ISSUE 1348 | 28 NOV 2012 | BEAT.COM.AU
MELBOURNE’S ORIGINAL AND HIGHEST CIRCULATING STREETPRESS
SPECIAL INSIDE
DANCE MASSIVE
REEL BIG FISH
TAME IMPALA
TURBONEGRO
100%: NICK WARREN
THIS WEEK: THE SELECTER, ZEBRAHEAD, JACKSON McLAREN, AURAL WINDOW, JORDIE LANE, SARITAH, WILL AND THE PEOPLE, KING PARROT, NIKKO, THE OCEAN PARTY
FRANKIE ROMANO VS VENUTO 2 CLUBS s 1 TICKET s DON’T MISS IT
MELBOURNE’S EPIC SATURDAY NIGHT CLUB
SATURDAY SATURDAY 11 DECEMBER DECEMBER
LEVEL 3 | CROWN ! entry. Management reserves all rights. Crown practices responsible serving of alcohol. Personal information collected by Crown will be handled in accordance with Crown’s Privacy Policy, see crownmelbourne.com.au.
entry. Management reserves all rights. Crown practices responsible serving of alcohol. Personal information collected by Crown will be handled in accordance with Crown’s Privacy Policy, see crownmelbourne.com.au.
PERKSOFAWALLFLOWER.COM.AU
Mature themes, drug use, sexual references and coarse language
IN CINEMAS NOVEMBER 29
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Beat Magazine Page 3
NE SHOW ADD W ED
EAST COAST AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2013 With special guest
MARCH 27 & 28 WITH SPECIAL GUESTS BOOMGATES
Saturday 2 February THEATRE ROYAL, Castlemaine Sunday 3 February CORNER HOTEL, Melbourne Tickets on sale now @ lovepolice.com.au/tours
AUSTRALIA 2013
with King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
WEDNESDAY 23 JANUARY BRIDGE HOTEL / CASTLEMAINE with King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard and Bored Nothing
THURSDAY 24 JANUARY CORNER HOTEL / MELBOURNE ON SALE NOW! tickets: lovepolice.com.au/tours
SAT 9 FEB NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB TICKETS: NORTHCOTESOCIALCLUB.COM & LOVEPOLICE.COM.AU/TOURS
TICKETS ON SALE NOW DEER TICK
jeffthebrotherhood.com lovepolice.com.au
Beat Magazine Page 4
‘DEVINE PROVIDENCE’ OUT NOW
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TWO GALLANTS ‘THE BLOOM & THE BLIGHT’ OUT NOW
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Beat Magazine Page 5
FRI 30 NOV | BENDED ELBOW | GEELONG
With Chela & The Belligerents. Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545 | All Oztix outlets & from the venue direct.
SAT 1 DEC | CORNER HOTEL | MELBOURNE | 18+
With The Preatures & Chela. Tickets available from www.cornerhotel.com | 03 9427 9198 | From The Corner box office direct.
SUN 2 DEC | CORNER HOTEL | UNDER 18 MATINEE SHOW With The Preatures & Chela. Tickets available from www.cornerhotel.com | 03 9427 9198 | From The Corner box office direct.
Beat Magazine Page 6
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PRESENTA
SUNDAY JOIN OUR ARMY & MAKE $$$
10TH MAR
FLEMINGTON RACECOURSE
LABOUR DAY LONG WEEKEND
INFO É TICKETS FUTUREMUSICFESTIVAL.COM.AU | TICKETS ON SALE NOW | CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
Beat Magazine Page 7
The
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BRUNSWICKHOTEL.NET
9387 6637 NO COVER CHARGE
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/$&+/$1 %58&( %$1' 67(9,( $1' 7+( 6/((3(56 .,' :2/)
+ THE PRETTY LITTLES
Kitchen Specials
Mon - $12 Burger and $12 Parma +
OPEN MIC NIGHT Tues - Trivia Night Wed - $14 Porterhouse Steak
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ALBUM /EP LAUNCHES
SAT 1 DEC
COMING UP SOON 8/12 GARAGE SALE FROM 12PM CLOTHES, BRIC A BRAC EVERY TUESDAY
ROCK & POP TRIVIA
GIG DETAILS SEE: theb-east.com
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VICTORIA HOTEL BRUNSWICK Monday $12 Steak Night & Free Pool
Tuesday LIZ STRINGER & VAN WALKER
Trivia Night, 7.30pm, Free Entry
WHAT A TREAT. STRINGER AND WALKER TEAM UP FOR A SESSION OF ORIGINAL, STORYTELLING MUSIC. THEN FROM 9PM
CHRIS WILSON & BAND
EXPECT ASTOUNDINGLY GOOD HARMONICA, MIND-BLOWING BLUES GUITAR, BANTER EXTRAORDINAIRE AND THAT BIG BAND SOUND AS WILSON CUTS LOOSE.
SUNDAY 2ND DECEMBER - 5PM
THE JUNES
Wednesday Thursday Annaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Go-Go Academy, 6:30pm $15 Parma & Pot
Friday
Pong Party 8pm Start I Am Duckeye & Dead River. 9:30pm
Saturday Olâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Timey Music Jam Session, 5pm in the beergarden.
Lone Tiger
THIS IRREPRESSIBLE COUNTRY/SWING
Bates
SUPERGROUP IS BACK WITH STELLAR HARMONIES, LOTS OF LAUGHS, STRIPPED BACK BOOM-CHICKA AND THE MIGHTY BULL FIDDLE.
9:30pm
- COMING SOON -
Sunday
Luau Cowboys 5pm In The Beer Garden
SUNDAY 23RD DECEMBER
$12 Jugs of Carlton and Gypsy All Day
A VERY UNION CHRISTMAS
All Shows Free Entry
MAYHEM AND MUSIC TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE MELBOURNE CITY MISSION.
function room beer garden backpacker accommodation 380 VICTORIA ST
AN ALL-STAR CAST OF MUSOS TAKE TO THE STAGE FOR AN ARVO OF CHRISTMAS-INSPIRED
KITCHEN OPEN: MON-WED DINNER, THURS-FRI LUNCH & DINNER, SAT-SUN ALL DAY.
PHONE 9388 0830 vichotelbrunswick.com.au band bookings: victoriahotel@me.com Beat Magazine Page 8
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Melbourneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best trivia night, Loads of alcohol & prizes!
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O N S A L E T H U / 2 9 / N OV E M B E R T I C K E T S F R O M M O S H T I X . CO M . A U 1 3 0 0 4 3 8 8 4 9
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Beat Magazine Page 10
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Beat Magazine Page 11
E U G O L A T CA ! W O N T OU
YOUR PATH TO ROCK! This pack has a great Yamaha Pacifica guitar and a hot new Vox amp to get you started in guitar playing. The pack also includes a Vox cable, Korg tuner, learn-to-play DVD, strings, picks, strap and string winder. Colours: Black, Dark Blue Metallic, llic. Red Metallic.
GL1 Half Ha H alflf guitar, half ukelele, 1100% 10 00 fun! The GL1 00 ssounds so ou and plays great, has hha as nylon strings, Spruce top and includes S Sp p a carry c bag.
$349
$499
$399
GIGMAKER10
$99
NEW
NEW
NEW
EASY TO PLAY LIKE A UKELELE, BUT IT’S ACTUALLY A ACT C GUITAR! GUIT
THE NEXT LEVEL IN SOUND AND QUALITY GIGMAKER15R With this super quality solid-body Pacifica 112J electric guitar and 15 watt Vox Pathfinder 15R amp featuring vintage tremolo and spring reverb, you’ll get all the classic sounds you desire. Also included are a Vox cable, Korg tuner, learn-to-play DVD, strings, picks, strap and string winder. Colours: Black, Lake Placid Blue, Old Violin Sunburst, Red Metallic, Yellow Natural Satin. Left handed version also available in Black.
$499
ROCK HARD WITH THIS AWESOME PACK
GET STARTED WITH THIS QUALITY BASS AND POWERFUL AMP
GIGMAKERFX
RBX170 + BELCAT25B
This guitar and amp pack will have you shredding in no time with all the sounds and effects you need. Includes a Yamaha RGX121Z, Vox MINI3 digital modelling amp, Vox cable, Korg tuner, learn-to-play DVD, strings, picks, strap and string winder. Colours: Black, Flat Silver, Red Metallic. Left handed version also available in Black.
This bass guitar will suit any type of playing style and is perfect for beginners. The pack includes an RBX170 with bolt-on neck, vintage style bridge, dual pick-up system and includes a powerful 25 watt bass amp. Colours: Black, Dark Blue Metallic, Old Violin Sunburst, Red Metallic, Silver.
EFFORTLESS LOOPING WITH AWESOME EFFECTS
NEW W
VLL-1
$159
NEW
$189
Ideal for both guitar and vocal/mic performances, it has two independent loops, infinite layers, loop quantize, 12 effects, rhythm guide, headphone output, and can be battery or AC powered.
$199
$359 RECOMMENDED BY TEACHERS ALL OVER THE WORLD
THE BEST WAY TO START PLAYING TODAY
C40//02
GIGMAKER310
Yamaha’s number one beginner’s classical guitar with beautiful tone and legendary Yamaha quality. It has a natural gloss finish and a Spruce top.
This acoustic guitar pack includes an F310 guitar (Spruce top, natural finish), gig bag, Korg digital tuner, string set, strap, string winder, capo, picks and learn-to-play DVD.
$899
A REVOLUTION FOR GUITAR PRACTICE THR10 THR is designed to fit where, when and how you play when you’re not onstage. With big amp response, incredible effects, and hi-fi stereo sound in a package that’s built to meet all of your offstage needs, you’re about to begin a new chapter in your playing. Features USB connection, aux-in jack, Cubase AI, user preset banks, 3-band EQ and can be battery or AC powered.
LIVE SOUND SO ND HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER STAGEPAS300 Ideal system for parties, busking and rehearsing. This extraordinarily portable PA system features an 8 channel mixer and delivers 300 watts of high-quality power to a pair of lightweight, compact speakers.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS This advertisement is part of a national sales program conducted by the distributor, Yamaha Music Australia Pty Ltd. These offers are valid only between 1st November 2012 and 31st December 2012 at participating dealers. The prices set out or referred to in this advertisement are recommended retail prices (RRP) only and there is no obligation for Yamaha dealers to comply with this recommendation or the effective program dates. Errors and omissions excepted. Not all products listed in this advertisement are available at all Yamaha dealers. # These products are listed at normal RRP and are not part of this special distributor’s promotional offer. † The “value” specified for the bonus offers is Yamaha Music Australia’s recommended retail price of these products. The Yamaha dealer participating in this promotion may not have sold these products in the past and where it has sold these products it may have sold them at less than the RRP. Other dealers may or may not sell them at the RRP.
FACEBOOK.COM/YAMAHABACKSTAGEPASS
YOUTUBE.COM/YAMAHAAUSTRALIA
$239
NEW
COMPLETE CYMBAL PACK TO GET YOU STARTED
QUALITY PAISTE PACK
000063USET
Genuine bronze alloy 14” hi-hats, 16” crash and 20” ride to suit a wide range of musical styles.
Great sounding 14” hi-hats, 16” crash and 20” ride.
000065USET
$599
$899
LOUD OR SILENT - IT’S YOUR CHOICE, PERFECT FOR PRACTICE OR LIVE ON STAGE
RECOMMENDED BY PRO’S AND TEACHERS ALL OVER THE WORLD
GIGMAKER
Quality drum shells, ball-clamp tom holders and sturdy double braced hardware. Now available in Black or a choice of 5 new glitter sparkle finishes.
INCLUDES: Paiste 101 Cymbal Pack Valued at
$399
DTX400K
EXCELLENT SOUND AND TOUCH AT AN AMAZING PRICE
An easy to use, great sounding electronic drum kit with built-in training functions to get your drumming journey started.
P35B
The portable P35B helps beginners become music virtuosos in no time at all. Thanks to its stunningly realistic sounds and natural touch, it inspires practice by making it fun. No keyboard in its class offers such a powerful combination of features, including the 88-key weighted action, builtin metronome and 10 great voices. Includes footswitch for sustain. Optional stand and piano bench available. Includes Power Adaptor.
$239#†
with Gigmaker Drum Kit
$199
$549
NEW
$339
$269
THE PERFECT BEGINNING FOR ANYONE LEARNING MUSIC
THE IDEAL WAY TO START EXPLORING THE WORLD OF MUSIC
SLIM, LIGHT AND COMPACT
PSRE233
PSRE333
61 keys and 100 different accompaniment styles. Remarkable sound and amazing value. Includes Power Adaptor.
61 touch sensitive keys giving piano playability and added expression. USB port allows easy connection to your computer. Learning music is fun and easy with Yamaha Education Suite lessons and 102 preset songs. Includes Power Adaptor.
76-key Graded Soft Touch keyboard that’s ready to go when you are. You’ll be impressed by its sensational sound quality. Includes Power Adaptor.
NP31
CHECK OUT YOUR LOCAL STORE! VICTORIA BLACKBURN
CRANBOURNE MUSIC
171 WHITEHORSE ROAD
(03) 9878 3900
www.cranbournemusic.com.au
BORONIA
KEYBOARD CORNER
137 BORONIA ROAD
(03) 9762 6747
www.keyboardcorner.com.au
CRANBOURNE
CRANBOURNE MUSIC
130 HIGH STREET
(03) 5996 6955
www.cranbournemusic.com.au
CRANBOURNE
CRANBOURNE MUSIC DRUM SUPERSTORE
132 HIGH STREET
(03) 5995 5933
www.cranbournemusic.com.au
GEELONG
MUSIC WORKSHOP
39 FYANS STREET
(03) 5221 5844
www.musicworkshop.com.au
MELBOURNE
CRANBOURNE MUSIC
204 LATROBE STREET
(03) 9654 5115
www.cranbournemusic.com.au
SOUTH OAKLEIGH
PAT'S MUSIC
940 CENTRE ROAD
(03) 9563 8711
www.patsmusic.com.au
VIEW THE FULL CATALOGUE AT
YAMAHABACKSTAGE.COM.AU
i v t i a t y e r c r u o y r e v o Disc
Beat Magazine Page 14
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N I Q U E W A R E H O U S E
SALE
S A M P L E S
A N D
S T O C K
D E C E M B E R
T H U S A T
A L L
6 T H
1 0 - 6 1 0 - 6 1 4
P e a r s o n
F A C E B O O K
-
F O R
C H E A P
9 T H
F R I S U N
C R E M O R N E C H E C K
S U P E R
1 0 - 6 1 1 - 5
S t r e e t 3 1 2 1 M O R E
D E T A I L S
w w w . n i q u e . c o m . a u
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Beat Magazine Page 15
Beat Magazine Page 16
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Arts Centre Melbourne presents
L I V E
I N
C O N C E R T
Icons of Australian music joined by our newest local talent 30 Artists, 5 acts, 1 concert celebrating a modern Australia
Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall Friday 14 December Book online or call 1300 182 183 The Key of Sea is presented in association with the Human Rights Arts and Film Festival Inc. and principally supported by Amnesty International
artscentremelbourne.com.au
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Beat Magazine Page 17
IN THIS ISSUE...
