES, INFRAGHOST
7.30PM $10
FRIDAY 18TH DECEMBER
FRIDAY ARVO
8:30PM $10 SATURDAY ARVO
7.30PM $7
THURSDAY 17TH DECEMBER
To register your interest please visit melbourneprize.org Prize and awards pool over $120,000 New category for 2016 All music genres eligible Open to Victorian residents only Supported by 2016 Partners and Patrons and the Victorian Government, through Creative Victoria.
EXEK - LAUNCH COBWEBBS, VACUUM, FRUIT & NUT
LOW TALK
GOLDEN SYRUP, BALLADS 3PM FREE SUNDAY 20TH DECEMBER
BEERSOAKED SUNDAYS:
THE IN THE OUT
THE NIGHT COLLECTORS PALE TRIP
7PM $6
8PM $6
MONDAY 21ST DECEMBER
MUNDANE MONDAYS: JURASSIC NARK SLOPPY KISS SOIREE WOO WHO
8PM $5
TUESDAY 22ND DECEMBER
BAR STAFF
DOG ACT
8PM $10
ARVO:
4PM FREE
band bookings: bandbookings@theoldbar.com.au
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THE BIGGEST IN INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS JOE COCKER NEW YEARS EVE TRIBUTE
[ Formerly The Hi-Fi Bar ]
FRI 18 DEC
EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT THE WEATHER SUN 03 JAN - SELLING FAST
WAV VES
TUE 05 JAN - SELLING FAST
KURT VILE & THE VIOL ATORS WED 06 JAN
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THE CHILLS SUN 17 JAN - SELLING FAST
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DJ KRUSH WED 10 FEB - SELLING FAST
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THUNDERCAT FRI 12 FEB - SELLING FAST
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STEEL PULSE MON 15 FEB
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HIGH ON FIRE SAT 20 FEB
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THE SWORD TUE 23 FEB - SELLING FAST
OCEAN COLOUR SCENE
Cold War Kids
COLD WAR KIDS UNVEIL 2016 MELBOURNE SHOW Indie stalwarts Cold War Kids have announced a string of Australian shows to coincide with their performance at next year’s Bluesfest. The upcoming Australian tour comes in the wake of the group’s fifth album, Hold My Home, and their latest single, First. No stranger to Australian shores, the band behind the 2006 hit Hang Me Out To Dry have played festival slots at Falls, Southbound and Splendour in the Grass. Since forming in 2004, Cold War Kids have sold over 500,000 albums, over 1 million singles and have more than 50 million streams to date. Catch up with Cold War Kids when they hit 170 Russell on Friday March 25.
Twelve-piece big band Leave Your Hat On honours the late Joe Cocker this New Years Eve, bringing in 2016 with a cover set at The Yarraville Club. The reggae-loving working class English rock, blues and soul singer Joe Cocker was best known for his unique and character-filled gritty voice, as well as his performance of With a Little Help from My Friends at Woodstock which etched his name forever in the history of rock‘n’roll. The tribute show will feature singles across his 50 years in the music business, including Feelin’ Alright, Hitchcock Railway and, of course, You Can Leave Your Hat On. Leave Your Hat On leads the Joe Cocker tribute on Thursday December 31 at The Yarraville Club. Hit up the venue’s website for all more details.
X GEARS UP FOR HAIR OF THE DOG TOUR Following on from the X Last Drinks Tour, guitarist Steve Lucas has just recruited Billy Walsh (Cosmic Psychos) and Wally Kempton (The Meanies) in order to keep the band’s pub rock legacy alive and kicking with X’s Hair of the Dog tour. The new lineup comes in tow with new releases from the band, a European tour in late 2016 and the approaching 40th anniversary of the band’s first ever gig. The band, fronted by Steve Lucas, will be spotlighting classic X tunes plus unearthing other long lost songs from the early ‘80s when Lucas and original bass player Ian Rilen were at the peak of their songwriting partnership. You can catch X in all their glory at The Tote on Friday February 5. Tickets via Oztix.
SAT 27 FEB
1349
TUE 01 MAR
G - EA Z Y
WED 09 MAR
THE NEW SAVAGES The New Savages are launching 2016 with a bang, lining up a residency at Footscray’s Reverence Hotel that’ll see them play every Friday in January barring New Years Day. In their busy first year together, The New Savages clocked in over 60 live shows, two tours, received airplay on triple j and Triple M and recorded their debut EP and music video. The next year looks to be more of the same for the blues rockers, with plans to record their sophomore EP during the residency, pausing for a stopover at Ballarat Beer Festival alongside Dallas Crane and You Am I on Wednesday January 16. The New Savages play The Reverence Hotel on Friday January 8, 15, 22 and 29. Check out their website for tickets and more details.
THE MUMMIES THU 10 MAR
IBEYI
SAT 12 MAR
ST GERMAIN TO HEADLINE SUNDAY NIGHT AT WOMADELAIDE 2016 The next instalment of WOMADelaide just keeps getting bigger and bigger, this week confirming French DJ and producer Ludovic Navarre, better known as St Germain, as the headliner for the last night of the festival. St Germain, known as one of the most revered figures in the world of electronic music, returns to Australia after breaking a 15 year recording and touring hiatus with the October release of his eponymous fourth studio album. He joins the already impressive lineup of Grammy Award-winning Angélique Kidjo, the UK’s Mercury Prize nominated Asian Dub Foundation, Israeli-born Ethiopian singer-actress Ester Rada and the acclaimed Tex-Mex indie band Calexico. WOMADelaide 2016 will be held from Friday March 11 till Monday March 14 at Adelaide’s Botanic Park. For tickets and the line up so far, visit womadelaide.com.au.
BONGEZIWE MABANDLA Afro-folk artist Bongeziwe Mabandla has announced his return to Australia this summer, booking in a headline show at The Toff ahead of his appearances at Woodford Folk Festival and Sydney Festival. Delivering soulful performances in both Xhosa and English, Mabandla fuses elements of traditional Xhosa music with Mbaqanga, soul, hip hop and dub in creating his rhythmic grass-roots vibe, with heavy influence from artists such as Tracy Chapman, Simphiwe Dana, Jabu Khanyile and Oliver Mtukudzi. Along with special guests Hailey Cramer and Majiwa, Bongeziwe Mabandla performs at The Toff in Town on Sunday January 10. Tickets are on sale now through the venue’s website.
GUILTY SIMPSON AND KATALYST REVEAL 2016 MELBOURNE SHOW Guilty Simpson has teamed up with Sydney producer Katalyst to create his latest album Detroit’s Son, and will be showcasing his new material in a string of one-off Australian shows. Guilty Simpson made his debut with the help of legendary producer J Dilla, joining the Stones Throw fold at Dilla’s personal request. Years later, records like Ode To The Ghetto prompted a cult-following, stamping the rapper as a star within his own right. Guilty Simpson and Katalyst will hit Laundry Bar on Sunday January 31. Shoot on over to Laundry’s website for tickets.
JEREMIH LOCKS IN 2016 MELBOURNE SHOW Alongside his appearances at the 2016 Good Life festival, R&B megastar Jeremih has locked in a run of headline shows around the country. The announcement follows the release of his third studio album, the 15-track Late Nights which features Future, Big Sean, J. Cole, Ty Dolla $ign, Migos and more, already has critics raving. Catch him on Sunday February 21 at Trak. Tickets via Ticketmaster.
FREDDIE GIBBS
Ash
WED 16 MAR SELLING FAST -
SUNN O )))
FRI 18 MAR - SELLING FAST
DIED PRETT Y SUN 20 MAR
WILEY
SAT 21 MAY
ELUVEITIE SUN 12 JUN
DEATH DEALER SAT 10 SEP
FROM THE JAM SUN 09 OCT
THE LEVELLERS TIX + INFO
MAXWATTS.COM.AU 1300 724 867
125 SWANSTON ST, MELBOURNE BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 20
COSMO’S MIDNIGHT ANNOUNCES AUSTRALIAN TOUR After shooting to the #2 spot on iTunes and collecting an impressive six million plays online, Australian twins Cosmo’s Midnight are grabbing their scooters to share some hip-shaking love to the country this February. An exercise of collaboration with special friends, the boys called on music renegades to make this release their most unforgettable to date. Kicking off with a kaleidoscopic pop collaboration with global electronic influencer Wave Racer, the boys are also joined by Perth-pop hero KUČKA, UK singer/producer Wild Eyed Boy, cuttingedge super producer Lido, Norwegian producer Hi Tom, and Sarah Bonito from Kero Kero Bonito. It’s set to be an absolute blast. Get ready to shake your thang when Cosmo’s Midnight perform at Howler on Friday February 19. Tickets available at the venue’s website.
2016 FAIRFIELD SUMMER SERIES Presented by Multicultural Arts Victoria in partnership with the City of Yarra, the Fairfield Summer Series returns for 2016 with a new lineup of some of Melbourne’s hottest and emerging acts, playing free entry gigs at the Fairfield Amphitheatre every Sunday arvo in February. Bring along a picnic rug or cushion, sit back and enjoy music from the likes of Louis Majiwa, Cookin’ on 3 Burners and Emma Donovan & The Putbacks, with delicious food available on site all afternoon. The Fairfield Summer Series kicks off on Sunday February 7 and goes right through til Sunday February 28. Check out the full event details at multiculturalarts.com.au. HOT TALK
ASH ANNOUNCE 2016 AUSTRALIAN TOUR Seminal Irish indie heroes Ash have announced their return to Australian shores for a headline tour this March. On their last visit, the band performed their groundbreaking album 1977 in it’s entirety, which resulted in sold out shows and extra shows being added all over the country. This time, Ash are back to celebrate their new album Kablammo which is the sixth release in their career, eight years after Twilights of Innocence, the album that Ash swore to be their last. Don’t miss Ash at The Corner Hotel Friday March 11. Tickets via www.metropolistouring.com
Wesley Anne - Bar • Restaurant • Etc -
MONDAY
ROO & WINE
Wednesday 16 December
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TRIVIA
FREE
with Sparx
7.30pm, Band Room
Thursday 17 December
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Brooke Russell & Ben Franz 6pm, Front Bar
FREE
Friday 18 December
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The Grubs 4pm, Front Bar
EDINBURGH CASTLE HOTEL
FREE
MON
ROO & WINE - $ 11 .99
TUE
$
WED
MRS
Saturday 19 December
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Mon Shelford & Ian Maddick
FREE
6pm, Front Bar
FRI 18
8pm, Band Room $5
Sunday 20 December
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From the 14th Dec - 2nd Jan Wesley Anne will be open from 12pm daily.
Big Band Frequency
SAT 19
6pm, Front Bar
250 High st, Northcote Hill, 9482 1333
FREE
SU N 20
ERNIE DEE, 9
FR E E BEER GARDEN FR E E
PM
THE SLIPDIX IES, 5 PM DJ
2pm, Band Room $5
Fat Cousin Skinny
DJ
K NAVE K NIXX, 9
PM
BEER GARDEN FR E E BEER GARDEN FR E E BEER
THE JOSEPH PAOLA &STRAINS , 5 P M GARDEN FR E E
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1 1 S R E G BUR
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THE
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FREE
SAT 19 DEC
DANNY ROSS 6.30pm, Front Bar
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27 WESTON ST, BRUNSWICK MON TO THU, 3PM - LATE FRI TO SUN, NOON - LATE
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KILL DIRTY YOUTH Bendigo Hotel December 16, 23, 30 STELLAFAUNA The Evelyn Hotel December 16, 23, 30 BONE SOUP/ FUTURE POPES END OF YEAR PARTY Old Bar December 17 A DAY TO REMEMBER + THE AMITY AFFLICTION Rod Laver Arena December 17 A VERY SWEATY XMAS Secret Venue December 18 THINGS OF STONE AND WOOD Memo Music Hall December 18 CERES Shadow Electric December 18 TEMPURA NIGHTS The Curtin December 18 BODYJAR & THE MEANIES Prince Bandroom December 18 SHELLEY SEGAL Collins Square December 18 THE B.EAST XMAS PARTY BASH The B.East December 19 MIKELANGELO The Spotted Mallard December 19 RARA Shebeen December 19 MICK THOMAS & THE ROVING COMMISSION MEMO Music Hall December 19, Greendale Hotel January 1 XMAS EVEN The Evelyn Hotel December 19 – 20 HOLEANDCORNER TBA December 19 ERIK HOKKANEN The Shadow Electric December 20 LITTLE SEA MEMO Music Hall December 20 OFFTHEGRID Australian Centre for Contemporary Art December 22 EL VEZ Corner Hotel December 24 FALLS FESTIVAL Lorne December 28 – January 1 BEYOND THE VALLEY Lardner, Victoria December 29 – January 1 TANGLEWOOD FESTIVAL Thornton, Lake Eildon December 30 – January 1 NEW YEAR’S EVIE Bruzzy’s Farm, Tallarook December 30 – January 2 SOUL-A-GO-GO’S NEW YEARS EVE The Corner December 31 NEW YEARS EVE PARTY The Croxton December 31 AGENT ORANGE Bendigo Hotel December 31 LEAVE YOUR HAT ON: THE JOE COCKER TRIBUTE The Yarraville Club December 31 NYE ON THE HILL December 31 – January 1 NEW YEARS DAY PARTY MONA January 1 SOUNDS LIKE SUMMER CBD January 1 CONFESSION Evelyn Hotel January 2 MAC MILLER The Forum January 2 GROUNDSWELL FESTIVAL Lake Tyers Beach January 2 KURT VILE The Forum January 3 WAVVES Max Watt’s January 3 WEIRD AL YANKOVIC The Palais Theatre January 3 MAC DEMARCO 170 Russel January 3 – 5 THE WEATHER STATION Northcote Social Club January 4 YUNG LEAN Prince Bandroom January 5 BØRNS The Corner January 5 BLOC PARTY The Forum January 5 DISCLOSURE Festival Hall January 6 THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS Westernport Hotel January 6, Torquay Hotel January 7, The Grand January 8 TORO Y MOI Max Watt’s January 6 SOAK Northcote Social Club January 6 HALSEY The Forum January 6 PUSHA T Prince Bandroom January 6 YOUNG FATHERS The Corner January 7 FOALS Festival Hall January 7 ELLIPHANT Howler January 7 GARY CLARK JR The Forum January 7 OH WONDER Northcote Social Club January 7 LEON BRIDGES 170 Russell January 7 ABABCD The Gasometer January 8 THE NEW SAVAGES The Reverence Hotel January 8, 15, 22, 29 DJANGO DJANGO 170 Russell January 8 THE FLAMING LIPS The Palais January 8 FRENZAL RHOMB Chelsea Heights Hotel January 8, Village Green Hotel January 9 DEAD CITY RUINS Northcote Social Club January 9 BONGEZIWE MABANDLA The Toff in Town January 10 SUNSET SOUNDS Central Park, Malvern East January 10, 17, 24, 31 JAMIE XX The Forum January 10 SO FRENCHY SO CHIC IN THE PARK Werribee Park January 11 NIGHTWISH The Forum Monday January 11 MOFO MONA January 13 - January 18 HARTS Howler January 14 MIREL WAGNER The Toff In Town January 14 PRETTY LIGHTS, OPIUO + EMANCIPATOR Forum Theatre January 14 THE DELTA RIGGS Whalers Hotel, Warnambool January 15, Torquay Hotel January 16, Lorne Hotel January 17 TOMORROW’S PEOPLE Courthouse Youth Arts, Geelong January 15, Wrangler Studios January 16, Karova Lounge January 17 THE CHILLS Max Watt’s January 15 RIGHT THERE ON MY TV The Tote January 16 UNIFY South Gippsland January 16 – 17
A R T I S T S
H E A D I N G
TONIGHT ALIVE Max Watt’s January 17 JOANNA NEWSOM Arts Centre January 19 THE 1975 Festival Hall January 20 TURNSTILE Northcote Social Club January 20 OKMALUMKOOLKAT Ding Dong Lounge January 21 LUCA BRASI Northcote Social Club January 21 ASH GRUNWALD Sooki Lounge January 21, Chapel off Chapel January 22 CHAPEL SUMMER SESSIONS Chapel off Chapel January 21, 22, 30 THEE OH SEES Howler January 22 RAINBOW SERPENT FESTIVAL Lexton January 22 – 26 THE GOOCH PALMS The Curtin January 22 COURTNEY BARNETT Palais Theatre January 22 DIE! DIE! DIE! Ding Dong Lounge January 23 ROCK’N’LOAD The Corner January 23 BEECHWORTH FESTIVAL Beechworth Asylum January 23 A DAY ON THE GREEN Michelton Wines, Nagambie January 23 BOY & BEAR Festival Hall January 23 MICHAEL HURLEY Northcote Social Club January 23 SUGAR MOUNTAIN Victorian College of the Arts/ Melbourne Arts precinct January 23 RYLEY WALKER The Toff In Town January 25 URBAN SPREAD Chelsea Heights Hotel January 25 GIRLPOOL The Reverence Hotel January 27 NOTHING BUT THEIVES Ding Dong Lounge January 27 SOUNDWAVE 2016 TBA January 26 YOU BEAUTY The Tote January 29 HOLY HOLY Corner Hotel January 29 DERRICK MAY, JEFF MILLS & THE MSO Sidney Myer Music Bowl January 30 GUILTY SIMPSON & KATALYST Laundry Bar January 31 GRIMES 170 Russell February 3 JAMES BAY Festival Hall February 3 TOBIAS JESSE JR The Corner February 3 SHAMIR Howler February 4 X The Tote February 5 GILLIAN WELCH Palais Theatre February 5 MSO PRESENT HITCHCOCK AND HERRMANN Hamer Hall February 5, 6 ST KILDA FESTIVAL St Kilda February 6 – 14 FAIRFIELD SUMMER SERIES Fairfield Ampitheatre February 7, 14, 21, 28 CAT POWER Melbourne Recital Centre February 8, 9 CHVRCHES Forum Theatre February 9 THE INTERNET The Corner February 9 BEACH HOUSE 170 Russell February 10 PUNK ROCK KARAOKE The Corner February 10 DIIV The Corner February 11 PURITY RING + MAJICAL CLOUDZ Forum Theatre February 11 THUNDERCAT Max Watt’s February 11 HEALTH Howler February 11 SOUL FLATS MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL Deniliquin, NSW February 12 – 14 MAJICAL CLOUDZ The Toff In Town February 12 THIEVERY CORPORATION The Forum February 12 BATTLES Max Watt’s February 12 METZ The Corner February 12 GIDEON BENSEN Shebeen February 12 JOSH PYKE Melbourne Zoo February 12 LUNATICS ON POGOSTICKS The Worker’s Club February 13 COMMON KINGS The Corner February 13 LANEWAY FESTIVAL Footscray Community Arts Centre February 13 GURRUMUL Max Watt’s February 15 SOILWORK 170 Russell February 16 A$AP ROCKY Margaret Court Arena February 17 REGGAE ROYALTY Palais Theatre February 18 WAXAHATCHEE Howler February 18 ALPINE Estonian House February 19 COSMO’S MIDNIGHT Howler February 19 DAVE RAWLINGS MACHINE Palais Theatre February 19 TINA ARENA Hamer Hall February 19 PARTY IN THE PADDOCK Burnscreek, Tasmania February 19 RIVERBOATS MUSIC FESTIVAL Murray River, Echucha February 19 – 21 HIGH ON FIRE Max Watt’s February 19 JD MCPHERSON Corner Hotel February 19 FAT FREDDY’S DROP The Forum February 19 DALLAS CRANE The Corner February 20 GOOD LIFE FESTIVAL Melbourne Park and Hisense Arena February 20 ROB THOMAS Rob Laver Arena February 20 KATE MILLER-HEIDKE Estonian House February 20 JEREMIH Trak February 21 LEFTFIELD Yarra Valley Estate February 21 ALBERT HAMMOND JR The Corner February 21 THE SWORD Max Watt’s February 22 HORROR MY FRIEND Old Bar February 22 OCEAN COLOUR SCENE Max Watt’s February 23
T O
M E L B O U R N E
Gig Of The Week
THE MEANIES + BODYJAR
The Prince Bandroom Friday December 18 Witness punk history in the making this Friday December 18 as Aussie legends The Meanies and Bodyjar play on the same bill for the first time in over twenty years, sharing space with High Tension and Cowsmuff. If you didn’t know The Meanies were back, you must’ve missed them re-releasing their entire discography over the year, as well as their first new material in decades with It’s Not Me, It’s You. Playing alongside Cowsmuff, who recently reformed after an 18 year long hiatus, and High Tension, who will hopefully never go on hiatus, what are the chances there’ll be a gig like this ever again? Bodyjar and The Meanies play The Prince Bandroom this Friday December 18. THE GAME The Forum February 24 THE JEZABELS The Forum February 26 GBH The Bendigo Hotel February 26 CHI WAH WOW TOWN TBA February 26 – 28 SUFJAN STEVENS Hamer Hall February 26 HOMESHAKE The Curtin February 27 MOSES GUNN COLLECTIVE Northcote Social Club February 27 ECCA VANDAL Howler February 27 NATALIE PRASS Melbourne Recital Centre February 29 PASSENGER Palais Theatre March 1 G-EAZY Max Watt’s March 1 CALEXICO Hamer Hall March 2 GLEN MATLOCK, EARL SLICK & SLIM JIM PHANTOM Ding Dong Lounge March 4 SENSES FAIL Corner Hotel March 4 THE SNOWDROPPERS Howler March 4 PALMS Shebeen March 5 CLUTCH The Forum March 5 THE NECKS Melbourne Recital Centre March 5 ALVVAYS Northcote Social Club March 6 SYDNEY RD STREET PARTY Sydney Rd March 6 GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR Melbourne Recital Centre March 7 THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN The Forum March 7 MICHAEL GIRA Melbourne Recital Centre March 8 THE MUMMIES Max Watt’s March 9 SLEATER-KINNEY The Croxton March 9 IBEYI Max Watt’s March 10 ART VS. SCIENCE 170 Russell March 11 ASH The Gasometer March 11 A FESTIVAL CALLED PANAMA Lone Star Valley March 11 - 13 PORT FAIRY FOLK FESTIVAL Port Fairy March 11 – 14 FREDDIE GIBBS Max Watt’s March 12 BEN HARPER AND THE INNOCENT CRIMINALS Sidney Myer Music Bowl March 12 BUILT TO SPILL The Corner March 12 MADONNA Rod Laver Arena March 12, 13 GOLDEN PLAINS Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre March 12 – 14 PURE POP FOR NOW PEOPLE Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley March 12 JOHN GRANT The Forum March 13 BUZZCOCKS The Corner March 13 THE CHARLATONS 170 Russell March 13 ST GERMAIN The Forum March 14 ACTION BRONSON The Forum March 15 BRUNSWICK MUSIC FESTIVAL Various Venues March 15 - 20 DON MCLEAN Hamer Hall March 16 SUNN O))) Max Watt’s March 16 SONGHOY BLUES Melbourne Recital Centre March 16 MARY BLACK The Forum March 17 DIED PRETTY Max Watt’s March 18 THE VIOLENT FEMMES The Corner March 17 SEVENDUST 170 Russell March 18 BRYAN ADAMS Rod Laver Arena March 18 STEVE EARLE & THE DUKES Melbourne Recital Centre March 18, 19 D’ANGELO Palais Theatre March 19 TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND Forum Theatre March 19
THE PENINSULA PICNIC Mornington March 20 LORD HURON The Corner March 21 LUCKY PETERSON Northcote Social Club March 21 KENDRICK LAMAR Rod Laver Arena March 21 TWEEDY Melbourne Recital Centre March 21 STURGILL SIMPSON 170 Russell March 23 RHIANNON GIDDENS The Corner March 23 THE RESIDENTS The Croxton March 23 HOUNDMOUTH Northcote Social Club March 24 ST. PAUL & THE BROKEN BONES The Corner March 24 BLUESFEST Byron Bay March 24 – 28 COLD WAR KIDS 170 Russell March 25 BOOGIE FESTIVAL Bruzzy’s Farm March 25 – 27 TOM JONES Hamer Hall March 25 THE SELECTER Corner Hotel March 25 THE HILLS ARE ALIVE South Gippsland March 25 – 27 JANIVA MAGNESS The Corner March 26 NAHKO AND MEDICINE FOR THE PEOPLE The Corner March 27 THE WORD The Corner March 28 NOEL GALLAGHER’S HIGH FLYING BIRDS Margaret Court Arena March 29 JASON ISBELL Melbourne Recital Centre March 29 THE DECEMBERISTS Hamer Hall March 29 TAJ MAHAL Melbourne Recital Centre March 30 NATHANIEL RATELIFF & THE NIGHT SWEATS 170 Russell March 30 LUKAS NELSON & PROMISE OF THE REAL Howler March 30 MELISSA ETHERIDGE Palais Theatre March 30 VINTAGE TROUBLE The Corner March 30 STIFF LITTLE FINGERS 170 Russell March 31 ALLEN STONE The Corner March 31 THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA Melbourne Recital Centre April 1 JACKSON BROWNE Palais Theatre April 1 CITY AND COLOUR Sidney Myer Music Bowl April 2 BRIAN WILSON Palais Theatre April 3 SASKWATCH The Corner Hotel April 8 CITY CALM DOWN The Corner April 9 CHRIS ISAAK Margaret Court Arena April 13 BLACK SABBATH Rod Laver Arena April 19 GANG OF YOUTHS 170 Russell April 22 HILTOP HOODS + MSO Rod Laver Arena April 23 VANCE JOY Margaret Court Arena April 23 SARAH BLASKO The Forum April 23 JOSH GROBAN Palais Theatre April 25 CHERRYROCK016 Cherry and AC/DC Lane May 1 OF MONSTERS AND MEN Palais Theatre May 4 IRON MAIDEN Rod Laver Arena May 9 THE BEARDS The Loft May 25, The Golden Vine May 26, Karova Lounge June 23, Barwon Club June 24, The Corner June 25
Beat Presents R U M O U R S : L eft ö v er C rack , L es S av y F av, T otal C ontrol
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A TASTE OF INDIE
WATT’S ON PRESENTS:
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CHAMPAGNE INTERNET ELWOOD BLUES CLUB (EX- YACHT CLUB DJS) FROM 10.30PM SATURDAYS • every sunday! • FREE ENTRY • PaRTY uNTil laTE
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Bloc Party
Songs Of Devotion B y A ugu s tu s W e l b y
B
loc Party are improbable survivors of the 2000s indie rock resurgence. In late January next year, the Londoners will release their fifth LP, Hymns, but despite their longevity Bloc Party have been walking on thin ice for a number of years. With the four founding members dabbling in various extracurricular projects – most notably frontman Kele Okereke, who last year released his second solo album, Trick – there’s been speculation about the band’s impending break-up since at least 2008. These forecasts looked to have come true when original drummer Matt Tong and bass player Gordon Moakes left the band in 2013.