20
HOT TALK
24
TOURING
22
MAXIMO PARK
28
ARTS GUIDE, DANCE MASSIVE
30
ART OF THE CITY, COMIC STRIP
31
RUSSELL BRAND, ARTSPACE
32
ARTSPACE
45
NIKKO, LAMARAMA
46
INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH
47
TURBONEGRO
48
WE LOVE MARKETS
52
REEL BIG FISH
53
TAME IMPALA
54
WILL AND THE PEOPLE, THE SELECTER,
WE LOVE MARKETS SPECIAL PG 48
THE STRANGLERS,
THE SELECTER PG 54
THE PRETTY THINGS 55
JACKSON MCLAREN, JORDIE LANE, SARITAH, THE KNOCKS
56
ZEBRAHEAD, KING PARROT, AURAL WINDOW
57
CORE/CRUNCH!
58
MUSIC NEWS
64
ALBUM OF THE WEEK, SINGLES, CHARTS
THIS WEEK IN 100%:
NICK WARREN
3 NEWTON STREET RICHMOND, VICTORIA 3121 Phone: (03) 9428 3600 Fax: (03) 9428 3611 email: info@beat.com.au www.beat.com.au BEAT MAGAZINE EMAIL ADDRESSES: (no large attachments please): Gig Guide: online at beat.com.au email gigguide@beat.com.au - it’s free! Club Listings: online at beat.com.au email clubguide@beat.com.au - it’s free! Music News Items: music@beat.com.au Artwork: art@beat.com.au Beat Classifieds 33c a word: classifieds@beat.com.au
32,788 copies per week
KING PARROT PG56
ZEBRAHEAD PG 56
PUBLISHER: Furst Media Pty Ltd. MUSIC EDITOR: Taryn Stenvei ARTS EDITOR / ASSOCIATE MUSIC EDITOR: Tyson Wray EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Nick Taras INTERNS: Alexandra Duguid, Dylan McCarthy, Spence Goucher, Daniel Bell, Jack Parsons GENERAL MANAGER: Patrick Carr SENIOR ADVERTISING/EDITORIAL CO-ORDINATOR: Ronnit Sternfein BEAT PRODUCTION MANAGER: Pat O’Neill GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: Pat O’Neill, Mike Cusack, Gill Tucker, Rebecca Holden. COVER ART: Pat O’Neill ADVERTISING: Taryn Stenvei (Music: Bands/Tours/Record Labels) taryn@beat.com.au Ronnit Sternfein (100%/Beat/Arts/Education/Ad Agency) ronnit@beat.com.au Aleksei Plinte (Backstage/ Musical Equipment) mixdown@beat.com.au Adam Morgan (Hospitality/Bars) adam@beat.com.au Kris Furst (beat.com.au) kris@furstmedia.com.au 0431 243 808 Jessica Riley (Indie Bands/Special Features) jessica@furstmedia.com.au CLASSIFIEDS: classifieds@beat.com.au GIG GUIDE SUBMISSIONS: now online at www.beat.com.au or bands email gigguide@beat.com.au
ELECTRONIC EDITOR - BEAT ONLINE: Tyson Wray: tyson@beat.com.au ACCOUNTANT: accountant@furstmedia.com.au ADMINISTRATION CO-ORDINATOR: Jessica Riley: jessica@furstmedia.com.au ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE: Luke Forester: admin@furstmedia.com.au RECEPTION: reception@furstmedia.com.au DISTRIBUTION: distribution@beat.com.au Free Every Wednesday to over 1,850 places including Convenience Stores, Newsagents, Ticket Outlets, Shopping Centres, Community Youth & Welfare Outlets, Clubs, Hotels, Venues, Record, Music and Video Shops, Boutiques, Retailers, Bars, Restaurants, Cafes, Bookstores, Hairdressers, Recording Studios, Cinemas, Theatres, Galleries, Universities and Colleges. Wanna get BEAT? Email distribution@beat.com.au 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. CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Mary Boukouvalas, Lauren Cass, Ben Clement, Ben Gunzburg, Andrew Gyopar, CC Hug, Tim Hyland, Anna Kanci, Ben Loveridge, Mathew Murphy, Charles Newbury, John O’Rourke, Chris Parkinson, Naomi Rahim, Richard Sharman, Leon Struk, Michelle Tomadin, Peter Tsipas, Amy Wallace, Woodrow Wilson.
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
65
ALBUMS
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GIG GUIDE
74
LIVE
SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR: Christie Eliezer SENIOR CONTRIBUTORS: Simone Ubaldi, Patrick Emery COLUMNISTS: Emily Kelly, Peter Hodgson. CONTRIBUTORS: Mitch Alexander, Siobhan Argent, Bella Arnott-Hoare, Thomas Bailey, Graham Blackley, Chris Bright, Joanne Brookfield, Tegan Butler, Avrille BylockCollard, Rose Callaghan, Kim Croxford, Dave Dawson, John Donaldson, Alexandra Duguid, Alasdair Duncan, Cam Ewart, Callum Fitzpatrick, Jack Franklin, Chris Girdler, Megan Hanson, Chris Harms, Andrew Hickey, Nick Hilton, Peter Hodgson, Lachlan Kanoniuk, Cassandra Kiely, Joshua Kloke, Nick Mason, Krystal Maynard, Miki McLay, Jeremy Millar, James Nicoli, Oliver Pelling, Matt Panag, Jack Parsons, Sasha Petrova, Liam Pieper, Steve Phillips, Zoe Radas, Adam Robertshaw, Joanna Robin, Leigh Salter, Side Man, Jeremy Sheaffe, Sisqo Taras, Kelly Theobald, Tamara Vogl, Dan Watt, Katie Weiss, Krissi Weiss, Rod Whitfield, Jen Wilson, Tyson Wray, Simone Ziada, Bronius Zumeris. © 2012 Furst Media Pty Ltd. No part may be reproduced without the consent of the copyright holder.
ADRIAN BOHM PRESENTS
THURSDAY 7 MARCH ROD LAVER ARENA Book at Ticketek 132 849 ticketek.com.au
ON SALE TUESDAY 4 DECEMBER
russellpeters.com abpresents.com.au
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Beat Magazine Page 19
HOT TALK
THE BIGGEST IN INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au
- THE MOST EPIC 'FREE SHIT' EVER JORDIE LANE
DJ KENTARO
Jordie Lane will be launching his new single over the course of three days at the Northcote Social Club. To commemorate these nights of revelry we're gonna give away two double passes to each of the three shows. That's great news because winning one ticket to something can sometimes be a little bittersweet. Now you can take someone on a date and act like you're paying. Jordie will be at the Northcote Social Club Thursday November 29 and Friday 30 and a cheeky matinee show on Sunday December 2.
DJ Kentaro is from Japan. I was in Japan in September. I bought this contraption that looks like an elongated whoopee cushion. I didn’t know what it was until I flipped the package over and saw a cartoon of a Japanese dude sweating while he was driving. Turns out it’s for taking a piss when you’re stuck in traffic. It’s fucking crazy, Japan is crazy, but nothing is crazier than the live sets of hip hop DJ Kentaro. Kentaro has supported acts such as The Roots and Pharcyde, and could legitimately claim to be one of the most talented DJs in the world after winning the DMC World DJ Final in 2002 – at the age of 20. DJ Kentaro plays The Espy on Thursday December 6. We have two double passes to give away.
THE STRANGLERS You know that song from Snatch!? The really catchy one about heroin!? These guys made it! And you know what else? We have five double passes to give away to their show at Billboard The Venue. The English punkrockers have scored 23 UK top 40 singles and 17 UK top 40 albums over a career spanning five decades. They are the longest surviving and most continuously successful band to come out of the ‘70s UK punk scene. See why at Billboard on Tuesday December 4.
RAHZEL “Now this is the tricky part. The beat…and the chorus…at the saaaaame tiiimmmmmeeee”. Rahzel is a beat-boxing legend, partly because of his incredible skill, and partly because everyone applauded his song If Your Mother Only Knew despite the fact he was openly mocking our mothers’ attraction for him. Rahzel plays The Espy on Friday December 7, and we have two double passes to give away.
BEN WELLS AND THE MIDDLE NAMES SAM SPARRO Middle names are fucking weird man. A large proportion of them are for no reason whatsoever embarrassing to their possessors. You could be called LaFonda Dickhead but if your middle name was something like ‘John’, everybody would be like, “lol ‘John’ you’re such a loser. I wish you were never born. You are by far my worst son. I’m so disappointed in everything you’ve become”. Bringing the love back to medium nomenclature are Ben Wells and the Middle Names, fresh off releasing the film clip for their new single, Bear In A Birdcage. 2012 has been a break out year for the group that kicked off with a main stage slot at Falls Festival Marion Bay for the second year in a row, followed by their debut EP, House, Come Home. Ben Wells and the Middle Names are set to play at The Workers Club with Buchanan on Wednesday December 5. We have a double pass to give away.
Ya r r a v i l l e
www.kindredstudios.com.au Friday 30th November 8 . 0 0 P M
FESTIVAL OF SURF F E AT U R I N G G O O F Y F O OT E R , F R E S H W E T & B E WA R E ! B L AC K H O L E S . TICKETS $10 ENTRY
Sunday 2nd December -
OTHER SIDE OF THE ROCK Goanna’s 1982 rock anthem Solid Rock was the first Australian hit that dealt with Indigenous Australian land rights. To celebrate its 30th anniversary and a 30 year musical journey, Other Side Of The Rock reaches The Forum for one night only on Saturday December 8. Shane Howard will perform with his band and guests including Archie Roach, Thelma Plum, Mark Atkins, Yirrmal & The Yolngu Boys, Bart Willoughby, Neil Murray, Amy Saunders, Emma Donovan, Ross Hannaford and more. Add your voice to the message of hope and reconcilitation at The Forum on Saturday December 8. Tickets available through Ticketmaster. Doors at 8pm.
Get amongst it at beat.com.au/freeshit
Ph 9687 0233
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With the release of their new album Dumb Is Forever, Spazzys are officially back, ready and good to go. The LP was recorded in 2006 in LA by Charles Fisher and was scheduled for release within the next six months but then got held up in a seemingly never-ending label/management dispute which saw the release caught up in legal limbo until it was resolved in the court in the band’s favour. Phew. Spazzys have played the Big Day Out, Pyramid and Falls Festival and still enjoy a huge following: due to popular demand, Dumb Is Forever is seeing the light of day and the band are back in full gear. Catch them live on Friday December 14 at the Northcote Social Club and Sunday December 16 at the Evelyn Rooftop Bar. Tickets are available for purchase through the venue’s respective websites.
A former child actor and talented singer-songwriter, with a hot-as-fuck moustache, Sam Sparro has been rising up and up ever since his breakthrough track, Black & Gold. The unflappable Sparro is set to release a special digitalonly repackage of his second album, entitled Re-Return To Paradise, and to celebrate, he’ll be bringing the funk to Melbourne. Sam Sparro plays the Prince Bandroom on Sunday December 9 as part of the Moon And The Stars tour. We have two double passes to give away, ReReturn To Paradise will be released digitally on Friday November 30.
f r o n t s p a c e 212a Whitehall St
SPAZZYS
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ROSS HANNAFORD AND THE CRITTERS
HIGH HIGHS Already announced on the stellar 2013 Laneway Festival lineup, High Highs have announced a headline Melbourne date. Brandishing a unique strain of indie-pop, High Highs have been causing ripples of praise with singles such as Open Season. Their long-awaited debut album will arrive just in time for their Australian tour. High Highs perform at The Toff In Town on Wednesday January 30. Tickets on sale Thursday November 29 from Moshtix.
JOSE JAMES A Brooklyn native of Irish-Panamanian descent, Jose James is returning to our shores to present his brand new album No Beginning, No End. The album moves between different styles with fluidity, bound together by James’ transcendent voice. It marks a new chapter in the artistic journey of the 33-year-old singer/songwriter – conceived, recorded and produced independently without any recording contract – the album is his most personal statement yet. Jose James plays The Hi-Fi on Friday February 22 alongside special guests Hiatus Kaiyote. Tickets on sale now from the venue website.
DA D DY CO O L F O U N D E R , O N E O F AU S T R A L I A' S F I N E S T R O C K G U I TA R I S T S T I C K E T S AT T H E D O O R $15 FULL $10 CONCESSION
Sunday 9th December 6 . 3 0 P M
MASTER DRUMMER DAVID JONES PRESENTS THE LIGHT TRIO F E AT U R I N G T H E M U S I C O F M I C H A E L JOHNSON (FOLK HARP) AND EVRI EVRIPIDOU (6 STRING BASS/EFFEC TS). TICKETS AT THE DOOR $33 OR PURCHASE ONLINE @ W W W. T R Y B O O K I N G . C O M / C C R H
Sunday 16th December 2 . 0 0 P M
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5 . 0 0 P M
ROCK QUEEN REBECCA BARNARD & BILLY MILLER S I N G - A LO N G S O C I E T Y TICKETS $15, KIDS FREE!
w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / k i n d r e d s t u d i o s
Beat Magazine Page 20
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JB SMOOVE After selling out his first Melbourne headline show, JB Smoove has added a second Melbourne appearance. Heading our way to bring the ruckus to the Meredith Gift, Smoove will perform his unique brand of comedy at two Melbourne appearances. Get in quick, as tickets to the second show are sure to sell-out as rapidly as the first. JB Smoove performs at Thornbury Theatre on Saturday December 15, with a new show added at 5pm. Tickets on sale now through Oztix.
KITTY, DAISY & LEWIS Genre-traversing three-piece Kitty, Daisy & Lewis have announced a Bluesfest sideshow. The siblings from Northwest London embrace R&B, jump blues, Country and Western, Hawaiian, Jamaican Ska and more, as they infuse a variety of sounds that slide toward retro, yet still push the boundaries of today’s music. Having played Meredith, Falls, Sydney Festival and most recently the Big Day Out, KD&L will be here this time for Bluesfest and will be accompanied on their live shows by their father on rhythm guitar and mother Ingrid on upright bass and legendary Jamaican trumpet player Eddie Thornton. Kitty, Daisy & Lewis play Billboard on Wednesday March 27. Tickets on sale Thursday December 6 from the venue website.
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Sum 41
BILLY TALENT, SUM 41 The hardest rockin’ Canucks on the massive 2013 Soundwave lineup will join forces for what’s set to be a sidewave of epic proportions. Sum 41 and Billy Talent are hitting The Palace, bringing their firebrand pop punk showmanship with them. Both acts’ respective shows are invariably madcap, and you can imagine what scenes will be like with both acts co-headlining the same bill. Sum 41 and Billy Talent will be performing at The Palace on Thursday February 28. Tickets available from oztix.com.au and are on sale Friday November 30.
CHILDISH GAMBINO Just when you thought the Big Day Out sideshow action was done and dusted, multi-faceted rap talent Childish Gambino has announced a Melbourne headline show. The musical outlet for Community star Donald Glover, Childish Gambino has earned a reputation as a formidable hip hop force. Catch him in action as he rocks The Hi-Fi for his debut Australian tour. Childish Gambino performs at The Hi-Fi on Wednesday January 23. Tickets on sale now from the venue website.
WILCO With tickets for Wilco’s first Melbourne show as good as gone, a second and final show has been announced at Hamer Hall on Thursday March 28 for the mighty purveyors of alt-country. Support for both shows will be Melbourne indie supergroup Boomgates, whose engaging live show will kick off the night. Catch Wilco and special guests Boomgates live, Wednesday March 27 and Thursday March 28 at Hamer Hall. Tickets are on sale at the Arts Centre website.
JOHN C. REILLY AUSTRALIAN TOUR Renowned actor John C. Reilly has announced a surprise Australian tour of his bluegrass-oriented musical outlet John C. Reilly and Friends have released works through Jack White’s Third Man Records, putting out a seven-inch featuring Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar and I’ll Be There If You Ever Want produced by White. The shows coincide with Reilly’s promo visit for upcoming Disney film Wreck It Ralph. John C. Reilly and Friends perform at Northcote Social Club on Thursday December 6. Tickets on sale now through the venue website and The Corner box office.
XMAS EVEN Local luminaries Even are celebrating Xmas in style for the 13th year running with another of their quality Xmas EVEN gigs. Joining EVEN will be Charles Jenkins & The Zhivagos, The Bedroom Philosopher and DJ Francis Leach. There will also be some nice little on stage surprises for all to behold on the eve. It’s been a busy year for the EVEN lads with their sixth album In Another Time released, a national tour with The Fauves, and their performance once again at the Heart of St Kilda concert at the Palais. In recent times there have been some tasty slots with top names such as Jim Keays, Russell Morris, Weddoes, The Living End and the Sunnyboys. Xmas EVEN Lucky 13 happens at The Hi Fi on Saturday December 22. Tickets available for purchase online from the venue website. Doors at 8pm.
CLAIRY BROWNE VS SASKWATCH Two of Melbourne’s premier proponents of soul have announced a very special showdown at The Hi-Fi to launch a split seven-inch. Clairy Browne And The Bangin’ Rackettes will face off with Saskwatch to round out what has been a stellar year for both outfits. The showdown promises to be a rockin’ evening of soul delight and a perfect way to boogie away the dregs of 2012. Clairy Browne And The Bangin’ Rackettes and Saskwatch perform at The Hi-Fi on Saturday December 29.
WOMADELAIDE The extraordinary lineup for WOMADelaide just got a little bit bigger. They released their full lineup last week, with the new announce including the ‘golden voice of Africa’, Salif Keita. Also appearing at the festival will be two other music heavyweights from Mali – the Sahara’s answer to Jimi Hendrix, Vieux Farka Touré, son of the late, great Ali Farka Touré, and Bassekou Kouyaté and his band Ngoni Ba, a former member of Toumani Diabaté’s magnificent Symmetric Orchestra. Local additions include Tim Rogers & The Bamboos, Clairy Browne & The Bangin’ Rackettes and East Journey, among others. WOMADelaide takes place in Adelaide’s Botanic Park from Friday March 8 – Monday March 11. For the full lineup and ticketing details head to womadelaide.com.au.
THE SEEKERS Next month marks 50 years since The Seekers first sang together in a little coffee shop in Melbourne in 1962. Little did they know that they would go on to conquer the international music world, and become Australia’s national treasures. They’ve reunited for The Golden Jubilee Tour which is set to take their fans down memory lane with stories, memorabilia, messages of congratulations from music industry contemporaries, and video clips on the big screen. It takes place at Hamer Hall on Tuesday May 14 with tickets on sale from the venue website or Ticketek at 9am on Monday December 10. CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
Beat Magazine Page 21
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presents...
The Hi-Fi
Academy Mix It With The Best
vt Go ed d n Fu iness Bus urses Co ow N n! e Op
Audio Engineering Courses Full Until Feb
Moving from late night lounge room performances to the beautiful surroundings of School House Studios, Sofar Sounds Melbourne presents their first annual Christmas party. In keeping with the Sofar tradition of lineup secrecy, the full lineup won’t be released until the day but they’re happy to give a cheeky teaser. Joining them for their Yuletide fiesta will be '60s psychedelic soundtrack pop powerhouse Brous, indie/pop troubadours Francolin, folk-rock songstress Ainslie Wills, indie R&B/soul group The Harpoons and Sydney vocal phenomenon Elana Stone with many, many more acts (including some big ones!) announced on the day. Sofar Sounds Christmas Party is being held at School House Studios in Abbotsford on Sunday December 16 from 3pm-9pm. Beatbox Kitchen and Lucky Pops Ice Delights are along to make a party in your mouth, too. Tickets are $15 on the door or from musicglue.com/sofarsoundsmelbourne.
THIS WEEK at The Hi-Fi Major Lazer (USA) Thu 29 Nov SELLING FAST
Nano Summer Jamz Fri 30 Nov Monsters of Rock 10: Farewell Show Sat 1 Dec
ROCK THE BAY
Jose James Fri 22 Feb
(USA)
Grinspoon Fri 22 Mar
LE SA V ON9 NO 2
On Saturday February 16, Rock The Bay Festival at The Espy will celebrate it’s fifth year with a lineup that's shaping up to be the biggest and best yet. Australia's much loved and hairiest band, The Beards, will headline the festival along with local heroes Electric Mary, Bellusira, Tim McMillan Band, King Of The North, Sleep Parade, Breaking Orbit, New Skinn, Moroccan Kings, Manatarms, One and Sons Of Abraham to name just a few. The full lineup is announced next Wednesday December 5. Tickets are a mere $29+bf and go on sale Friday December 7 through Oztix. Head to rockthebayfestival.com for lineup and ticketing updates.
Otep (USA) Fri 26 Apr
60 SECONDS WITH...
COMING SOON Omar Souleyman (SYR) Wed 5 Dec
THE OCEAN PARTY
Spiritualized (UK) Thu 6 Dec SELLING FAST
Lost Angels (USA) Fri 21 Dec
THE BOMBAY ROYALE
Xmas Even Sat 22 Dec Clairy Browne VS. Saskwatch Sat 29 Dec Best Coast (USA) Wed 2 Jan Blood Red Shoes (UK) Thu 3 Jan Marduk (SWE) Fri 11 Jan Turbonegro (NOR) Fri 7 Dec SOLD OUT
Andy C (UK) Sat Jan 26
Emergenza Final Sun 9 Dec
Thee Oh Sees (USA) Thu 31 Jan
Django Django (UK) Stereo Addicts Sat 12 Jan SELLING FAST Fri 1 Feb E.S.G (USA) Thu 17 Jan
From The Jam (UK) Sat 2 Feb
Alestorm (UK) Fri 18 Jan
Yeasayer (USA) Wed 6 Feb SELLING FAST
Hypocrisy (SWE) Sat 19 Jan
Gin Blossoms (USA) Thu 7 Feb
Against Me! (USA) Tue 22 Jan
Kerser Sat 9 Feb u18 3pm 18+ 7:30pm
SELLING FAST
Childish Gambino (USA) Wed 23 Jan SOLD OUT
Dub FX Fri 25 Jan
Father John Misty (USA) Sun 17 Feb SELLING FAST The Mark Of Cain Fri 15 Mar
TIX + INFO THEHIFI.COM.AU
1300 THE HIFI
Define your genre in five words or less: Guitar pop. When’s the gig and with who? The launch for our new album Social Clubs is at the Grace Darling this Saturday December 1. We’ll be joined by three excellent bands: New Estate, Cat Cat and Great Outdoors. Do you have any record releases to date? What are they? Where can I get them? The new album Social Clubs and our first, The Sun Rolled Off The Hills, are available on vinyl and CD at our shows, independent record stores and online via Bandcamp. The EP In A Knot is also available for free download online. What inspires or has influenced your music the most? The band all live together so we’re all inspired and influenced by each other and our close friends. The local music scene in general is definitely the main source of inspiration, the abundance of great bands who play in Melbourne every week. Do you have a pre-gig ritual? If so, what is it? Drinking longies on the cheap in the alley nearest the venue. When are you doing your thing next? In the next few months we will be working on new recordings and hopefully have a brand new album coming out by mid next year. Social Clubs is out via Sound Of Melbourne Records.
After recently winning this year’s prestigious EG Award for Best New Talent, Melbourne’s Bombay Royale are aligning the planets for a month long east meets west smorgasbord at The Evelyn Hotel. Be there when the magic and mayhem of vintage Bollywood collides in spectacular fashion with a dizzying blend of Tarantino-esque surf, wild disco and flamboyant theatrics complete with outrageous costumes and utterly irresistible dance moves. The Bombay Royale will hit the stage on Thursdays in December (excluding December 27). DJ Manchild will join them. Tickets are available for purchase for $12 online from The Ev's website or $10 at the door. Doors at 8pm.
P!NK
GARDEN PARTY Well known for its exceptional quality of music programming, Melbourne Recital Centre is launching The Garden Party, as part of its programming philosophy to encompass a diverse range of genres. The Garden Party will be a vibrant music venue conveniently located in the Melbourne Arts Precinct in the heart of Melbourne's Southbank. Transforming a vacant site behind Melbourne Recital Centre into a relaxed, new music venue for four weekends, The Garden Party will present a host of high calibre local and international artists across the indie music scene. Featuring artists such as The Bamboos, Art of Sleeping, Husky, Jonti, Jens Lekman, Van She, Mia Dyson, Graveyard Train, Oscar + Martin, The Cactus Channel, Softwar, Kashmere Stage Band, Gossling, Tinpan Orange, The Trouble with Templeton and many more. Don’t miss this event running every weekend from Friday January 25 to Sunday February 17. Tickets available through Moshtix and you can visit thegardenparty.info for news and lineup announcemenets.
JIMMY BARNES As iconic as a sausage in bread with tomato sauce falling out of each end, the one and only Jimmy Barnes is playing a one off exclusive Melbourne show at Trak Bar. There isn't much the Khe Sahn singer hasn't done in his 30 plus year career, but apparantly he isn't aware of that, because he ain't slowing down. Jimmy has continuined to release albums and play live shows, with nine of out of his sixteen solo albums going to number 1. Make sure you get around this stayer, at Trak Bar on January 16 next year. Tickets through ticketmaster.
P!nk’s party continues with more shows announced for her The Truth About Love Tour in 2013. P!nk will perform her 16th show at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena on Friday August 27, taking the national tally to an incredible 42 shows with more than 400,000 tickets already sold. Tickets for the new show will go on sale on Thursday December 6 at 9am and are available through Ticketek.
I, A MAN As the end of 2012 draws near, I, A Man will bring their textual washy guitar, layered arrangements and dreamy melodies to The Espy front bar stage on Friday December 14 from 9.30pm, for one last show before they well and truly disappear over the summer to finish recording their debut album due for release in the first half of 2013. Joining them will be moody dream pop fourpiece Lowlakes who have just returned from appearances at CMJ in New York and shows in LA, wall of fuzz trio Atolls (with Lucas Skinner of King Gizzard fame) and Pourparlour who will be fresh from their November residency at The Toff.
125 SWANSTON ST, MELBOURNE Beat Magazine Page 22
Eleven years since their Melbourne stoner rock masterpiece Johnny No Stars was released and six years since they last played together, Dern Rutlidge reform exclusively for Cherry Bar this Saturday December 1, the first sweet day of summer. The Dern Rutlidge original lineup of Craig Westwood and Jason Miszewski (who had been together in Christbait) Jason PC from Blood Duster and Callan O'Hara from Drool reform to play Johnny No Stars track-for-track plus other Dern treats with the support of a welcome drought-breaking performance from hard psychedelic rockers Matt Sonic & the High Times. Gig of the year, perhaps? Tickets are $20 from the Cherry website or the door from 8pm on this night of nights.
SOFAR SOUNDS CHRISTMAS PARTY
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THE VANDAS Two EPs, one LP (yes, there should have been more by now), two Big Day Outs, and countless shows with the likes of Elvis Costello, The Beasts of Bourbon and You Am I, and all of a sudden they're about to turn ten. To celebrate, The Vandas are playing a rare live show – their first in nearly two years – at Melbourne's newest live venue, The Spotted Mallard in Brunswick on Friday December 14. Special birthday guests are The Gung Hoes (featuring Tim Rogers and Davey Lane) and newcomers Cold Irons Bound. Tickets are only from the venue on the night so make sure you get down for doors at 8.30pm, $12 entry.