However, Okereke and co-founder/ guitarist Russell Lissack remain. And with the addition of former Menomena bassist Justin Harris and 21-year-old drummer Louise Bartle, Bloc Party will bring in the New Year in Australia. “I think the closest I ever got to believing Bloc Party wasn’t going to carry on was when we were touring the States at the start of 2013,” says Okereke. “It just felt we really weren’t communicating very well as a unit, and I was feeling that there probably wasn’t going to be any point in us carrying on as a band if this was what it was going to be like the whole time.” Okereke wasn’t the only one feeling a touch dismayed. The intra-band frigidity catalysed Tong’s exit midway through the tour. Despite being an integral member for nearly 15 years, however, the drummer’s departure proved rather fortuitous. “A friend of mine from London [Sarah Jones of Hot Chip] came out to play drums for us,” says Okereke. “I think it was when Sarah came out to drum with us that I started having fun again, to be honest. I started realising that actually touring could be fun if you had people around you that you liked and that you got on with. It was at that point I realised that I didn’t want to just throw away what we had. I wanted to make another record because I was enjoying it again, really.” Evidently, the persistent rumours concerning Bloc Party’s shaky BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 24
lot more sensual, and just a lot more comforting. I feel that that attitude then carried on [into] Hymns. I don’t think that there’s any distortion at all on Hymns. I was adamant that the sounds had to be clean and to be spacious. I just didn’t want it to at all resemble Four.” The title of the band’s fifth record doesn’t necessarily foreshadow songs of praise, but Okereke did in fact grow up in a religious family. While he’s not a practising Christian, the marrow of the new record is patently spiritual. “The idea for Hymns was to present music that had a certain atmosphere or reverence to it,” he says. “I knew that the title of the album was going to be Hymns as soon as we started writing, and it was a challenge to me to make a record that has that kind of ambience that I experienced when first listening to hymns, or first singing hymns when I was at school. To have that kind of awe and celebration in the music was something I wanted to try and recapture.” Okereke’s songwriting has always possessed an underlying earnestness. Likewise, in spite of the accessibility of his career output, he doesn’t refrain from painting himself in a vulnerable constitution have been more than just light. Even so, his creative process isn’t hearsay. After touring behind 2008’s one of pointed introspection. “That’s Intimacy, a cloud of internal mugginess something that I never intentionally led to an extended hiatus. During this do, but there are obviously going to be time, Okereke released his first solo aspects of how you see the world in the album, The Boxer – a record entrenched music. I wasn’t really thinking about in the world of dance-pop and house myself, I was thinking about, ‘How do I music. This musical left turn proved depict something that feels sacred?’” a reinvigorating experience, and Bloc Upon the announcement of Hymns, Party soon reconvened to work on 2012’s Okereke described the album as unlike Four. Similarly, although Okereke’s any other music currently being made. enthusiasm surged during the latter part It’s a tough claim to back-up, but the of the 2013 tour, immediately afterwards band consciously kept their distance from contemporary music during the he returned to his solo project. “I knew that I was going to be making making of Hymns. a solo record regardless of what was “I wasn’t really listening to any modern happening with the Bloc Party situation,” music, but I was listening to music for he says. “It was kind of a separate entity. sure when we were making the record. It was lucky for me, because it meant I was listening to Stevie Wonder and a that we didn’t have to deal with what was film score and sound composer called going on immediately and it meant that Lalo Schifrin and gospel music – I was I could focus on doing what I wanted to listening to lots of devotional/hymnal music. I was trying to isolate how that do and then have some kind of space.” Following the electronic coordinates music made me feel, so I think I was of Intimacy, Four marked Bloc Party’s listening to lots of spiritual music. And return to guitar-centric songwriting and I was still DJing, I was still going out to live, organic recording practices. In some clubs. I feel that’s the space the music was ways, Hymns straddles the line between coming from. I was just taking myself these two records, while also carrying out of the rock‘n’roll bubble. I’m always over some of Trick’s pleasing sensuality. listening to music – I was intentionally “Every record that you make is somehow not listening to anything that sounded connected to where you’ve been before, like it was made now, other than maybe immediately,” says Okereke. “Four was the electronic music that I was playing.” a very abrasive, kind of confrontational- Regardless of whether Hymns is sounding record, which was what we a collection of utterly original, wanted to make. I knew making Trick unparalleled compositions, Okereke that I wanted the record to sound a had no interest in appeasing audience B E AT.C O M . A U
demands for more of the same. “From our first album [2005’s Silent Alarm], we were battling expectations of what people thought we were going to be about. People had only heard Banquet and the songs that were on the Banquet EP, and the term ‘post-punk revival’ kept being bandied about. So we were adamant when we were recording our first record that we needed to show more colours instead of just monochrome – it needed to be a fully rounded record. I think with every record we’ve made, we’ve tried to step away from where we were as a band.” Indeed, each Bloc Party album has conspicuously deviated from its predecessor – a cause of much consternation among conservative members of the band’s listenership. However, in spite of their stylistic fluidity, Bloc Party’s high billing on this year’s Falls Festival lineup indicates the extent of their prevailing popularity. “If I’m completely honest, I don’t really put any thought into what the fans are going to be thinking,” Okereke says. “I think at this stage in our career, anyone that has followed us from the beginning will see that our music has taken lots of different u-turns. I think people now are coming to expect that, which is a blessing in one sense, because it means we are allowed to explore what we want to explore without feeling hemmed in. “Every time you put out a record, it feels like someone is saying it doesn’t sound like what they want us to [sound like]. But I think that’s a good thing, and I think that’s always going to happen. So people need to stop minding or they need to go somewhere else. “When we made Silent Alarm nobody was telling us what to do. We were doing what we wanted, and that hasn’t changed. With every record that we’ve ever made, it’s been an exploration of where we were at as artists and as human beings. That isn’t really going to change. I’ve never listened to what other people say and I’m not going to start now.”
BLOC PARTY are appearing at Falls Festival Lorne, VIC on Monday December 28 – Friday January 1, Marion Bay, TAS on Tuesday December 29 – Friday January 1 and Byron Bay, NSW on Thursday December 31 – Sunday January 3; and at Forum Melbourne on Tuesday January 7. Hymns will be out Friday January 29 through Infectious / Create/Control.
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BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 25
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.
My Neighbor Totoro From Studio Ghibli creations to the likes of Dragon Ball Z, Japanese animation is currently at the forefront at ACMI. Essential Anime is showcasing three of Hayao Miyazaki’s classic creations in 35mm screenings, all with original Japanese overdubs and English subtitles. The emphasis is on a tightly chosen selection of quality and iconic anime, including Laputa: Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro and Princess Mononoke. Essential Anime is currently running at ACMI until Sunday December 20. Local production company Freshly Ground Theatre are re-imagining the classic farce with their current run of Affair Play. Spinning an absurdly tangled web of infidelity, Affair Play unravels over the course of one turbulent dinner as four would-be adults scheme their way through plans of adultery and sex. It’s the latest comedy from Freshly Ground Theatre, following on from their successful seasons featuring Not Axel Harrison, My Brain Made Me Do It and Every Base Covered. Affair Play is currently running at The Brunswick Mechanics Institute until Saturday December 19. Coppelia is one of the most frequently performed and well-loved ballets an amusing story of a young village couple in a web of mischief, deception and love. This entertaining new production by former Australian Ballet Artistic Director, Maina Gielgud will be presented by the Australian Conservatoire of Ballet in a unique setting with 65 dancers and 65 musicians on stage featuring international guest artists. It will be performed on Friday December 18 at Hamer Hall.
PICK OF THE WEEK
Eric Wareheim and Tim Heidecker AKA Tim & Eric have returned to Australian shores. Masters of the twisted and peculiar, the duo first rose to fame with the animated series Tom Goes to the Mayor. Since then, they have gone on to unleash five seasons of the deeply and profoundly odd television sketch comedy series’ for Adult Swim, Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Most recently they released their first book, Tim & Eric’s Zone Theory: 7 Easy Steps to Achieve a Perfect Life. Catch them at Hamer Hall on Wednesday December 16.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 26
Julian Rosefeldt:
Manifesto BY LIZA DEZFOULI
J
ulian Rosefeldt is a Berlin-based artist of the moving image, whose practice lies somewhere between cinema and visual art. ACMI, along with several of his other films, is currently exhibiting Manifesto, the unique product of a collaboration between Rosefeldt and actor Cate Blanchett. Questioning the role of the artist in society today, Rosefeldt draws on an incredible variety of texts from various practitioners in the fields of visual art, dance, architecture and film amongst others. The resulting piece sees Cate Blanchett inhabit 13 different characters in a ‘collage’ of work. Although Manifesto is a work of moving image, Rosefeldt says the focus is on text. Beat wanted to know how Manifesto came about. “In this case it’s a bit of everything,” Rosefeldt tells us when we caught up with him at ACMI after being fairly blown away by the exhibition. “When I was researching Deep Gold (an earlier black and white work), I came across some feminist artists’ manifestos that led me to artists’ manifestos in general. I wanted to engage with them in fresh surprising ways, to read them less as art history – art historians tend to treat them as ‘monuments’, not as living material – but as expressions of the younger generation, as a manifesto of youth. The manifestos are not only expressing the will to change, not just of changing their own art world, but of the artists’ own will to change themselves. At the beginning of your 20s, you become a punk, not because you don’t like your parents but because you want to change who you are. You define yourself. As an outcry, a manifesto is very loud; a loud gesture, an expression of the fiery part of an artist. You can read a manifesto like a Sarah Kane text. They are products of a very young voice. I started to read the texts like that. I thought I knew most of the artists’ work but this was interesting. I was surprised. The manifestos read like completely different texts. I had the idea of having
them performed, acted out by somebody.” That somebody is possibly the actor best placed to bring these ideas to life: Rosefeldt had seen director Todd Haynes’ 2007 homage to Bob Dylan, I’m Not There, and like everyone else, was impressed by how Cate Blanchett ‘got’ Bob Dylan. “It’s a beautiful film,” Rosefeldt notes. “It had an impact. Cate and I met through a mutual friend years before,” he continues. “We thought we might do something together. A fantastic offer! So what to do with it? You do not want to waste this opportunity! First off I always had the notion that Cate would be many people. I have always admired her acting – how she can transform herself. How she can so convincingly, so passionately, transform herself. Her acting is an art form. She has an instinct, an incredible talent, yes, but she has an instinct and sensitivity, an ability to embrace a character. It’s a phenomenal gift, an incredible gift. You can’t do that without generosity, without curiosity. She’s so smart and curious. She’ll never stop something; she’ll never say ‘Now I’ve had it.’ She will always want to explore more in her work. We talked about a cosmos of moving images; we wanted to try out something like that. I started thinking about what I could do. So there are two things, meeting her and this offer in mind. I found a way of bringing it into the artists’ manifestos.”
EVERYTHING MELBOURNE
How do Rosefeldt’s ideas start to take shape? “It often starts with images that pop up. I write them down, collect them – far before any idea comes to mind,” he answers. “A mix of profound research which is infecting things: I’ll be working on one project, working on something and a thought will come and that project will lead to another. There are all kinds of strange weird influences. My interests are wide. I come from a background in architecture; I’m interested in film and theatre. I ended up doing art. Manifesto is inviting all these interests in a way. If you look at my work, you can see clearly ideas from architecture, the effect of architecture, the thinking involved Rosefeldt’s work, especially in the two interior set pieces, Stunned Man (Trilogy of Failure II) (2004) and The Soundmaker (Trilogy of Failure I) (2004), both in the ACMI exhibition, are characterised by very slow panning camera shots. “The camera is like a pendulum moving across the scene with a hypnotic effect,” he explains. “The image is intended to hypnotize the viewer. A pseudo-scientific experiment is built into it as you keep watching you become part of it. These are slow-moving images, they’re calm, there’s not a lot of editing. My work is an answer to the modern frequency of editing, there’s so much action in contemporary films. If you compare films from 50 years ago to modern day films, there were 1/10th of the cuts. These films depict the other half of us, ego and alter-ego. There is tension in the field; there are two different characters inside us – inside each character. There’s a destructive side and the constructive or healthy side, and these are complicated by the things that we do. Deep Gold is part of a film anthology, The Anthology of Failure. It pays homage to Louis Buñuel’s Golden Age (L’Age D’Or). There’s a strong revolutionary feminist message in the film, where the female protagonist starts to kiss an old man. The message is that you should kiss whomever you want to kiss. Free your lust!” Julian Rosefeldt: Manifesto is currently open at ACMI until Sunday March 13. Head to acmi.net.au for more information.
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For more arts news, reviews and interviews visit beat.com.au Sara Pascoe
THE COMIC STRIP DIRTY SECRETS COMEDY Tonight Wednesday December 16 at Dirty Secrets Comedy they have a sweet lineup featuring James Masters, Sami Shah, Ryan Coffey and heaps more for the price of $5. Get in for some great whiskey and beer from 8.30pm at Caz Reitop’s Dirty Secrets, it’s their last show of the year.
THURSDAY COMEDY Joel Creasey headlines at European Bier Café this Thursday night. A breakout comedy star thanks to appearances on I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here, The Project, the MICF gala and more, it’s sure to be a huge night. Plus there’s another cracking support lineup, with Rhys Nicholson hosting plus Adam Richard, David Quirk, Michael Williams and a surprise guest. Last week they had Arj Barker drop in for a surprise set, so you never know who you’re going to see there. There’s been massive audiences the last few weeks, so get down early to get a good seat. It’s all happening this Thursday December 17 at 8.30pm, at the European Bier Café, 120 Exhibition St, CBD, all for only $12.
COMEDY AT SPLEEN This is it.The biggest night on the Comedy at Spleen calendar. It’s the Spleen Christmas show party. It’s a three-hour show with all of their favorites from during the year.You’ll see big names, plus the comics who have smashed it the hardest all year. Plus: the winner of prestigious Spleen Comic of the Year trophy is announced. It’s absolutely massive, so get in early. It’s always a massive, ridiculous party. It’s this Monday December 21, 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.
MAD DOG COMEDY It’s a Mad Dog Comedy Christmas this Tuesday December 22 at the Dancing Dog, 42 Albert St, Footscray. Open mic as always, come and tell ‘em what you want to find under your tree. Expect a special visitor in a red suit with a huge sack. Also, someone might dress up as Santa. Sign up from 7.30pm, show at 8pm.
COMEDY AT THE WILDE On Tuesdays at The Wilde 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. 2014 MICF Golden Gibbo nominees Jonestown join Jess Perkins, Kate Dehnert and more this week for another big, fun night of comedy. It’s this Tuesday December 22 at 153 Gertrude St, Fitzroy at 8pm. And, it’s totally free.
Coming Up Ladies In Black
Saturday January 16 - Wednesday February 27 Southbank Theatre, The Sumner
Midsumma Festival
Sunday January 17 - Sunday February 7 Various Venues
La Verita
Thursday January 21 - Saturday January 23 Arts Centre Melbourne
200 Years of Australian Fashion Saturday March 5 - Sunday July 31 National Gallery of Victoria
Jurassic World: The Exhibition
Saturday March 19 - Sunday October 9 Melbourne Museum
Degas: A New Vision
National Gallery of Victoria Friday June 24 - Sunday September 18
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 28
First Acts For 2016 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Revealed
The Wheeler Centre To
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival will turn 30 next year, and today the first acts have been announced. International guest comedians will include festival debutants Hal Cruttenden, Larry Dean, Adam Hess, Sofie Hagen, Lou Sanders, Mae Martin and Penny Arcade, recent visitors returning Joel Dommett, Nish Kumar, Sara Pascoe, Alex Edelman, Luisa Omielan, Urzila Carlson and Tom Green and much loved favourites Rich Hall, David O’Doherty, Arj Barker, Ross Noble and Paul Foot. A plethora of local Australian performers have also been revealed, including Celia Pacquola, Anthony Morgan, Hannah Gadsby, Judith Lucy, Joel Creasey, Matt Okine, Tommy Little, Frank Woodley, Wil Anderson, Tom Gleeson, Sam Simmons, Peter Helliar, Nazeem Hussain, Ali McGregor, Dave Thornton, Dave Hughes, Steen Raskopoulos, Tom Ballard, Anne Edmonds, Nick Cody, Tripod, Carl Barron, Akmal, Em Rusciano, Lehmo, Lawrence Leung, Adam Richard, Charlie Pickering, Fiona O’Loughlin, Felicity Ward, Lawrence Mooney, Sammy J & Randy, Zoe Coombs Marr and Tripod. In conjunction with Arts Centre Melbourne, MICF will be presenting a major exhibition taking us from the 1987 launch with Peter Cook and Sir Les Patterson, through backstage, behind the scenes moments and much-loved costumes, to Deadly Funny – the only dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander comedy program for Australia’s traditional owners – the life and mood of the Festival is captured in an exciting exhibition. Popular national initiatives also return including RAW Comedy (Australia’s largest and most popular open mic competition), Class Clowns (workshops and comedy competition for teens), Deadly Funny (supporting Indigenous comedy), Upfront Gala (the glamour girls of comedy), Oxfam Gala (sold out), Opening Night Comedy Allstars Supershow and The Comedy Zone. For more information and tickets for shows already on sale please visit comedyfestival.com.au. The full program will be announced in February.
The award-winning artist, director and author will be discussing the making of books, shoes, friends, movies and personal protection devices in an intimate appearance. Moving from her earliest work as a fledgling artist in Portland to her current day success, Miranda July will answer questions dispersed with moments of performance and live readings. A celebrated creator, July has turned her hand at numerous mediums. Writing, directing and starring the award-winning feature film Me, You and Everyone Else We Know propelled the artist to create her most recent work, The Future. Her fiction has appeared in the Paris Review, Harper’s and The New Yorker, winning the prestigious Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award and international acclaim. LOST CHILD! with Miranda July will take place at the Melbourne Town Hall on Monday March 7. Tickets via wheelercentre.com.
Present LOST CHILD! With Miranda July
Pause Fest Announce 2016 Program Now in its sixth year, Pause Fest has made a name for itself by embracing and disseminating technology. Next year’s festival is no exception, bringing a slew of bright minds together to discuss how to turn fledgling ideas into successful products. Events at the festival include ‘Meet the Expert’ sessions, giving insight into some of the most innovative and industrious entrepreneurs from around the globe including Girls in Tech CEO Adriana Gascoigne, Google Zoo Creative Director Iain Nealie and Bibop Gresta of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies – the most advanced transportation system ever conceived. Elsewhere, a comprehensive start-up expo is on offer alongside a rapid prototyping hub, creative and pitching workshops and afterhours networking parties. Get one step closer to becoming the next Zuckerberg by heading to Pause Fest at Federation Square from Monday February 8 – Sunday February 14.
Sydney Dance Company To Bring CounterMove To Melbourne Sydney Dance Company will burst into 2016 with a two-part program titled CounterMove, coming to Melbourne next May. Presented by 16 of Australia’s finest dancers and combining movement, music, dramatics, philosophy and comedy, the program will juxtapose works from two renowned contemporary dance visionaries – Swedish choreographer Alexander Ekman and Sydney Dance Company Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela. Since choreographing his first work less than 10 years ago, Alexander Ekman has been commissioned by more than 45 leading dance companies around the world. His 2010 work, Cacti will feature in the program. 16 dancers stand trapped on oversized Scrabble tiles-running, falling and trying to escape their invisible prisons – while a string quartet plays and spoken word recordings give tongue in cheek narration of the action. Eventually, they each acquire a cactus. But what does it all mean? Rafael Bonachela’s world premiere, LuxTenebris, will provide the perfect contrast as the full ensemble piece explores the extremes of human experience. CounterMove will open at Southbank Theatre on Wednesday May 25.
THE WEIRDO YEARS 1981-93 – R. CRUMB ($44.95)
All of Robert Crumb’s work from his very influential Weirdo magazine. Widely considered to be some of his best work ever. Weirdo was a magazine-sized comics anthology created by Robert Crumb in 1981, which ran for 28 issues. It served as a “low art” counterpoint to its contemporary highbrow Raw. Early issues of Weirdo reflect Crumb’s interests at the time: outsider art, fumetti, Church of the SubGenius-type anti-propaganda and assorted “weirdness.” The incredibly varied stories include TV Blues, Life of Boswell, People Make me Nervous, The Old Songs are the Best Songs, Uncle Bob’s Mid-Life Crisis, Kraft Ebbing’s’ Psycopathia Sexualis, Goldilocks, The Life of Philip K Dick, and many more
RON ENGLISH’S VANDALISM STARTER KIT – RON ENGLISH ($24.95)
This is a book of famous street art in sticker form so you can actually put the art up in your own environment and have an authentic street art experience. Think of it as a primer for nascent vandals and future graffiti writers. An adhesive antidote to the numbing banality of the corporate landscape, these stickers are designed to jumpstart your quest to unseat authority. Who wants a book that just sits on the coffee table when they could have one that decorates the coffee table, and the refrigerator, notebooks, backpacks, walls, or the family dog?
MIRROR, BLACK MIRROR – CAMILLE ROSE GARCIA ($59.95)
New work chronicling the prolific and life-changing time period of 2007-2011, when Garcia fled LA and moved to a cabin in the Northern California woods. The natural world inspires this work: her themes are disenchantment with modernity and the problems of becoming too removed from the natural world. Garcia’s layered, broken narrative paintings of wasteland fairy tales are influenced by William Burroughs’ cut-up writings and surrealist film, as well as vintage Disney and Fleischer cartoons, acting as critical commentaries on the failures of capitalist utopias, blending nostalgic pop culture references with a satirical slant on modern society. This work is from shows in New York, Berlin, and Los Angeles, Escape to Darlingtonia (2007) The Grand Illusion (Berlin, 2008) Ambien Somnambulants,(New York, 2008), The Hydra of Babylon, (LA, 2009), and Snow White and the Black Lagoon (LA, 2011).
PAREIDOLIA – JAMES JEAN ($79.95)
Pareidolia is a long-awaited collection of the art of James Jean, featuring works that span the majority of his career. Born in 1978, Taiwanese-American James Jean became one of the most prolific artists/illustrators in commercial and fine art. He created numerous covers for American Comics and also collaborated on special projects with PRADA in 2007. As much of his art has previously only been available for consideration formatted as album covers or other specialized commercial art, this book holds many visual treats for fans across the globe. Bilingual introductions by contemporary artist Takashi Murakami and film director Guillermo del Toro.
PUSSYCAT! KILL! KILL! KILL! – KATSUYA TERADA, ROCKIN’ JELLY BEAN, HAJIME SORAYAMA ($79.95)
This title consists of fantastic collaboration of the three internationally-renowned artists in the field of erotic illustrations — Hajime Sorayama, Rockin’ Jelly Bean and Katsuya Terada — and is showcasing high quality and tasteful art works at each turn of the page. These ‘Great Masters’ begin each section with a personal introduction of their fellow artist, so the readers can enjoy their comments, and at the same time, understand their mutual influence on each other. There is no doubt that this large-sized title will be a treasured book for erotic art lovers and fans of these artists. Also it is a good reference book for those wishing to learn the ways of erotic illustration.
HERE’S YOUR IRONY BACK – RAYMOND PETTIBON ($79.95)
A pioneer of Southern California underground culture, Raymond Pettibon has blurred the boundaries of “high” and “low“ since the late seventies —from the deviations of marginal youth to art history, literature, sports, religion, politics, and sexuality. Rich in detail, his obsessively worked drawings draw freely on myriad sources spanning the cultural spectrum. The resulting highly poetic constructions function as acute and authentic reflections of contemporary society. Throughout the years, his subjects have included political figures and historical events, with particular intensity since the events of September 11, 2001. This volume features images of Ronald and Nancy Reagan, J. Edgar Hoover, Bush senior and junior, the Kennedys, Adolf Hitler, Barack Obama, and Osama bin Laden alongside scenes from the Vietnam War, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
KEITH HARING – JEFFREY DEITCH, SUZANNE GEISS ($59.95)
Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the artist’s birth, this book is the intended to be a faithful posthumous execution of the project. Containing a wealth of unpublished materials, and representing a decade of work and research, it promises to be the definitive book on the artist’s life and work. Beginning with his very first collages and early subway tags - including many heretofore unseen photographs of the first ephemeral chalk drawings through the development of the iconic graphic work now synonymous with his name, the book follows his meteoric rise to international stardom and worldwide recognition.
ANATOMY 360 – DR JAMIE ROEBUCK ($69.95)
Anatomy 360 shows the human body in its entirety — from the skin to the muscles to the organs to the bones. This stunning book provides a unique perspective on our most crucial parts, showing how the structures of our bodies influence their functions. You’ll learn about the vagus nerve, which allows us to swallow, speak and cough, and the frontalis muscle, which raises our eyebrows when we’re surprised. You’ll also learn why our noses run when we cry and why our brains are so important even though they weigh just one kilogram each. With Anatomy 360, you’ll finally get a complete look at the human body —even the parts you thought you’d never see!
C H E C K O U T O U R W E B S T O R E : P O LY E S T E R . C O M . A U
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For more arts news, reviews and interviews visit beat.com.au
Terror Byte BY LIZA DEZFOULI
Rachel Trainor is a happy kiwi. Now based in Melbourne, she’s landed a job Dracula’s Cabaret Restaurant’s 35th production, their new show Terror Byte, an ‘adrenaline-spiked aphrodisiac for the soul’. Dracula’s is famed for its polished and funny cabaret shows; this new one takes a vampire/poltergeist theme into new territory fusing fetish burlesque, circus, comedy, drag and good old-fashioned grunty rock ‘n’ roll along with some state of the art lighting with a unique infrared video tracking system specially designed for the show. “Terror Byte is very modern,” says Rachel Trainor, the show’s rock drummer and occasional guitarist. “A guy from Berlin
designed the video tracking technology for us; it creates these futuristic stage effects,” she tells Beat. “Amanda (Conti) does an
Star Wars Episode VII:
The Force Awakens BY AUGUSTUS WELBY
When Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens hits cinemas this week, it’ll be 38 years since the release of the film series’ first instalment, Episode IV: A New Hope. Despite the misleading chronology, this is in fact the seventh entry into the series, comprising the original trio of A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, and the highly contentious turn of the millennium prequels The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. Star Wars is the fifth most successful franchise in film history, inspiring numerous books, TV spinoffs and a merchandising behemoth. But beyond that, its subcultural impact is damn near immeasurable, infiltrating all corners of the globe and providing people with an alternate galaxy to escape into. “It is just a movie, but you know when you see a tree that grows next to a pole, it grows around the pole and sort of eats it? Growing up with Star Wars, it’s so ingrained. You hear the music and you get goosebumps,” says local comedian Steele Saunders, presenter of Australia’s top ranked Star Wars podcast, Steele Wars. The release of A New Hope preceded my birth by just over ten years. However, its impact was no less electrifying when I first viewed it midway through the 1990s. Henceforth, Star Wars cemented itself in my psyche – it didn’t just enter my logbook of favourite films, but it fuelled my imagination, opening my eyes to the wondrous possibilities of storytelling and cinema, and crucially expanded my empathetic connection with the world. OK, sure Star Wars sits firmly in the scifi genre, and specifically takes place “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…” It’s a place where obsequious droids are
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 30
commonplace, and where talk of travelling between planets and moons garners little more than a nod; where certain individuals are possessed of an intangible force which, if poorly nourished, can lead them right into the hands of the evil Sith organisation; and where such grotesque and curiously shaped creatures as Ewoks, Gungans, Wampas, Jawas, Wookies, Mandalorians and Hutts roam. Star Wars fans are known for displaying their affection by attending film screenings dressed up as characters or creatures from the film. “It is not that dissimilar to living vicariously through 18 dudes in little shorts that are kicking a dead pig around a field,” Saunders says. “People dress up in team colours and face paint, and if their team wins they couldn’t be happier, and if their team loses there’s tears. So it’s just living vicariously through different people – and I don’t think Harrison Ford’s going to piss on any shopfronts on Chapel Street anytime soon.” Immersed in the playful intricacies of the filmic reality, it can be easy to forget that Star Wars is a human invention. Accordingly, the moral dilemmas faced in Star Wars closely mirror our own: it’s a tale of good and evil, corruption and fortitude, mind over matter, and familial solidarity. A racist emperor
aerial act with a projection behind her which tracks her movements; it creates some really cool visuals, like a blood thing. It follows you; it tracks anyone in front of the screen. I’m on it when I play guitar; it follows me as well. I wish I could see it!” Trainor, a rock drummer in real life, gets to fully release her wild rock chick side in Terror Byte. “They didn’t give us characters as such,” she explains. “I’m a hardcore rock chick, a drummer – I exaggerate the rock chick side of me; that’s how I came to be really rocky, it’s my thing. My character on stage is an exaggerated version of myself. I’m in a band called Honeybone; we moved here from NZ. I’m from central Otago, near Queenstown. I moved to Dunedin to study music and played a lot down there.” Dunedin has a proud history of producing indie music, (to the point where the city’s identified with its own sound), particularly during the ‘80s and ‘90s when bands such as The Chills, Toy Love, The Clean and The Verlaines emerged from NZ’s south. It’s still the case according to Trainor. “There heaps of really great bands there. But we had done all we could and it was time to move on. At first we thought we’d move to Auckland but then we thought: ‘Let’s move to Melbourne!’ I quit my day job and it worked out really well. This job with Dracula’s came up. I saw the audition for Terror Byte on Facebook and thought ‘that’d be cool.’ It’s great – everyone’s friendly; it’s a pretty cool job to lording over a kratocratic organisation hellbent on establishing dominion over the universe, never mind the destruction – sound familiar? This fundamental paradox – offering an escape into a completely fabricated world, while also edifying us on the world we live in – goes a long way to explaining the series’ ginormous cultural impact. For years people have devoted their lives to Star Wars, and will continue to do so regardless of whether the new film lives up to the original trio. “All the ingredients are there for a great film,” Saunders says. “We’ve had two years to really think about, but we’ve had 32 years to wonder about it. Can the Disney Corporation, Lucasfilm and J.J. Abrams compete without imaginations?” By now plenty of Star Wars fans have all but convinced themselves The Force Awakens – which is set approximately 30 years after the events of Episode VI: Return of the Jedi – won’t simply surpass the lacklustre prequels, but will be a certifiably brilliant film. “There is a possibility that it will disappoint, but I can’t fathom it – which means that the burn will be pretty harsh,” Saunders says. “From the snippets they’ve given us and the players behind the scenes and on the camera, it is very hard to comprehend that it won’t be good. But therein lies the danger.” Saunders has spent much of this year travelling the globe and attending various Star Wars events, from the San Diego Comic Con to an eight-minute preview screening at IMAX Sydney. However, he’ll be taking in a midnight premiere of The Force Awakens at Westfield Knox in Wantirna South. Immediately afterwards, the crowd will join him at a neighbouring pub for a live Steele Wars podcast. “You’ve got 300 fans straight out of the film into a bar, it’s like a social experiment to find out what was the reaction,” he says. “It’s fascinating – to see if people love it or not straight off the cuff, and then how that reaction will change over time. I really wanted to find out that raw [opinion] and have that for the world to listen, before our opinion can be corrupted by reviews and YouTube analysis.” Yes, let’s not forget Star Wars ultimately exists to entertain, which is why as soon as my local cinema released tickets for midnight sessions of The Force Awakens, my friends and I snapped them up. It’s a chance to go out and enjoy ourselves and feel a sense of community, and it’s occasions like this that remind us of our lucky lot in life. Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens opens in cinemas nationally on Thursday December 17. The live Steele Wars podcast will be freely available on iTunes on the morning of Thursday December 17. Check out starwars.com/the-forceawakens and steelewars.com for more details. EVERYTHING MELBOURNE
have.” For the moment, Trainor’s had to put her independent music career to one side, not that she’s complaining. “I’m pretty lucky,” she says. “Dracula’s is super fun. I don’t have a lot of time for my band’s music, I’ve been doing Honeybone on and off, but we are going to release an EP next year. We’ve released on CD and one EP already.” Trainor hasn’t had time to miss performing live. “I am going to get back into live music but we’ve been busy with rehearsals; it’s quite intense. A lot of Terror Byte is tracked music. We perform all covers in Terror Byte, modern songs like Will You Love Me Again by John Newman and Make Me Wanna Die by The Pretty Reckless. I’ve been listening to live music outside rehearsals. It’s just different.” Trainor says she hasn’t had to learn anything especially new in order to perform in Terror Byte. “I’ve got a rock gig background; others are musical theatre people. I’m just flexing different performance muscles. I did a lot of theatre and acting in high school. In Terror Byte I’m performing a character so I can’t just play the drums. It’s very different from performing with my band; that’s just a gig. You bang drums and toss your hair around a few times while you’re on stage. In Terror Byte we’re reacting to people, I have to be bigger in all my movements. The trickiest thing is to keep everything exaggerated, getting into that performance mindset. You’re conscious, even when the
focus isn’t on you, that there is that one person watching you. I give 110% every time.” Because the producers and directors of Dracula’s, the Newmans, are open to new ideas, Trainor’s been able to include one of her own original songs in the show. “I play guitar for a couple of songs in an intro where we can play our own songs. I’m actually playing a Christmas song I wrote, Fuck Your White Christmas, about singing Jingle Bells the southern hemisphere. I’m glad I could do that. Everyone loves it every time. “Everyone is very talented and really diverse,” she continues. “We each have our area of expertise and we’re all doing other stuff as well. We’re all so different, no-one is the same; it makes it more of a great show. Stu is the host (long-time Dracula’s host Stewart Reeves), Mason (Somerville) is the all-rounder and guitarist, Jess (Barlow) is the cabaret chick and does musical numbers, Amanda is the aerialist and then there’s me. I only joined in October and it’s been a really fun challenge. I can’t pick a favourite part,” she says, when we ask which bit she’s enjoying most. “I love everything about it. The acts are all very weird. There’s one really out there part which involves a vacuum cleaner fetish; it’s a crazy random thing.” Terror Byte is currently being performed at Dracula’s. Head to draculas.com.au for more information.