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TOURING
WHO'S ON TOUR, WHERE AND WHEN
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INTERNATIONAL NICKELBACK Rod Laver Arena November 28 SIMPLE MINDS, DEVO Palais Theatre November 29, A Day On The Green - Rochford Wines December 1 THE KNOCKS The Toff December 1 WILL AND THE PEOPLE The Workers Club December 1 RICK ASTLEY The Palace November 30, Chelsea Heights Hotel December 1 THE SELECTER Corner Hotel November 30 OMAR RODRIGUEZ-LOPEZ Corner Hotel December 2 REEL BIG FISH, GODLFINGER, ZEBRAHEAD The Palace December 2 BLONDIE Sidney Myer Music Bowl December 3 THE PRETTY THINGS Corner Hotel December 4, Caravan Club December 13, 14 NICKI MINAJ, TYGA Rod Laver Arena December 5 GRIMES Corner Hotel December 5, 6 SPIRITUALIZED The Hi-Fi December 6 JOHN C. REILLY Northcote Social Club December 6 HOT SNAKES Corner Hotel December 7 MEREDITH MUSIC FESTIVAL Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre December 7 - 9 PRIMAL SCREAM The Palace December 7 TURBONEGRO The Hi-Fi December 7 MAYDAY PARADE Billboard December 8 LAGWAGON Bended Elbow December 8, Corner Hotel December 9 JLO Rod Laver Arena December 11, 12 ALEXISONFIRE Festival Hall December 12 REGINA SPEKTOR The Plenary December 14 JB SMOOVE The Thornbury Theatre December 15 EARTHLESS Northcote Social Club December 15, 16 EVAN DANDO AND JULIANA HATFIELD Corner Hotel December 18, 19 MORRISSEY Festival Hall December 19 FALLS MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL Lorne December 28, Marion Bay December 29 PYRAMID ROCK FESTIVAL Phillip Island December 29 - January 1 PEATS RIDGE Glenworth Valley December 28 January 1 TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB Festival Hall December 29 SHARON VAN ETTEN Corner Hotel December 30 SUMMADAYZE Sidney Myer Music Bowl January 1 MAXIMO PARK Corner Hotel January 2 FIRST AID KIT The Forum January 2 BEST COAST The Hi-Fi January 2 WILLIS EARL BEAL Northcote Social Club January 2 BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB Regal Ballroom January 1
BLOOD RED SHOES The Hi-Fi January 3 COSMO JARVIS Corner Hotel January 3 65DAYDOFSTATIC Corner Hotel January 4 THE CUBAN BROTHERS The Espy January 4 THE HIVES The Forum January 6 SHARON JONES & THE DAP KINGS Corner Hotel January 8 BEACH HOUSE The Forum January 9 HOT CHIP The Palace January 9 THE VENGABOYS The Espy January 10 GARY JULES Corner Hotel January 12 DJANGO DJANGO The Hi-Fi January 12 NIGHTWISH The Palace January 14, 15 DAVID BYRNE & ST VINCENT Hamer Hall January 14, 15 WEEZER Sidney Myer Music Bowl January 16, The Palais January 17 SUGAR MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL The Forum January 19 HUNX AND HIS PUNX The Tote January 20 A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS The Corner January 20 SO FRENCHY SO CHIC Werribee Park January 20 THE KILLERS The Palace January 22 GARY CLARK JR Corner Hotel January 22 CRYSTAL CASTLES Billboard January 22 OFF! Corner Hotel January 23 SLEIGH BELLS Billboard January 23 ANIMAL COLLECTIVE The Palace January 23 BAND OF HORSES The Palais January 23 CHILDISH GAMBINO The Hi-Fi January 23 JEFF THE BROTHERHOOD Corner Hotel January 24 THE BLOODY BEETROOTS The Palace January 24 ALABAMA SHAKES The Forum January 24 ELVIS COSTELLO The Palais January 25 A DAY ON THE GREEN Yarra Valley January 26 BIG DAY OUT Flemington Racecourse January 26 PERFUME GENIUS Northcote Social Club January 30 HIGH HIGHS The Toff January 30 JESSIE WARE Prince Bandroom January 30 THEE OH SEES The Hi-Fi January 31 AMANDA PALMER AND THE GRAND THEFT ORCHESTRA The Forum February 1 SLEEP ∞ OVER The Liberty Social February 1 ST. JEROME’S LANEWAY FESTIVAL Footscray Community Arts Centre February 3 DIVINE FITS Corner Hotel February 4 POLICA Northcote Social Club February 4 NITE JEWEL The Workers Club February 4 BAT FOR LASHES The Palais February 5 KINGS OF CONVENIENCE Hamer Hall February 5 CLOUD NOTHINGS Ding Dong Lounge February 5 THE MEN Northcote Social Club February 6 JULIA HOLTER The Toff February 6 YEASAYER The Hi-Fi February 6
HIGH HIGHS The Toff January 30 MS MR Northcote Social Club February 7 GIN BLOSSOMS The Hi-Fi February 7 DEER TICK, TWO GALLANTS Northcote Social Club February 9 DESCENDENTS Festival Hall February 9 DIRTY BEACHES February 10 DAVID HASSELHOFF Corner Hotel February 14 SWANS Corner Hotel February 15 CONVERGE Billboard The Venue February 15 RINGO STARR Festival Hall February 16, 17 ALL TOMORROW’S PARTIES Westgate Entertainment Centre February 16, 17 FATHER JOHN MISTY The Hi-Fi February 17 NEIL FINN AND PAUL KELLY Palais Theatre February 16, 18 EINSTÜRZENDE NEUBAUTEN The Palace February 19 DR. FEELGOOD Corner Hotel February 21 NORAH JONES The Plenary February 21 HOW TO DRESS WELL Corner Hotel February 22 MY BLOODY VALENTINE The Palace February 22 JOSE JAMES The Hi-Fi February 22 BLINK-182 Sidney Myer Music Bowl February 26 LINKIN PARK, STONE SOUR Rod Laver Area February 26, 27 PUSCIFER Palais Theatre February 28 SUM 41/BILLY TALENT The Palace February 28 SOUNDWAVE Flemington Racecourse March 1 DEEP PURPLE/JOURNEY Rod Laver Arena March 1 KISS, MÖTLEY CRÜE Etihad Stadium March 5 ED SHEERAN Festival Hall March 5, 6 CAT POWER The Forum March 7 DINOSAUR JR The Corner March 7, The Espy March 8 PURITY RING Corner Hotel March 8 WOMADELAIDE Adelaide’s Botanic Park March 8 –March 11 PORT FAIRY FOLK FESTIVAL Port Fairy March 8 – 11 TORO Y MOI Corner March 9 GEORGE CLINTON & PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC Billboard March 9 GOLDEN PLAINS Meredith’s Supernatural Amphitheatre March 9 - 11 MXPX Corner Hotel March 10 WILD NOTHING The Tote March 11, The Toff March 12 REDD KROSS The Espy March 12 BOB MOULD Corner Hotel March 13 NEIL YOUNG & CRAZY HORSE Rod Laver Arena March 15 JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION The Corner March 16 WANDA JACKSON The Corner March 20 MUTEMATH Billboard March 22 RODRIGUEZ Hamer Hall March 22 FRED WESLEY Corner Hotel March 24 WILCO Hamer Hall March 27, 28 KITTY, DAISY & LEWIS Billboard March 27 BONNIE RAITT, MAVIS STAPLES State Theatre March 27 IGGY AND THE STOOGES Festival Hall March 27 ROGER HODGSON The Palais March 28 BYRON BAY BLUESFEST Byron Bay March 28 – April 1 THE LUMINEERS The Corner April 2 DROPKICK MURPHYS Festival Hall April 2 BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA Hamer Hall April 3 THE SCRIPT Rod Laver Arena April 6 EXTREME The Palace April 19
PROUDLY PRESENTS:
BONJAH The Espy January 18 & 19 Beat Magazine Page 24
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BRYAN ADAMS Rod Laver Arena April 20 BLACK SABBATH Rod Laver Arena May 1 P!NK Rod Laver Arena July 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, August 27
NATIONAL JORDIE LANE Northcote Social Club November 29, 30, December 2 SAN CISCO Corner Hotel December 1, 2 DERN RUTLIDGE Cherry Bar December 1 MISSY HIGGINS Palais Theatre December 4 BIRDS OF TOKYO Ormond Hall December 5 TAME IMPALA The Forum December 5, 6 JEFF MARTIN Cherry Bar December 7, The Northcote Social Club December 8 JOE ROBINSON The Toff December 8 GOTYE Sidney Myer Music Bowl December 8 SUNNYBOYS Corner Hotel December 8 THE LIVING END Corner Hotel December 11 – 22 CATCALL The Toff December 13 HARD-ONS Northcote Social Club December 14 THE VANDAS The Spotted Mallard December 14 I, A MAN The Espy December 14 SPAZZYS Northcote Social Club December 14, Evelyn Rooftop December 16 WINTERCOATS/ALBERT SALT The Fly On The Wall Theatre December 14, 15 POISON CITY XMAS The Reverence Hotel December 21 PARKWAY DRIVE Festival Hall December 22 EVEN The Hi-Fi December 22 CHILDREN COLLIDE The Espy December 28 CLAIRY BROWNE & BANGIN’ RACKETTES/ SASKWATCH The Hi-Fi December 29 SPIDERBAIT, SOMETHING FOR KATE The Espy December 31 NEW GODS Northcote Social Club January 11 TREVOR. A MUSIC FESTIVAL Churchill Island Nature Park January 12 JIMMY BARNES Trak Bar January 16 STICKY FINGERS Northcote Social Club January 18 BONJAH The Espy January 18, 19 TWELVE FOOT NINJA Corner Hotel January 18, Ferntree Gully Hotel January 19 THE NECKS Corner Hotel January 29, 30, 31 DEAD CAN DANCE Palais Theatre February 6 SARAH BLASKO Hamer Hall February 14 RIVERBOATS MUSIC FESTIVAL Echuca-Moama February 15 – 17 ROCK THE BAY FESTIVAL The Espy February 16 THE CAT EMPIRE Prince Bandroom March 20, 21 GRINSPOON The Hi-Fi March 22 THE SEEKERS Hamer Hall May 14
RUMOURS Rhianna, Dr Dre, En Vogue, Hole
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Beat Magazine Page 25
MAXIMO PARK BY JOSHUA KLOKE
The National Health, the fourth album from bombastic UK rockers Maximo Park, is thematically based in taking control of one’s own life. Frontman Paul Smith has been quoted as stating that the inspiration for the album came in the hopes of “…being a force for change in your own life,” and that it’s always “…been a Maximo Park thing: look at yourself.” It’s a determined approach from a band that, four albums into their ascent up the UK radio-rock ladder, is finally solidifying a sound all their own. Or at the very least, becoming more comfortable with their sound. Maximo Park arrived with their breakthrough debut, A Certain Trigger. The Mercury Prize-nominated album came at the height of the post-punk revival, when snappy and polished rock was flooding the airwaves. Great Britain, once a bastion for diverse and groundbreaking music, became churning out bands of a similar ilk with great speed and propulsion. Efforts to capitalise on this admittedly catchy genre of rock were widespread, though the market was soon flooded. As with any rising sub-genre in the 2000s, the post-punk revival was short lived. Where then, did that leave Maximo Park? The rise and fall of the genre they were closely associated with doesn’t change the fact that A Certain Trigger was still a concise and contagious listen. Yet their following two albums, 2007’s Our Earthly Pleasures and 2009’s Quicken The Heart were confusing in terms of their ambition and scope. The band treaded water, afraid to totally ditch their hooky pop-rock but still refusing to take grand leaps in terms of their sonic aesthetic. Three years separated the release of Quicken The Heart and The National Health, the longest Maximo Park ever has ever taken between records. Time allowed the band a chance to regain focus on the task at hand: namely, remembering to stay positive in an often merciless field of work. “I’ve certainly realised how positive the songs are,” says Smith, after being asked if his relationship with The National Health has changed since its release. “While we were making the record, we realised that in terms of themes, there’s the idea of coming through something and having a new day. Putting your troubles behind you. It can be a very negative world, so we’re trying to find the positive. The title track is about travelling on a train as a way to overcome frustration. So when we play those songs, it’s great to see people smiling. It’s great to see that the songs have evolved a bit in that regard.” Reached by phone from his home during a rare touring break, there’s a relaxed, thoughtful charm to Smith. “This is my week off, where I get to sleep in my own bed, do the washing,” says the mild-mannered 33-yearold. “That’ll take up most of my time.” While Smith’s pensive offstage persona may strike as a direct contrast to his manic onstage attitude, he hints repeatedly throughout our 25 minute conversation that when it came to writing The National Health, things weren’t always calm and rosy in the Maximo Park camp. The determined outlook of all five members of Maximo Park, particularly Smith, was compounded by their relative stubbornness. A focused credo of The National Health is easy to describe afterwards, but as Smith tells it, the band had to unify themselves in order to move forward with the record. “When we were making this record, we found it difficult to form one single idea about where the band was headed,” he says, bluntly. “Because we are all quite headstrong, Beat Magazine Page 26
the five of us. We all have a hand in writing the songs. If my lyrics aren’t what people want to hear in the band, then either I leave the band or I work with the band to try and get somewhere. There are all sorts of little difficulties in trying to unify the band and trying to make a record in the first place.” Smith honours the band as a unit by refraining from
“IT’S NECESSARY FOR MEMBERS OF THE BAND TO BE A BIT CRITICAL OF THINGS YOU’VE DONE, BUT IF YOU FOCUS MORE ON WHAT WE’RE DOING RIGHT, YOU’RE ABLE TO GET SO MUCH MORE DONE.” detailing any particular salacious issues the band dealt with. Instead, he insists that the Newcastle fivepiece is “…trying to remain friends, so we’ve been focusing on the positives of the band.” In focusing on the positives of Maximo Park instead of harping on the band’s shortcomings, Smith maintains the band was able to attain some perspective not only about the recording process, but the band itself. Refusing to be limited, Smith admits the band entered the studio with different ideas about which direction the band’s sound and vision should be heading in. The band’s demos for The National Health ended up sounding more like imitations of some of their influences than attempts to harness their live prowess. Evolution might have been on the band’s agenda, but Smith insists that they became overwhelmed with opportunity and lost their focus. “We tried to evolve too far. We recorded a few songs, demos, that we thought could work for the album, and they were almost in My Bloody Valentine territory. Kind of dreamy and overdone. We’d go back and listen to the songs and there was something not quite right about them,” he admits. Had The National Health ended up sounding as muddled and meandering as their previous two releases, the Maximo Park name may have been damaged beyond repair. But with age, Smith hasn’t just been able to attain perspective, but maturity as well.
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Once the band admitted their mistakes, something had to give. Stopping the process head-on and being critical about their output signalled the turning of the tide for the band.“That was a breakthrough for us, because we were able to approach the songs differently, with a very clean slate. We got very happy, thinking, ‘Yea, finally, this sounds like us, but it sounds fresh.’ “Sometimes when you’re writing songs, you’re trying to move away from what you’ve done,” he continues, “and sometimes you move too far. We realised we didn’t need to, because we’ve got our own sound.” Maximo Park had to look within and begun to practice what they preached. From the outside, The National Health is in large part an examination of England’s place in the world. Between the Queen’s Jubilee and London hosting the 2012 Olympic Games, the eyes of the world were certainly keen on how England would portray themselves. Smith admits that lyrically, he considered a critical analysis of modern England. But for the most part, he heeded his own advice and put the band under a microscope instead. “A lot of the music on the record, at least from a textural aspect, can be applied to the band itself. The song Waves At Sea ends the album and it was written on a very personal basis. It felt like after the last record, we still had more to say as a band. So each time we make a record, we’re thinking the same way. ‘Does the world need this record? Should we be making it?’ And lately we’ve felt like we should. So it’s good to have some level of self-assessment.” With a level of self-awareness, Smith pulls no punches when it comes to talking about the reception the band’s last two records garnered. He concedes that the band understands their sound is often put into a comfortable box and generalisations are quick to be made. Sticking to the script and taking risks might have seemed like the only options for the band. Yet Smith asserts they found a harmony between the two options. “There is a balance between going too far and sticking to a formula. It might be difficult to reach out to people that’ve written us off, but it sounds unlike anything we’ve ever done,” he continues. “It’s a tricky balance but we’ve been talking a lot more about stuff than we ever have. We’re trying to remain friends. It’s necessary for members of the band to be a bit critical of things you’ve done, but if you focus more on what we’re doing right, you’re able to get so much more done.” The results speak for themselves. Sounding energised but never repetitive, Maximo Park “…ended up in a good place by the end of the new record,” according to Smith. The growing pains now behind them, the band spent much of 2012 on the road. No intense, camera-laden therapy sessions were needed to rescue Maximo Park. Instead, the band just had to look long and hard in the mirror. Ultimately, they liked what they saw. “We’ve accepted ourselves and we’re revelling in it,” says Smith. “We’ve been able to write pop songs that we’re proud of; if we look back at our original aim, it was that, to write a pop songs that bring out the best in people. And as an entity, we’ve discovered that writing catchy pop songs that people to relate to is nothing to be ashamed of.”
MAXIMO PARK play Falls Festival taking place in Lorne from Friday December 28 to Tuesday January 1 (sold out) and in Marion Bay, Tasmania, from Saturday December 29 to Tuesday January 1. They also play The Corner Hotel on Wednesday January 2. The National Health is out through Cooperative Music.
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THIS WEEK: ON SCREEN Arts in Action, in partnership with Do Good Radio, will present a screening of the documentary Who Cares? The film is an inspiring collection of stories of social entrepreneurs who are working to try and make the world a better place. Filmed across seven different countries, in 20 locations and in just 40 days, the movie captures the stories of everyday people in Brazil, Peru, Tanzania, Canada, Germany, Switzerland and the USA who have achieved extraordinary impact with their social good projects. This is happening at the Trades Hall in Carlton and entry is free however donations will be gratefully accepted at the door.
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ON STAGE A duet between two passionate yet dislocated voices, Wild Surmise is a moving elegy to a marriage that has faded into oblivion. Astronomer Alex searches for life on a distant moon but finds herself consumed by a very human affair. Her literary-loving husband Daniel faces his mortality with sardonic relish, but begs the poets for answers they cannot provide. And while their attentions lie elsewhere, a marriage melts into memory. This stage adaptation of Dorothy Porter’s Miles Franklin Award-nominated novel captures the enveloping nature of a great book. Breathing life into the fictional world created in the mind of the reader, Wild Surmise celebrates the power of language to craft the multisensory universes in which we love to lose ourselves. It’s showing at the Malthouse Theatre’s Beckett Theatre until Sunday December 2, so head to the Malthouse Theatre website for ticketing.
ON DISPLAY The Kingston for Human Rights Committee was formed to raise public awareness of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Each year the Committee recognises the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on or around Monday December 10. This year the Committee is hosting an exhibition by Romanian cartoonists Sorin Postolache and Mihai PanzaruPim in which their images will represent each of the 30 Universal Declarations. This exhibition is in collaboration with the Embassy of Romania on behalf of the Romanian Institute of Human Rights and will be at Kingston Arts Centre, Moorabbin from Monday December 10. Entry to the gallery is free however be sure to head to kingstonarts. com.au for gallery times.
BEAT’S PICK OF THE WEEK: Featuring almost 40 Australian premieres of the latest Japanese cinema, some yet to be released, the 16th Japanese Film Festival opens with the biggest box-office hit of the year, Thermae Romae, a hilarious laugh-out-loud comedy based on the best-selling comic series of the same name. What follows is an eclectic mix of chick flicks, tear-jerkers, drama, samurai and more. Don’t miss the four special guests they are bringing out – all revered in Japan and abroad for their achievements in film and the performing arts. Join the conversation with Tamiyo Kusakari (A Terminal Trust), Masayuki Suo (A Terminal Trust), Miwa Nishikawa (Dreams for Sale) and Kenji Uchida (Key of Life) at their respective film screenings. This all begins this Thursday November 29. Tickets are on sale now from japanesefilmfestival.net.
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DANCE MASSIVE BY KATE MCCARTEN
The third biennial and aptly named Dance Massive festival is returning to Melbourne’s most dynamic theatre houses next March. In association with Ausdance Victoria, a group of producers and directors from across the board have again come together to collaborate and pool their resources with the collective purpose of bringing two weeks of Australia’s most exciting and diverse contemporary dancers to Melbourne’s most familiar dance stages. One of those people, Angharad Wynne-Jones, has inherited a key role in organising the festival from her predecessor and the brains behind the event Steven Richardson, and she’s thrilled to have made the leap from punter to producer. The inaugural Dance Massive event in 2009 was developed by the then Arts House Creative Producer Richardson in an attempt to unite Australia’s various contemporary dance performers, and help a wider audience discover the multitude of talent within the art form. Bringing Arts House together with Dancehouse and Malthouse, the three theatres each invite contemporary dance performances to show on their stages as part of the 13-day festival. And while it is a collective event, the coordinators give each theatre its own independence to keep the program organic. Wynee-Jones, Art House’s new Creative Director, explains, “The participating venues actually program the work themselves. We’re not bringing in an outside artistic director, so there’s a very strong connection between each of the venues and the artists that they’re programming, as well as with their audiences. It’s not imposed. But the benefit is that we all get to cross pollinate, and we’re able to really create an interesting contact for the audiences and the artists. It’s a fantastic opportunity to see all of the different diverse companies and individual artists, the different scales of work, and work from outside of Melbourne.” Dance Massive 2009 and 2011 were both runaway successes with sold out shows and a combined audience of around 11,000. Although the original producers have all but left the three contributing theatres, Dance Massive 2013 promises to keep
those successes alive. Between March 12 and 24 2013, Arts House, Dancehouse and Malthouse will play host to a eclectic mix of contemporary performers, from the über experienced like Lucy Guerin Inc and Anouk van Dijk with Chunky Move to equally talented up-and-comers like Stephanie Lake and Matthew Day. Dance Massive is also embracing brand spanking choreographers like Atlanta Eke and Natalie Abbott who are fresh off the Next Wave festival circuit. The variety of the performers is one of the most important aspects of the event, says Wynne-Jones. “It’s a fabulous combustion of different experiences with artists at different points in their careers with many different approaches, from quite pure studio-based dance through to work that’s really on the intersection of sculpture, live art and performance art.” And while each theatre has their own priorities and criteria for who they’ve chosen to perform, Wynne-Jones says that there’s a general consensus that they’re all looking to showcase the best, most exciting and most diverse works in order for audiences to experience a wide range of approaches. The benefits of a festival of this nature is not only an opportunity for audiences to consume a lot of dance in a short space of time, but also to help the artists grow together. “It’s a great opportunity for the artists to get together as a sector,” WynneJones elaborates. “To see each others work and
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understand the strengths of the sector, and ask some questions of themselves. There’s nothing like it on the Australian landscape, so it really is an opportunity for the dance sector to come together and really explore the terrain.” While works like Gudirr Gudirr by Marrugeku have been commissioned by Arts House specifically for the festival, some of the performances are works that have seen the Melbourne stage before. Tim Darbyshire’s More or Less Concrete, a journey of contrast between the real and the surreal, premiered at Arts House earlier this year. Dance Massive is an opportunity not only to discover all new performances, but to perhaps catch up on some of the contemporary dance highlights you may have missed over the last two years. And artists like Antony Hamilton have used the festival as a platform to bring new developments to previous works; his acclaimed Black Project 1 was shown in Melbourne in March, and its sequel Black Project 2 will join his initial work at Dance Massive 2013. Although Dance Massive doesn’t start until March, discount packages are available online until January 27. So if you are interested in embracing the festival and seeing a variety of performances, it may pay to get tickets early. And the idea, Wynne-Jones hopes, is that audiences will want to come to more than one performance. “The invitation is to really immerse yourself in this incredible world for two weeks, and be saturated with these extraordinary artists and their ideas. The more shows you see, the more you’ll start to make connections between the works. It creates an energy and a buzz, and allows audiences to connect with the artists more freely. I think that’s what festivals can do brilliantly, is create a context where audiences are more supported to take a risk and see a range of work; some work that’s new and developing, and some work that’s tried and tested. All you need is a little bit of curiosity.” Dance Massive 2013 is on at Arts House, Dancehouse, Malthouse Theatre and NGV, from Tuesday March 12 – Sunday March 24, 2013. Visit dancemassive.com.au for more information.
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FOR MORE ARTS NEWS, REVIEWS AND INTERVIEWS VISIT BEAT.COM.AU THREE COURSE THEATRE
SUBURBIA
FILMOTECA
The Moreland Theatre Company will be presenting a special three bill composition entitled Three Course Theatre this month. Directed by Sarah Rily, Kyleigh Langrick and Michele Haywood, the production will feature three short plays that travel the world. First course will straight from the heart of America with Floyd Dell’s Angel Intrudes, a story about an angel that comes down from heaven. Hailing a bittersweet main will be notorious playwright Chekhov with his play The Proposal. Dessert is homegrown talent, showcasing Victorian writer Kath Harper’s play-writing talent in Taking Care, a story that delves into the complications of nursing homes. Three Course Theatre will be served at Brunswick Mechanics Institute of Performing Art from Thursday November 29 – Sunday December 2.
Exhibit A: Theatre’s third show for the year will transport audiences back to the ‘90s at the Abbotsford Convent this November. Set against the backdrop of a suburban 7/11, Eric Bogosian’s SubUrbia follows the struggles and existential angst of a group of young adults in a world of sex, substance abuse and violence. It was nominated for an OBIE in 1994 and has been successfully adapted into a motion picture. Under the direction of Adam Spellicy, Exhibit A: Theatre’s final production for 2012 follows the sell out shows EIGHT and Sight Unseen. A preview show on Monday November 26 will be followed by performances from November 28-30 and December 3-7. All shows commence at 7.30pm at the Abbotsford Convent’s The Shadow Electric.
Melbourne Filmoteca and the Tapiales International Film Festival have joined forces to present new work by some of Argentina’s best emerging directors. The selection of six Argentinean short films provides a rich snapshot of the high quality work currently produced by independent filmmakers in this region of Latin America. Screening in this program: She Doesn´t Love Me (Ella no me Ama) (Martín Piroyansky, 2010), Copy A (Gervasio Rodríguez Traverso and Pablo A. Díaz, 2009), Pibe’s (Martín Ladd, 2009), The Magic Cube (Cubo Mágico) (Juan Baranchuk, 2010), Teclópolis (Javier Mrad, 2009) and Luminaris (Juan Pablo Zaramella, 2011). To celebrate their last screening of 2012 and the beautiful year they’ve had, they’ll have a Tango showcase provided by Melbourne Practica Group! It’s on at ACMI on Tuesday December 4 at 7.30pm. Tickets on sale now through acmi.net.au
VIPA WINNERS ILBIJERRI, Songlines and 3KND have announced the nine recipients of this year Victorian Indigenous Performing Arts (VIPA) Awards. Covering the categories of theatre, music and broadcasting the VIPA have been celebrating outstanding achievements in the Indigenous performing arts across Victoria for the past 15 years. Recipients of the 2012 VIPA awards include Margaret Harvey, Uraine Mastrosavas, Jason Tamiru, Lee Morgan, Benny Walker, Yung Warriors, Gary ‘Gilla’ McGuiness, Janina Harding, Kim Kruger and Dylan Clarke. More information about the awards can be found through ilbijerri.com.au
COLLECTING MELBOURNE X MELBOURNE MUSIC WEEK Teaming up with Melbourne Music Week, online street portraiture blog Collecting Melbourne will be providing a behind the scenes look at what it takes to make the festival such a success. Photographer behind the blog Alexandre Schoelcher, will be capturing all the characters of the festival at venues across the city. Arthur Tannzi will be curating an exhibition of the works, which will feature the faces of artists, musicians, patrons and everyone in between. The opening party at Rue Bebélons will feature DJ Cazeauz O.S.L.O, free drinks and friendly folks.
MONOPOLIFE Georgina Lee’s third solo exhibition lets Seventh Gallery visitors roll the dice in their own game of life. Known for her large scale, immersive installations, Lee’s Monopolife features an interactive oversized board game. Gallery visitors are invited to make their way around the board to acquire aspirational objects in the pursuit of happiness, prestige and social acclaim. Lee’s recent solo exhibitions have included En-CUBATORS and Living the Dream, check out her latest as she explores status anxiety and societal expectation. Get on board at Seventh Gallery, Fitzroy, from Tuesday December 4 until Thursday December 20. An opening event will take place on Tuesday December 4 from 6pm-8pm. More information can be found at georginalee.net
AND THEN THERE WERE FIVE fortyfivedownstairs will be hosting a group exhibition of works by Ilona Nelson, Celeste Chandler, Erika Gofton and Sharon Billinge this December. Featuring painting, photography and installation And Then There Were Five brings together four different artists with diverse backgrounds and mediums. Billinge paints paper and timber with oils and inks, while Chandler’s oils on canvas are often autobiographical. Gofton explores maternal bonding and Nelson’s practice sees her examine self and society with photography. The exhibition will open Tuesday December 4 from 5pm-7pm and run until Saturday December 15 at fortyfivedownstairs.
GRAPEVINE Burlesque has had a resurgence in the past decade; companies and classes have sprung up around the world, while Dita Von Teese’s champagne routine has become many men’s (and women’s dreams). Therefore, if you love burlesque you should really head over to Red Bennies for Grapevine: Exotic Tales of Women & Wine. Miss Burlesque Australia of 2011, Sina King, will be there. The stunner is known for her killer body, witty routines and engaging sets that have procured comparisons to Lucille Ball and, you guessed it, Dita Von Teese. Grapevine: Exotic Tales of Women & Wine will illustrate tales of dangerous, alluring women. Fire Master, Chris Carlos, Master of Chaos, Dirk Hoult, and many more, will be joining the seductress for the night. Sure to ignite you from within, Grapevine: Exotic Tales of Women & Wine will perform at Red Bennies on Friday November 23 at 7pm.
DEATH OF A COMEDIAN
MIDSUMMA
comic
co inth rne er
The annual Midsumma festival of queer arts and culture has announced an exciting program to celebrate its 25th birthday next year. Since 1988 the festival has become a well loved feature of Melbourne’s cultural calendar. The 25th Midsumma Festival will mark the milestone and celebrate the past, present and future of the city’s vibrant and diverse GLBTI community. It will open with Carnival, a free event at Birrarung Marr and day of queer celebration, with performances and attractions for all. The festival will run from Sunday January 13 until Sunday February 3. Checkout midsumma.org.au for the full festival lineup and ticketing information.
Sometimes we’ve wondered what would happen if you shoved several of Australia’s most predominant comedians into one room and made them battle to the death. No? Oh dear, well Fred Rowan sure has. After all, it’s the title of his debut comedy Death of a Comedian. Through series of punch lines, metaphorical broken limbs and competitiveness, several of Australia’s best comedians will contend for best joke. Comedians include David Nash, Karla Silvey and Kevin Summers (plus more). Fred Rowan drew upon his own experiences as a comedian to create the play. Expect (fake) blood, a plethora of witticisms that will have you toppling from the chair in laughter. Death of a Comedian will be creating a bloody mess at La Mama from Wednesday November 28 – Sunday December 9. Tickets can be purchased from La Mama.
MARIAN HOSKING The National Gallery of Victoria has announced Marian Hosking as the recipient of the 2012 Cicely & Colin Rigg Contemporary Design Award. The $30,000 price was awarded for Hosking’s work Clearing. This year’s award asked fourteen Victorian artists to explore the theme of ‘containment’ and was judged by Robert Reason, curator of the European and Australian Decorative Arts at the Art Gallery of South Australia. They will form an exhibition Containment: 2012 Cicely & Colin Rigg Contemporary Design Award. The artist’s works will go on display from Friday November 23, 2012, until Sunday July 21, 2013 at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia. More information can be found through the NGV.
THE NEW HUMAN ORGANISM Do you have a penchant for cannibalism, the macabre and sex? If you have one of those two, Speakeasy Cinema’s latest addition, Chronicles of the New Human Organism, will be your cup of tea. It’s a collusion of new genitalia, experimental surgery (hopefully not human centipede style), and alienation that will make you wonder how sane Ian Haig actually. Kidding, Haig is perfectly fine, he just likes drawing on bizzare concepts and alienating them. The 50 minute film will be presented by Tape Projects followed by a Q&A with Haig himself. Here he might answer your questions about human sacrifice, insects, parasites and the Mayan calendar. Chronicles is the (not-so) perfect film for a xenophile. Chronicles of the New Human Organism will be shown at Bouverie Studios on Thursday November 29 at 6.30pm. Doors open at 6pm and snags, including vegie opinions, will be provided.