D A N C E
Review MISS UNIVERSAL
There are many objects and elements in Atlanta Eke’s Miss Universal – this dance work/installation performance, commissioned by Chunky Move, includes a harp, pairs of rubber legs on hooves, a sculptured tower, aerial choreography, four dancers (Annabelle Balharry, Chloe Chignell, Angela Goh with Eke) in neoprene wetsuits and some nifty arc welding by artist/sculptor Claire Lambe, and a choreography originally inspired by jelly wrestling. To begin with the audience and the four performers have to negotiate the space – you’re never sure where the next movement is coming from or going to. You don’t get to sit down until a good 20 minutes into the performance. You witness moments of extreme tenderness when the dancers are reaching out for each other, much of the performance has the four bodies melding into an amorphous kind of amoeba or sea creature, moments where the audience doesn’t know where to sit, and times where the performers lie around and talk about love. In other words, Miss Universal is a varied work where things seem thrown together and comedy bubbles out of the attempts of the entwined bodies trying to move as one. Someone once famously observed that dance is about either fucking or fighting. This work contradicts that, it seems to be about what lies in between,
where the tension between our need for connection and our vulnerability, our longing for the safe place in the middle of the herd plays out against the yearning for independence and solitude. The arc welding suggests the birth of stars; blue light bursts could signify the origins of the universe. A gentle soundscape by Daniel Jenatsch accompanies but never dominates. Miss Universal doesn’t always quite cohere, the spoken bits don’t feel right (but by that stage of the performance the change of pace seems necessary), yet it’s full of satisfying surprises. Miss Universal is dance as installation and by the time the dancers are freed from each other and their relationships to the various objects in the space and begin to dance loosely and freely, the audience lets go, too. There are times where the dancers are like kittens or puppies, they make themselves giggle, and then there are other moments of seriousness, at the end particularly where the dancers abandon the blue lit hula hoops for unconstructed freeform movements. A densely conceptual work that can be read on many levels. BY LIZA DEZFOULI
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club guide wednesday december 16 • COQ ROQ WEDNESDAY - FEAT: JENS BEAMIN + AGENT 86 + MR THOM + JOYBOT + BLABERUNNER Lucky Coq, Windsor. 8:30pm. • CURIOUS TALES - FEAT: DJ WHO + TIGERFUNK + TOM SHOWTIME + FLAGRANT Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. • DUTCH BOYS Shebeen, Melbourne Cbd. 11:00pm. $20.00. • REVOLVER WEDNESDAYS - FEAT: KUYA + DANIELSAN Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm.
thursday december 17 • 3181 THURSDAYS - FEAT: HANS DC + FLOAT + GRANT CAMOV + MORE Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 6:00pm. • DISCO VOLANTE - FEAT: FABRIS + TIM KOREN + SAMMY SWAYN + ALEX CRAM + JACK NELSON + PETER FOTOP + RYAN KEARY + MITCH BAIN + MANNY BUBOS + DAN BENTLEY + YASKI + RHYS BYNON + KHANH ONG + GEORGE KARA Onesixone, Prahran. 8:00pm. • HOUSE OF BEIGE - FEAT: MAN MADE MOUNTAIN + MIZRIZK Railway Hotel, Brunswick. 6:00pm. • LOCAL MOTION - FEAT: SENPOLO + LIFEWORLD Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 11:00pm. $15.00. • UPTOWN Trak Lounge Bar, Toorak. 10:00pm. • VARSITY - FEAT: PAZ + MATT RAD + PYZ Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 6:00pm. • WE ARE YOUR FRIENDS Carlton Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.
friday december 18
faktory
• ECLIPSE FESTIVAL PRE PARTY - FEAT: MARCUSHENRIKSSON + RAY CASTLE + VOHKINNE + MORE Railway Hotel, Brunswick. 6:00pm. $25.00. • #MASHTAG - FEAT: NUGEN + MALPRACTICE + FLAGRANT Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. • CAN’T SAY La Di Da, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. • CIROQ FRIDAYS Cq, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. • CLUK EPIK CHRISTMAS PARTY - FEAT: DJ DEAN The Croxton, Thornbury. 9:00pm. $5.00. • DJ ERNIE DEE Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 9:00pm. • DJ SHAKEY MEMORIAL Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 11:45pm. • EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT THE WEATHER FEAT: ROBIN FOX + KEITH FULLERTON WHITMAN + MARCO FUSINATO + MORE Max Watt’s, Melbourne. 8:00pm. $25.00. • FABULOUS FRIDAYS FEAT: VARIOUS DJS Co., Southbank. 9:30pm. $20.00. • FAKE TITS - FEAT: BOOGS + SPACEY SPACE + SUNSHINE + SAMMY LA MARCA + BUTTERS + ADAM BARTAS + JUNGLE JIM Tramp, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm.
$15.00. • GOOD MANNERS WEEKLY - FEAT: OSCAR KEY SUNG + BUOY + BANOFFEE DJ SET KLLO + MORE Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $10.00. • KODIAK KID + MAARS + SAM MCEWIN Penny Black, Brunswick. 8:00pm. • LUCK TRUCK FRIDAY DOWNSTAIRS - FEAT: 99 PRBLMZ + CONGO TARDIS #1 + LITTLE LEAGUE BOUNCE CLUB Lucky Coq, Windsor. 9:00pm. • MANSIONAIR Howler, Brunswick. 8:00pm. • PANORAMA FRIDAYS UPSTAIRS - FEAT: PHATO A MANO + MR.GEORGE + MATT RADD + ASH-LEE Lucky Coq, Windsor. 9:00pm. • PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS - FEAT: AMIN PAYNE + WINTERS + JACKSON MILES Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. • PHIL GOOD FRIDAYS FEAT: PHIL K Railway Hotel, Brunswick. 6:00pm. • POPROCKS - FEAT: DR PHIL SMITH Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. • REVOLVER FRIDAYS & SUCK MUSIC - FEAT: MIKE CALLANDER + LEWIE DAY + NICK COLEMAN + DOAKES + SUNSHINE + MORE Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 10:00pm. • SUPER FLU + DOORLY Brown Alley, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. $35.00. • THE DISCO - FEAT: JEN TUTTY + LUKE MCD + LEWIE DAY + PREQUEL + KATIE DROVER + MITCH KURZ + MIC NEWMAN + TOM EVANS + JOEL ALPHA + LIAM WALLER + AARON TROTTMAN + NICK JONES + JESSE YOUNG + ANDRAS FOX + JAC OSCAR WILKINS Onesixone, Prahran. 8:00pm. • THE EMERSON CLUB FRIDAYS The Emerson, South Yarra. 3:00pm. • WE’RE ALL MAD HERE - FEAT: HEATH MYERS + GLACIAL + PAKMAN + TIMMUS + MORE My Aeon, Brunswick. 10:00pm. $10.00. • WIND DOWN - FEAT: ALICE IVY + BEE AMPERSAND + HIGHTEA + MEDIUM PUNCH + MORE Loop, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm.
saturday december 19 • ANDY PADULA Railway Hotel, Brunswick. 10:00pm. • ANYWAY - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS Bottom End, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $25.00. • AUDIOPORN SATURDAYS - FEAT: LE ZOK + JAMES WARE + GREG SARA + JACOB MALMO + TOM EVANS + ROWIE Onesixone, Prahran. 9:00pm. $15.00. • BUNKER OPEN AIR 7 FEAT: SLEEP D + MIKE CALLANDER VS DAVE PHAM + SAM HILTON + MORE Railway Hotel, Brunswick. 2:00pm. • CHAMPAGNE INTERNET Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 10:30pm. • CQ SATURDAYS Cq, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. • CUSHION SATURDAYS -
FEAT: COURTNEY MILLS + JESSE JAMES + J HEASY + MITCH COEN + BIG MAC + TOP DECK + MORE Cushion, St Kilda. 9:00pm. • DAVEYS SATURDAYS FEAT: HURLEY + CRAIG MOORE + ASTERIX Daveys Bar & Restaurant, Frankston. 9:00pm. • DJ JNETT Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. • DJ KEZBOT Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 11:30pm. • DJ KNAVE KNIXX Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 9:00pm. • DJ TRAFFIC JAM Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 2:00pm. • ELECTRIC DREAMS FEAT: VARIOUS DJS Co., Southbank. 9:00pm. $20.00. • EUPHORIE BEZIRK + HANDSDOWN & LEIGHBOY + KANE LAIDLEY + MORE Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00am. • H.O.S.H The Shadow Electric, Abbotsford. 3:00pm. $35.00. • HAZE - FEAT: BLOODHOUNDS ON MY TRAIL + DJ MARK DORSET + DJ DAVID SHAW Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 7:30pm. • HOT STEP - FEAT: 99 PROBLEMS + TIGER FUNK + SILVER FOX + ASKEW Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 6:00pm. • JANK FACQUES Carlton Club, Melbourne Cbd. 12:05am. • PLATFORM ONE SATURDAY NIGHTS Platform One, Melbourne. 9:00pm. • PONY SATURDAYS La Di Da, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. • POOLHOUSE XMAS PARTY - FEAT: PEEZO + DOS BOY + CHARLIE THREADS + MORE Workers Club, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. $10.00. • PROGNOSIS - FEAT: MATTER + HANDSDOWN + LEIGHBOY + ALEX DAVID + MORE Loop, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. • ROLAND TINGS + DAN WHITE + BRONZE SAVAGE Howler, Brunswick. 9:00pm. $17.00. • SEVEN SATURDAY DISCOTHEQUE Seven Nightclub, South Melbourne. 10:00pm. $20.00. • SIMONA CASTRICUM + LUCY CLICHE + KT SPIT + EGYPT LIES Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $15.00. • TEXTILE SATURDAYS FEAT: KODIAK KID + D’FRO + JENS BEAMIN Lucky Coq, Windsor. 9:00pm. • THE EMERSON CLUB SATURDAYS - FEAT: FAMILIAR STRANGERS + KIN + ANDY MURPHY The Emerson, South Yarra. 9:00pm. • THE HOUSE DEFROST FEAT: ANDEE FROST Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. • THE LATE SHOW - FEAT: NICK THAYER + MOOSE + RANSOM + MAT CANT + MORE Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 10:00pm. • TOMMY’S CLUB - FEAT: SCAT Matthew Flinders Hotel, Chadstone. 8:00pm. $10.00. • TRAMP SATURDAYS Tramp, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. • UNICORNS (A VERY QUEER CHRISTMAS) - FEAT: HANNAH WINTOUR + ARGONAUT + NARCISSIQUE
+ MORE Rubix Warehouse, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $18.00.
sunday december 20 • ALEXKID + DYLAN GRIFFIN + KATIE DROVER + SCOTT FREEDMAN + MORE Railway Hotel, Brunswick. 1:00pm. $15.00. • BOP ART - FEAT: HAWAII + WHO + TIGERFUNK + MATT RADOVICH + LEWIS CANCUT Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. • DJ DR LUDWIG Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 2:00pm. • DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE FEAT: DJ NIGEL LAST Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. • GOOD TIMES - FEAT: MATT RADOVICH Railway Hotel, Brunswick. 3:00pm. • JUNGLE - FEAT: HANDS DOWN + ZAC DEPETRO + PETE LASKIS + TRAVLOS + JOHN DOE Tramp, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00am. $15.00. • REVOLVER SUNDAYS FEAT: BOOGS + SPACEY SPACE + T-REK + MORE Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00am. • ROOFTOP SUNDAYS - FEAT: KHANH + KEN WALKER + JESUS The Emerson, South Yarra. 12:00pm. • SPITROAST SUNDAYS Cushion, St Kilda. 10:00pm. • SUMMER SERIES #6 - FEAT: FRIEND WITHIN Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm. • THE SUNDAY SET - FEAT: DJ ANDYBLACK + SHAGGIS Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 4:00pm. • WAX ON WAX OFF Lucky Coq, Windsor. 7:00pm.
• MELLOWDÍASTHUMP - FEAT: GEEZY + CAZEAUX O.S.L.O + SKOMES Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. • THE FUNK VOLUME TOUR - FEAT: HOPSIN + DIZZY WRIGHT + JARREN BENTON + DJ HOPPA 170 Russell, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $49.00.
thursday december 17 • HODGY BEATS Howler, Brunswick. 8:30pm. $38.00.
friday december 18 • BRIGHT LIGHTS BIG CITY - FEAT: DJ RCEE + KAHLUA + DJ SHOOK + DJ
32
ANGEL JAY Chaise Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. • FAKTORY FRIDAYS - FEAT: DAMION DE SILVA + K DEE + DURMY Khokolat Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. • PARTY & BULLSHIT - FEAT: STAUNCH NATION + SONIC VIBES + MIMI Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 9:00pm.
saturday december 19 • BIG DANCING - FEAT: LARRIE + BATSEY + GET BUSY + PAIGE PLAY + MS DOOG Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. • KHOKOLAT KOATED SATURDAYS FEAT: DAMION DE SILVA + K DEE + DURMY + TIMOS Khokolat Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. • RARA + FRIENDSHIPS DJ + ESESE + ZTN
electronic - urban - club life
with
tyson
wray
Another year, another Meredith, another 16 months removed from my life expectancy.
dekmantel One of the world’s most revered house and techno festivals is set to make its first appearance outside of European borders when Dekmantel brings its internationally curated lineup to Melbourne. Spread over two outdoor areas, the originally Dutch festival will be spearheaded by notoriously in-demand artists, Berlin based DJs Tales Of Us. Elsewhere in the lineup comes a set from Detroit producer Omar S, the Australian debut of Mike Servito and San Proper, Anthony Naples off the back of his latest release through Four Tet’s Text Records, Ukrainian DJ Vakula and Dekmantel Soundsystem. Dekmantel will make its Australian debut at Caufield Racecourse on Saturday February 20.
monday december 21 • CALL IT IN - FEAT: INSTANT PETERSON + DYLAN MICHAEL Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. • MONDAY STRUGGLE - FEAT: TIGER FUNK Lucky Coq, Windsor. 6:00pm. • THE BREAKFAST CLUB - FEAT: LE ZOK + JAMES WARE + GREG SARA + JACOB MALMO + TOM EVANS + ROWIE Onesixone, Prahran. 9:00pm. • THE MONDAY BONE MACHINE - FEAT: T-REK + DJ MOOTHEY Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm.
tuesday december 22 • CHANGE OVER - FEAT: NORACHI + NOOM + MIRIS + MONTY RYAN Loop, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. • OASIS TUESDAYS Tramp, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. • SEE YOU NEXT TUESDAY Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 7:00pm.
urban club guide wednesday december 16
off the record
DJS Shebeen, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $10.00. • RHYTHM NATION SATURDAYS - FEAT: DJ TIMOS + DJ KAHLUA + DJ ANGE M & ANDY PALA Chaise Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $10.00.
sunday december 20 • ALL IN - FEAT: DEFRON + NHOSTIC + MORE Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 3:00pm. $15.00. • MOMENTUM (FOREIGN BROTHERS) FEAT: MOMENTUM: FOREIGN BROTHERS + THE CORE-TET Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $10.00.
100% phat x battle 8 After a fierce competition saw some of the city’s finest DJs duke it out for a shot at the title, 100% Phat were crowned the champions for Battle 8 2015. To celebrate another huge year, the team at Section 8 have put together a mixtape put together by the victors. 8 teams stepped up to the decks this year over several weekends, culminating in a packed house for the final battle. DJs were judged on who could create the most rambunctious party atmosphere, with tough competition from The Operatives, Babalu, Perfect Strangers, Scatter Scatter Soundsystem all throwing their weight around at this year’s event. Stay tuned to Section 8 for next year’s battle royale. Head to beat. com.au to listen to the mixtape.
jeremih Alongside his appearances at the 2016 Good Life festival, R&B megastar Jeremih has locked in a run of headline shows around the country. The announcement follows the release of his third studio album, the 15-track Late Nights which features Future, Big Sean, J. Cole, Ty Dolla $ign, Migos and more, and already has critics raving. Catch him on Sunday February 21 at Trak.
wu-tang clan The infamous hip hop outfit Wu-Tang Clan will hit Australian shores next year. While no dates have been officially announced, an eagle-eyed punter sent Beat a street poster that had gone up in Brunswick. Stay tuned to us for the imminent announcement of the 2016 Wu-Tang Clan Australian tour.
BARONESS P U R P L E
PAT C H
BY AUGUSTUS WELBY
Now onto album four, Baroness continues their navigation of the colour wheel. Released this Friday, Purple follows Yellow & Green (2012), Blue Record (2009) and Red Album (2007). Aside from the continuity, the new album’s title can be seen as reference to the bruises the band incurred from a near-fatal bus crash in August 2012. However, purple is also a wonderfully comforting colour, often associated with magic and sensuality. Accordingly, while Purple is a sonically powerful record that touches on dark themes, it’s also an uplifting listen. “I’ve been struggling for the past couple of years via the fallout from the accident,” says frontman John Baizley. “But I’m the luckiest guy in the world because I’ve got this wonderful outlet to pour all of my thoughts into, and we’ve got this amazingly positive fanbase who seems to respond really well to the songs that we write when we’re being honest and open about what’s going on.” Although generally classed as a metal band, with Yellow & Green Baroness swerved away from the in-yourface heaviness of their first two records. Purple carries over the melodic clarity of Yellow & Green, while also incorporating a tinge of stadium rock immediacy. “We’ve spent a long time trying to set in the stone the fact that we are not going to repeat ourselves and we’re not going to become comfortable with one particular sound,” Baizley says. “There are elements of our music that get repeated – there are themes that we stay with, and I would say we have developed a sound, but part of that sound requires that there’s always somewhere new to go, some new frontier that we haven’t investigated yet. Or else we’ll get bored and quit. We need to evolve, we need to grow as musicians and as a band.” Helping foster the band’s evolution on Purple was producer Dave Fridmann. Across a three-decade career, Fridmann’s frequently collaborated with The Flaming Lips and Mercury Rev, as well as producing everyone from Weezer and MGMT to Sleater Kinney, Neil Finn and Spoon. “It’s always been a dream of mine to work with him,” Baizley says. “I didn’t think it was a realistic dream, ever. But he said yes, and in doing so he gave us more confidence to push harder and to try to write better songs with more interesting parts and to set our bar that much higher.” Baroness’ previous two records featured production from John Congleton. Having worked with the likes of St. Vincent, Swans and Cloud Nothings in recent years, Congleton certainly knows his way around the studio. However, the band looked to gain something else by partnering with Fridmann. “We’ve gotten to the point in our career where we feel confident enough and comfortable enough with what we do that we wanted an outside opinion,” Baizley says. “[Fridmann]’s a bit out there and we feel a bit out there from time to time. So in collaborating with him and co-producing this record with him, we were really able to work with somebody I consider an outright genius in terms of creating audio soundscapes and albums.” Despite Baizley’s patent admiration for the producer, it was a somewhat surprising match-up considering Fridmann hasn’t worked with any acts quite so heavy and progressive as Baroness. The relative disparities in each other’s approach actually became a creative pivot. “Being fully outside your comfort zone and holding yourself to a very high standard is important if you’re going to make any kind of breakthrough,” Baizley says. “I think we were making that breakthrough by ourselves anyway. He helped [us go] even further. “We trust ourselves, and we’ve become confident over the years. With that confidence comes an open admission that maybe we haven’t considered every option that’s available. And the best way to [find out] is to have a dialogue – if you can truly be democratic and make informed decisions, out of that can be born something that’s very unique.” In contrast to the positivity surrounding the recording, the debilitating bus crash did have an impact on the record. Half of the band moved on following the accident, opening the door to bassist/keyboardist Nick Jost and drummer Sebastian Thomson. Death is something we’re made aware of every day; we see it in newspapers and on the television news, and it’s widely depicted in films and novels. But it isn’t until death comes right up and touches us – say, if a close friend or family member dies – that we’re reminded of its unflagging inevitability. When their tour bus fell from a viaduct, Baizley and guitarist Peter Adams didn’t just stare death in the face, but it remained oppressively apparent for a long time afterwards. “[Death] leaves an impact, it dents your psyche and puts something there that cannot be removed. I don’t think that’s entirely a negative thing. It has negative elements, but if you can go with that in a way that isn’t destructive then you’ve just grown that much. “Through that accident, it was a goal of mine to make a conscious effort to have a healthy respect of what we have been through, but not to focus on it and let it work at us in a negative way. The fact that we took all of this crap that happened to us and didn’t let it destroy us has been a really profound thing.” BARONESS’ new album Purple is out on Friday December 18 via Cooking Vinyl Australia. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 34
B E AT.C O M . A U
KINGSWOOD D O I N G
W H AT
S O U N D S
B E S T
BY ALEXANDER DARLING
What do you talk about when you meet AC/DC? This is what a starstruck Alex Laska had to quickly figure out in late November, in a surreal 20 minutes where his band Kingswood got to rub shoulders with their rock‘n’roll heroes before opening their show in Adelaide. “I talked a lot with Angus about guitar playing,” Laska says. “He gave me a motivational speech along the lines of, ‘Keep playing and keep writing, you’ll find out more about yourself as a player,’ which is a truism, but of course it means a lot more coming from Angus Young. “Brian [ Johnson, vocals] was larger than life – like he is on stage – but it almost didn’t feel like we were talking to one of the biggest bands ever. When we were sharing a beer with them, it was just like hanging around a bunch of regular dudes who’d been friends forever and loved making music together.” To call Kingswood’s recent run opening the nine-date Australian leg of AC/DC’s Rock or Bust tour a dream come true wouldn’t do justice to what the experience meant to Laska. The guitarist grew up a protege of the band, studying Angus Young’s fiery guitar playing and manic stage presence, even purchasing a Gibson SG as his first guitar; the model Angus swears by. Being so well-versed in AC/DC’s style meant Laska had little to learn musically from watching them onstage every night. Instead, he says the experience gifted him an understanding of how such a huge live show comes together, which has spurred him to think about how to apply similar ideas to his own band’s show. “We’re not all of sudden thinking, ‘Let’s get cannons and 20-foot blow-up dolls in our live shows’.” Laska explains. “But watching an AC/DC show just triggers your mind to think about how to be creative and make a rock‘n’roll gig an unforgettable experience.” Next up for Kingswood – Laska, singer Fergus Linacre, bassist Jeremy ‘Mango’ Hunter and drummer Justin Debrincat – is a New Year’s stint at Beyond the Valley in Gippsland. After that comes the recording of their second album, the follow-up to their 2014 ARIAnominated debut, Microscopic Wars. Laska confirms the band already has some of the material ready to go, and you’d expect this next album to be brimming with hard-rocking energy given the band’s quality time on the road with Acca Dacca. But Laska is determined to make sure this next record isn’t dictated by what people expect. “I don’t want our mentality going into this next record to be defined by anything we’ve done before. I just think having an open mind and not looking just to meet peoples’ expectations of you is the best way to do it. “I talked about this on radio recently – and it was taken out of context – but I said I wouldn’t care if there wasn’t one guitar on the next Kingswood album. It’s still going to be a rock‘n’roll album – that’s in our blood, we can’t just stop playing rock‘n’roll – but at the end of the day, if the song sounds good and it feels right, then that’s all I care about.” Contributing to Kingswood’s open-ended approach to their second album is Laska’s unique songwriting process. “I’m writing the lyrics only at this point. My reasoning is if the song comes out and its lyrics and melody are pure enough that they sound as good played on a piano or an acoustic guitar as through an amp, then I’ve achieved what I want to. “By the time we get into the studio, I’m hoping we’re not restricted in the instruments we can choose from to make these songs.” While they wait for this lyrically founded secondoffering, Kingswood fans can take the edge off their hunger for new material by listening to the recentlyreleased deluxe version of Microscopic Wars. New originals Vlad and Baby Doll feature alongside the 13 original tracks, both of which pair strutting stoner rock with Linacre’s distinctive yowl. But it’s the five live cuts from the band’s show at the Forum Theatre on March 13 that offer the most to listeners. Kingswood have become known for their powerful live delivery, a reputation built on years of relentless touring. Laska confirms this played a part in the rerelease’s track-listing. “We first got signed by our booking agent off of our live show, and I hear many people say they really start to get us as a band when they see our live show if they didn’t from the record. So we’re definitely a live band.” Working in close quarters with AC/DC for a month had one other notable effect on Laska: it renewed his – and his band’s – desire to see out the grandiose career plans he first conceived as a teenager. “We want to be the biggest rock‘n’roll band in the world one day. That’s why we’re doing this, ultimately. We realise it’s probably going to be a long way from where we end up, but even so with that as our aim, even if we only get halfway there we’ll still be pretty happy with what we achieve.”
Be the High Priestess of the Cult with LUNAE Jewellery
N OW AT KINGSWOOD are playing at Beyond The Valley, from Tuesday December 29 to Friday January 1 in Gippsland Parklands, Lardner. Microscopic Wars Deluxe Edition is out now via Dew Process. W W W. B E AT.C O M . A U
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 35
NATTALI RIZE T H E
N E W
E R A
I S
H E R E
BY TEX MILLER
It’s 6.30pm in Kingston, Jamaica when Nattali Rize picks up the phone to chat about her upcoming tour. Respected for years as the frontwoman for rootsy superstars Blue King Brown, Rize will soon return home to show off her latest project, Nattali Rize & Notis. Since moving to Jamaica early last year, Rize has been refining her collaboration with the Kingston drum’n’bass collective, the fruits of which are displayed on her latest EP New Era Frequency.