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MIKE NAYNA
What’s the worst sex story you’ve ever had happen or heard about? I knew a dude that got chlamydia in his eye. Although I have seen Philadelphia, which kind of puts that story into perspective. Your partner allows you to sleep with one celebrity. Who do you choose and why? Dakota Fanning. She’d be old enough now to make it legitimately consensual and Dakota Fanning sex stories would be a hit at dinner parties. If you could choose your gender which would it be and why? A man. Having lady bits seems like a lot of work. You’ve been made Prime Minister of Australia after a bizarre, yet strangely believable, series of events. What’s do you do first? Criminalise straight marriage. What is the meaning of life? My uncle Gary once told me that life is full of disappointment. You’ll experience many hardships before you grow old. But as the years go by and you become a man, what’s really important is that you never ever tell Mummy and Daddy what happened here today. Where can we see you perform? Tuesday night at Lucky Coq on Chapel St. A very cool new room. Where can we follow/stalk/find out more about you? Subscribe to my Tube Channel - youtube.com/ checkpointcomedy
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THE COMIC STRIP
CHECKPOINT COMEDY: EUROTRASH Tonight – another huge line-up! One of Australia’s finest, Harley Breen, will host a genital-tingling lineup including Ryan Coffey, Steele Saunders, Moataz Hamde, Mike Nayna, Mark Conway and more! For just $5. You’re welcome. So come fill yourself with cheap piss and put your continence to the ultimate test as some pretty damn rad comedians spit funnies into the business end of a loud stick. Check in 8pm tonight at Eurotrash Bar, 18 Corrs Lane, Melbourne. Get down early for a seat.
FELIX BAR COMEDY Celia Pacquola headlines Felix Bar Comedy tonight! Plus Ben Lomas, Michael Williams, David Quirk, Moataz Hamde and Mike Nayna! It’s happening this Wednesday November 28 at 8.30pm for only $12, at Felix Bar, St Kilda.
SANDWICH A rag tag team of Melbourne’s finest strange comedians assemble at The Spotted Mallard every Wednesday night to make a delicious comedy show that you can’t experience anywhere else. Sandwich as refreshing as a sandwich. Come and have a taste, Wednesday’s from 8pm, free.
COMMEDIA DELL PARTE This week Ronny Chieng from ABC’s Problems headlines another cracking lineup at Commedia Dell Parte. Joining Ronny this week we have Pete Sharkey, Brendan Maloney, Cam Marshall, Damian Breese, Sam Petersen and a very special guest. Get down early for $5 Happy Hour drinks, 7pm till 9pm. The room runs on a ‘pay as you like’ basis, so come along and have a great laugh, then pay what you believe the show is worth on the way out. Commedia Dell Parte runs every Thursday 8.30pm, George Lane Bar, , St Kilda.
SOFTBELLY COMEDY Celia Pacquola headlines Softbelly Comedy this Thursday! She’s one of Australia’s fastest rising comedy stars, and here’s your chance to see her live on stage! Plus Tommy Little, Mat Kenneally, Ivan Aristeguieta, Steele Saunders and Mataz Hamde! It’s this Thursday November 29 at 8.30pm, for only $13 at Five Boroughs (upstairs), 68 Hardware Lane, City. Dinner is now available before the show, downstairs!
CHECKPOINT COMEDY: LUCKY COQ Wow, that was a hell of an opening night. Don’t miss out on week two of Melbourne’s newest night. Next Tuesday, Melbourne’s best comedians will head southside and make it rain at Lucky Coq. Starring Offered to Celia Pacquola (Rove Live), Joel Creasey, John Conway, John Campbell and Mark Conway! Plus The Coq’s famous $4 pizzas. Want more? Free entry. Done. Check in next Tuesday at Lucky Coq. cnr High St and Chapel St. Kicks off 9pm.
COMEDY COURT MELBOURNE The Comedy Court Melbourne Finals kicks off on Thursday December 6 with seven finalists and special guest comic from Sydney, “WAKA”. With live audience, digital voting and $1000 in cash and prizes up for grabs, it will be a wild night! It’s on at Red Violin, 231 Bourke St, CBD, 8.30pm (doors open 7.30pm). Book online and save at comedyintheraw.com.au
INSIDE After the success of Woodley, the comically charming Frank Woodley and acrobatically inclined Simon Yates have announced their first on stage collaboration INSIDE. Set in a brutal prison, INSIDE, follows the trials and tribulations of in mates Viktor and Vissilli as they resolve to make their escape. Brought to life with design by Anna Cordingley, acrobatics, stunts, illusions, songs, pratfalls, pathos and hilarity ensue. See it at The Famous Spiegeltent from Wednesday March 27 until Sunday April 21 next year. Tickets and information can be found through comedyfestival.com.au
RUSSELL BRAND BY TYSON WRAY
MATT IRWIN AT STUDIO 72 Address: Floor 7, Studio 2, Nicholas Building, 37 Swanston Street Phone Number: 9663 2858 Website: mattirwin.com.au Gallery owner: Matt Irwin
Eccentricity is Russell Brand’s mantra. The globally revered comedian, actor and author may have a past marred in self-indulgence, but in 2012 Brand is on a natural high, and having just performed at the Olympic Closing Ceremony and currently touring the world, it’s fair to that his career and personal life continue to skyrocket. As we begin to converse it becomes apparent that Obama had just been announced the victor of the 2012 US election. This stirs a thought – if through a bizarre yet strangely believable series of events, what would Brand do if given global power? “We put all resources back into one centralised global government body and make sure that all resources reach the people that need them most,” he notes carefully. “We use the existing global technology to ensure that everyone has access to the internet and television. We implement an electronic democracy where everyone can vote on relevant issues to their principality. The use of fossil fuels becomes immediately banned. The continuing harvest of rainforests is immediately banned. Vegetarianism becomes immediately mandatory. The working week is redefined as no more than 20 hours and all religion, national creed and money is banned.” Scrolling through Brand’s seemingly endless Facebook fans, I quiz him on his perceptions on the sometimes inane, loving and the disturbing comments that he can now receive from fans due to the expansion of social media. “I’m never really creeped out over that sort of stuff. I try to see it as always being done with good intentions,” he remarks humbly. “I’m never really worried – there’s never been anything that has made me too worried. If someone knows a lot of details about your life then it’s quite flattering really. The whole phenomena of being well known is peculiar. My mind isn’t charged
by negativity, however.” Returning to Australia for his first ever national tour, Brand expresses that he feels a great sense of adoration for our country. “One of the reasons I’m coming to Australia is [to do] sexual missionary work,” he laughs playfully. “I find it to be a very exciting, positive and optimistic place to be. I think it’s got all of the best aspects of English and American culture. It’s got the ‘yeah, you can do what you like’ aspect of America and the comedic sensitivity of English culture. It’s a fantastic country. Everyone seems to be very good looking, the food seems to taste good, people are healthy. So much of it is uninhabited and unexplored. I’m really looking forward to getting out and visiting some of the nature and Indigenous culture. I love your country.” Entitled I Am A Walrus, even Brand seems to have difficulty succinctly describing his current show. “It’s about the build up of when I performed at the Olympics,” he details. “It’s condensed into a couple of weeks before I performed and a couple of minutes before I performed and all of the things that went on. This entails celebrity death rumours, the nature of sexuality, was the Olympics a secret satanic ritual run by an Illuminati sect. There’s stories of my trousers being torn, wanting to shout out crazy stuff to the Queen, meeting the Dalai Lama. It’s a very broad and all-encompassing show.” As our time comes to an end, we remark on the peculiarity that in all likelihood our paths will never cross again. From this comes quite a tangent, as Brand quizzes me on how I’d like to leave this world. As the interviewer and not the interviewee, I stumble, and turn the question around. If Brand could write his own eulogy, what on Earth would be say? “This funeral is fake. Russell is fine,” he laughs. “In fact, look over in the trees – that’s him now. Oh Russell put some clothes on for God’s sake.”
When did the space first open its doors, and how did you become involved? Matt Irwin at Studio 72 is a relatively new affair only opening its doors earlier this year. Nestled inside the prestigious Nicholas Building alongside many of Melbourne’s great artists and craftspeople. This space is about visiting and sharing Matt Irwin’s love affair with Melbourne with those who also love Melbourne. Matt Irwin has been in business of shooting Melbourne at its best for 22 years. Our first gallery opened in the south of Melbourne in 2002, then almost five years ago we opened Matt Irwin gallery in Scott Alley just off Flinders Lane. Matt Irwin at Studio 72 is the latest iteration of Matt Irwin gallery and is open to all 12pm ‘til 5pm Monday to Friday. Does the space lend itself to a certain type of art, and if so how? Matt Irwin Studio 72 has been fit out to complement the grass roots approach of Matt Irwin’s work, using natural surfaces, embedded within the iconic Art Deco location of the Nicholas Building. Art within art within art.
What have been some of your more memorable exhibitions? These days Matt Irwin Photography has been exhibiting Matt Irwin’s own work exclusively. But in previous times in our other locations we have had the joy to also exhibit the work of other unique photographers like Misho Baranovic and his standout iPhongraphy alongside our own. When curating an exhibition, how do you decided what work is appropriate for the space? You just know. What else can you tell us about the gallery/space? It was always critical for Matt that he could engage the general public with his art, and be sure not to create the great-white-empty-space found in a lot of galleries which ends up being a barrier of entry for some members of the general public. We wanted to be warm and engaging, and we think we have achieved that over the years.
Russell Brand performs at Rod Laver Arena on Friday December 7.
Q&A COMEDY COURT
Comedy Court has an unusual format, what’s it all about and when did it start? It started in Sydney in 2008, the concept is court, judges plus competitions. For comedians, the stage is the court, while the audience, with live digital voting pads, are instant judges. I was told your MC is actually a barrister? Well yes and no. He’s dressed up like a barrister i.e. wig, robe, gavel, but don’t try to retain him for legal purposes, he’s not real. So it’s a competition as well, what’s on offer? $1,000 in cash and prizes, plus a spot in the $2,000
Sydney Super Grand Final at Bondi Beach on Sunday December 16. The only way to get into the Super Grand Final, is to win one of our regular nine week competitions. Are the Comics in the competitions local or from Sydney? All contestants are local up and comers or semi-pros. We do have special guest from other cities like Perth, Adelaide and Sydney. When and where are the Melbourne finals? Friday December 7 at the Red Violin, 231 Bourke St. Doors open at 7.30pm, show starts at 8.30pm sharp. ARTS NEWS, REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS ONLINE – BEAT.COM.AU/ARTS
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VIEWING PLATFORMS GROWTH Contemporary Art Space, known as c3 to you savvy art enthusiasts, is making use of all six spaces within their gallery to host their last exhibition for the year. David Pearce will be adopting Gallery 1 with his works entitled Growth. Pearce’s exhibition will explore the intrinsic connection between familiar environments and how they change shape over time. Copyshop Editors will explore the works produced by eight artists who posed as ‘employees’ at the photocopy retail outlet within the gallery. Copyshop Editors will inhabit Space A. Over in Space B is where Naomi Eller immerses you within the malleability of nature. Entitled Nothing Is Set In
Stone the pieces delves into the dialogue between morality, history and human’s capability to change. Within the Project Room, Ian Tippett’s work Still Motion will be everything but that. Exploring the narcissism of imagery, photographs will be projected onto a pool of water for all to admire. Australian photographers Hayley West and Tobias Richardson collaborate for Get Me Out of Here in Gallery 2, a sequential collection of photographs the pair took from their journey from Darwin to NSW. In Gallery 3 is the debut of artistic initiative Interact Art. The exhibition will feature work from John Bates, Ross O’Meara and many more; all artists who experience some form of disability. Full of bright interesting things, c3’s final exhibition for 2012 will run from Wednesday November 21 to Sunday December 9. Admission is free.
The Edmund Pearce Gallery is known for featuring provocative exhibitions, including Annalisa Felepa’s exploration of feminism through flowers in Notions, and current exhibition Preserved. Next up is Viewing Platforms by Kristian Häggblom, a photographic exploration of Australian culture. Through a series of acute photographs, Häggblom explores the relationship, and psychology, behind tourism in Australia. His works challenges the grandeur of natural landmarks, while highlighting the inherent part that have in Australian culture. Acclaimed photographer
MATT IRWIN AT STUDIO 72
Over the last 22 years, Matt has become known for his cinematic eye and attention to detail. A believer in the power of photographs as a single shared moment of humanity, Matt is always hunting for something new in
Louise Porter will host an artist conversation during the exhibition. Porter will bring his aficionado knowledge to the exhibition, unraveling Häggblom’s work for the everyday citizen. Viewing Platforms will be exhibited at the Edmund Pearce Gallery from Wednesday November 28 – Saturday December 15. Opening night will occur on Thursday November 29 from 6 – 8pm, while artist in conversation with Louis Porter will occur Saturday December 1 at 2pm. Admission is free.
his home city of Melbourne and around the world. The local search continues, and Melbourne is too beautiful to think of stopping. Matts images can be viewed at his Gallery located in the Prestigious Nicholas Building, right in the heart of the city he loves. Experience, enjoy, and embrace. And while Matt’s search continues out there, hopefully yours can be fulfilled with us here. We invite all to share the love affair, and would like to start that with an open invitation of a celebration of love this Christmas. So join us for a Christmas celebration of Melbourne at Studio 72 in the Nicholas Building this Friday December 14 from 6:30pm, or anytime during our standard opening hours of 12pm ‘til 5pm Monday to Friday.
THE CIRCUS INSIDE Photographer, and resident acrobat, Darcy Grant presents her first exhibition: The Circus Inside. In this exhibition the 2011 Open Prize for Photography winner will be present a collection of images taken of acrobats in action. Grant relies on black and white film to capture the sharp movement of each artist, detailing their strength, execution and tenacity. The photographer has been working at The Flying Fruit Fly Circus for years, teaching, training and tutoring other circus performers. This knowledge is present within her work. Fellow photographer Ponch Hawkes will open the debut this December. The Circus Inside will be exhibited at Photonet Gallery from Sunday December 2 – Wednesday December 19. Hawkes will open the Grant’s debut from 4 - 6pm on Sunday December 2. Admission is free.