THE WORD I T ’ S
S O
F I N E ,
I T ’ S
S U N S H I N E
BY TEGAN REEVES
American supergroup The Word will be gracing the stages of Bluesfest next year, treating Australian fans to songs from their second album Soul Food, released in the first half of 2015. While the term ‘supergroup’ is often associated with short-lived, scattershot collaborations in the realm of rock and pop, The Word are none of these. Their instrumental take on gospel music began over 15 years ago, combining members of Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Medeski Martin & Wood, and North Mississippi Allstars. Where some artists might balk at the supergroup designation, pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph happily embraces it. “It’s cool being called a supergroup because everybody in the band is a super musician,” he says. “When you get the chance to put all of these guys from different bands into one band and then into the same room where everyone can share all of their experiences, it becomes a magical kind of music. New creative energy comes out and everybody has so many more ideas – there’s influences of gospel, rock‘n’roll, old blues and new blues when we get into the studio. It’s so much fun, and so spontaneous.” Joining Randolph onstage are keyboardist John Medeski, guitarist Luther Dickinson, drummer Cody Dickinson and bassist Chris Chew. Together they create a brand of improvised gospel known as sacred steel. “Anyone familiar with the Buena Vista Social Club, they’re basically what sacred steel is,” Randolph says. “The Pentecostal church is an organisation that goes back to the 1920s in America, and I grew up watching all of my sacred steel forefathers in that church, wanting to be like those guys. “At the same time a lot of other guitar players have been influential on my style, from Jack White to Derek Trucks to Eric Clapton and Santana. So I’ve also had some contemporary influences, and that’s the great thing about music – it’s always ongoing, and there will always be new influences.” The Word’s second album Soul Food was 14 years in the making, but it didn’t fail to live up to the precedent set by their self-titled debut from 2001. It showcases a much tighter band, with each musician playing harder and more purposefully. “Years passed and we had talked about doing so many different things, writing and recording, and it all just finally came together naturally,” Randolph says. “We felt like the time was right and it happened quite organically. It was great because years go by and we had let all of these different influences come by and sink in, and things kind of came full circle as we listened to the first record we made. We were telling stories and re-educating everybody on what it means to be The Word. It was this new, sort of old energy, which was really fun.” With such a diverse and talented bunch
of musicians involved, one might think the recording process would be difficult to orchestrate. But Randolph speaks with cheerful optimism about the collaboration. “I think in years past we used to say it was hard, but now we’ve gotten back on task it’s become really easy. It’s become quite simple to just get into the studio and hit record. The advantage of today is that we can send each other music and ideas online, so by the time we all get into the studio, we’re ready to plug in and go for it.” Randolph customarily tours the world with a number of specialty pedal steel guitars. When The Word come down to Australia next year, he’ll be seeking an Aussie roadie to take care of his catalogue of rare, custom made guitars. “I’ve got an acoustic pedal steel guitar, and a stand up pedal steel guitar. Actually, I’ve got so many types of guitars now it’s added a whole lot to the show and the vibe of what we do. We won’t be bringing all of the roadies to Australia, so we’ll have to find some Australian roadies along the way, which should be fun.” It’s always refreshing to hear someone speak confidently about their music in a manner that doesn’t ooze arrogance and superiority, and Randolph seems well rehearsed in it. The fact that his excitement for the Australian tour is palpable just makes the guy even more likeable. “Yeah, it’s going to be awesome. I can’t wait – I love Bluesfest. It’s such a great festival. We’ve been talking about it ever since we heard that we were coming back to Australia and I can’t wait to be there. It’s so much fun to spend a couple of days in Byron Bay. You’re right on the beach, you get to play twice and it’s such a great vibe. I’ve been to Australia twice before with Robert Randolph and the Family Band, but not as The Word, so this will be awesome. Australia is one of my favourite places, and I’m not just saying that. I even told a promoter last time, ‘I’d like to come here every year if I can’.” THE WORD are playing at Bluesfest 2016, alongside Brian Wilson, D’Angelo, Kendrick Lamar and more, which runs from Thursday March 24 – Monday March 28 at the Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, NSW. Catch them at the Corner Hotel on Monday March 28.
Earlier in 2015, Rize and Notis played some massive stadiums and amphitheatres across North America supporting the legendary Michael Franti & Spearhead. Having previously supported Franti with BKB, Rize beams with enthusiasm about the tour. “It was amazing,” she says. “The very first tour BKB did in North America was playing with Franti. It feels like things have come full circle. Under the wing of Franti with this new project gave us so much more confidence in what we were doing. Michael has always been a massive supporter of my music and to play to such big rooms and have the community spirit behind us felt invigorating. We click and we get along well because we are trying to change the world for the better through music.” After completing the last Blue King Brown album, Born Free, a portion of which was recorded in Kingston, Rize made the decision to move to Jamaica. Judging by the August-released New Era Frequency, setting up camp in the birthplace of reggae has had an extremely positive impact on her songwriting. “The music scene here is absolutely thriving,” she says. “When we moved here, there was a real resurgence in reggae and roots whereby it has been dominated by dancehall music the last ten years. It’s like a next generation of Bob Marleys and Peter Toshs are starting to stand up right now
and it’s like a reggae revolution.” Working with Notis in a range of home studios around Kingston, Rize tirelessly demoed the tracks that would go on to form New Era Frequency. After several weeks of song development, the band hit the studio to lay down the final product. Given the thriving music scene in Kingston, there are many different studios available around the city. However, only one place would suffice for Rize: the legendary Tuff Gong Studios. “We went to Tuff Gong to lay down the live instrumentation and then layered the vocals over the top. I’ve been to many studios over the years, but there is an immediate energy and vibe when you walk through the door
ANGLESEA MUSIC FESTIVAL W I T H F E S T I VA L S T O N E H A M
D I R E C T O R
K A R R E N
BY TEX MILLER
The Anglesea Music Festival will return in early 2016, with a lineup featuring Boom Crash Opera’s Dale Ryder, Taxi Ride’s Jason Singh, Weddings, Parties, Anything’s Mick Thomas and plenty more. Boasting a list of headliners like that, it’s no surprise tickets are speedily disappearing. With just over a month until the festival takes over the Ellimatta Reserve in Anglesea, Beat chats with director Karren Stoneham. “It’s really kicking into gear once again and it’s great to have the festival back,” she says. “When we got confirmation that [ Jason Singh of ] Taxi Ride and Boom Crash Opera’s Dale Ryder were really keen to play, well, that was a very exciting day. I really couldn’t believe that we secured them and they sell out everywhere they play. So to get them together is going to be a real highlight of the festival. They always know how to
put on such a show and I’m really looking forward to it.” In contrast to previous instalments, this year’s festival will be a one-day event. However, this hasn’t lessened Stoneham’s workload. “We are all volunteers at this festival and are in it for the love of music,” she says. “There is a lot of work to run a festival and we have a team behind the scenes, that are ticking off all the boxes to
“All day long I’d biddy biddy bum if I were a wealthy man.” BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 36
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of Tuff Gong. Bob [Marley]’s piano is still there and you can use it, and all the engineers and personnel that worked with him are around to help you out and you hear stories from back in the ‘70s. It’s nice to be surrounded with such a legacy whilst you record.” Despite BKB winning various awards and accolades over the course of their three album career, fame and glory isn’t why Rize plays music. “I think success is the decision that somebody has chosen music as their chosen career path. I think fulfilling that spirit within yourself as an artist and being able to connect with people through music is success enough. Music is more powerful than the level of consciousness we are currently at. There are so many amazing qualities to it.” Rize is bringing her new project back to Oz for some east coast dates in early January. However, before that there’s the big New Year’s Eve bash at The Croxton, alongside Melbourne Ska Orchestra and Mista Savona DJ set. “I can’t wait to unite my Jamaican and Australian families. The Ska Orchestra are great friends of mine and who knows when we will all be there on the same night [again]. It’s New Year’s, I wouldn’t say no to an all-in collaboration, but you’ll have to come down to find out for yourself. See you there for a wicked time.” NATTALI RIZE & NOTIS join Melbourne Ska Orchestra and Mista Savona DJ set at The Croxton Bandroom on Thursday December 31.
make it the best day we could possibly have. “In previous years, festival goers have often wondered whether they go Friday, Saturday or Sunday, and we just thought it would be easier to make it a one-day event and create the same atmosphere. It will be a lot livelier and more of a happening event than previous years.” At the helm since the festival’s inception in 2010, Stoneham’s love of music has always inspired the other volunteers who’ve worked on the festival. Anglesea Music Festival actually evolved out of another event that Stoneham was behind. “I started Anglesea Live back in 1999 and it was a music night that people could book in from all walks of life and that grew into what we know today,” she says. Aside from the hefty lineup, this year’s festival will feature a massive community arts and crafts market. There are also several initiatives designed to involve Anglesea locals, including the up and coming artist stage and the festival internship program, both of which are offered in partnership with Oxygen Music. Throughout our conversation, it becomes apparent that Stoneham is wholeheartedly committed to getting young people from the area involved in the festival. “I just want to give opportunities to the youth, and give them the love of music. I’m not looking for a pat on the back, but people need to know that music can help all facets of their life. I can’t wait to share this festival with everyone and look forward to seeing everyone down there.” ANGLESEA MUSIC FESTIVAL takes places at Ellimatta Reserve, Anglesea on Saturday January 23, 2016. The lineup features Dale Ryder (Boom Crash Opera), Jason Singh (Taxi Ride), Mick Thomas and the Roving Commission (Wedding, Parties, Anything), Jimi Hocking, 19 Twenty, Geoff Achison and Chris Wilson, Wayne Jury and Kelly Auty, Andrea Marr and more.
BALLARAT BEER FESTIVAL S AV O U R
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We all know the fun of sitting in the sun and having a beer with mates, but there are right ways and wrong ways to go about it. Ballarat Beer Festival sits in the former category, and next January’s fifth annual event is set to be a day of spoiling your tastebuds with over 100 types of beer to choose from, accompanied by a lineup of great musical entertainment. We had a chat to festival director Richard Dexter about what the festival is all about.
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In his own words, UV Boi has become UV man in recent times. Since winning the triple j Unearthed slot at Listen Out Festival 2014, the Brisbane-based producer has come of age, and become one of the most sought after artists of 2015. His new single If She, If He from his upcoming debut EP is dominating the airwaves, and his face has been plastered all over town thanks to David Jones’ Watch This Space initiative – a campaign designed to celebrate the next wave of young Australian talent. “I can’t believe all the attention I’m getting just because of some songs that I wrote sitting on my bed at four in the morning – it still feels surreal,” he says.
UV Boi is one of many underground artists that can be considered a Soundcloud success story, after taste-making Canadian producer Ryan Hemsworth seemingly plucked him from obscurity. Their subsequent collaboration Gods propelled the softly spoken teenager into the national spotlight. “I’m just enjoying this ride so far,” he says. “I’ve played at some amazing festivals and had the chance to support some of my favourite artists.” Despite being in such high demand, UV Boi, or Emmanuel John to his friends and family, remains humble, choosing to let his music speak for itself. “I just want to create music from the heart and hopefully other people will like it too,” he says. Acting on the advice of his friend Flume, staying true to himself is UV Boi’s number one priority. “I try not to let anything influence me too much. I just write what I like.” While UV Boi’s career is still burgeoning, his love of music began to grow as a young whippersnapper. One of his fondest childhood memories is listening to Danish pop duo Junior Senior’s mega smash Move Your Feet on repeat. However, it wasn’t until he reached high school and began playing around with a Windows program, chopping up songs and making mixtapes for his friends, that UV Boi discovered a hidden talent for music production. After a few years of honing his production skills and immersing himself in hip hop, dubstep, trap and electronic music, UV Boi uploaded Thank U and Ghost to Soundcloud and began booking club gigs, regardless of the fact he wasn’t old enough to legally attend his own shows. “I was still in high school when I started UV Boi,” he says. “I wasn’t really into going out too much, so being thrown straight into playing shows in clubs before I’d even been to one was something really different. It was like being the main attraction at a carnival before I’d even experienced being a carnival punter. “When I first began making music, I didn’t have too many goals, so to speak, but I did have dreams of being able to travel, play
shows and meet fans. And now I’m doing all those things. It’s been really fun.” At 19-years-old, UV Boi has the world at his feet, and he’s looking forward to the future. “Music has opened up a lot of avenues that I can explore now,” he says. “I’d love to get into film directing or creating compositions for films, and I really like animation as well, so I’d love something to do with that.” As a self-confessed durag and squat enthusiast he says that he’s open to any opportunities. “I’ve always loved fashion too, so I’d consider doing something in that field, but everything will still revolve around music – that’s definitely what I plan to stick with.” While 2015 is drawing to a close, things aren’t slowing down for UV Boi. “Next year will be really busy – I’ve got a lot of things planned. I’ll be at Beyond the Valley for New Year’s Eve and I’m playing with [Swedish rapper and producer] Yung Lean. Then after that I have a tour with Kilter, E^st, and Dylan Joel, they’re all-ages shows. That’s all happening in January and then my EP will come out.” Teaming up with Eastghost on If She, If He, UV Boi is fast becoming known for his masterful collaborations. He says he’s been hard at work on the forthcoming LUV EP. “It’s all been coming together naturally. The next feature on my EP is with a Brisbane band called Mtns. We met randomly at a show and we just kind of hit it off, so I said, ‘Hey, let’s get into the studio soon,’ and we did. They did the lead vocals. It will come out in February and it’s really amazing. I think we will work on a few more tracks together. I’m really excited to finally have some new music out and just see where life goes from there.” UV BOI is playing at Beyond The Valley, from Tuesday December 29 to Friday January 1 in Gippsland Parklands, Lardner. He’s also playing at Wrangler Studios on Saturday January 16 with Kilter, E^st, and Dylan Joel.
Hi Ric, thanks for taking the time to chat with Beat. How are you and what are you up to at the moment? I am well and up to my eyeballs with the final planning of the festival. Arranging a one day festival for 8000 people is fairly complex when you consider the logistics required. How did the festival first come to be? And can you tell us how the festival has evolved over the years? It was originally started by four individuals, each with their own area of specialisation. Now that I am the new festival director, I work closely with Kate Burrows, the event manager and one of the originators. The festival has always been about craft beers, a safe and fun family environment, and great music. This coming festival sees a stronger emphasis on independent craft brewers and a huge band lineup. What are your thoughts on the growth and appreciation for the craft beer industry? The explosive growth of craft beers has been phenomenal over the last decade, with new brewers popping up monthly around the country as well as many venues switching to a craft beer emphasis and new venues created to cater for the craft beer movement. It’s almost like a new religion. What do you think is the perfect way to drink a beer, fast or slow, at a BBQ or a gig et cetera?
Craft beers are like wines in my opinion: not to be consumed in a guzzle, but to savour the flavours and aromas. There are so many varieties to try and to have a festival environment around you, relaxing in the sun with friends, and listening to awesome bands, it just doesn’t get any better than that. With over 100 different craft beers at the festival, do you have a favourite? My favourite styles are generally in the IPA range and I do have some favourites, depending on what time of the day it is. The top three for me come from Pirate Life, Feral Brewery and Temple Brewery. Of course there are bands at the festival as well. How important was it for you to include live music in the experience?
MAC MILLER
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US hip hop prodigy Malcolm James McCormick, AKA Mac Miller, will be celebrating the New Year in style when he brings his GO:OD AM album down to Australia. “I cannot wait. It’s going to be warm and Australia’s one of my most favourite places in the world,” Miller says. “We’re doing a couple of festivals before the New Year, then we bring in the New Year in Australia. I’m really excited to do my own shows and see what the crowds are like. I did a show before [in Melbourne] with Snoop and the crowd went crazy. It was awesome. “I’m not all the way sure what we’re going to be able to bring, but it’s going to be intimate. I’m not trying to be arrogant, but the centre point of the show is me so we don’t do too much crazy production. It’s just based around the interaction between me and the fans.” With the release of his first full-length album Blue Slide Park in 2011, Miller attracted a massive following, helping W W W. B E AT.C O M . A U
him maintain a successful career as an independent artist. For GO:OD AM however, he diverted from this modus operandi, deciding to sign with major label Warner Music as a way of reaching a wider global fanbase. “I think I just wanted to try something different,” he says. “I’m 23 now, I’m getting ready to settle down and it was time to link up with a company that could give me
Live music to a craft beer festival is as important as having a bottle opener to me. Music creates the vibe and the hardest part of organising the festival is the band lineup. In 2016 we are trying to have quite a few genres of music to satisfy all the punters, but obviously that is nearly impossible. In conjunction with Power FM in Ballarat, we have been running a Homebrewed Battle of the Bands and the winner of that gets to open the festival and receive a $500 prize from Coopers, our major sponsor. Coopers and I are both passionate about supporting new musicians. What did a band have to encompass to make the cut for the festival? Stage presence, talent and fun. With a lineup as we have – The New Savages, The Bakersfield Glee Club, The Rechords, Kylie Auldist, Dallas Crane and the iconic You Am I – I believe this will be a fantastic festival, packed into nine hours of pleasuring taste buds, stomachs, ears and dancing your legs off. Thanks again for having a chat with us, are there any last words of wisdom you’d like to share with our readers? Book in early – this will be a sellout. BALLARAT BEER FESTIVAL takes place at City Oval, Ballarat on Saturday January 16. There’s over 100 beers on offer and live sets from The New Savages, The Bakersfield Glee Club, The Rechords, Kylie Auldist, Dallas Crane and You Am I. See ballaratbeerfestival.com.au for more details.
more of a global presence, and do things worldwide.” While signing to a major label can often be a death sentence for an independent artist, Miller says his fans were extremely supportive of the transition, and that he was granted essential creative control over the project. “I thought that when I signed I was going to get a bunch of angry fans saying, ‘Why would do you do this?’, but instead my fans seem to really care about me so I think they were just happy to see me up on my feet and doing things. “I didn’t have anyone from the label set foot in the studio, which was awesome. So I really got lucky there and I got the chance to run my own project, because I wouldn’t have signed if it was any other way.” Across three albums and a handful of mixtapes, Miller has accumulated an extensive catalogue of eclectic rap, hip hop, soul and R&B tracks. Released in September, GO:OD AM sees the young artist coming into his own, writing and producing from a more optimistic perspective compared to previous releases. “I think there was a time when I was making a lot more melancholy records, just like mixtapes and my last album [Watching Movies with the Sound Off] before this one. So I think this one functions a little more in the light – getting there and the journey there – rather than dwelling on any sense of darkness. “Also, as far as stylistically and conceptually, I’m pretty nomadic in that sense where I don’t like to stay in one place a long time creatively. Maybe it’s because I’m young and I’m still finding my comfort zone, but I think it just keeps it exciting for me.” With the Australian tour just a few weeks away, Miller is clearly excited to get back here and party with his fans. “Just come ready and bring your energy. Get a good night’s sleep before and make sure you’re ready to have an experience.” MAC MILLER brings his GO:OD AM album tour to Forum Melbourne on Saturday January 2. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 37
THE GRISWOLDS K E E P
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Over the past decade British India have become leaders in the indie music scene, something that’s reflected in their constant successful tours and fiercely loyal fan base. After a brief absence the band returned in early 2015 with their fifth album, Nothing Touches Me, which put the four passionate Melburnians back where they belong – riding the airwaves and out on the road. Beat speaks to affable frontman Declan Melia, who’s enjoying some well-earned downtime in Sydney. Melia has a softly-spoken charm that puts you at ease and makes you believe that he’d be just as comfortable discussing the works of Jean-Paul Sartre as he is in front of thousands of screaming fans. “We’re all feeling really good,” he says. “When we toured for Nothing Touches Me earlier this year, the album was so new it almost didn’t feel real. Whereas this time around we’re more used to the setlist. The material has already been tested and we know what works and what doesn’t. So we’re a lot less tense and we’re able to enjoy ourselves more.” Dating back to their 2007 debut Guillotine, British India have always strived to produce albums they can be proud of. “I look at successful music, and sometimes the lyrics feel like they’re an afterthought,” Melia says. “You can get tricked into this mentality where you think that stupidity sells or that the lowest common denominator stuff is what it takes to get yourself heard on the radio, or to get 80 million downloads. “Our credo from the beginning is to always try to be the antithesis of that. Especially in this country, pop music should be intelligent and clever – we should aim a little higher. I hope we never fall into that trap. Songs don’t need to be stupid to be accessible.” Given their last four albums have debuted in the ARIA Top 10, Melia and co. are doing their bit to redress this situation. However, life hasn’t always been so rosy for British India. Despite the success of their fourth album, Controller, it very nearly didn’t happen. “After the release of our third album Avalanche we all decided to take a holiday, but it was the worst thing we could have done,” says Melia. “Shock [their former label] went broke and our studio got flooded. It felt like the perfect storm. And for the first time we had shocking writer’s block, which has never happened before, and it coincided with us moving into a new studio. So it was really hard not to get into a superstitious head-space about how the change in vibe had affected our ability to write, and we got really fearful that we wouldn’t get it back.” Not only did the band members recapture their songwriting ability, but they came back with a vengeance. Controller went Gold, with its lead single I Can Make You Love Me selling over 35,000 copies and earning them a place in triple j’s Hottest 100 for the fifth time. “The moment that
Controller came out it reaffirmed everything for us. It really did feel like the beginning of British India part two,” Melia says. With a newfound passion and dedication to the band, Melia says the creation of their latest album was an incredible time. “The writing of Nothing Touches Me was just a dream. Everyone was in a really good headspace, the ideas were coming from all four members of the band. It was a real pleasure to write and it comes through on songs like Suddenly and Angela – they’re more joyous than anything we’ve done in the past, and I think it was just reflecting the feeling of the band.” While Melia seems happy to soak up the sun, sand and sounds in Sydney, his heart really lies in the Surf Coast of Victoria. British India will wrap up the year with shows in Lorne, Barwon Heads and Mornington. “It’s a good way to cap the tour off. We just look at it as a holiday at the end of the year. Lots of people are around the area for Christmas and we love the pubs there, so we might as well get up and play a few songs. “We don’t think of tours as big business ventures, like planning some military coup to conquer target markets or anything. We just love to play and it’s been pretty well documented that we’ll play anywhere that will have us. We just like to play as much as possible.” British India’s laidback attitude is one of the reasons they’ve amassed such a large and devoted following. They’re able to connect with a small audience at an intimate gig, or blow the speakers out at a sold-out festival. “It’s really important for us to retain the ability to do both. I don’t think anyone wants this band to become a stadium act that can only play with a big backdrop and the most deluxe amps, because our best shows these days hark back to when we were playing at tiny pubs and clubs when we were first starting out.” BRITISH INDIA are playing at Lorne Hotel on Saturday December 26, Barwon Heads Hotel on Sunday December 27 and The Grand Hotel, Mornington on Monday December 28. Their first performance of the New Year will be at the Party in the Paddock Festival in Burns Creek, Tasmania alongside The Preatures, Violent Soho, Spiderbait, Tkay Maidza and more, on Friday February 19 and Saturday February 20, 2016.
Somewhat ironically for a band that took its name from the goofy family of the classic American comedy film series, National Lampoon’s Vacation, the international market wasn’t always a big focus for Sydney band The Griswolds. “At the very beginning it wasn’t, because we didn’t really know what was going to happen,” says lead singer Chris Whitehall from Washington, D.C. “But when things started happening, the focus changed and we thought, ‘Wow this is something we could actually make work. We can take this to the world because we have the opportunity to,’ which was a very scary and amazing thought.” The indie-pop band formed at a Sydney house party in 2011, and the revelry hasn’t eased since. “It’s such bedlam; everyone’s so different to everyone else, it’s this chaos that kind of works,” says Whitehall. “There’s so much love in the band, and it just started out of chaos and it’s still going out of chaos.” Crafting their live skills through consistent touring, The Griswolds signed to US label Wind-up Records in 2013, and there came an opportunity to shift focus to the North American market. Since the release of their debut album Be Impressive in August 2014 – featuring the single Beware The Dog – the four-piece have spent more time off Australian shores than on them. “We’ve spent most of our time here,” says Whitehall. “We’re just riding the wave and no-one [knows] what to expect next – but we ain’t going to quit. I mean, we have huge expectations for ourselves. We want to do this forever, so we’re going to have fun doing it and love each other and just have a good time.” You only need to take a glance at The
Griswolds’ social media accounts to see they do exactly that. Their latest US headline dates marked their third tour across the States this year, alongside tours in Canada and Europe. “This year alone, playing 140 shows around the world has been a crazy experience,” says Whitehall. “I think we’ve all aged about five years this year, but it’s been such a fun journey – nothing we could have ever expected.”
THE DEADLIPS A L L
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BY ROD WHITFIELD
Forming back in 2013, hard hitting Melbourne rock act The Deadlips took a single minded approach to cultivating their sound. Simply put, the plan was to make it as different as possible from most rock music you hear today. With the increasing diversity among rock bands, that might sound a little difficult to attain. However, while they took a little while to truly find their feet, The Deadlips believe they are now well on their way to achieving their founding goal.
“It’s a good time for us,” says bassist Anthony Licciardi. “I think we’re at a point now where, as a band you’re always improving, but at this point we’re the tightest and the best we’ve ever been. A few months ago we were playing songs that were all different and we were trying to figure ourselves out. I think we’ve got ourselves pretty figured out now.” “We knew a lot of rock bands out there are pretty much doing AC/DC rip-offs and that just doesn’t interest us,” says guitarist Rhys Brennan. “Even though we love AC/DC, it’s just been done so many times. The idea was
to try and be a unique rock band, something a little bit different, but [has] still got that accessible sound.” Having a female voice up front, soaring melodically over some pretty fat and stomping rock music is one of the core elements that sets The Deadlips apart from the rock pack. Though, it’s not entirely unusual, of course. “When you look at some of the classic bands, the lead singers have pretty feminine voices,” says O’Shea. “Led Zeppelin comes to mind, his voice is very high. It works, you know it’s worked in the past, but having a girl do it is a bit different.”
“Matchmaker, matchmaker, I’ll bring the veil. You bring the groom, slender and pale.” BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 38
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Along the way, one particular gig gave The Griswolds the motivation to keep going in a notoriously difficult market. “Firefly Festival in Delaware. We walked out to 15,000 people all screaming our lyrics; they’d all brought beach balls and were throwing them around. It was the craziest gig we’ve ever played, the best feeling we’ve ever had. It was a life-changing moment when you weren’t really sure where you sat – you’re not really sure how much your work has paid off – and when you see something like that, you’re like, ‘Wow, yeah. We worked our arses off and here it is. This is the pay-off right here and now we’ve just set a whole new benchmark’.” Returning home for the summer, The Griswolds will dive into writing their second album before jumping back on tour in January, supporting their new best friends, Ohio outfit Walk The Moon. Guitarist Eli Maiman requested The Griswolds’ support for their US tour in April and the two groups immediately clicked. “We didn’t know who or what to expect,” says Whitehall. “Then as soon we met them, eight guys became best friends instantly; even our crew and their crew. Every night on tour over here was just a wild, crazy party playing music. It was nuts. We just fell in love with them. On the [next] tour, I’m sure it will be bedlam; we’ll be partying and getting crazy every night, I’m sure.” Catch THE GRISWOLDS supporting Walk The Moon at 170 Russell on Monday January 25. Be Impressive is out now through Chugg/MGM.
The band’s unique sound is on display throughout their debut EP, Tides, which landed in early November. Tides not only highlights The Deadlips’ stylistic distinction, but also features a strong level of variation from track to track, of which the band members are justifiably proud. “All the songs on there are kind of different,” says Brennan. “They were the second wave of songs that we’ve done. Me and Madi wrote our first songs, and then we just got better and better at songwriting and we wrote a whole new batch of songs, and they were the ones that ended up on the EP.” “Each song on it is completely different,” O’Shea says. “It’s very diverse, which I think is good for a new release, because you won’t get pigeonholed too easily.” The EP will be officially launched this weekend at The Evelyn Hotel. While they’ve played all over town during the last couple of years, the band are excited about launching their first release at the prestigious venue. “We’re very excited,” O’Shea says. “The Evelyn is a great venue, and hopefully we can get a decent crowd down there.” “It’s on our bucket list of venues we haven’t played,” Brennan says. Having worked hard at refining their sound, The Deadlips are also very confident with the strength and appeal of their live show. “I think people will be surprised,” Licciardi says. “It’s an energetic hard rock show, but with songs that pull a bunch of people in who usually listen to pop music, and they’d say, ‘Oh shit, this is pretty good’. It’s got a lot of those pop songwriting methods to it: catchy vocals, catchy lyrics, the sweet little guitar hooks and stuff. I think a big audience would like it, and people will be surprised.” THE DEADLIPS launch Tides on Friday December 18 at The Evelyn Hotel, with Chasing Lana, The Black Alleys and The Post. Tides is available now via Bandcamp.