LOUISE BOURGEOIS AT HEIDE Heide Museum of Modern Art are showcasing the brilliance of Louise Bourgeois. Running until Monday March 11, 2013, and presented in the main galleries – Heide III – Louise Bourgeois: Late Works is the first exhibition in Australia to survey the work of this profoundly important artist since her death in 2010. Focusing on the final 15 years of Bourgeois’ career, the exhibition examines the use of fabric in the artist’s works, and includes 18 sculptures, two suites of fabric drawings, watercolours, embroidered texts and lithographs never before seen in Australia. Central to the exhibition is Spider – one of the artist’s famous Cells sculptures which is dominated, enclosed and protected by a gargantuan spider – a recurring and powerful motif in the artist’s work. Louise Bourgeois and Australian Artists, running until Sunday April 14, is the second exhibition presented in Heide II, and reveals the enormous influence of Bourgeois locally. The exhibition examines the works of artists who share Bourgeois’ compelling combination of abstraction and figuration, her psycho-sexual themes and surrealist sensibility. Del Kathryn Barton, Janet Burchill, Kathy Temin, Pat Brassington, Brent Harris, Carolyn Eskdale and Patricia Piccinini are just some of the Australian artists represented. For more information, check out heide.com.au
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ARTS NEWS, REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS ONLINE – BEAT.COM.AU/ARTS
WED NO V 28TH 2012
ISSUE 1348 MELBOURNE’S ONLY DEDICATED CLUB MAG
AUSTRALIAN MICHAEL B-BOY CHAMPIONSHIPS MAYERGER
TODD TERJENOR
D MORE THDAY, DJ JCHAU, AGENT 86 AN PLUS: BIMBO DELUXE’S 10TH BIR
Moodymann: Detroit Dynamite FOR MORE UP TO DATE NEWS GO TO BEAT.COM.AU
UPCOMING
JANUARY
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
ONTOUR MAJOR LAZER [USA] Thursday November 29, The Hi-Fi APOLLO BROWN [USA] Thursday November 29, Laundry Bar MICHAEL MAYER [GER] Friday November 30, Prince Bandroom ACID PAULI [GER] Friday November 30, New Guernica BORIS BREJCHA [GER], ANNA [GER], KHAINZ [SWI] Friday November 30, Brown Alley STEREOSONIC: TIESTO [NED], AVICII [SWE], CALVIN HARRIS [UK] + MORE Saturday December 1, Melbourne Showgrounds 2MANYDJS [BEL] Sunday December 2, Red Bennies FOUR TET [UK] Thursday December 6, Prince Bandroom NICK WARREN [UK], HENRY SAIZ [ESP] Friday December 7, Billboard TYGA [USA] Friday December 7, Prince Bandroom RAHZEL [USA] Friday December 7, The Espy TODD TERJE [NOR] Friday December 7, The Liberty Social MEREDITH MUSIC FESTIVAL: FOUR TET [UK], DJ YAMANTAKA EYE [JAP] + MORE Friday December 7 - Sunday December 9, Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre PAUL KALKBRENNER [GER] Friday December 14, Billboard XKORE [UK] Friday December 14, Royal Melbourne Hotel CATZ N’ DOGZ [POL] Friday December 14, New Guernica KENDRICK LAMAR [USA] Friday December 21, The Palace TERRENCE PARKER [USA] Friday December 21, New Guernica FALLS FESTIVAL: SBTRKT [UK], COOLIO [USA] + MORE Saturday December 28 – Tuesday January 1, Lorne TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS [UK] Saturday December 29, Corner Hotel LET THEM EAT CAKE: KERRI CHANDLER [USA], THE GASLAMP KILLER [USA] + MORE Tuesday January 1, Werribee Park SUMMERDAYZE: THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS [UK], M.I.A [UK], MARK RONSON [UK] + MORE Tuesday January 1, Sidney Myer Music Bowl MARCELLUS PITTMAN [USA], PSYCHEMAGIK [UK] Tuesday January 1, The Bridge KRAFTY KUTS [UK], A-SKILLZ [UK], CAMO & KROOKED [UK] + MORE Tuesday January 1, Brown Alley SBTRKT [UK] Wednesday January 2, Billboard HOT CHIP [UK] Wednesday January 9, The Palace DE LA SOUL [USA] Thursday January 3, The Espy CRYSTAL CASTLES [CAN] Tuesday January 22, Billboard THE BLOODY BEETROOTS [ITA] Thursday January 24, The Palace SOUL CLAP [USA] Friday January 25, The Liberty Social RAINBOW SERPENT: GUY J [ISR], CHRISTIAN SMITH [SWE], PETER VAN HOESEN [BEL] Friday January 25 - Monday January 28, Lexton BIG DAY OUT: THE BLOODY BEETROOTS [ITA], KASKADE [USA], CRYSTAL CASTLES [CAN] + MORE Saturday January 26, Flemington Racecourse JESSIE WARE [UK] Wednesday January 30, Prince Bandroom SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA [SWE] Friday February 1, Sidney Myer Music Bowl ABOVE & BEYOND [UK] Saturday February 2, Hisense Arena EL-P [USA] Wednesday February 6, Corner Hotel BICEP [UK] Sunday February 10, Revolver Upstairs MACKLEMORE [USA], RYAN LEWIS [USA] Saturday February 16, The Corner Hotel MOODYMANN [USA] Friday March 8, Prince Bandroom GOLDEN PLAINS: MOODYMANN [USA], JULIO BASHMORE [UK] + MORE Saturday March 9 - Monday March 11, Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre FUTURE MUSIC FESTIVAL: THE PRODIGY [UK], DIZZEE RASCAL [UK], BOYS NOIZE [GER] + MORE Sunday March 10, Flemington Racecourse
REAL TALK
Take me out of the oven because I am done. But really, Where?House has ended me. Let’s hope they use that wonderful space for something else in the future, hey. Tyson Wray
Apollo Brown: Shootin’ Dice
Detroit-based beat maker Apollo Brown has announced a Melbourne performance this November. Earlier this year Apollo teamed up with Brooklyn rapper O.C. to release the Trophies, which climbed into the iTunes top 10 in both Europe and the USA. Continuing with his prolific output, Apollo released Dice Game with fellow Detroit hip hop heavyweight Guilty Simpson earlier this month. Apollo Brown will be playing Melbourne at Laundry on Thursday November 29, accompanied by New Zealand’s David Dallas, Young Lean, and Bel Air LXIX Club.
MC Stretch: Elastic Excellence
If you listen to dance, we can guarantee you’ve heard the legendary MC Stretch. Whether it’s been as a DJ, MC, singer, writer, producer, host back in his pirate radio days, listened to an artist off his record label, his stamp is everywhere. With just over 20 years of experience, Stretch has worked with some of the biggest and the best in the business: Tiësto, Sidney Samson, Fedde Le Grand, Armin Van Buuren, Quasar and host of others that reads too long to list here. He is also a permanent fixture on the touring scene, with some of the biggest dance events around the world, such as Stereosonic, Creamfields, Tomorrowland, Sensation, Rock it Open Air and more. To help celebrate the launch of Richmond’s newest live music venue, The Eureka Hotel, MC Stretch is playing a one-off show tonight, in between his touring dates with Stereosonic. To spread the love, all presale tickets bought in person at the venue before Monday will get a free pot of draught or cider. MC Stretch will be supported by DJ Le Blanc and guests. It’s on tonight at 7pm at 1 Church St, Richmond.
Hermitude: HyperParadise in HyperSpace
Hermitude, who have risen to new heights in 2012 off the back of their HyperParadise album, have announced a Melbourne show in early February. Courtesy of the acclaim for their album, particularly single Speak of the Devil, the crew have catapulted onto the festival circuit with spots at Groovin The Moo, Parklife and Homebake. Their production work has been in solid demand with remixes for The Presets, Missy Higgins and co-production credits on Urthboy’s Smokey’s Haunt. They also won an AIR Award for Best Dance/Electronic Release and have been nominated for two ARIAs (Best Dance Release & Best Video) and a j award for Australian Album of the Year. Hermiture play The Corner Hotel with special guest Jonti on Friday February 1.
Swedish House Mafia: One Last Tour
Due to unprecedented demand, the Swedish House Mafia are coming to Melbourne to service the south eastern fans in Australia that missed out. Victorian, Tasmanian and Adelaide Ticketmaster account holders who bought Sydney tickets will be contacted by email by Ticketmaster and given the option to have their Sydney Tickets refunded if they wish to attend Melbourne Show (some conditions and ticket limits apply – refer to email for full offer details). As the name suggests, One Last Tour will be the final time for Australian fans to see Swedish House Mafia and the boys’ show-stopping backdrop of lasers, fireworks and flames. They play Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Friday February 1, 2013. Tickets on sale 12pm Thursday November 29 from Ticketmaster.
RESPONSIBLE: Managing Editor: Ronnit Sternfein ronnit@beat.com.au Editor: Tyson Wray tyson@beat.com.au Listings: club/promoter submissions clubguide@beat.com.au - now online at beat.com.au - it’s free! Production: Pat O’Neill art@beat.com.au Typesetting: Rebecca Houlden Cover Design: Pat O’Neill Advertising Senior Sales: ronnit@beat.com.au (03) 8414 9710 Taryn Stenvei taryn@beat.com.au Fashion and Beverages: Tegan Butler tegan@furstmedia.com.au Ph: 03 8414 9732 Deadlines: Editorial Friday 2PM – absolutely NO exceptions. Club photos Monday 9AM (email only clubpics@beat.com.au). Advertising artwork Monday 12PM. Photographers: Callum Linsell Contributors: Rezo Kezerashvili, Miki McLay, Shane Scott, Simon Traspier, Brian Rotide, The Knowledge, Ellen Devenney, Dan Watt, Aaron Ralston, Birdie, Liam Pieper, Simon Hampson, Chad-Michael Michaelson, Mikolai, Reuben Adams, David Edgley. Publisher: Furst Media, 3 Newton Street Richmond 3121 Ph 03 9428 3600 www.beat.com.au
EDITORIALDEADLINE - 2PM FRIDAYS NO EXCEPTIONS
2.
UP TO DATE
The greatest fucking DJ and producer in the world (well, in my very biased opinion) has announced a sideshow to accompany his appearance at Golden Plains. Kenny Dixon Jr. aka Moodymann is one of Detroit’s most legendary and most outspoken figures. Creating a hybrid of jazz, soul, funk and disco, his take on house and techno is revered worldwide. Moodymann will play in the intimate surrounds of the Prince Bandroom on Friday March 8. He’ll also play at Golden Plains on Sunday March 10.
20th Anniversary of The Hellfire Club: 50 Shades of Red
In late 1992, a nightclub burst on to the Melbourne scene that was a little different: The Hellfire Club – an S&M club for the masses! Hellfire was the beautiful and transgressive side of S&M: the fashion, the image, the attitude, the people of every bent straight, gay, BDSM - the edge. In 2012, the number one bestseller book is about spanking and S&M. The time is right for Hellfire to rise like the Phoenix and come back to celebrate 20 years of the glamorous playfully kinky side of S&M. They have an amazing Tiki Lounge venue in The LuWow and a great lineup of acts, including top burlesque performers, and many more. There will be the famous Play Area where you can actually get spanked, whipped, slapped, flogged, tied up, nipple clamped, tickled, candle waxed and abused to your consensual hearts are content by sexy women in high heels and dominant men in uniform. Discs will be spun by Hellfire stalwart David Thrussell (Snog, Black Lung) joining Digital Primate’s Chris Coe for a unique sonic assault. Get your kink on at Hellfire – for the new to the scene to the experienced sub/dom – or to the just plain curious. The Hellfire Club is back for a wild December party. It’s on at LuWow Tiki Bar and Nightclub on Sunday December 16 from 8pm. Tickets $25 on the door, or $20 for old Hellfire members.
DJ Profile: Agent 86
Where’s the strangest place you’ve woken up? An aeroplane. Describe yourself using the title of a song. Marquise Knox – I’m Bad. What was the weirdest thing you believed as a child? That I could see in the dark. The most awkward moment you’ve had as a DJ? Telling an owner I don’t take requests. What would be the worst dance track in the world to be tortured with on repeat? I love dance music, but any dance track, indeed any track, on repeat would be torture. What’s the most played record in your bag? Fred Wesley – House Party. What question would you like to ask an omniscient, all-knowing being before you die? Is there life anywhere else in the universe besides on Earth? If you hadn’t made it as a DJ, what job would you choose to work in instead? Viticulture and/or Oenology. When and where is your next gigs? Roof To Reel at Rooftop Bar, Curtin House, then Sunday Shake at Bimbo Deluxe.
DJ Profile: PhatoAmano
Where’s the strangest place you’ve woken up? In a rusty old caravan next to a snarling rotty. Describe yourself using the title of a song. Boogie Wonderland. What was the weirdest thing you believed as a child? Why we only have girl cars and no boy ones? Long, long, story! The most awkward moment you’ve had as a DJ? Being aasked “Do you have any you know retro or something” while playing a disco set. Sad but true! What would be the worst dance track in the world to be tortured with on repeat? Beachball by Nalin & Kane What’s the most played record in your bag? Put Your Body In It by Stephanie Mills What question would you like to ask an omniscient, all-knowing being before you die? Is there a discotheque in the spiritual world? And if so, what is the door policy? If you hadn’t made it as a DJ, what job would you choose to work in instead? A window dresser what else. When and where is your next gig? Bimbo Deluxe Sundays 7.30pm til 10pm
De La Soul: Resurrected
After the huge success of their 20th anniversary tour in 2009, venerable hip hop legends De La Soul have announced their return to Australia. Still going stronger than ever, De La Soul bring to their live shows one of the most respected canons in rap history, featuring the landmark debut 3 Feet High And Rising and De La Soul Is Dead. Don’t miss your chance to catch the iconic trio in the live setting. De La Soul perform at The Espy on Thursday January 3.
60 Seconds With… Strong (The Do-Over)
Define your genre in five words or less: Vibes. What do you hate about the music industry? Agent/manager types. Describe the best gig you have ever played. They are all special in their own way, but London during the Olympics was pretty epic. We did a block party with a few thousand people dancing in the rain. Describe the worst gig you have ever played. San Juan, Puerto Rico during a tropical depression. A daytime outdoor party doesn’t quite work in that environment. What’s the strangest place you’ve ever played a gig, or made a recording? Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Never in a million years did we ever fathom throwing a Do-Over there. It was great though. Where would you like to be in five years? To have Do-Overs taking place simultaneously at every continent around the globe. If your music was a chocolate bar, which one would it be, and why? M&Ms. We’re a diverse bunch that melts in your mouth, not in your hands. When and where is your next gig? The Do-Over at Circa Pool Deck, Sunday December 2.
DJ Profile: Haycock (The Do-Over)
Where’s the strangest place you’ve woken up? Wandering around at 5am in a hotel in Abu Dhabi without any clothes. Unfortunately, I’ve learned the hard way that I do sleepwalking. Describe yourself using the title of a song. Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix. What was the weirdest thing you believed as a child? That I could fill in for Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones. The most awkward moment you’ve had as a DJ? Each and every time I’ve tried to fend off somebody requesting something without upsetting them. I don’t feel it’s right that someone should ask for a request, but I also feel I shouldn’t make them feel bad about it. Awkward. What would be the worst dance track in the world to be tortured with on repeat? I’ve blocked out those songs and can’t even prioritise the worst. What’s the most played record in your bag? In a perfect world, War – Galaxy. What question would you like to ask an omniscient, all-knowing being before you die? “What’s next?” If you hadn’t made it as a DJ, what job would you choose to work in instead? Urban Design. If you consider the vast amount of puzzles that exist in civilisations, it’s something to be very proud of if you are able to make them all work together. When and where is your next gig? The Do-Over at Circa Pool Deck, Sunday December 2.