CORE
PUNK, SKA, HARDCORE NEWS, REVIEWS & GOSSIP with EMILY KELLY ek1984@gmail.com
Holy shit, Face To Face are releasing a new album. The band are returning to Fat Wreck Chords to celebrate their 25th anniversary and will release Protection on Friday March 4, 2016. “We are excited about working with people who truly understand what we
do and who we are,” they said. The band will employ producers Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore to bring the album to life. The Gaslight Anthem’s Brian Fallon has decided to go solo with a new album Painkillers coming out next March via Island Records. Produced by the one and only Butch Walker, the album was recorded in Nashville and you can find the song A Wonderful Life streaming online now. Brisbane band Awaken I Am will tour Australia in the New Year on the back of their new video for Landslide, taken from their debut album Shields and Crowns. The Brave will accompany them on the tour, which rolls into The Rev on Friday January 15.
CRUNCH
Voodoocain, Pretty City, Atomic Riot, Coffin Wolf, Muscle Car, Knave Knixx and Clea Freeland, with more to come. There will also be DJ Mermaid, burlesque from Ferri Maya and an art exhibition and auction. It takes place on Saturday January 2 from 7pm, and 100 per cent of proceeds METAL, HEAVY ROCK. CLASSIC from each $20 entry donation goes to the ROCK LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL victims of the attack. Presented by Peachy Entertainment. GOOD SHIT with PETER HODGSON
crunchcolumn@gmail.com
AWAKEN I AM RELEASE NEW VIDEO
Brisbane’s Awaken I Am have released a new video for the song Landslide, which is from their debut album Shields And Crowns. Shields And Crowns was released in March 2015 via Shock Records. It debuted at #17 on the ARIA Album Chart and #5 on the AIR Charts. Landslide is the fifth single to be released from the album, and you can catch the band at the Reverence Hotel with Heartstrong, The Beautiful Moment and Nemoya on Friday January 15.
CHERRY TO HOST EAGLES OF DEATH METAL CHARITY EVENT
Cherry Bar will host a special charity event to honour the victims of the terror attacks in Paris, with some of Melbourne’s greatest musicians gathering to play Eagles of Death Metal songs. The event features Henry Wagons, The Tarantinos,
HATEBREED SIGNS WORLDWIDE NUCLEAR BLAST DEAL
The mighty Hatebreed have signed a new worldwide deal with Nuclear Blast. Their most recent album The Divinity of Purpose was released through the label in Europe, and now they’ve broadened their relationship. Vocalist Jamey Jasta says, “Hatebreed signing to Nuclear Blast worldwide could not come at a better time and we’re extremely excited to get this new album out and commence the world tour in 2016 and 2017. We can’t wait for everyone to hear what we have been working on.” The band are currently in the studio with longtime producer Zeuss (Rob Zombie, Suicide Silence, Whitechapel). The record will be mixed by Josh Wilbur (Lamb Of God, Megadeth) and tentatively scheduled for release in the Autumn of 2016. Catch Hatebreed at Soundwave on January 26.
BRIMSTONE COVEN
On Friday January 29, West Virginian dark occult rockers Brimstone Coven will release their first full-length album, Black
After a monumental cock up in which a huge metal festival was announced to take place at a venue that had specifically declined to be involved, we finally have some more confirmed dates for the supposed headliners The Sword, Clowns and American Sharks. Heathen Skulls, 666 Entertainment and The Drunk Promoter will present the trio on Monday February 22 at Max Watt’s. Tickets available now. Australian punk rock documentary The Other Option is now available on DVD. The feature length film explores the fascinating history of Australian punk and hardcore bands touring South East Asia. The project spanned three years and was filmed across four countries covering 15 years of Australasian underground music.
Magic, via Metal Blade Records. Recorded at Andrew D’Cagna’s Sacred Sound Studios in Ohio, Black Magic was mostly written over a one year period against a backdrop of candles, incense, solitude, and a thick air of ganja. The record boasts gritty, groovy riffs (a la Black Sabbath, Pentagram, Led Zeppelin) with Pink Floydian psychedelic movements, and three-part vocal harmonies reminiscent of the Mamas and Papas, Yes and The Byrds.
NEW YEAR’S EVE AT THE BENDIGO HOTEL
The Bendigo Hotel, Get On The Stage and The Drunk Promoter have announced a very special performance from the original Southern Californian punk-surf power trio Agent Orange on New Year’s Eve 2015. The current lineup of Mike Palm, Perry Giordano and Dave Klein have been together since 2003. Joining them will be Party Vibez, Cosmic Kahuna and K-Mart Warriors. Tickets are $48 plus booking fee.
ELUVEITIE ANNOUNCE 2016 AUSTRALIAN TOUR
The world’s preeminent proponents of melodic death metal and Celtic folk are returning to Australia. The eight members of Eluveitie fill the stage while bonebreakingly heavy guitars and ferociously pummelling drums face off with whistles, hurdy gurdy, bagpipes, flute and violin to deliver a metal experience like no other. Formed in 2002, Chrigel Glanzmann’s guttural growl and Anna Murphy’s beautiful soaring voice alternate over
US rock trio Highly Suspect have confirmed three headlining shows in March thanks to Live Nation. The band say they have dreamt about an Aussie tour for many a year, and will play at the Evelyn Hotel on March 16. Tickets available now. Melbourne rock outfit Harbours have been announced as winners of the triple j Unearthed Unify Gathering comp. They’ll join the lineup for the festival, which goes down on Saturday January 16 and Sunday January 17. Travis Barker has certainly been busy lately. Following his massive book tour, he recently confirmed he has a Blink 182 album, an Antemasque album, a Transplants EP and a new solo album in the works. Not sure which one to be more surprised about. shredding riffs and ethereal melodies that will have you moshing one minute, dancing the next, and in blissed out rhapsody by the end of the show. You can witness this majestic, deathly spectacle first-hand at Max Watt’s on Saturday May 21. Tickets are on sale right now from tombowler.com. au
ZAKK WYLDE ANNOUNCES WYLDE AUDIO DISTRIBUTION
Dig those sweet guitars at the Black Label Society gigs a few weeks ago? Zakk Wylde has just announced that his own guitar brand, Wylde Audio, will be distributed worldwide by Schecter Guitar Research via their distributor network covering over 70 countries. “We are extremely proud to be working with Zakk and Wylde Audio on this endeavour,” said Schecter Guitar Research Executive Vice-president Marc LaCorte. “Zakk has been incredible in recognising what he wanted in his own brand and bringing the best possible product to the market.” The first offering from Wylde Audio, including the Odin, War Hammer and Viking models, are set to debut at the 2016 Winter NAMM Show. “I’m very excited for the launch of Wylde Audio in 2016,” Zakk says. “I’ve surrounded myself with super talented people to make this vision become a reality and having Schecter on board as our distributor is going to allow me to bring Wylde Audio’s boutique quality of craftsmanship to the next level.”
GIGS
THURSDAY DECEMBER 17:
THE AMITY AFFLICTION, A DAY TO REMEMBER, MOTIONLESS IN WHITE, HANDS LIKE JAMIE HAY AND LIAM WHITE at The Reverence BOVINE PUNK ASSAULT, UDDER ABDUCTEES, THE CRUNTBURGERS, TRAUMABOYS, JERKBEAST at The Tote HIEROPHANT at The Bendigo Hotel
FRIDAY DECEMBER 18:
BODYJAR, THE MEANIES, HIGH TENSION, COWSMUFF at The Prince Bandroom CERES, SLOWLY SLOWLY, KISSING BOOTH at Shadow Electric APES at The Workers Club DEAF WISH, AUSMUTEANTS, TOTALLY MILD, LOWER PLENTY, GENTLEMENT, PHILIPPA OMEGA, CIGGIE WITCH AND THE SHIFTERS at The Tote JACK HOWARD AND THE LONG LOST BROTHERS at The Reverence OUCH MY FACE, THE DACIOS, DARK FAIR, CAMP COPE, GUNK at The Old Bar MILES AWAY, HITLIST, BORN FREE, NERVE DAMAGE, REBIRTH at The Bendigo Hotel
SATURDAY DECEMBER 19:
SIGNIFIANT OTHER, LIEUTENANT JAM, ABOLICION at Beach Of Brunswick PITT THE ELDER, CHARM, LASER BRAINS, SELF TALK, DEL LAGO at The Reverence GRIM RHYTHM, COSMIC KAHUNA, UNCLE GEEZER at The Bendigo Hotel EARTH CALLER, DVSR, AVENUES at Bang SPACEJUNK, A GAZILLION ANGRY MEXICANS, 3 HEADED FOOL at The Tote RIFF FIST, SEEDY JESUS, SHERIFF, OLMEG, DIRE FATE, MERCHANT, ROUNDTABLE, FIELD at The Tote SUN GOD REPLICA, WESLEY FULLER at The Evelyn
SUNDAY DECEMBER 20:
THE RESIGNATORS at Dolley’s Old Hepburn Hotel, Hepburn Springs
THE MEANIES THE BLAME GAME
21 years on from their iconic 10% Weird LP, in September 2015 The Meanies finally issued their fifth album, It’s Not Me, It’s You. Following up on a run of boisterous album launch shows in October, this weekend The Meanies will team up with fellow melodic punksters Bodyjar for a mighty Christmas bash. Ahead of the show, we had a chat with frontman, songwriter and all-round mad man Link Meanie. The Meanies formed back in ‘89 over a shared love of beer and the alluring punk rock scene. Paint a picture of the Melbourne punk scene in those early days. There was definitely a higher percentage of fringe dwellers in the local scene, some very strange people. I think the general vibe is more accepting nowadays, which is pleasant although you will always get fuckwits. Some things are easier – rightly so – for young bands now. We use to have to help lug big-arse PAs out of venues or get docked some pay, which would suck after the rigours of a Meanies show. And there would sometimes be run-ins with old school crew who thought that antagonism and sometimes sabotage were all part of protecting their band. Plenty of cool guys as well though. Things are a bit more civilised now, but having said that I think its much harder for bands now to standout in the over saturation of bands that is the Melbourne music scene. That’s a double edged sword. You guys have nailed the rock’n’roll high life and have clocked up a mountain of supports – you’ve shared the stage with Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Beastie Boys and The Lemonheads to name a few.
What was your most clichéd punk rock experience on the road? I think clichéd punk rock experiences are a result of pretension. Sure, we’d get unruly at times like anybody, but we’d do something like steal a Picasso, Oceans 11 style, and all take a dump on it. Completely original. A lot of people reckon that punk rock has lost its original spirit. What’s your take on the transformation of Melbourne’s punk rock scene? I think that’s like saying all Muslims are terrorists. It’s about individuals. I try not to generalise. No one really truly gets anybody. It makes some people feel safe or in control to pigeonhole people and speak on behalf of them both negatively or positively. But that’s nonsense. Tell us about your hook up with Poison City Records. How did that come about? I think they, like us, were excited by our 25th anniversary tour and it got the juices flowing. They suggested doing reissues on vinyl of all our albums. Then came the new album, and it seemed natural for them to put it out. Cool bunch there at Poison City. Lovely people with a strong list of bands who are doing really well. We feel really happy to be on their label.
Releasing a record after two decades could be a little intimidating. Is It’s Not Me, It’s You a return to your wellestablished sound or something of a new trajectory? I think we experimented a bit with some songs in the early 2000s which, while I like the tunes, probably weren’t really Meanies songs. So with the new LP we’ve gotten back to what The Meanies are all about. I actually think it’s the most consistent record we’ve done. There was always one or two songs I didn’t end up liking on our records. Not this one. Great mix too. What would a short synopsis of The Meanies: A Documentary sound like? And which bands would cameo in it? The doco’s already been made, but let’s imagine Hollywood are up to their old W W W. B E AT.C O M . A U
tricks and are remaking it because of the huge profits to be made from it... I said imagine. Formed in the toilets of the Palace, brewed to imperfection in the shadow of CUB, and vomited onto the world’s stages out of the mouth of the Luna Park clown. A touch of blood, fairy floss and Stones green ginger wine mixed in with the carrots. Cameos by too many people to mention. The Meanies have shared the stage with fellow punk rock veterans Bodyjar many times over the years. You’ll be reliving the past on Friday December 18 at the Prince Bandroom. What’s the greatest show you’ve ever played together, and what should we expect from this upcoming show? Man, you’re stretching my memory. It’s
been many years since we played with them. Great bunch of guys and a great band. We don’t even have to say things to them like, “Wow, you really looked like you enjoyed yourself,” or “What was that amp you were using? Sounded great,” like you do when you like the guys but think their band sucks. We’re really looking forward to this one. THE MEANIES and Bodyjar will celebrate Christmas at the Prince Bandroom on Friday December 18, with support from High Tension and Cowsmuff. It’s Not Me, It’s You is out now via Poison City Records.
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MEREDITH MUSIC FESTIVAL SUPERNATURAL AMPHITHEATRE
FRIDAY DECEMBER 11 – SUNDAY DECEMBER 13
Meredith. It’s a place that supplies optimism. Rain? “That won’t last.” Gale force winds? “Weak.” Friday didn’t give us the pristine welcome we’d envisioned, with the wind condemning several freshly assembled tents and Meredith beanies selling out within hours. But a sea of tinny-clutching mugs prevailed, all acknowledging the explicit privilege it is to be here. We weren’t expecting surprises from Power, and their set went completely according to plan – nothing like a pounding of testosterone rock to replenish community optimism. Pearls continued the local leadoff; their sultry guitar swirls and glam pop strut motioning towards a future in which they permanently inhabit the festival stage. The Sup was now filled to the brim, couches hauled in and every fourth position occupied by an Esky. Nashville’s Bully came to see what all the fuss was about. “I’ve heard only suspiciously positive things about this festival,” said singer Alicia Bognanno. When she wasn’t making sweet remarks, Bognanno’s full belly howl likely hastened any late arrivals’ entrance. A quick clean up and the tallest man in art rock, Thurston Moore, had a new band to show us. With help from Sonic Youth’s Steve Shelley and My Bloody Valentine’s Debbie Googe, Moore took us through his solo LP The Best Day. At 57-years-old Moore has an indelible niche, recalling the stoic sneer of Mark E. Smith and Lou Reed while making a whole lot of filthy BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 40
guitar noise that’s all his own. The clouds hadn’t left us alone, but the Strip still accommodated a devoted mass come sunset. The animated wind farms in the distance reminded us to be thankful; Malcolm Turnbull ain’t no saviour, but at least that future-fearing nitwit’s gone. OK, time to get this thing moving. Big Daddy Kane was the perfect man for the job. The New York classicist was sans hype man, but skipped not a single line of his fast-paced golden era rhymes. The crowded amphitheatre took Kane’s energy as a directive, priming limbs for the splattering of rhythm that was Goat. The collective of androgynous creatures reeled in percussive motifs from Nigeria to rural Sweden while winding a hypnotic wheel of melody, showing us that psychedelic could be a group sensation. Unknown Mortal Orchestra are a shapely festival act, and their catalogue is loaded with hit-candidates. The mix wasn’t on their side for the first sequence of songs, but by the time they brought it home with a one-two of Multi-Love and So Good At Being In Trouble, no one’s affection was divided. While a few people raised doubts about Tkay Maidza’s suitability, these fears subsided once the Adelaide MC beamed out onto the stage and gave us banger after banger after banger. It ain’t exactly underground, nor dog-eared with integrity, but at 1am on Saturday morning Tkay gave us just the push we needed to make sure this night didn’t stay young for long. It was a cold cold night, but sleep-
deprived exhaustion wasn’t an option. No time for showering either, as Jessica Pratt was ready to see us. Looking every bit the ‘70s glamour figure, Pratt brought us back up with a set of acid folk introspection, her gently plucked, cobwebby nylon string accompanied by shudders of electric mist. Julia Holter’s well-wrought, jazzy complexities returned texture to the imagination. Holter recurrently remarked that this was “a nice festival,” though her deadpan tone made it difficult to tell whether or not she actually hated us. The sun grinning through a wide aperture, the temperature gained additional weight when Briggs puffed into focus. There were a few aesthetic question marks about the boy from Shepparton’s rap rock parade, but Briggs’ personable attitude and depth of purpose roused more than a few boots of approval. Some of the finest Meredith performances have come from local acts who’re more attuned to the nature of the spectacle. GL certainly knew where they were, and employed psychedelic colours, a duo of dancers and disco-pop sensuality to wipe away any audience-crowd divide. Bodies sweaty, we were in the mood to move, and Neon Indian’s beefed up new wave was happy to facilitate. It’s easy to get carried away glorifying the all-round excellence of this festival, but the programming was unbelievably spot-on. What might’ve looked like a somewhat mismatched lineup was in fact curated to anticipate our impulses’ every move. On that note, The Peep Tempel probably B E AT.C O M . A U
haven’t played to many crowds of such volume, but the Melbourne trio’s barrelling punk rock was unanimously embraced. Saviours of Aussie rock is a garbage notion to throw around, but however you frame The Peep Tempel’s significance, it’s alive and fucking well. While the Sup was heaving, the campgrounds also brought their fair share of novel stimulus, from an outer space part to a sorely uneven game of beer pong. On the losing end of the latter, it was with a decadent spirit we awaited Father John Misty. Perhaps the biggest name on the lineup, FJM’s irony-laden folk rock roleplay was more than enough reason to skip this evening’s sunset. He’s a verbose chap, but more was communicated in the delivery – over-earnest, pleading and angel voiced. The Pink Flamingo bar had become a congregation of voodoo tricksters, the mind’s defences weakened by the pace at which those dazzling pink cocktails were going down. Meanwhile, with a team of gifted instrumentalists plying an unrelenting disco groove, the Fatback Band reminded us the party was really just getting started. Ratatat are ridiculous. Invoking video game soundtracks, their guitar-led arena pop dodged all conventional notions of cool. Never mind that though – abetted by multiple flashing light rigs and treeilluminating lasers, their set illustrated how the intellect has little to do with our thirst for good times. One gleefully eccentric cock rock banger after the next,
boots fanning the early-am amphitheatre. Levins began by projecting images of Hey Hey It’s Saturday, which got alarm bells ringing. However garish his act was, at least it wasn’t imposing. Up next, Floating Points’ busy, vinyl-only, soul, jazz and funk-heavy DJ set again affirmed the prowess of the programming. All of his selections were well timed, familiar in essence yet predominantly unearthed obscurities, and his live song-conflating was seriously fascinating to watch. Oh boy. Sunday was beautiful. The clouds had been abolished and Jess Ribeiro’s haunting, melodramatic storytelling was all the encouragement we needed to make the most of the festival’s final hours. Totally Mild followed suit, splicing surf rock freedom and fumes of ‘60s folk pop to cap off what’s been a golden year. Steve Miller Band are the ultimate wedding entertainers; classic songs, debauched delivery. Boys and girls got their private bits out and went for a run, we downed a few Pimm’s cups and realised it was time to go. Murmurs of “best Meredith ever” were heard, but regardless of where the festival’s 25th instalment sits in relation to previous years, there were no doubts this place of happiness has no rivals. LOVED: Meredith. HATED: Monday. DRANK: A lot of tinnies. BY AUGUSTUS WELBY
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TAYLOR SWIFT AAMI PARK
Thursday December 10
Fine Young Cannibals’ She Drives Me Crazy is a good song. It sounded good blasting across the stadium amphitheatre, heralding the beginning of the main event. It was released as a single in 1989. Taylor Swift’s latest album, and this world tour – which concluded in Melbourne – are named after that year. Taylor’s first song was Welcome To New York, also the first song from 1989. Lit up street fixtures descended from the stage ceiling, making it clear that the song was about New York. And Taylor Swift was welcoming us to New York.
Taylor made her way down the runway, using a golf club as a percussive tool during Blank Space, using loops in the stadium setting much like Ed Sheeran. Later, dancers would creep around stage in Kanye-style bejewelled facemasks. The runway eventually elevated – much like Justin Timberlake’s, though in more spectacular fashion. Video messages from Tay Tay’s (overwhelmingly white) squad filled the space during costume changes. Simple messages about strong ladies sticking
Photo by Ian Laidlaw
Father John Misty Forum Theatre Thursday December 10
From the first few bars of opener I Love You Honeybear, it was clear this was going to be a grand scale performance, both sonically and emotionally. The song was delivered as a dramatic anthem, more bombastic and powerful than it is on the album of the same name. Father John Misty wasted no time dropping to his knees, throwing dance poses and hoisting the microphone stand above his head. Since reinventing himself under this guise with 2012’s Fear Fun, Josh Tillman’s creation is as much about his own charisma and ego as it is about his extremely intimate songs. The conversational style that typifies
this music is a big part of its appeal, cleverly combining deadpan sarcasm, selfdeprecation and heartfelt sentiments. It was a remarkable thing to be presented with song after song, and each one felt like a big moment – no mean feat considering the man only has two albums to his (current) name. True Affection was reinvented as something close to a dance tune, with massive delays and electronic drum sounds revealing the club hit that could have been. While on record Honeybear’s arrangements, including strings and mariachi horns, make it a considerably more lush affair than its
UNCLE ACID AND THE DEADBEATS
they were perfect match to fire up Uncle’s session. Our overlord tonight was one Kevin Starrs. Having previously released a Christmas single under the moniker The Sharon Tate Experience, the sermon he served up for Sunday mass was unassuming yet wholly alluring. Charles Manson’s in-jail marriage may have fallen through, but The Family’s violent, drug-fuelled, carnal magnetism oozed through The Deadbeats’ amplifiers and swallowed up the crowd. Clawed fingers crept out under the doors and through the walls of the Corner and out into the night. Shadows were set forth, prowling down Swan Street’s alleys in search of supple prey like the luscious Melody Lane. Heavy, subterranean bass got necks rolling across the darkened room in universal appreciation. Beards swung and beers swilled in curvy fuzz-laden ecstasy. Uncle
CORNER HOTEL SUNDAY DECEMBER 13
B-movies, cult worship, LSD, bikers, peepshow girls and a pulsing mother lode of long-haired, down-tuned distortion – that’s Uncle Acid and The Deadbeats. The British sludge-rockers arrived via a timetravelling spacecraft fuelled by blood, sex and lava lamp goo straight from the 1960s. Local support Child dropped in first with rolling journeys dirtier than a bong-soaked carpet orgy. The Cherry Rock favourites are one of the leaders in Melbourne’s ever-rumbling riff-fed underground, and BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 42
together, but maybe sometimes the world needs simple messages. It was wall to wall stimuli throughout, a difficult dynamic to maintain, but Swift made it seem breathless. She thanked the Melbourne crowd for lending our hometown boy Vance Joy as tour opener, her adoration for us at least seemed genuine. Throughout the spectacle – and the spectacle was incredibly spectacular – there seemed to be a certain ingredient lacking. Maybe it was a sense of history, as the setlist overwhelmingly favoured 1989
and its bonus tracks, with the two select cuts from Red reworked with an attitude adjustment. The performance of her 2008 breakthrough Love Story had some sense of history, though self-contained. The score of flashing, electronic wristbands given out to each audience member on arrival was overwhelming, in a good way, especially during the closing Shake It Off – a flurry of pyrotechnics and spinning platforms. But what does it all mean?
predecessor, many of the show’s most energetic and engaging moments were from the newer album. Fear Fun tracks Only Son of the Ladies’ Man, This Is Sally Hatchet and Everyman Needs a Companion, all based around acoustic guitar, sounded like classic folk/alt-country songs. However, they lacked some of the vigour and quirkiness of the recent material. Holy Shit began as a mid-tempo piano tune, before unexpectedly exploding into a barrage of atonal sound halfway through. The band then wound their way back through the noise to finish the song as a revved up rock‘n’roll number, which segued into a bile-fuelled and invigorated take on The Perfect Husband. Misty returned to do a little stand-up in the guise of an audience Q&A for the encore, delighting the crowd with his quick wit and droll delivery. Father John Misty delivered a goddamn incredible show, he is a fucking master of the dark arts and you need his magic in your life.
THURSTON MOORE BAND
Loved: Realising and quickly accepting my man-crush on FJM. Also Bored in the USA, tuuuune. Hated: All the little Taylor Swift fans packing out the tram on the way home. I could kill you with my laser eyes. Drank: An elixir of understanding mixed with a potion of gentle befuddlement. By Alex Watts
PRINCE BANDROOM Thursday December 10
As sad as it was when Sonic Youth announced their indefinite hiatus in 2011, there’s comfort in knowing that the band members remain musically active. As the co-front person of the seminal alternative noise rock act, Thurston Moore cemented himself as one of the most unique guitarists of our time, utilising odd tunings and unconventionally manipulating his fret board. He carries on the tradition with ease in his solo project, holding a mirror to the latter part of his work with Sonic Youth. His performance at the Prince variously recalled the progressive soul of The Diamond Sea and the indie riffs of Pink Steam, all of it coated with subtle splashes of the noisy rock riffs from mid-era Sonic Youth albums such as Goo. Moore ripped out an arsenal of harmonic strikes and delay-staggered riffs, creating a similar sound to a high pitched violin. The ambient sections could’ve accompanied a David Attenborough documentary on frilled neck lizards, such was the longwinded desert feel. Many of the songs were sprawling, dominated by semi-seething emotional guitar work, backed by a sense of lyrical
Acid and co’s warmth felt like lying naked in a bath of warm chocolate fudge, lighting huge candles and listening to worn Sabbath vinyls for days. Their loud, body-shuddering sound is dirty brown bordering on black. As the lights went down and beers ran out on every tap, the sold out Corner’s reverence was palpable. LOVED: Starrs’ black stiletto heels. HATED: Being told I was “behind Triple M” for not knowing Uncle Acid sooner. DRANK: The Kool Aid. BY JAMES RIDLEY
Photo by Ian Laidlaw
IF YOU ARE READING THIS YOU ARE TOO CLOSE
Loved: The sheer scale of the production. Hated: I was hated by most at Meredith when overcooking my motion activated wristband. Drank: 22 beers. (Not really). BY LACHLAN KANONIUK
yearning. There was a clever contradiction to the performance – some of the riffs may have seemed relatively simple, but were delivered with ample tightness to build an impressive wall of sound. Germs Burn led us into a summery thrash session, full of shimmering highs and guttural chugging lows. Moore tenaciously shredded his guitar, breaking a string by the end of the song. As he waited for his guitar to be restrung, he shot some words with a few failed comedians in the audience before treating us to a few tracks from his upcoming 2016 release, Rock‘n’roll Consciousness. A three song double encore brought us to the end of the set, starting with a throwback to the mid-‘90s as they performed Staring Statues. Moore’s high vocals were thrown in behind heavy bluesy riffs, before he took a breather to dedicate a song to celebrity interviewer Nardwuar, who recently suffered a stroke. The grand finale saw Moore moving his hand over his guitar like a spider crawling on ice, generating beautiful airy notes so light in form they were barely tangible. LOVED: I’m a huge Sonic Youth/ Thurston Fan. So, all of it. HATED: Few arse clowns in the audience but nothing world shattering. DRANK: Liquids. BY THOMAS BRAND
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Top Tens RECORD PARADISE TOP TEN 1. it’s you GOLD CLASS 2. paper mache dream balloon KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD 3. come back, all is forgiven CUSTARD 4. lightweight THE OCEAN PARTY 5. phased out/colleague EXHAUSTION 6. silver bullets THE CHILLS 7. leisure panic DAN KELLY 8. riot boi LE1F 9. severe MY DISCO 10. pronto PRONTO
COLLECTORS CORNER MISSING LINK TOP TEN MIKELANGELO Melbourne EP (Independent)
Before he was a staple of the Melbourne music scene, Mikelangelo was a fledgling musician and performance artist in Canberra. But despite the charms and colourful social underbelly of the nation’s capital, Canberra is hardly a potent source of artistic inspiration. It’s not surprising, then, that Mikelangelo’s latest release, Melbourne EP, eschews the stimulating excitement hidden in the Belconnen Mall, the Tuggeranong Expressway and the Canberra Leagues Club for the iconic beauty of St Kilda, the Sandringham train line and the Yarra River. On Love in St Kilda Mikelangelo is a cabaret rock Paul Kelly, bouncing along Acland Street and celebrating love in its hippest pop form; on Train to Sandringham
he’s suave and debonair, serenading the jaded punters like a gypsy Don Walker. Move along to Banks of the Yarra, and Mikelangelo casts his gaze across Melbourne’s aquatic spine, finding love just beneath the surface of the polluted waterway. Coburg Lullaby is less than a minute wandering casually down Sydney Road, taking in the cultural and culinary sights and sounds; Everything is so seductive it almost renders Nick Cave an illiterate bogan in comparison. Sometimes it takes an interloper to truly appreciate a city’s intrinsic wonder. And Mikelangelo has done just that. BY PATRICK EMERY
SINGLE REVIEWS WITH OUR MATE LACHLAN Massive shouts out to whoever decked out one of the Meredith toilets in Footy Record covers and Doggies paraphernalia. Also massive shout outs to the dude who brought it to my attention at 6am. SLEIGH BELLS Champions Of Unrestricted Beauty (Independent) So Sleigh Bells actually got a clue and decided that the dude who can’t play guitar for shit should just maybe not actually play guitar, and the result is actually not terrible. Jettisoning their trademark sound is a bold risk, but the new bareness in pop admiration pays off without sounding like a crippling compromise. US THE BAND And I Will (Rice Is Nice) Concocting a vicious cyclone, Us The Band teeter on the edge of control before nestling into a
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refrain of, “What you say is that you don’t wanna get in the way” to express who’s in charge on And I Will. It’s a tonal overload on first appearance, but there are riches not too far beneath the surface. THE GOOCH PALMS Tiny Insight (Summer Camp) The Gooch Palms barrel along in Tiny Insight, hitting cocky stride with the shout-along chorus and a few choice woah-ohs. There’s enough melodic dexterity to retain attention throughout. It’s good fun, and will probably be a whole lot more fun live. New album Introverted Extroverts out June 2016.
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FRASER A GORMAN Skyscraper Skyline Blues (Milk! Records) In his finest moment yet, Fraser A Gorman dances with an assured cool through touches of piano, relaying detached optimism over energised punches of kick drum. Ella Thompson drops in for a guest back and forth, Gorman responding with charmingly mundane quips and a sense of naivete and wonder. Everything hits the mark. Taken from an upcoming compilation album from the Milk! Records crew.
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Hurry Back To Love (Mikey Young Remix) (Barely Dressed) Well, this is a welcome surprise. The tension of Jess Ribeiro’s Hurry Back To Love is unleashed into a sprawling disco stomper care of Mikey Young – heading into a purer dance territory than that displayed by his most dance-y outlet, Lace Curtain. It almost makes too much sense, masterful in its contextualisation of the original, converging visions between artist and remixer into something new altogether. It’s enough to make you wish for a full-length collaboration, but still cherish it as a standalone outlier. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 44
HOW SICK IS MUSIC? HEAPS WICKED
1. Repentless LP/CD+DVD SLAYER 2. Bohemian Rhapsody 12” QUEEN 3. Slaves To The Grave LP RIGOR MORTIS 4. Rule Of Thirds LP RULE OF THIRDS 5. What Should Not Be Unearthed LP NILE 6. Berlin LP KADAVAR 7. Absence LP SNOWMAN 8. Dust LP SOMA COMA 9. White Bird / Burn The Sky LP PALACE OF THE KING 10. Another Music In A Different Kitchen LP BUZZCOCKS
AIR TOP TEN SINGLES 1. The Trouble With Us Marcus Marr & Chet Faker 2. Fire And The Flood Vance Joy 3. Work EP Marcus Marr & Chet Faker 4. Alive SIA 5. Hoops THE RUBENS 6. Riptide Vance Joy 7. Georgia Vance Joy 8. Long Loud Hours Urthboy Feat. Bertie Blackman 9. Mess Is Mine Vance Joy 10. The Buzz Hermitude Feat. Mataya & Young Tapz
BEAT’S TOP TEN SONGS OF DEVOTION 1. Hopelessly Devoted To You OLIVIA NEWTON JOHN 2. All I Need AIR 3. Jesus THE VELVET UNDERGROUND 4. You’re All I Need To Get By MARVIN GAYE 5. My One And Only Love DEAN MARTIN 6. You’re All I Need MOTLEY CRUE 7. My God Is The Sun QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE 8. Jesus Christ Pose SOUNDGARDEN 9. God Emoji SILICON 10. Need You Tonight INXS
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WEAR IT WELL (Independent)
…AND OUT COME THE WOLVES (20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION) (Epitaph)
A FOLK SET APART: RARITIES, B-SIDES & SPACE JUNK, ETC. (Domino)
Wear It Well is the long awaited sophomore release from local folk artist Emily Ulman. It’s a beautifully executed sequence of modern storytelling, although the themes of each rhythmic parable are timeless. Case in point is the title track, which pairs Ulman’s effeminate and almost adolescent voice with a simple visceral guitar strum. The song’s power lies in its muted emotion, as Ulman aches from a love never known due to an unspoken catastrophe: “Some things I’ll never tell / Some things you can never tell / I wear it well”. Beyond the minimalism of the title track, Wear It Well is littered with accessible and upbeat songs like the single Scratches, where Ulman’s vocals harmonise with strings. A waltzy rhythm brings the song to a chirpy close, although the lyrics are still a bit dark. Hurricane reminds one of the relaxed swagger that made The Waifs the darlings of the adult contemporary scene in the mid-00s. However, this comparison may be a case of cultural pareidolia, triggered by a strong Australian female voice over uplifting acoustic folk. Regardless, this is a work of high quality music and storytelling with each song proudly communicated in an Australian voice. The album was partly funded by a Pozible campaign, and therefore Wear It Well is a fine example of crowdsourcing allowing an independent artist to produce a high quality musical document of our time.
This collection of space junk from the past decade has it ups and downs, echoing Cass McComb’s most recent studio album, the sprawling Big Wheel & Others. But McCombs has always worn patchy remarkably well – there is charm and beauty in the flaws, and more than enough hits to make up for the misses. Aside from Sacred Heart B-side Twins and 2010 single Bradley Manning, A Folk Set Apart is a bone fide rarities album, with plenty of surprises for even the most dedicated follower of McCombs’ career. The 19 track set opens with ramshackle rock numbers I Cannot Lie and A.Y.D, both early cuts that hark back to the sound of his debut album, A. While there are a few too many sleepy acoustic ballads in the middle, the highlights either side of them are way too good to be left simply gathering dust. The odd guest star has cropped up on McCombs’ albums in the past, and this compilation unearths a great deal of collaborations: Phish bass player Mike Gordon on the discordant Texas, Ligament’s Tim Cedar on Twins, Deerhoof ’s Chris Cohen on both Poet’s Day and An Other, Tim Dewit and Dutch E. Germ on A.Y.D, and Joe Russo on a couple of tour-only split singles with the Meat Puppets. Despite this, Cass McCombs always sounds like the solitary outsider warily guiding us through a world that’s uncertain and unsettling, but not without its moments of beauty.
BY DAN WATT
CHRIS GIRDLER
CHET FAKER & MARCUS MARR
While local hero Chet Faker has lost a whole lot of facial hair, he has picked up a funky fresh sound with help from Londoner, Marcus Marr. Combining the sway of soul and the energy of electronic, the pair has produced something far from the familiar Faker sound. After the success of his debut album, Built On Glass, it’s a wonder the singer/songwriter decided to deviate. However, surprisingly the four-track EP does indeed live up to its title. Birthday Card kicks things off with its driving electric drumbeats and psychedelic, offbeat structure. Faker’s lyric, “I want to be something, I want to feel your heart,” is a relieving nod to his familiar style and insightful charm. With a Marr inspired electronic melody made for an all-night dance party, the eight minute opener was clearly created to get the blood pumping. Introduced by an eager electric guitar, the EP’s second single The Trouble With Us is as catchy as they come. Leaving the melancholy madness behind, Faker presides over an uptempo groove with plenty of modernised soul sections. Funky finger plucking continues to drive the tune, which is soon to become a karaoke classic. Fortunately, while Faker’s approach has shifted, his vocal style is as powerful and captivating as ever. Similar to Birthday Card, Learning For Your Love incorporates an extended electronic instrumental introduction with a casually cool, effortless lead vocal. From twinkly keyboards and clapping kick drums, to sultry synthesisers, the collaborative offering is different to anything the Australian crooner has ever produced. Bringing the EP to a close is Killing Jar. Sounding similar to the soundtrack of a vintage video game, electronic rhythms are joined by a semi-distorted guitar and a brooding vocal.
20 years ago Californian punk rock group Rancid released their third studio album …And Out Come The Wolves, which is remembered as one of the primary albums that brought punk rock to the forefront of popular music in the mid ‘90s. The band’s breakthrough LP was recorded in two studios, one in their home state of California and the other being the famous Electric Lady Studios in New York City. 20 years on from its release, the album continues to demand respect. Epitaph have completely remastered the album and re-released it digitally, on CD and on 180 gram vinyl. Sonically, the album was never exactly bad. The recording quality was fine for its day and had a roughness that complemented the band’s punk rock sound. The digital remaster has more depth and sounds bit cleaner, but it’s hard to say whether it’s worth re-purchasing it. Bonus tracks Blast Em’ and That’s Entertainment (previously B-sides) are a nice addition and sound excellent, but they don’t change a whole lot about the overall listening experience. The best thing to come out of this is the 180 gram vinyl edition, which would make a worthy addition to any hardcore Rancid fan or general audiophile’s collection. BY CASSIE HEDGER
SEEDY JEEZUS
CURREN$Y
ECHOES IN THE SKY (Independent)
CANAL STREET CONFIDENTIAL (Warner)
WORK (Detail Records)
BY PHOEBE ROBERTSON
RANCID
CASS MCCOMBS
Back in 2010, Young Money affiliate Curren$y was releasing a new mixtape every few months. Regular critical applause led to his major label debut, 2012’s The Stoned Immaculate. Afterwards his solo releases slowed to a trickle, but he announced his return with a new mixtape back in April, then the single Bottom of the Bottle (feat. August Alsina and Lil’ Wayne) in August. Curren$y has now delivered his long awaited full length follow up, Canal Street Confidential. Curren$y definitely moves towards more of a trap heavy sound on Canal Street. Even though the rapper’s last release contained a page long list of production credits, with beats from Pharrell and Big K.R.I.T among others, this time around 808 Mafia hitmaker Purps takes care of the majority of production work. If you’ve heard any big hip hop release from the past year, you’d know what a Future guest verse sounds like. Here he shows up to add some serious star power to the first track Drive By. Another Purps-produced track, Speed, hits the mark with its spacey instrumentals, but Curren$y never seems to find his place on it. He’s clearly more at home rapping over Super Miles and Big Fruit’s tight stoner beats on What’s Up. Releasing an album as a Young Money affiliate usually entails a Lil’ Wayne verse, and Curren$y made sure his didn’t go to waste, recruiting R&B up and comer August Alsina for the single Bottom of the Bottle. The track includes some classic cringe-inducing Weezy one-liners such as, “Bust them legs open like some scissors for me baby.” Coming in at just over 40 minutes, you do wonder if Canal Street Confidential warrants being an album as opposed to a mixtape. Sure, the release returns Curren$y to relevancy, if only for a short period, and comes at a time where good hip hop releases are few and far between. But it’s unclear whether anyone will remember it six months down the track.
Seedy Jeezus have the best rock‘n’roll merchandise around, from clothing, to trinkets to household items, all baring the evocative designs of guitarist and vocalist Lex Waterreus (aka Mr Lex Frumpy). And Seedy Jeezus have got some killer rock‘n’roll riffs as well, a holy collage of Tony Iommi, Dave Gilmour, Eric Clapton, Josh Homme and Dave Wyndorf. You can hear it all – and plenty more – on Seedy Jeezus’s sixteen minute, one-track EP, Echoes in the Sky. Originally conceived as a studio jam, the track opens with a swaggering Sabbath riff winding its way through a psychedelic haze, a quest for stoner rock meaning in a spiritually confused world. The clouds part and there’s a glimpse of the bridge Pink Floyd built between the lysergic excursions of 1968 and the stadium rock indulgence of 1975. Three minutes in, and Seedy Jeezus are wandering toward the light of prog rock; noodling guitars, subliminal bass rhythms and heavy atmosphere. Your cerebral cortex is working overtime and you’re on a trip through cosmic rock consciousness. The rhythm picks up and you’re shooting through space, immersed in metaphysical concepts that would send Brian Greene into freak out. Guitars wail like psychedelic banshees, and shit’s getting seriously weird. And then it calms down, like the time you took too much acid and some old bearded bloke talked you back down from the proverbial ledge. You raise your eyes and you’re looking across the placid waters of contentment, punctuated with the occasional sonic explosion. We’re back to the opening riff, now weathered and bruised from its long journey. The song ends, and you’re in a better place than you could have ever imagined. Oh, and the EP comes on etched vinyl, too. Who else has a record with such attention to artistic detail? No one but Seedy Jeezus, that’s who. Miss this record at your peril.
BY MICHAEL CLARK
BY PATRICK EMERY
WAT C H I N T E R V I E W S , C H AT S & AW K WA R D S I L E N C E S . . . . . W W W. B E AT.C O M . A U / T V
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 45
GIG GUIDE WEDNESDAY DEC 16 FOY VANCE + KYLE LIONHART + DAVID HOSKINGS Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 7:00pm.
HOLLOW EVERDAZE + CONTRAST Karova Lounge, Ballarat. 8:30pm. $6.00.
JACKSON REID BRIGGS & THE HEATERS + SHRIMPWITCH + TONGUE NUMBERS + SWANK Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm.
JASIA + SUGAR TEETH + BARRY TONES Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $10.00.A
LEVI’S ALL-STAR MUSIC SESSIONS - FEAT: THE DELTA RIGGS + SASKWATCH + TIM ROGERS Melbourne Ballpark, Altona. 12:00pm.
MON FRERE MON FRERE + ARLENE FLETCHER TRIO + ALL TALK Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm.
THE BOMBAY ROYALE
H OWL E R There’s only one place in town to be this week if you’re hankerin’ for an 11-piece funkadelic dance down, and that place is Howler. The Bombay Royale are taking their love of mysterious music from vintage Indian films to create a night full of spine-bending space disco, lonesome spaghetti sounds, all the way through to surf-rock and beyond. Catch The Bombay Royale for the next part of their month long residency at Howler on Wednesday December 16. Doors open at 9pm, entry is $20.
ANDY MCGARVIE BAND
$10.00.
T H E R E T R E AT H OT E L The Andy McGarvie Band have set up shop at the Retreat Hotel throughout the course of December, playing three very special shows with an emphasis on vocal harmonies and intricate arrangements. Each week will feature a slightly different set, along with a few special guests. Already onto the second of their residency shows, you can catch The Andy McGarvie Band playing from 8.30pm at the Retreat, this Wednesday December 16. Entry is free.
OPEN MIC Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 6:00pm.
PIQUE + SQUID NEBULA + HILLS HOIST + BLACK MOLASSES Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $5.00. RUBIX RADIO ON KISSFM Rubix Warehouse, Brunswick. 8:30pm.
SUPER UNSIGNED MUSIC FESTIVAL - FEAT: XURE + AVOCADO SHOWER + B-RUBBLE + TOP DECK + MORE Corner Hotel, Richmond. 6:30pm. $17.00.
THE MUDGE BROTHERS + DREAMIN’ WILD + GREEN BLANKET Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $7.00. THE WEARY + SOOP + SHAKEDOWN SHAKES John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 8:00pm. $5.00.
THIRD EARTH + DREAM IN COLOUR KIDZ + PLOTZ Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $5.00.
CHERRY AWARDS 2015
KILL DIRTY YOUTH
TH E B E ND I G O H OT E L Kill Dirty Youth are back at the Bendigo this Wednesday, chucking a month long residency of filthy rock for anyone daring enough to pop their heads into the establishment. Featuring a different lineup each week, you can bet your arse that they’ll be making the start of summer that extra bit sweaty. This week’s supporting musical miscreants are Three Headed Fool and Dixon Cider. Catch Kill Dirty Youth down at The Bendigo Hotel this Wednesday December 16. Doors open from 9pm, entry is free.
WORLD AT A GLANCE + ENDUT HOCH HECH + DIPLOID + NOSE BLOOD CATHARSIS + THEFT Public Bar, North
CHERRY B AR Are you tired of the seeing the same artists winning the same music awards time and time again? Well, so is Cherry Bar owner James Young. To rebel against the collection of mainstream music award ceremonies that take place across the country each year, Young has devised an awards night of his own, to celebrate and acknowledge the rock‘n’roll underdogs that shed their blood, sweat and booze each night on stages across town. This year will see the third annual Cherry Awards go down on Wednesday December 16 at Cherry Bar, and 14 Cherry Awards will be presented on the night, each centring on bands who’ve played and slayed the venue throughout the year. Categories include Best Cherry Band of 2015, Best International Act, Cherry Hardcore Award, Cherry Best Human Being of the Melbourne Music Scene and more. It’s free entry, and there’ll even be a little bit of free food and booze to get things kicking. Oh, and Fuck The Fitzroy Doom Scene will be performing on the night. It all kicks off at 8pm in AC/DC Lane. Get down and show your support for Melbourne rock‘n’roll.
BRANDON ALLEN QUARTET Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne CBD. 8:00pm. $20.00.
Melbourne. 7:00pm. $8.00.
BIG EASY SOUL SESSIONS Carlton Club, Melbourne
BRAZILIAN NIGHT Penny Black, Brunswick. 8:00pm. DAVID JAANZ SCHOOL OF SINGING SHOWCASE
CBD. 8:00pm.
Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury. 7:00pm.
BOHJASS 303, Northcote. 8:30pm. BOPSTRETCH Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
DIZZY’S BIG BAND WITH PETER HEARNE Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8:00pm. $10.00.
KOOYEH + EL MOTH + LAMA Gasometer Hotel,
Collingwood. 7:00pm. $10.00.
LOCAL CALL - FEAT: RINTRAH Railway Hotel (brunswick), Brunswick. 6:00pm.
NATHAN SLATER QUARTET Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne CBD. 8:30pm. $15.00.
SONIC EXPEDITION DJS - FEAT: TOM SHOWTIME + TIM WIGG + MORE Belleville, Melbourne. 8:00pm. TERRASUR Open Studio, Northcote. 8:00pm. THE ROOKIES The Rooks Return, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. ANDY MCGARVIE BAND Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:30pm.
COTTON CLUB - FEAT: JIMI HOCKING + DJ MATTHEW FREDERICK Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 7:30pm. MORNING MELODIES - FEAT: MARGARET DENNIS: CHRISTMAS SHOW Commercial Hotel (sth Morang), Morang South. 10:30am. $5.00.
MUDDY’S BLUES ROULETTE - FEAT: BIG DADDY ROY PAIN Catfish, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
OPEN MIC Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbottsford. 7:00pm. OPEN MIC NIGHT Purple Emerald, Northcote. 8:00pm. OPEN MIC NIGHT Ascot Vale Hotel, Ascot Vale. 8:00pm. RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE - FEAT: JOEY ELBOWS The Luwow, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
SOOTHPLAYERS (COMPLETELY IMPROVISED SHAKESPEARE) - FEAT: SOOTHPLAYERS: COMPLETELY IMPROVISED SHAKESPEARE Butterfly Club, Melbourne
CBD. 8:30pm. $25.00.
STEVE KILBEY + PENNY IKINGER + A WHALE CALLED PHOENIX Toff In Town, Melbourne CBD. 7:30pm. $20.00.
SUMMON THE BIRDS Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:30pm.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 46
B E AT.C O M . A U
GIG GUIDE THE ROLLERCANES + REIKA + THE DELORAINES Evelyn
THURSDAY DEC 17
Q&A
Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.00.
A NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS - FEAT: TURRET + VINTAGE RUIN + WONROWE VISION + DAY DREAMERS
THEME TEAM John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 7:00pm. UDDER ABDUCTEES + THE CRUNTBURGERS + TRAUMABOYS + JERKBEAST Tote Hotel, Collingwood.
Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 7:00pm.
8:00pm.
BBQ PARTY - FEAT: THE BURNT SAUSAGES + TENDERLOINS + HOT WINGS Gasometer Hotel,
ALL I DO IS DREAM Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne CBD. 8:00pm. $20.00.
BEN CARR TRIO Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne CBD.
Collingwood. 8:00pm. $10.00.
CALIFORNIA GIRLS + DRUG SWEAT + WATERFALL PERSON + PLASTIC SKIN Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm.
CARD HOUSES + JE WHEELER + LOUISE LOVE Laundry
Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $5.00.
END OF YEAR PARTY - FEAT: SCOTDRAKULA + LAZERTITS + TEMPURA NIGHTS + CABLE TIES Old Bar, Fitzroy.
7:30pm. $10.00.
FATAI + MAHALIA SIMPSON Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:00pm. $25.00.
FLAMIN’ GROOVY - FEAT: WILD MEADOWS + DJ CRISPI Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 6:00pm.
8:30pm. $20.00.
DJ MANCHILD + GORDY ZOLA + FUTURE ROOTS Ferdydurke, Melbourne CBD. 7:00pm.
HODGY BEATS
H OWL E R American rapper/producer and Odd Future member Hodgy Beats is trekking it down to Howler this Wednesday to spit a few beats and break up your week. After being featured on several albums with other Odd Future members such as Tyler, The Creator, Earl Sweatshirt, Domo Genesis, Left Brain and even a Trash Talk album, Hodgy made his long awaited solo return earlier this year with The Dena Tape 2. Guy stays busy, huh? Catch Hodgy Beats at Howler this Thursday December 17. Doors open at 8.30pm, entry is $42.
HIEROPHANT Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. MEZZ LIVE Chelsea Heights Hotel, Chelsea Heights.
MIXED THURSDAYS (SKA) - FEAT: KING SPIRIT + MORBIDLY O’BEAT + REDEMPTION ROAD + MORE
5:30pm.
Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
SHED ZEPPELIN PHYSICAL th GRAFFITI 40 ANNIVERSARY SHOW
D IN G DO NG LOUNGE 1975 saw the release of Led Zeppelin’s famous double album Physical Graffiti, which has just been remastered and released by Jimmy Page. To commemorate the release and the album’s 40th anniversary, Shed Zeppelin are taking to the stage to play the album and an encore set full of the classics – no Zep fan will go unpleased. Catch Shed Zeppelin as they celebrate Physical Graffiti’s 40th anniversary at Ding Dong Lounge this Thursday December 17. Doors open at 9pm, entry is $20.
GLOBAL SAFARI Belleville, Melbourne. 6:00pm.
Melbourne. 7:30pm. $8.00.
Town, Melbourne CBD. 7:30pm. $20.00.
SHOWCASE NIGHTS Purple Emerald, Northcote.
8:00pm.
THE AMITY AFFLICTION + A DAY TO REMEMBER + MOTIONLESS IN WHITE + HANDS LIKE HOUSES Rod
Laver Arena, Melbourne. 6:30pm.
So, someone is walking past as you guys are playing, they then go get a beer and tell their friend about you... what do they say? “Get a load of this dude onstage, he’s going completely ballistic. I think he’s had too much red cordial.”
Which band would you most like to have a battle/ showdown with? Not that it would be a battle as such, but I’d love to have played with Captain Beefheart to see who could pull off the weirdest thing.
Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 8:00pm. $5.00.
SEX ON TOAST + MANGELWURZEL + 777-93-11 Toff In
Define your genre in five words or less: Big noisy electronic love songs.
How long have you been gigging and writing? Officially about five years, but I also wrote a song about eating pinecones in 2003, so I don’t know if that counts.
OBLIVIOUS MAXIMUS LIVE PODCAST - FEAT: CALLUM PRESTON + KANE HIBBARD + MATT WESTON + MORE PLEBS + BRAD POT + GREAT PLACES Public Bar, North
CARD HOUSES
TOBIAS HENGEVELD
T H E P O S T O FFI C E H OT E L Tobias Hengeveld and his stellar band are settling into The Post Office Hotel this Thursday December 17 to close out the year. Set to deliver songs from his critically acclaimed 2014 album, The Daylight Express, Hengeveld has also promised to give the audience a few sneak peeks at some of his upcoming material. Before embarking on a new adventure in 2016, take a look back at the year with Tobias Hengeveld and his band. They perform two free entry sets from 8pm.
What inspires or has influenced your music the most? If you’ve ever played Earthbound on the Super NES, there’s this level called Peaceful Rest Valley, which just has the most creepy, alien sounding breakbeat going on in the background. Sonically, those are the moments I live for. Do you have any record releases to date? What? Where can I get it? I dropped an EP earlier this year called Red Sun Never Rises. It’s up on my website www.cardhouses. com.au. All my other stuff is up on SoundCloud. Catch CARD HOUSES at Laundry Bar on Thursday December 17 with Louise Love and Je Wheeler.
COMING UP
tuesdays IN DECEMBER
FACT HUNT TRIVIA $5 TACOS + $16 JUGS OF THUNDER RD
Hosted by RRR’s Tristen Harris, this is a comfortably dumb trivia for mu sic fans and couch potatoes, no sport, no politics and no book-learnin’. QUIZ FROM 8PM - RESERVATIONS - samanda@spottedmallard.com NO COVER
wednesDAY 16TH DECEMBER
COTTON CLUB FT. JIMI HOCKING
DOORS/DINNER 6PM, SHOW TIME 8:30PM
BEGINNER BLUES DANCE LESSONS FROM 7:30PM, $15 P/P MUSIC FROM 8:30PM, NO COVER CHARGE
THURSDAY 17TH DECEMBER
WARREN EARL BAND
PERFORMING 2 X SETS FROM 8:30PM, NO COVER CHARGE
FRIDAY 18TH DECEMBER ANNUAL XMAS SHOW
MICK THOMAS & THE ROVING COMMISSION + GEMMA & THE CLIFTON HILLBILLIES
+ DAVE WRIGHT & THE MIDNIGHT ELECTRIC DOORS/DINNER 6PM, SHOW TIME 8:00PM
SATURDAY 19TH DECEMBER ‘FARWELL MELBOURNE..’
MIKELANGELO
FT. SPECIAL GUESTS CLARE ST CLARE
& MILES BROWN (THE NIGHT TERRORS) DOORS/DINNER 6PM, SHOW TIME 8:30PM SELLING FAST!
SUNDAY 20TH DECEMBER
ANDREW NOLTE & HIS ORCHESTRA
PERFORMING 2 X SETS FROM 5:30PM
$8CraftPints Beer House Wine House Bubbles 4pm-7pm Daily
Just not Sunday. We have better specials
KITCHEN HOURS Tues-Fri open 4pm Sat & Sun open 2pm
TICKETS
www.spottedmallard.com 314 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
B E AT.C O M . A U
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 47
GIG GUIDE
JACK HOWARD AND THE LONG LOST BROTHERS
T H E R E V E R E NC E H OT E L If you’re curious to see the only trumpeter to earn an ARIA Rock’n’Roll Hall Of Fame induction, The Reverence has got you covered. Jack Howard, who’s been described as one of the great quiet achievers of Australian music, has managed to earn a name for himself as an integral part of Hunters and Collectors along with performing and recording with You Am I, The Living End, Rodriguez and Midnight Oil, along with a host of other fine Australian acts. Jack Howard plays with The Long Lost Brothers this Friday December 18 at The Reverence Hotel. Free entry, doors open 8.30pm.
FULTON STREET
CHERRY BAR Soul in the Basement is back this week, and Fulton Street are taking to the stage to make you shake like an earthquake. Hailed as the next Saskwatch, Fulton Street will be supported by soul DJs Vince Peach and Pierre Baroni all night until as late as 5am. Catch Fulton Street at Cherry Bar for Soul in the Basement this Thursday December 17. Doors open from 8pm, entry is $10.
JULES SHELDON Charles Weston Hotel, Brunswick.
T HE BE NDIGO HOTEL Formed in 2010, Hierophant have been regarded as figureheads in the Italian extreme music community – and now they’re taking to the stage for a special show at The Bendigo Hotel. The 2014 release of Peste earned the band widespread recognition for intensifying their already harsh sound, and it’s all about to come crashing down with one of the last big shows for The Bendigo this year. Catch Hierophant at The Bendigo Hotel with supports from Sick Machine, Broken, Punishment and Victim Control this Thursday December 17. Doors open at 7pm, entry is $15.
7:30pm.
PATRICK WILSON & THE BARE RIVER QUEENS + TAY OSKEE Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:30pm.
MELBOURNE IMPROVISERS COLLECTIVE Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
MIDNIGHT EXPRESS - FEAT: PREQUEL + EDD FISHER + MYLES MAC Toff In Town, Melbourne CBD. 10:00pm. NEW IMPROMPTU QUARTET Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8:00pm. $10.00.
THE GOOD EGG THURSDAYS - FEAT: HENRY WHO + TIGERFUNK + LEWIS CANCUT Lucky Coq, Windsor. 7:00pm.
TIMBALERO THURSDAY La Di Da, Melbourne CBD.
Club, Melbourne CBD. 9:30pm. $20.00.
TH E WO R K E R’S C LU B Post-rock shoegaze outfit Amber Isles are currently in the midst of recording their first full-band record, which is set to drop in 2016. In the meantime, they’ve slotted in one final headline show for 2015 at The Worker’s Club on Thursday December 17. Get a taste of what’s to come in the New Year at this final show from Amber Isles. Supports will come from Danika Smith and Band, plus The Midnight Sol. Doors open at 7.30pm, and tickets are $10 on the door.
Northcote. 6:00pm.
CBD. 8:30pm. $25.00.
5:00pm.
$10.00.
CBD. 7:00pm. $20.00.
CENTRE & THE SOUTH Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 9:00pm.
CERES + SLOWLY SLOWLY + KISSING BOOTH + DJ T-BONE BLAZIN The Shadow Electric, Abbotsford. 7:00pm.
9:00pm.
$10.00.
LEAVE YOUR HAT ON – JOE COCKER TRIBUTE
VICIOUS CIRCLE
T H E FLYI NG S AU C E R C LUB Leave Your Hat On is returning to The Flying Saucer Club, following a lauded sold-out first appearance earlier in the year. The show pays homage to the growl, croon and screaming styles of the legendary Joe Cocker, taking the talents of a twelve-piece act to bring to life classics such as A Little Help From My Friends, Feelin Alright, You Are So Beautiful and many more. Catch Leave Your Hat On for a wondrous Joe Cocker Tribute night at The Flying Saucer Club this Friday December 18. Doors open at 6pm, entry is $30.
WHOL E LOT TA LOVE B AR There’s a whole lotta heavy music going on at Whole Lotta Love Bar this Friday as the venue rosters on a banger of a lineup featuring great thrash/death/grind and hardcore acts. Featuring the heavy stylings of Drain Life, Blunt Shovel, Birdcage and Vicious Circle, the night promises to leave no head unbanged. Vicious Circle headline the big night at Whole Lotta Love Bar this Friday December 18. Doors open at 8pm with $15 entry.
DARREN HANLON (XMAS SHOW 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY) + GRAND MAGOOZI Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm.
DEAD CITY RUINS Barwon Heads Hotel, Barwon
Abbottsford. 7:00pm.
WHO LE LOT TA LOVE B A R Whole Lotta Love are locking in a sweet preChristmas treat for your ears in the form of Turret, filling the venue with some classic ‘80s style metal, clean singing and twin lead guitarwork. Coming along for the ride are friends in Vintage Ruin performing thrash metal, along with Wonrowe Vision and Day Dreamers to really bring the hard rock home. Turret and friends take on Whole Lotta Love this Thursday December 17. Doors open at 7pm, entry is free.
Williamstown. 9:30pm.
WHAT THE FUNK FRIDAYS Purple Emerald, Northcote.
WARREN EARL BAND Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 8:30pm.
APES Workers Club, Geelong. 8:00pm. $12.00. CAPTAIN SPALDING Customs House Hotel,
Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $10.00.
STEVE PERRY BIG HOUSE Mr Boogie Man Bar,
FITZROY PINNACLE FUNDRAISER - FEAT: LINCOLN LE FEVRE & THE INSIDERS + THE GUN BARREL STRAIGHTS + OSCAR LUSH MUSIC + MORE Catfish, Fitzroy. 10:00pm. $7.00. GOLDENTONE THURSDAYS Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. HOWLING 45S Open Studio, Northcote. 8:00pm. JOEL PARNELL + JO NEUGEBAUER + JOE GUITON + RIAN KF + LATE NIGHTS 303, Northcote. 7:30pm.
YAH YAH’S Child are hitting Yah Yah’s this week, dragging along friends from Dr. Collossus and Low Fly Incline for their set, while Chris Wilson warms things up from the late afternoon. Wilson starts the proceedings at quarter past five, playing his classic after-work knockoff set of blues and booze before Child take the upstairs stage from 8pm onwards. Catch Child at Yah Yah’s this Friday December 18. Doors open at 5pm, entry to the later show is $13.
A VERY HEAVY XMAS - FEAT: OUCH MY FACE! + THE DACIOS + DARK FAIR + MORE Old Bar, Fitzroy. 7:30pm.
THE SEVEN UPS + THE DUB CAPTAINS The Luwow,
AMBER ISLES
CHILD
SLEAZY LISTENING - FEAT: ARKS + RICHARD KELLY + HYSTERIC + K HOOP Toff In Town, Melbourne CBD.
Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
9:00pm. $10.00.
TURRET
LOS CAJONES Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. PAUL WILLIAMSON’S HAMMOND COMBO Paris Cat Jazz
THE ANDREA KELLER QUARTET Uptown Jazz Cafe,
BROOKE RUSSELL + BEN FRANZ Wesley Anne,
Collingwood. 7:30pm.
PR I NC E B A ND R O O M The Meanies are coming off the tail end of a busy as hell year, and they’re celebrating the end with a show in the Prince Bandroom this weekend. 2015 saw the band re-release all of their albums, with the addition of their first release in 21 years, It’s Not Me, It’s You, managing to score rave reviews around the globe. Alongside big names Bodyjar, High Tension and Cowsmuff, The Meanies take on the Prince Bandroom this Friday December 18. Doors open at 8pm, entry is $35.
Brunswick East. 9:00pm.
SOOTHPLAYERS (COMPLETELY IMPROVISED SHAKESPEARE) - FEAT: SOOTHPLAYERS: COMPLETELY IMPROVISED SHAKESPEARE Butterfly Club, Melbourne
CHRISTOPHER COLEMAN COLLECTIVE + GEORGIA MOONEY + JAMES FAHY Grace Darling Hotel,
THE MEANIES & BODYJAR
SOUL CUPCAKE + IMMORTAL HORNS The B.east,
HARRISON CRAIG (DAVID JAANZ SCHOOL OF SINGING SHOWCASE) Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury. 6:30pm. MASHAKA Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 9:00pm. $16.00.
THE LUWOW The Dub Captains are hanging up their hats and calling it a day, locking in a final show at LuWoW to commemorate the event. With their second album soon to be released, the 13-piece will be performing a last set of pseudo-reggae in support of headliners The Seven Ups before saying their proper goodbyes. Join The Dub Captains at LuWoW this Friday December 18 for one last hurrah. Doors open at 8pm, entry is $10.
JAMIE HAY
TH E RE V E R E NC E H OT E L It’s gig night with a twist at The Reverence Hotel this week, as Oblivious Maximus perform a live podcast at the venue. While the podcast will be hosted by Aaron Osborne with guests Callum Preston, Kane Hibberd, Matt Weston and Patrick Galvin, they’ll also be supported by musical performances from Jamie Hay and The Guilt Parade whilst they discuss the ins and outs of working artistically in the music industry. Catch a night of music and conversation as Oblivious Maximus take over The Reverence Hotel this Thursday December 17. Doors open at 8pm, entry is $5.
HIEROPHANT
THE DUB CAPTAINS
Heads. 7:00pm.
DESTROY SHE SAID + PROPHETESS + BALLS Mr Boogie
Man Bar, Abbottsford. 8:00pm.
EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT THE WEATHER
FRIDAY DEC 18 30/70 + SENEGAMBIAN JAZZ BAND + RAW HUMPS Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $15.00.
ANNEMARIE SHARRY Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne BOSSA NIGHTS - FEAT: DARIUS & NOEL MENDOZA + DJ JUAN + DJ NAS Osti, Prahran. 7:00pm. DJ LOGAN JEFFS + GREG MOLINARO Belleville, Melbourne. 6:00pm.
HEATHER STEWART Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne CBD. 8:30pm. $25.00.
TOMMY CASTLES
T H E WO R K E R S C LU B Tommy Castles has scored his debut spot on this year’s Falls Festival bill – so he’s bringing the band down to The Workers Club for one last hurrah. Sentimentally, it also acts as a farewell show for drummer Ben Finley, meaning it may well be your last chance to catch the band in its original lineup. Make sure you catch multiinstrumentalist and experimenter extraordinaire Tommy Castles at The Workers Club this Friday December 18. Doors open at 8.30pm, entry is $10.
MAX WAT T’S The eagerly-anticipated annual stellar convergence Everybody Talks About The Weather is finally arriving at Max Watt’s, where three of Melbourne’s finest and experimentalists team up to synthesise, visualise and mesmerise. Join Robin Fox, Keith Fullerton Whitman and Marco Fusinato for a night coursing through the spectral, the dazzling and ultimately, the electronic and guitar based experimentation that has earned the annual event the reputation it deserves. Head on down to Max Watt’s to hear Everybody Talks About The Weather this Friday December 18. Doors open at 8pm, entry is $25+BF (oh, and the weather is 34 degrees and sunny since everybody is talking about it).
“Life has a way of confusing us, blessing and bruising us. Drink, l’chaim, to life!” BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 48
B E AT.C O M . A U
B E AT.C O M . A U
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GIG GUIDE my left boot & the high times (kyuss ...the circus leaves town 20th anniversary) + devil electric Cherry Bar, Melbourne CBD. 8:00pm. $25.00.
nice types Ascot Vale Hotel, Ascot Vale. 8:00pm. nun of the tongue + claws & organs + miss miss + woo who Public Bar, North Melbourne. 8:30pm. $10.00.
MILES AWAY
THE BENDIGO HOTEL Scooting over from the Nullarbor for one great big Christmas adventure are Perth’s kings of hardcore Miles Away, who have just locked in a show at The Bendigo Hotel before the weekend comes a-knockin’. Rip shit in the pit with supports from Born Free, Hitlist, Nerve Damage and Rebirth, and send away those end of year vibes with Miles Away this Friday December 18 at The Bendigo Hotel. Doors open at 8pm, entry is $15.
obat batuk + holy boner + phantom graveller + unnatural birth Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. polyester suck - feat: deaf wish + ausmuteants + totally mild + more Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 6:00pm. $15.00.
SATURDAY DEC 19 PHIL PARA
PR I N C E P U B L I C B A R After spending a whopping 30 years performing at The Espy, Phil Para has packed up his bags and set up shop at Prince Public Bar during the venue’s possibly endless renovations. Para continues to deliver his classic Hendrix, Santana, Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Muddy Waters, and ZZ Top, plus his own originals to fans that have been make the trek to St Kilda every Saturday evening. Treat yourself to a night of high energy blues rock when Phil Para takes over Prince Public Bar this Saturday December 19. Doors open at 6pm, entry is free.
tempura nights + diet + cool sounds John Curtin
alinta & the jazz emperors Paris Cat Jazz Club,
Hotel, Carlton. 7:00pm.
Melbourne CBD. 8:30pm. $25.00.
ROCK’N’ROLL CHRISTMAS 111
YAH YAH’S Yah Yah’s are hosting a night with more ho ho ho’s and rock’n’rolls than you can shake your red nose at. Featuring the likes of Massive, The Ugly Kings, Tequila Mockingbyrd, Arcane Saints, Cherry Grind, Then Thousand, The Mercy Kills, Cicadastone, Super Saloon and She Wolf – this lineup is surely big enough to get those sleigh bells red hot and ringing. Get on down to Yah Yah’s and celebrate a big old rock’n’roll Christmas with your friends. Doors open at 7pm, entry is $15.
einsteins toyboys + sunset strip Musicland,
the deadlips + chasing lana + the black alleys + the post Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $5.00. the goodtime music club - feat: whailer + rot + mondo bizzaro + more Beach Of Brunswick,
Fawkner. 7:30pm. $10.00.
Brunswick. 7:30pm. $5.00.
clancye milne (music of gershwin) Paris Cat Jazz
Melbourne. 8:00pm.
hey hey it’s friday - feat: astro boys Royal Hotel
9:00pm. $10.00.
watt’s on presents Prince Public Bar, St Kilda .
grand wazoo (xmas soul special) + doug williams + may johnstonFlying Saucer Club,
Club, Oakleigh. 8:00pm. $25.00.
(essendon), Essendon. 10:00pm.
8:30pm.
Elsternwick. 8:40pm. $25.00.
Melbourne CBD. 9:30pm. $25.00.
elvis is in the building Big Huey’s Diner, South
la danse macabre + brunswick massive resident djs Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:00pm.
ultimate power Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood.
yeti’s birthday bash - feat: vicious circle + birdcage + blunt shovel + drain life Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 8:00pm. $15.00.
acoustic avenue Black Hatt, Geelong. 9:30pm. arrester + dan southward Public Bar, North
babaganoush Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. christmas with the national boys choir of australia Hamer Hall (arts Centre Melbourne),
Southbank. 7:30pm. $55.00.
Club, Melbourne CBD. 7:00pm. $25.00.
jungle fever Gem Bar, Collingwood. 7:00pm. los kumbia killers Belleville, Melbourne. 9:00pm. roger clark quartet Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond.
9:00pm. $16.00.
Melbourne. 4:00pm.
benny james & the blue flames Catfish, Fitzroy.
Victoria Hotel (brunswick), Brunswick. 9:00pm.
DRUNK MUMS
DING DONG LOUNGE You’d be damn hard pressed to find a Melbourne band that can put the rock into roll better than Drunk Mums can, and they’re more than happy to prove this at Ding Dong Lounge this week for a special Christmas show. They’re known for raucous live shows, performing however they want with little regard for what anyone thinks. All the more reason to get down to Ding Dong Lounge and catch Drunk Mums in action on Friday December 18, don’t you think? Doors open at 9pm, entry is $15.
flying engine trio Testing Grounds, Melbourne. 6:00pm.
mick thomas & the roving commission (xmas show) + gemma & the clifton hillbillies + dave wright & the midnight electric Spotted Mallard,
Brunswick. 6:00pm. $25.00.
morning melodies - feat: rick charles: rockin’ rick charles Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully.
the julie o’hara quintet Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
uncle leon Dog’s Bar, St Kilda. 9:00pm. apes Barwon Heads Hotel, Barwon Heads. 7:00pm. bang (xmas party) - feat: earth caller + dvsr + avenues Royal Melbourne Hotel, Melbourne CBD.
JAMAICA JUMP-UP
chris wilson Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 5:15pm. claire birchall & the phantom hitchhikers
Fitzroy), Fitzroy North. 9:00pm.
tamara kuldin (gents of jazz) Paris Cat Jazz Club,
9:00pm. $20.00.
9:00pm.
cobra 45s Emerald Rsl, Emerald. 7:00pm. $12.00. daveys fridays - feat: rob & tarquin + superfly djs Daveys Bar & Restaurant, Frankston. 8:00pm. flying engine stringband Railway Hotel (nth
stax on soul (christmas show) Caravan Music
KING PARROT
D I N G D O N G LO U N G E How ‘bout some goddamn grind in your stocking, friendo? King Parrot are hosting a big old bastard of a Christmas show at Ding Dong Lounge with enough shred to leave the merry red man dead. With him out of the way, there’s a high chance that this show and the lump of coal that Gina Rinehart is trying to force feed this country are going to be the only gifts you’ll receive this Christmas – you might as well enjoy one of them. Cop some hearing damage with King Parrot at Ding Dong Lounge this Saturday December 19. Doors open at 9pm, entry is $25.
11:00am. $17.00.
THE GASOMETER After eight huge dance parties, including November’s unforgettable outing with Stranger Cole, PBS 106.7FM has just announced 2015’s final edition of their monthly ska, rocksteady and early reggae event Jamaica Jump-Up at The Gasometer Hotel this weekend. Resident Jump-Up selectors Jesse I (Babylon Burning), Mohair Slim (Blue Juice) and Stryka D (Break the Chain) will be joined by JJU favourites Miss Goldie (Boss Action) and Kilmarnock Steve with 100% original vinyl selections from 9pm until 3am. To see out a huge year that has firmly put Jamaican revival on the map in Melbourne, they’re dragging the legendary Moonhops out as they reform for one last big end of year dance. Enjoy the final Jamaica Jump-Up of 2015 at The Gasometer Hotel this Saturday December 19. Doors open at 9pm, entry is $10 for PBS members, $15 for everyone else.
better late than never Ascot Vale Hotel, Ascot Vale. 8:00pm.
big smoke + new gods Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:30pm.
simon bailey + shane omara + dame fitzgerald
cherry bomb + digger & the pussycats + the council Cherry Bar, Melbourne CBD. 8:00pm.
Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 9:30pm.
soothplayers (completely improvised shakespeare) - feat: soothplayers: completely improvised shakespeare Butterfly Club, Melbourne
$13.00.
cor ten Black Hatt, Geelong. 9:30pm.
CBD. 8:30pm. $25.00.
steve lucas Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbottsford. 5:00pm.
the firebird trio Dog’s Bar, St Kilda. 9:00pm. the grubs Wesley Anne, Northcote. 4:00pm. the new savages + the horns of leroy + this way north Penny Black, Brunswick. 9:00pm. the world at a glance + hospital + worm crown + cr acked tapes + shut up jackson 303, Northcote. 8:00pm.
PLATINUM RAT
THE GRACE DARLING H OT E L After two years of stealing hearts and spilling blood across the stage, Platinum Rat have pulled out nine tracks of pure carnage to chuck on a CD. Now with all the CDs printed, the launch is thankfully just around the corner, going down at the Grace Darling this Friday December 18 with a musical blend coming out of Wet Lips, Hi-Tec Emotions, The Bunyip Moon and Burger Chef. Let the good times roll at Platinum Rat’s album launch, from 8pm this Friday at The Workers Club. $10 entry. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 50
things of stone & wood St Kilda Memo, St Kilda. 8:00pm. $30.00.
tommy castles + lisa miosku + connor blackharryWorkers Club, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.00. warner bros Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:30pm.
zerafina zara & alleged associates Smokehouse
101, Maidstone. 7:00pm.
ROLAND TINGS
H OWL E R Roland Tings dropped some big ol’ dirty bombs on Paradise Festival earlier this month, so if you missed out, get your arse down to Howler and catch his hedonistic thumps this weekend before the year runs through. Saturday marks the official launch for his new single Hedonist, a follow up to his self-titled debut album, which has earned him praise from the likes of XLX8R and triple J. Come cut some serious shapes at Howler when Roland Tings hits the stage on Saturday December 19. Doors open at 8pm, entry is $20.
B E AT.C O M . A U
THE NATIONAL EVENING EXPRESS
THE WORKERS CLUB The National Evening Express have just announced the release of their new single Energy, and they’re taking to The Workers Club this weekend for a launch party with more rock than a damn quarry. Haul out your Christmas spirit, jingle some bells and go ham on the egg nog as The National Evening Express thump out some riffs to your aural pleasure. As an added bonus, the band are getting right into the festive sprit by offering a free track when you get on board to their mailing list. You can catch The National Evening Express on Saturday December 19 at The Workers Club. Doors open at 12pm with free entry.
JUNG LIB RULZ PARTY
2 4 MO O NS After already putting on many a gig round our fair nation, the Jung Lib Rulz Party hosts are continuing the tradition in Melbourne, throwing on their avantgarde crust surrealist convention festival this Saturday December 19 at Northcote’s 24 Moons. Music-wise, it looks a fucking treat. They’ve got the 30/70 collective, Fierce Mild, Edith Lane, Shit Sex and Pussy Juice all coming along, with stacks more on offer. With art installations and projection artists in tow, the Jung Lib Rulz Party starts up this Saturday at 7.30pm. $5 entry before 9pm, $10 after.
GIG GUIDE
JIMMY DOWLING
TH E D RU NK E N P O E T If you’re looking to be taken on a nostalgic trip through the everyday musings of the modern man, Jimmy Dowling’s set at The Drunken Poet this week will have you covered. His performances are poetic, confident and ultimately raw – using a captivating delivery to touch upon the imagination of the listener. Jimmy Dowling will be launching a new album on the night, so head down to The Drunken Poet and grab a copy this Saturday December 19, or Sunday December 20, and watch him take the next step into his career. Doors open at 8pm, entry is free as always.
GRIM RHYTHM + COSMIC KAHUNA + UNCLE GEEZER Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm.
HALT EVER X EXEK + COBWEBBS + VACUUM + SIMON J KARIS + FRUIT AND NUT Old Bar, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. $10.00.
HEART OF GLASS Bella Union Bar, Carlton. 9:00pm.
THE STILLSONS
T H E PO ST OFFICE HOTEL The Stillsons play contemporary roots, country, blues, folk, rock, ragtime and pop, but not necessarily in that order, and it should come as no surprise that they’ll be heading to Melbourne’s home of roots The Post Office Hotel this weekend. Get down to the venue this Saturday December 19 and catch The Stillsons busting out a free entry set from 9.30pm.
$10.00.
HOLLYWOOD HEARTACHE Wrangler Studios, Footscray. 7:00pm.
HUSKY + GENA ROSE BRUCE + CODA CHROMA Northcote
XMAS EVEN
T H E E V E LYN H OT E L Travelling into its 15th year, the Evelyn Hotel’s Xmas Even annual Christmas party has swung around once again, this time featuring a special surprise to stick in your stocking. Even have just finished pressing a 7” single of brand new material, but be warned, there’s only 50 copies available for all you hungry fans. Catch the set and pickup the single as Even play The Evelyn Hotel this Saturday December 19. Doors open at 8pm with $30 entry.
JUNG LIB RULZ PARTY - FEAT: 30/70 + FIERCE MILD + GOING SWIMMING + TRASH FAIRYS + MORE 24 Moons, Northcote. 8:00pm.
Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm.
DAMIAN COWELL’S DISCO MACHINE + PINKY BEECROFT + ANARCHY IN THE UKELELE Corner Hotel, Richmond.
NEW LEASE CHRISTMAS PARTY
8:00pm. $20.00.
FATAI Workers Club (geelong), Geelong. 8:00pm.
$21.00.
TASH SULTANA
TH E CU RTI N Underground Melbourne roots artist Tash Sultana has booked her final Melbourne show of the year, playing The Curtin this Sunday December 20. The dynamic young performer has been making waves in the indie scene all year, with her incredible guitar playing and vocal loops, as well as multiple sold out shows. The end of year show follows a stack of festival slots for Tash, and will be your last chance to see the roots star in her hometown for a while before she heads off on tour. Sultana performs at the Curtin this Saturday December 19 from 8pm. $15 entry.
THE CURTIN Before closing up shop over the summer, New Lease organisers are throwing one last bash at The Curtin this Saturday December 19, bringing on Curtin regulars Mighty Boys, Kid Choonga and Sloppy Kiss Soiree to the big stage. No doubt this’ll be the best gig you can see for nothing all weekend, which is normally the case for New Lease. Their Christmas party kicks off this Saturday from 3pm.
INFECTED TRANSITOR
WH O LE LOT TA LOV E B A R There’s more thrash and hardcore than you can shake an axe at down at Whole Lotta Love this weekend. Prick your ears up for some big noise from the likes of CounterAttack, Christcrusher, Crossed, Grudge and finally Infected Transistor as they round out the night with a set of bluesy sludge metal. Infected Transistor plays Whole Lotta Love this Saturday December 19. Doors open from 8pm, entry is free.
Q&A
JASIA What do you reckon people will say you sound like? I’ve gotten M83, Sigur Ros, Cocteau Twins on recordings, but live right now it’s more Jonsi-esque singing while playing shoegazey guitar and electric violin over synth/drum machine tracks with a math rock drummer thrashing away behind it all. What do you love about making music? Slipping into a song or track and not noticing the hours as they pass into the work. Live performance, the erratic unpredictability of being a biological machine attempting to recreate emotional states via song for transference on a consistent basis. What do you hate about the music industry? Nothing. It’s both an entertainment industry as well as an aspect of the art world and I feel like you have to decide what it is you’re in it for and be happy with the result, whether you’re chasing mass commercial appeal or an unrestricted outlet for your creative passions. If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why? Beethoven, to learn from the master of instrumental, thematic emotion. What can a punter expect from your live show? Drama and intrigue and raw overblown presentations of works from spending the year alone in a cabin and a tree house writing in the mountains. You can catch JASIA every Wednesday in December at The Workers Club. Support comes from Barry Tones and Sugarteeth Wednesday December 16, I Know The Chief, Slowcoach and Swim Season Wdnesday December 23, and Amber Isles and The Gaza Stripper Wednesday December 30.
REVERENCE’S END OF YEAR PARTYFEST
THE R EV ERENCE HOTEL Sharing a mutual love for all things loud and heavy, The Reverence are pairing up with some local favourites to host a loud as hell end-of-year partyfest. Featuring the likes of Laser Brains, Pitt The Elder, Del Lagos, Charm and Self Talk, you can expect a night so noisy that it’s sure to leave your ears a-ringin’. The Reverence’s End Of Year Partyfest goes down on Saturday December 19 from 7.30pm. Entry is $8.
DO MORE THAN DRINK FUNDRAISER
THE B.EA ST Christmas is coming, and The B.East is hosting a Christmas bash fundraiser with a twist – they’re not only hosting The Sugarcanes and The PutBacks, but for every drink sold on the night, they’ll be donating a dollar to the #domorethandrink December campaign. Head on down to The B.East and catch a great night of tunes and drink specials while supporting marginalised youth with your donations. Catch the Do More Than Drink Fundraiser at The B.East this Saturday December 19. Doors open at 7pm, entry is free – but donations are encouraged. B E AT.C O M . A U
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 51
GIG GUIDE kim volkman & the whiskey priests Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 7:00pm.
mick thomas & the roving commission (xmas show) St Kilda Memo, St Kilda. 8:00pm. $25.00. mikelangelo (christmas show) Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 6:00pm. $25.00.
mon shelford + ian maddick Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6:00pm.
new birds + ross cottee’s timezone Public Bar,
THE HORNETS
THE RETREAT HOTEL The Hornets are celebrating their 20th Anniversary as a band, and plan to bring a helluva party to the Retreat Hotel on Saturday December 19. The Hornets feature the cream of Australia’s roots music scene, with the imitable Jeff Burstin on guitar (Black Sorrows, Vika and Linda, Renee Geyer, Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons) Bruce Haymes on the keys (Paul Kelly, Archie Roach), Wayne Duncan on bass (Daddy Cool), Chris Tabone on drums (Bad Loves) and Craig Horne on vocals and guitar. Quite the talented bunch, really. The Hornets will take over The Retreat for two special sets, all kicking off at 5pm. Entry is free, as always.
ELWOOD BLUES CLUB
PR I N C E P U B L I C B A R Elwood Blues Club is still calling Prince Public Bar home, much to the delight of blues enthusiasts inhabiting fine old Melbourne town. For one very special night of the week, you can catch both local and international talent performing at the blues club, supported by the in house Elwood Blues Club All Star band. Catch a fine night of blues at Prince Public Bar with the Elwood Blues Club this Sunday December 20. Doors open at 5.30pm, entry is free.
North Melbourne. 3:00pm.
old married couple Victoria Hotel (brunswick),
a swingin’ bella christmas - feat: alan brough + virginia gay Bella Union Bar, Carlton. 8:00pm.
Brunswick. 9:00pm.
$35.00.
president roots Baha Tacos & Tapas Bar, Rye. 7:00pm.
slipdixies Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 5:00pm. soothplayers (completely improvised shakespeare) - feat: soothplayers: completely improvised shakespeare Butterfly Club, Melbourne CBD. 8:30pm. $25.00.
the hosies Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:30pm. the jills + the fluffs & melody moon Open
all day fritz Open Studio, Northcote. 4:30pm. andrew nolte & his orchestra Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 5:30pm.
big band frequency Wesley Anne, Northcote. 2:00pm. $5.00.
Melbourne CBD. 3:00pm. $10.00.
congratulations everybody + palm springs Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 5:00pm.
creek + hong dang + whoopie cat Bendigo Hotel,
Collingwood. 7:30pm.
dan & al Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm. $17.00. drunken poachers Tramway Hotel, North Fitzroy. 3:30pm.
elwood blues club Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 8:00pm.
erik hokkanen The Shadow Electric, Abbotsford.
7:00pm. $12.00.
fat cousin skinny Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6:00pm. field + see + mason Royal Oak Hotel, Fitzroy North. 4:00pm.
carino son Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 5:30pm. geoff achison Daveys Bar & Restaurant, Frankston.
georgia state line Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 4:00pm. greg dodd & the hoodoo men Rainbow Hotel,
2:30pm.
Fitzroy. 4:00pm.
Ferdydurke, Melbourne CBD. 7:00pm.
Northcote. 7:00pm.
hung up - feat: miss goldie + dave boots
Studio, Northcote. 5:00pm.
charles jenkins Dog’s Bar, St Kilda. 7:30pm. chris russell’s chicken walk Cherry Bar,
greg steps + kat eddy + tom cartoonist 303,
low talk + ballads + golden syrup Old Bar,
the national evening press + happy go blues + belle reves Workers Club, Fitzroy. 1:00pm. $5.00. the stetson family Union Hotel (brunswick),
7:30pm.
Fitzroy. 4:30pm.
Brunswick. 5:00pm.
Union Hotel (brunswick), Brunswick. 5:00pm.
greg walsh Farouk’s Olive, Thornbury. 5:00pm. gretta ziller Catfish, Fitzroy. 5:00pm. hugh mcginlay & the recessive genes + hello satellites + richard putnam Toff In Town,
Bar, North Melbourne. 8:30pm. $10.00.
Northcote. 8:00pm.
ian collard Union Hotel (brunswick), Brunswick.
9:00pm.
the environmental symphony - feat: the melbourne symphony orchestra + bert newton
a blonde moment Ascot Vale Hotel, Ascot Vale.
jake fehily + noah earp + gretta ray + jonathan skvoron Workers Club, Fitzroy. 1:00pm. $10.00. jonathon devoy + sarah eida + patrick arnold Mr
Hamer Hall (arts Centre Melbourne), Southbank.
Boogie Man Bar, Abbottsford. 7:00pm.
8:00pm.
5:00pm. $50.00.
joseph paola & the strains Edinburgh Castle,
HONG DANG
Brunswick. 5:00pm.
malcolm hill & this is the show + dirty soul funk big band Lyrebird Lounge, Ripponlea. 8:00pm. phil spector christmas album tribute - feat: the shabbab + the reprobettes + la bastard + more Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm.
riffmas iv - feat: riff fist + seedy jeezus + sheriff + more Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 4:00pm. $15.00. rock & roller - feat: significant other + lieutenant jam + abolicion Beach Of Brunswick, Brunswick. 8:30pm. $10.00.
roviana lagoon + the peeks + cameron bobitt Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 8:00pm. $5.00.
saturdays r covered - feat: radio star Royal
vinten + jp klipspringer + john kennedy Public
SUNDAY DEC 20 alex elbery & the strangers + crayon king + ostranger tang 303, Northcote. 2:00pm. christmas party - feat: thunderstruck + sunset strip + bellatrix + sisters doll + more Musicland, Fawkner. 2:30pm.
the tarantinos (pulp fiction 21st anniversary) Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 8:00pm.
Collingwood. 7:00pm.
spacejunk + a gazilion angry mexicans + three headed fool Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 5:00pm. the rebelles + the offtopics The Luwow, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. $10.00.
5:00pm.
little sea St Kilda Memo, St Kilda. 4:00pm. monique angele Farouk’s Olive, Thornbury. 8:00pm.
Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $30.60.
the in the out + the night collectors + pale trip
tigress volume one launch party 303, Northcote. xmas even + sun god replica + wesley fuller ben abraham Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury. 7:00pm.
$5.00.
Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $6.00.
$25.00.
tom showtime + agent 86 + maars Penny Black,
8:00pm.
xmas even + the pink tiles + tooth & tusk Evelyn
cobra 45s Cunninghams Hotel, Yarra Junction. craig woodward + warren rough Victoria Hotel
moreland city soul revue (christmas show) sarah mcdonald + mondo kain Open Studio, sunday soul sessions Purple Emerald, Northcote.
cobwebbs + hierophants + wet blankets + pillow pro Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 6:00pm. dan kelly + cool sounds + the smb + darling james Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 4:00pm. $17.00. grace darling xmas party - feat: the cherry dolls + neon queen + batz Grace Darling Hotel,
Hotel (essendon), Essendon. 10:00pm.
kiddo + allysha joy Retreat Hotel, Brunswick.
Brunswick. 7:00pm.
Hotel, Fitzroy. 3:00pm. $30.60.
(brunswick), Brunswick. 5:00pm. $5.00.
dal santo Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8:00pm. $5.00. dan lethbridge Catfish, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. danny ross Charles Weston Hotel, Brunswick.
T H E B E N D I G O H OT E L Grab a cheap jug and relax at The Bendigo this Sunday December 20, as they play host to three local up and comers. Blues rockers Whoopie Cat take on the stage early, setting the scene just right for instrumental prog-trio Hong Dang, with minimalist beatmakers Creek closing the night out. Three bands, five bucks, doors open 7pm. Come on down.
the furbelows Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne CBD. 8:30pm. $25.00.
the melbourne jazz co-op presents Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
the winnebago lounge St Kilda Memo, St Kilda. 5:00pm.
THE PHEASANT PLUCKERS
T H E P O S T O F F I C E H OT EL With almost 20 years and five albums under their belt, Melbourne’s own Pheasant Pluckers continue to entertain audiences of all ages with their own country bluegrass sound. With a progressive and alternative slant, they can play everything fast, mellow, and everywhere in between. Upright bass, rhythm and lead acoustic guitar, banjo, dobro, percussion, harmonica, and they love to sing up a harmony. Have a jam with The Pheasant Pluckers at The Post Office Hotel, this Sunday December 20 from 4.30pm. Free entry.
6:30pm.
backwood creatures Labour In Vain, Fitzroy.
Hotel (brunswick), Brunswick. 9:00pm.
benny peters blues revue Gem Bar, Collingwood.
drunken poachers (christmas show) Union
hyperfokus + maars + obliveus Penny Black, Brunswick. 7:00pm.
iain archibald band + megan sidwell Musicland, Fawkner. 8:30pm. $15.00.
karaoke with zoe Customs House Hotel,
Williamstown. 9:00pm.
kelly auty band Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East.
9:30pm. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 52
3:30pm.
NIKKI NICHOLLS ROCKIN’ CHRISTMAS
THE FLYING SAUCER CLUB The Flying Saucer Club is welcoming back Nikki Nicholls for a Christmas show of epic proportions this weekend. Head down to hear tracks from Nicholls’ album Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood, along with a collection of other songs from artists she’s performed with such as Stevie Wonder, Suzi Quatro, Thelma Huston, John Farnham and Australian Crawl amongst many others as she recounts stories of her life on the road. Nikki Nicholls’ Rockin Christmas show kicks off at The Flying Saucer Club this Sunday December 20. Doors open at 2.30pm, entry is $20.
large number 12s Standard Hotel, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. luau cowboys Victoria Hotel (brunswick), Brunswick. 4:00pm.
5:00pm.
greenthief + a gazillion angry mexicans + twoheaded dog Penny Black, Brunswick. 9:00pm. groove bandits (xmas party) Mr Boogie Man Bar,
Abbottsford. 7:00pm.
Melbourne CBD. 7:30pm. $12.00.
7:00pm.
blood burger Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 4:00pm.
THE GRACE DARLING CHRISTMAS THE EVERYMEN PARTY T H E G R AC E DA R L I N G Rip on down to Collingwood’s Grace Darling this Sunday December 20 for their much anticipated Christmas party, headlined by energetic indie rock quintet The Cherry Dolls. The ‘60s inspired rockers won’t be bringing in the Christmas spirit by themselves, however, thanks to a little help from Neon Queen and BATZ. Doors open 7pm, and entry won’t cost you a thing.
T H E R E T R E AT H OT E L The Everymen are taking to The Retreat Hotel with piano and drums in tow, getting ready to drop some swampy blues on your Sunday evening. The powerhouse duo will knock you clean off your feet with their clever combination of traditional blues and wry humour, with every show promising a night of rounded entertainment. Catch The Everymen at The Retreat Hotel this Sunday December 20. Doors open at 5pm, entry is free.
B E AT.C O M . A U
JIM LAWRIE
THE WORKERS CLUB After spending 2015 performing at multiple festivals, earning his first AIR Awards nomination and successfully releasing his second full length album Eons, it’s safe to say that Jim Lawrie has had an exciting year. To celebrate the end, as well as launch his latest single Antisocialite, Lawrie is heading to The Workers Club to chuck on a set this Sunday December 20. Don’t be antisocial; catch the launch of Antisocialite, this Sunday from 7pm. $12 entry.
GIG GUIDE THE TRAVIS WINTERS BLUES BAND The Water Rat Hotel, South Melbourne. 5:00pm. $5.00.
XMAS ACOUSTIC SHOW - FEAT: HAP & BRODIE + JUAN ALBAN + FREYA JOSEPHINE HOLLICK + ST AUGUSTINE
Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 7:00pm. $10.00.
Karova Lounge, Ballarat. 7:00pm. $10.00.
(brunswick), Brunswick. 7:00pm.
C H ER RY BAR You might want to break out your hard hats for this one – Diva Demolition are taking over Cherry Bar this weekend for a set that the OHS manager wouldn’t ever approve of. The two-piece have been touring since 2005, performing four Australian Defence tours and managing to score support slots with the likes of Kiss, Motley Crue, Aerosmith and Thin Lizzy. Diva Demolition destroys Cherry Bar this Sunday December 20. Doors open at 8pm with free entry.
Studio, Northcote. 7:00pm.
303 JAM NIGHT 303, Northcote. 8:15pm. BYO VINYL NIGHT Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:00pm. CHERRY JAM Cherry Bar, Melbourne CBD. 8:00pm. JURASSIC NARK + SLOPPY KISS SOIREE + WOO WHO Old
Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 7:00pm.
Club, Northcote. 8:00pm.
Club, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. $12.00.
South Melbourne. 4:00pm.
Fitzroy. 7:30pm. $3.00.
MIKE BEALE + SAMMY OWEN + BRASH THE EMPIRE
A SWINGIN’ BELLA CHRISTMAS - FEAT: MIKELANGELO + REBECCA BARNARD Bella Union Bar, Carlton. 8:00pm.
$35.00.
Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 7:00pm.
PHEASANT PLUCKERS Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 4:30pm.
THE NATURAL CULTURE Open Studio, Northcote.
SUNDAY SESSION - FEAT: BRUNSY Ferntree Gully Hotel,
8:30pm.
DOG ACT + EGYPT LIES + INFRAGHOSTS + SISSYSOCKS
Ferntree Gully. 2:00pm.
SUNDAY SESSIONS - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS Lucky
Public Bar, North Melbourne. 7:00pm. $6.00.
YAH YA H’ S It’s a big old sludgy Sunday at Yah Yah’s this week, with Sydney based doom/sludge metal act Yanomano coming down to Melbourne for a heavy showing. Teaming up with Devil Electric, Merchant and Zombie Motors Wrecking Yard, expect a noisy night at Yah Yah’s as all amps get primed to maximum volume. Yanomano plays Yah Yah’s on Sunday December 20 from 7pm. Entry is $13.
THE WOODLAND HUNTERS
THE RETRE AT HOTEL Tuesday night ain’t no Saturday night, so The Woodland Hunters are stringing out some appropriate tunes to suit the mood down at The Retreat Hotel. The band will add a special touch to your evening, telling stories of wonder, melancholy and inspiration, along with a few foot stompers to keep things fast paced. The Woodland Hunters play the Retreat this Tuesday December 22. Doors open at 8.30pm, entry is free.
WANT YOUR GIG IN GIG GUIDE? EMAIL A SHORT BLURB AND PIC TO MUSICNEWS@BEAT.COM.AU
FRESH INDUSTRY SHOWCASES Revolver Upstairs,
Coq, Windsor. 4:00pm.
THE EVERY MEN Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm. THE GIN CLUB + JIMMY STEWART Northcote Social
YANOMANO
T H E P U B LI C B A R Melbourne country-folk act The Taylor Project are launching their new CD, Doreen Doreen, at The Public Bar early next week. They’re known for painting ballads with lap steel, banjo, mandolin and fiddle, all the while soaking it with a subtle touch of humour and pub comfort. The Taylor Project take on The Public Bar this Monday December 21. Doors open at 7.30pm with $6 entry.
8:00pm.
CBD. 8:30pm. $25.00.
9:00pm.
THE TAYLOR PROJECT
A SWINGIN’ BELLA CHRISTMAS - FEAT: EDDIE PERFECT + TRIPOD Bella Union Bar, Carlton. 8:00pm. $35.00. IRISH SESSION Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East.
7:30pm.
SOOTHPLAYERS (COMPLETELY IMPROVISED SHAKESPEARE) - FEAT: SOOTHPLAYERS: COMPLETELY IMPROVISED SHAKESPEARE Butterfly Club, Melbourne
THE STEVE MARTINS Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East.
PHIA + EDWARD FRANCIS + JOSH THE CAT Workers
TUESDAY DEC 22
SEAN MCMAHON & THE MOONMEN + JOSHUA SEYMOUR + MATTY GREEN Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood.
Club, Northcote. 2:00pm. $16.00.
PRI N CE PUB L I C B AR Taste of Indie Collective are hosting Duo Trio Night this week at Prince Public Bar in St Kilda, dragging along some smooth tunesters for their weekly Tuesday night mass. The collective will be presenting the calm sounds of Dale Gannon & The Misguided Souls, rock/ roots outfit Waterline and melodic/folk act Oktober Skies for your aural pleasure. Whatever your taste, the collective have got it covered. Catch Taste Of Indie Collective at Prince Public Bar on Tuesday December 22. Doors open at 7.30pm, entry is free.
MONDAY NIGHT MASS - FEAT: KIM SALMON + BAPTISM OF UZI + MICHAEL BEACH + LOOBS Northcote Social
MATT DWYER & THE MAGNATONES Big Huey’s Diner, MICHELLE GARDINER Customs House Hotel,
DUO TRIO NIGHT
BEK’S BIRTHDAY - FEAT: GOATPISS GASOLINE + JIMMY STEWART + MORE Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 4:00pm. LAURA & GREG + JIMMY HAWK BAND + PALM SPRINGS
Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $5.00.
ROMEO MOON + MY ELEPHANT RIDE + UNCLE BOBBY + MEALS Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.00. SLEEPY DREAMERS + ALEXANDER BIGGS Workers Club,
Williamstown. 3:00pm.
JOHNNY CAN’T DANCE CAJUN BAND Victoria Hotel
UNCLE TALGIUM (CHOCO) EDWARDS BENEFIT GIG Open
MONDAY DEC 21 DIVA DEMOLITION
REBETIKO Belleville, Melbourne. 8:00pm. BRETT FRANKE + JOSH VUOCOLO + PENNY BOHAN
Prahran. 7:00pm.
MORBIDLY O’BEAT + CRAYON KING + BLACK MOLASSES
MUNDANE MONDAYS
Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $5.00.
TH E OL D B A R It’s that time of the week again. You’re back on the train, the coffee isn’t working, and you’ve gotta see that one co-worker who’s trying to be your best friend but you can’t help but feel they’re secretly trying to kill you. Assuming two out of three of those hypotheticals are true, why not sort your shit out and turn Monday into a good thing? Drag your arse down to Old Bar and catch Jurassic Nark, Sloppy Kiss Soiree and Woo Who, sink a few ‘responsible’ jugs of $15 Unicorn Lager and start panicking about your lack of New Year’s plans. Jurassic Nark headline Mundane Monday at Old Bar this Monday December 21. Doors open at 8pm, entry is $5.
SEB MONT + MONDEGREEN + TIARYN + THE MOONLIGHTERS Toff In Town, Melbourne CBD. 7:00pm. $10.00.
THE RESIGNATORS + FOLEY Cherry Bar, Melbourne CBD. 8:00pm.
THE SHIFTIES + THE PHOSPHENES + THE GOOD MINUS 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. $6.00.
WATERLINE + OCTOBER SKIES + DALE GANNAN & THE MISGUIDED SOULS Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 7:30pm.
B E AT.C O M . A U
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 53
Wed 16th December
W I N E , W H I S K EY, W O M E N 8pm: Paige Court 9pm: Darcy Fox Thurs 17th December
Open Mic Night
7pm:
Fri 18th December
6pm: Traditional 8.30pm:
Irish Session
Miss Whiskey
Saturday 19th December
9pm:
Jimmy Dowling ALBUM LAUNCH
Sunday 20th December
4pm:
Jimmy Dowling ALBUM LAUNCH
Bona Fide Travellers
6.30pm:
Tuesday 21st december
TRIVIA-XMAS SPECIAL! The Drunken Poet, 65 Peel Street (directly opposite Queen Vic Market), Phone: 03 9348 9797. www.thedrunkenpoet.com.au
TUESDAY 15th 7PM
ESESE
LIVE ELECTRIC SOUL BAND WEDNESDAY 16th 7PM
GROOVE CONTROL THURSDAY 17th 7PM
JUNGLE FUNK RESIDENT MANCHILD
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS. AFROBEAT, CUMBIA, FUNK, SAMBA & LIVE PERCUSSIONS. FRIDAY 18TH 7PM
UNDERGROUND HOUSE AND TECHNO BY HEADS W TAILS
SATURDAY 19TH 7PM
LEO & PATRICK SUNDAY 20TH 12PM
HUNG UP! MISS GOLDIE & DAVE BOOTS!
W W W. B E AT.C O M . A U
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 55
REHEARSAL STUDIOS
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8 Tinning St, Brunswick
PA HIRE Mastering for CD, Vinyl & Online Releases
thecabinmastering.com Ph-0408 565 121
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
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SARAH MORGAN DEPARTS MUSHROOM
Sarah Morgan, long time publicist at Michael Gudinski’s Mushroom Group, has left the company. She’s heading back to New Zealand to do a Bachelor Of Commerce, majoring in Agricultural Commerce, after which she’ll work with farmers and the rural industries to devise better and more organic food. HOPESTREET RECORDINGS TEAMS WITH NATIVE TONGUE
HopeStreet Recordings and Native Tongue Music Publishing struck up a partnership to develop and work HopeStreet’s diverse catalogue. Its current roster has Emma Donovan & The Putbacks, The Meltdown, The Bombay Royale, The Cactus Channel, The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra and Quarter Street. The label was set up in 2009 by musicians Tristan Ludowyk and Bob Knob, who produced the 24 vinyl releases. “We’re hugely inspired by labels like Stax, with an in-house family that could do everything from write, arrange, produce and perform on the hits,” explained Ludowyk. Native Tongue’s Matt Tanner said, “We’re excited to work with HopeStreet, who are a Melbourne institution that continually deliver the best soul and funk artists and releases that Australia has to offer.” KATY PERRY BIGGEST MONEY MAKER OF 2015
Katy Perry was the biggest earning pop artist of 2015, making $135 million from her 17 month Prism world tour, according to US business magazine Forbes. Last year she was #23. Others were One Direction BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 58
Why was Ed Sheeran spotted at the Coffs Harbour airport? Had he made a flying visit to catch up with Russell Crowe? What would you do for a ticket to a soldout festival? ‘Alex’ advertised his tix for Sydney’s Knockout Circuz for $260 on Gumtree on the proviso the buyer cook him breakfast, sing the national anthem and lose to him on Mario Kart. Chris Cornell dedicated Temple Of The Dog’s 1991 track Say Hello 2 Heaven to Scott Weiland at his Palais Theatre gig. Weiland was buried at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in LA at a service attended by members of Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver. Chris Kushner, wife of Velvet Revolver’s Dave Kushner, posted to Instagram: “A very sad day when u bury a friend. He was a good man. Don’t believe everything u read. Remember, we were all there.” In the current debate about pill-testing at festivals, Adelaide’s City councillor Anne Moran suggested that, as it’s impossible to stop people from taking drugs in, a way to prevent overdoses is to stop festivals from being held on very hot days. Today’s weather predicting technology would give promoters ample time to reschedule, she said. In the wake of three Perth cops facing dismissal after testing positive for drugs, a Queensland cop resigned after being found with drugs at a festival. The 26-year-old female faces the Brisbane Magistrates Court on January 5. London cops are investigating if there’s a link between the home burglaries in the same week of X Factor judges Simon Cowell and Rita Orr. They live within a three mile radius where eight thefts took place. A professional gang with possible inside knowledge robbed Cowell of £100,000 worth of goods while Orr lost “cash and personal items worth thousands of pounds.” Patrons at the Royal Derby Hotel on Brunswick St in Fitzroy were evacuated last Friday at about 9.30 pm and told a “serious bomb threat” had been made. Melbourne singer/songwriter Natasha Duarté’s Kissing Lips has been recognised in the UK Songwriting Contest. The song, from the 20-year-old’s First Time album through Empire Recordings/ MGM, was co-written with Trevor Carter and Marc Collis. The turquoise 1930s seats of Ballarat’s Her Majesty’s Theatre are up for sale as it goes through a $1.148m renovation (which will see new seats installed) before Rock Of Ages starts there in March. If you want any of them, advise them via www.hermaj.com of how many of the 900 you want, how much you’re offering and what you’ll use them for. Deadline for expressions of interest is Friday January 8.
R
A week after setting a new attendance record at Perth’s Nib Stadium with 32,000, Ed Sheeran did the same at AAMI Park in Melbourne. His two shows drew 33,602 on Saturday December 5 and 33,877 on Sunday December 6. The total was over 67,500, impressive since it was just the singer and his acoustic guitar onstage, and more so as it was his second tour this year. The AAMI Park’s previous attendance record of 31,847 was set by Bruce Springsteen in February 2014.
How did Taylor Swift’s I Knew You Were Trouble mistakenly reappear on Spotify under the name of Lostprophets, the UK band fronted by convicted paedophile Ian Watkins?
E
ED SHEERAN SETS AAMI PARK RECORD
THINGS WE HEAR
Z
Musicians, record labels, associations and conferences were among the 290 projects who received a share of the Australia Council’s recent $10.4 million funding round. They included Courtney Barnett ($20,000 for future releases), APRA ($150,000), POND ($15,000 for a US tour), Rice Is Nice Records ($24,901 to support new releases), The Necks ($50,000 to record new work and collaborate with Sunn O))) and Brian Eno), Contemporary Music Victoria ($150,000 in funding for three years), QMusic ($150,000 for Big Sound for another two years), Melbourne Jazz Cooperative ($50,000), as well as Jack Ladder ($36,855), Seven Stories ($24,990), Skipping Girl Vinegar ($6,990) Sophia Brous ($20,000), Sui Zhen ($11,334), The Getaway Plan ($14,560), Kate Miller-Heidke ($80,000), Little May ($42,685), Trophy Eyes ($14,166), Jess Ribeiro ($12,000), Cambodian Space Project ($34,864), The Peep Tempel ($17,950), and The Gooch Palms ($14,166). Applications are open for the next grants round, closing February 2. At www.australiacouncil.gov.au.
($130m), Garth Brooks ($90m), Taylor Swift ($80m) The Eagles ($73.5m), Calvin Harris ($66m), Justin Timberlake ($63.5m), Diddy ($60m), Fleetwood Mac ($59.5m) and Lady Gaga ($59m). Others on the list included Rolling Stones ($57.5m), Paul McCartney ($51.15m) and Foo Fighters ($38m).
STIE EL RI IE
MUSICIANS SHARE IN AUST. COUNCIL’S $10.4M FUNDING ROUND
H H
MUSIC INDUSTRY NEWS & GOSSIP
IT
C
INDUSTRIAL
W
The Waifs and Birds Of Tokyo shows during the Melbourne Zoo Twilights Series have both sold out. Eskimo Joe guitarist Stuart MacLeod is the new General Manager of Perth community station RTRFM 92.1. The dude who paid $2m for a one-off copy of Wu-Tang’s Once Upon a Time In Shaolin album was identified as Martin Shkreli. He’s the Turing Pharmaceuticals executive named “the most hated man in America” after raising the price of antiparasitic drug Daraprim, to treat malaria, from $13.50 a pill to $750. Going viral is a video shot by Newcastle punk band Local Resident Failure drummer Kye Smith playing every recorded Beatles song in five minutes, shot on the roof of the Great Northern Hotel. It’s got 670,000 YouTube views. Smith arranged the medley during a six month recuperation period after breaking his arm. Deerhunter’s Bradford Cox, who claimed onstage he’d been assaulted by Billy Corgan after an argument, has retracted saying it was “just stage banter.” Corgan’s people were threatening to sue. Among ARIA certifications: first platinum for The Amity Affliction’s Let The Ocean Take Me, second platinum for Human Nature’s The Christmas Album and a sixth for Adele’s 25. THE WEEKND SUED BY FILM FINANCIER …
A UK film financier is suing The Weeknd, alleging that his hit The Hills used part of the score from an obscure 2013 film The Machine. Cutting Edge Music Limited is a company that finances films and acquires interest in film soundtracks. The Machine, about cyborgs created in a war against China, had a score by Tom Raybould. He claims the tracks have the same synth bass “with almost identical idiosyncratic sounds at the same register and using the same pitch sequence, melodic phase structure and rhythmic durations.” …AND KENDRICK LAMAR BY A FAN
Kendrick Lamar, last week leading the Grammy nominations with eleven, is being sued for $1m by a fan. Whitney Larkins paid $350 for a VIP meet and greet at a US show. She then emailed his manager Dave Free requesting a further three minutes “one-on-one time” with the star. She claims Free emailed her the extra time would cost $10,000. But the night before the show she was told she would be barred from attending the show and her $350 refunded. HOW VICTORIA INSPIRED UK WITH AGENT OF CHANGE
Victoria’s introduction of Agent of Change in September 2014 – to protect existing music venues from complaints by recently arrived residents and putting the onus of sound proofing on builders of new dwellings – was a world first in that it covered an entire state. Previously in other parts of the world, Agent of Change only covered a few streets or an area. Now moves have started to place the agent of change principle in UK law on a statutory basis. Paul Reed, GM of the Association of Independent Festivals,stated, “It is a very common sense mechanism and has already been adopted in Australia.” The bill comes as many UK venues close down: 50 of London’s have gone dark in the past eight years.
MUSIC INDUSTRY NEWS & GOSSIP
STUFF FOR THIS COLUMN TO BE EMAILED TO C E L I E Z E R @ N E T S PA C E .N E T. A U B Y F R I D AY 5 P M
FIGHT TO SAVE NORTH FITZROY STAR
A Facebook group Save the North Fitzroy Star is set up to stop the redevelopment of the 137-year old pub. Its owner Leon Lachal has lodged an application to turn the site, on the corner of St Georges Road South and Newry Street, into five twostorey townhouses and a wine bar. Lachal has met with the group to discuss their concerns. WANNA WORK AT CREATIVE VICTORIA?
Creative Victoria is advertising for a Manager – Research and Analysis to help the Strategy and International Engagement Branch build the evidence base for the value of the creative industries and deliver an international engagement strategy. Full details at www.careers.vic.gov.au and refer to VG/019827. MELANIE WITHNALL CBAA VP
2SER Managing Director Melanie Withnall is the new Vice President of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) after Phillip Randall moved up to President. The board also formally appointed SYN presenter Bethany Atkinson-Quinton as its Women’s Representative. PPCA/OZ COUNCIL NEW ROUND OF RECORDING GRANTS
PPCA and the Australia Council are again partnering to offer another series of $15,000 grants to assist Australian artists with new sound recordings. Previous recipients have been Courtney Barnett, Mia Dyson, Slava & Leonard Grigoryan, The Growl and jazz ensemble The Vampires. Applications close on February 2. For more information and to apply for a grant head to: http://www.australiacouncil. gov.au/strategies-and-frameworks/ppcaaustralia-council-partnership/. PARTNERS: TRIPLE J & AIME
In the run up to the launch of its 2015 Hottest 100, triple j announced a new partnership with AIME where voters can make donations. It’s a mentoring program for Indigenous kids through school and university, training and employment at the same rate as every Australian child. Last year 93% of AIME’s Year 12 kids completed school, exceeding Australia’s non-Indigenous rate of 87% and the national Indigenous rate of 59%. NEW SIGNINGS
Sydney garage, soul and Afrobeat songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Klue AKA Gabriel Clouston has signed a record deal with etcetc Music (to release his debut EP in March) and electronic agency NUFFSAID, who’re booking his current national dates behind his Hiding single. Gig bookings for singer/songwriter and actress Sophie Lowe are now handled by Niche Productions in Australia/NZ. Spunk signed Sydney garage pop rock band Flowertruck.
Lifelines DATING: 5 Seconds of Summer’s Ashton Irwin and Playboy Playmate Bryana Holly, according to the Daily Telegraph. She was previously linked with Brody Jenner and James Packer. EXPECTING: Twins in June for Stones guitarist Ron Wood, 68, and wife Sally, 37. ILL: The CD launch of ailing Melbourne guitarist Ross Hannaford’s Hanna was postponed to this week after “his health took a sudden turn for the worst.” IN COURT: Christopher David Navin, former flatmate of Canberra punk identity, Nicholas SoferSchreiber AKA Ginger Ninja, was acquitted of his murder. But a jury found him guilty of manslaughter. Navin, getting treatment for schizophrenia behind bars, is likely to be sentenced in the new year and faces a maximum of 20 years jail. The Ninja was stabbed 73 times in his home on Boxing Day 2013. IN COURT: Two members of ‘60s British band The Tremeloes pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting a 15year old girl in a hotel room in 1968. SUING: Jared Leto takes action against the US gossip site TMZ for publishing a video (in which he disses Taylor Swift, saying, “I don’t give a fuck about her”) even though they had been warned the video had been stolen. DIED: Holly Woodlawn, the US transgender actress who inspired Lou Reed’s Walk On The Wild Side and appeared in Andy Warhol’s films Trash and Women in Revolt, of cancer at 69. DIED: John Garner, singer/drummer of ‘70s US heavy metal cult band Sir Lord Baltimore, of liver failure. DIED: Body of Marque ‘Tate’ Lynche, of American Idol’s Season 3, 34, found in his room in suspicious circumstances. He was also a cast member of The New Mickey Mouse Club from 1993 to 1995 alongside Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake and Ryan Gosling. DIED: Native American recording artist, poet and activist John Trudell, 70, best known for 1992’s AKA Grafitti Man.