Free Shit: The Do-Over
Renowned as the party to be at in Hollywood since 2005, presented by Red Bull Music Academy, The Do-Over is finally making its way to Australia. Hosts and residents Chris Haycock, Jamie Strong and Aloe Blacc are heading down under to sprinkle some of that LA magic over St Kilda’s Circa Pool Deck. With an all-star mystery lineup in tow, we have a few double passes and Red Bull Music Academy prize packs to give away. Head to beat.com.au/freeshit to win.
THE BIG MAG FOR CLUB CULTURE
3.
NICK WARREN
“If you go to China for instance, where there isn’t that history of underground of radio or coolness, then the more commercial Afrojack, David Guetta sound is going to be the big thing because that’s all thy get on the radio and TV. It’s like all things in life, it’s education really, it’s what you get to hear in your formative years that kind of molds you into what kind of stuff you’re into.”
RENAISSANCE: BRISTOL BIG SHOT If you wanted to put a face to underground dance music, then Nick Warren’s would surely be it. The DJ, producer and label owner has, for the past 20 plus years, been a champion for everything that is good about dance music, clubbing and the underground scene. Starting his career in the fertile grounds of Bristol’s illustrious music scene, Warren established himself as a DJ, scoring gigs in the biggest clubs and landing the job as tour DJ for Massive Attack. As the tail end of the UK’s rave culture coiled up, Warren was at the helm of a new and exciting genre of dance music that would go on to define him as an artist. The term ‘progressive house’ was used to give name to an emerging sound that bound together a select group of DJs, bands and producers of which Warren was a part. Progressive was a fusion of house, trance and elements of techno. Stripped down and sparing in its structure – melodic and uplifting yet hard, fierce and driving. As you’d expect, Warren’s music has changed over the years, but depth and melody have remained hallmarks of his sound, which today spans everything from spacey
ambient electronics to club-focused dubby techno. While there are plenty of other DJs and producers whose careers have followed a similar path, it is Warren’s global reach that sets him apart from the rest. From outer eastern Russia to central China, northern most Scandinavia to the depths of South America, Warren puts the ‘international’ in international DJ – his appeal knows no borders. This has not happened just by chance. Throughout his career Warren has worked hard to build his intercontinental appeal, a strategy that has been well supported by his involvement in the acclaimed Global Underground compilation mix series, of which he has been behind seven installments. One of the more ‘off the beaten track’ places that Warren visits regularly is Tel Aviv. With the recent developments in the IsraelGaza conflict, is it strange for him to see the reports of bombings and violence happening in a city where most of the time he’s been there has been spent playing music to happy clubbers? “It’s weird,” he ponders. “I’d say all of the best parties, or lots of the best parties, have always been in areas
of conflict. Northern Ireland back in the day with the trouble – the club scene was always really strong, Tel Aviv has always had a good scene and I’d say even better is Beirut. Beirut has got a fantastic club scene, really cool clubs, nice underground people, really stylish, and even with the recent downturn in the economy when people have got no money they still want to go out. It’s almost as if they’ll go without food and not pay their bills, but they still want to go out at the weekend and enjoy themselves and maybe forget what’s going on around them. So yeah, areas where there is conflict going on always seem to have great scenes.” It’s hard to say exactly why Warren is so popular in lands so far from the one he calls home, although according to the man himself, differing musical tastes come down to different musical education. “My favourite crowds are in Argentina,” he says without a moment’s hesitation. “In the early days, and to a certain extent now, the DJs that visited there were kind of controlled by a guy called Martin Gontad, who is Hernan Cattaneo’s manager and he also runs a big radio station
in Argentina which plays great underground music. So the crowds there have kind of been educated in a deeper underground sound and that’s what they love. If you go to China for instance, where there isn’t that history of underground of radio or coolness, then the more commercial Afrojack, David Guetta sound is going to be the big thing because that’s all thy get on the radio and TV. It’s like all things in life, it’s education really, it’s what you get to hear in your formative years that kind of molds you into what kind of stuff you’re into. So certain countries where there is a history of underground music – that scene has stayed strong and where there is less of that then not so much. But obviously the big change now has been internet radio where its just broadcast round the world so local radio isn’t as important for focusing people.” Internet radio is something that Warren can speak on with authority. For the last two years he’s been broadcasting his Soundgarden show on online radio station Frisky, regularly attracting large audiences who tune in or download the show from wherever they are in the world. “A number of stations had been after me to do a show,” he explains of his first foray into this new platform. “I looked at it and I thought well, pretty much all the shows out there are the same; it’s just a DJ playing club music for an hour or two. So I specifically wanted to do something that was in the first hour really eclectic and almost like an unmixed thing. It’s not about beats all going together, I just wanted to play the first hour of just amazing records whether it’s sort of ambient, or down tempo and then concentrate on the more club based stuff for the second hour. It’s gone really well, it’s pretty much the most popular show on Frisky since the start and I think the first hour is definitely what people find exciting about it. I just think its more interesting, people are taking more risks with that than they are with club music. There’s some great club music out there but then, especially at the moment, with that whole sort of bass heavy, deep house, old school ‘90s house vibe, it’s all very similar at the moment and it’s harder for people to take more risks but whereas with the more eclectic side of electronic music you can basically do anything you want. I’ve got the Renaissance album coming out in January and I’ve based that around the radio show, it’s the same thing really, CD1 is very sort of out there and ambient and weird and CD2 is more club based.” As one of the longest serving DJs out there and with no sign of the global demand for his appearances slowing down, Warren continues the busy touring schedule he’s been doing for all these years. However, that’s not to say he hasn’t made some adjustments to how he does his job these days. “Well I don’t go to after parties any more,” he laughs. ”I think these days it’s seen as a much more of a professional job than it was in the early days when we all just sort of fell into it, kind of by accident and ended up flying round the world, playing in clubs and having a great time. It’s still great fun to do it, getting to travel round, go to all these amazing countries, meet great people and play in great clubs.” Richie Meldrum Nick Warren [UK] plays Billboard on Friday December 7 alongside Henry Saiz [ESP], Hot Since ‘82 [UK] and more.
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COVER STORY
THE BIG MAG FOR CLUB CULTURE
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WEDNESDAY28TH COQ ROQ Rocking Wednesdays at Lucky Coq are rotating DJs Lady Noir, Agent 86, Kiti, Mr Thom, Joybot and guests giving you nothing but the best new wave, punk, brit pop, bong rap and hair metal. Coq Roq takes place every Wednesday from 8pm with free pool downstairs from 9pm as well as drink specials. Roq out! Lucky Coq, 179 Chapel St, Windsor
Nick Van Wilder & DJ Anferny getting your weekend started right. 5pm til 3am. CQ, 113 Queen St, Melbourne
SATURDAYS AT ONE TWENTY BAR
FIRST FLOOR FRIDAYS A journey of international music from all over the world; past, present and future rhythms incorporating afro, soul, funk, world and deep house elements! First Floor, 393 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
FREEDOM PASS SOUL ARMY With more flavour than a chocolate pizza, the Wednesday Soul Army throws down raw, uncut funk next to smooth soul grooves and rare blue jams. Bring that special lady because when the boys lay down the love it could be the difference between ‘we’re just friends’ to ‘let’s get it on’. PBS stalwarts Vince Peach and Miss Goldie accompany Prequel and Black Diamond Kicks weekly. Free. Bimbo Deluxe, 376 Brunswick St (Cnr Rose St), Fitzroy
Friday’s at Freedom with 2 premier clubs, 5 huge rooms, 10+ local and international DJs blending their unique sets across countless styles of tunes – vocal house, smooth R&B, electro and commercial top 40. Throw in a few sexy podium dancers, a world-class lights show and drink specials, the Freedom Pass is your personal ticket to a night you won’t soon forget! Fusion, Crown Entertainment Complex, Lvl 3, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank
LAUNDRY WEDNESDAYS
FRIDAY NIGHT LOFT PARTY
Deep, dark, minimal dubstep and drum and bass. Laundry Bar, 50 Johnston Street, Fitzroy
THURSDAY29TH BIMBO THURSDAYS Tigerfunk brings with him his full band of travelling gypsies, hipsters and middle class executives, all of whom are prepared to deliver the most excitement you can have this side of the weekend. Bimbo Deluxe, 376 Brunswick St (Cnr Rose St), Fitzroy
CANYONS Canyons’ musical ensemble is hard to define. A theory of opposites attracting, a burgeoning front of beautiful contradictions. Their inspiration exists somewhere between sand dunes and icebergs, volcanoes and valleys, fiction and fact. Musically, Canyons never claim genres and more importantly, they don’t adhere to stereotypes. Striking the elusive balance between creativity, originality and pop sensibility, with an aural likeness to elements of psych, folk, house and everything deep, what is essential to Canyons is that their music evokes a sense of feeling and truth. Come and see them for a free DJ set tonight. With support from DJ Lotion from 7pm Strange Wolf Basement Bar, Strachan lane, Melbourne. Free Entry.
FREE RANGE FUNK Funk up your Thursday nights with Free Range Funk at the Windsor favourite Lucky Coq. Grab a couch early and enjoy one (or more) of their famous $4 pizzas from 7-11pm. Meanwhile DJs Who, Agent 86, Lewis CanCut and special guests tempt you into the night with their eclectic bag of treats. Setting the mood early is delightful jazz, deep soul, and funk. Later it’s fruity disco, choice house, and hipster dance drops. Free entry every Thursday. Lucky Coq, 179 Chapel St, Windsor
FUN HOUSE Celebrate Thursday night at Co. with club classics and dance floor anthems. Co., Crown Entertainment Complex, Lvl 3, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank
FRIDAY30TH CQ FRIDAYS The weekend starts here! Get on down for after work drinks from 5pm with DJs Marcus Knight, Mark Pellegrini,
game reviews and Balkanese dances on YouTube. But that’s nothing like what you can expect to find within the confines of Bimbo on a Saturday night. Developing thick and heavy but altogether groovy, enjoy an eclectic mix of fairy floss funk, doom disco and monk movement minimal every week. Free. Bimbo Deluxe, 376 Brunswick St (Cnr Rose St), Fitzroy
Kitty Schmidt couldn’t find quality dance music in Fitzroy so she’s decided to open up her bedroom doors. Living above Melbourne’s stalwart lesbian/gay Libation Bar, she’s now throwing a monthly party in her boudoir. Come into her renovated upstairs loft, cocktail bar, dance floor and smoking terrace. With quirky house, deep disco and erotic electronica being spun by Marvin Roland, Mr. Pyz and Kitty Schmidt DJs. Libation, 302 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
DJ CKass will take you on a musical journey to the retro sounds of the ‘70s and ‘80s, followed by Top 40. One Twenty Bar, 120 Johnston St, Fitzroy
SOUND EMPIRE Co. At Crown’s Saturday night party Sound Empire this week features mega sounds from resident DJs Tate Strauss, Miss Sarah, Nova, Johnny M, Matty G, Dean T, Joe Sofo, Marcus Knight, Dinesh, Chris Ostrom, B-Boogie and Sarah Roberts. Co., Crown Entertainment Complex, Lvl 3, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank
TEMPERANCE SATURDAYS DJ Marcus Knight & DJ Xander James drop sexy house, dance and drum and bass all night from 8pm. Free entry. Temperance Hotel, 426 Chapel St, South Yarra
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sion excursion? Well Bimbo Deluxe saves the day once again.. All you need is an iPhone and you’re set. Just download the free ‘remote’ application from the app store, log into the Bimbo DJ wireless network and you choose which song plays next. Bimbo Deluxe, 376 Brunswick St (Cnr Rose St), Fitzroy
TUESDAY4TH BIMBO TUESDAYS Bimbo Tuesday’s have long been the discerning DJs midweek breath of fresh air. An opportunity to indulge in, and to each parade their individual takes on music. A night where by the weird and wonderful is not frowned upon but rather celebrated. Resident selectors Matt Radovich, Andras Fox and Henry Who draw from a colorful array of sounds that warm your midweek blues. From 8pm, free. Bimbo Deluxe, 376 Brunswick St (Cnr Rose St), Fitzroy
COSMIC PIZZA NHJ and friends host every Tuesday night upstairs at Lucky Coq. Playing uneasy listening, freaked out bass jams, romantic comedy disco, tropi-jazz, soundtracks and shit you won’t hear on the other nights. Lucky Coq, 179 Chapel St, Windsor
DJ Profile: eLTee N eLKay
Saturdays at Lucky Coq tick all the boxes so start your night early and stay til close! Famous $4 pizzas from 7-9pm (that’s dinner sorted) then from 9pm spread over two levels with DJs playing hip hop, funk, disco, house and electro. Rotating guests on both levels keep the tunes fresh. Free entry. Lucky Coq, 179 Chapel St, Windsorw
WEEKEND
PANORAMA Start your weekend on a good note with Panorama Fridays at Lucky Coq. DJs Matt Rad, Mr George, Tom Meagher and Phato A Mano transform the upstairs area into one hell of a house party with Hip Hop, Funk, R&B, Disco and House. Meanwhile, downstairs gives you a secluded wind down atmosphere with cult films as background visuals and quality cocktails to sip on. Let the new coqtail list wash away a crappy week! Lucky Coq, 179 Chapel St, Windsor
RETRO SEXUAL FRIDAY DJ Grandmaster Vicious spins Fitzroy’s finest mix of ‘80s and ‘90s pop, rock, new wave, hip hop, disco classics and cheese to please plus dance floor anthems from then to now. One Twenty Bar, 120 Johnston St, Fitzroy
The brain child of the creative kids at 360 Agency and Seven Nightclub. The Weekend is here to put a smile on your dial every Saturday night. We want you to join the family. Dancing from 10pm weekly. Seven, 52 Albert Rd, South Melbourne
SUNDAY2ND SOUTH SIDE HUSTLE The perfect Sunday soundtrack with DJs Askew, Peter Baker, Booshank, Paz, Miss Butt, Junji, Disco Harry and guests. They will be laying down disco, afro beat and deep house til 3am. For lovers of good music - South Side Hustle. Lucky Coq, 179 Chapel St, Windsor
STAR BAR SUNDAYS The original and still the best Sunday in Melbourne. Star Bar, 160 Clarendon St, South Melbourne
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SUNDAE SHAKE
EDEN SATURDAYS Smashing it every week at Melbourne’s hottest looking venue! Top 40 dance, house and R&B 9-3am, then electro from 3am - 5am. DJ Ontime, DJ Ryza, Scotty Erdos and Azza M. $15/$20, free entry after 4am. Eden, 163 Russell St, Melbourne
FIRST FLOOR SATURDAYS It’s house, electro, dub, anthems, disco and funk with guest DJs Genetix, B-Two and Oohee rocking til the break of day. Doors open 10pm with $5 basics til midnight! First Floor, 393 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
Our Signature serve. Each and every Sunday we play host to a self professed vinyl junkie caught between the golden years and boogie wonderland. A mouthful? Perhaps. Phato Amano perfectly sets the mood for an audio-adventure that redefines the dance floor weekly. Our Sunday aficionados Agent 86 and Tigerfunk stir up a full cream shake to the flavour of your liking. Forget everything you thought you knew about losing yourself to the grooves. Bimbo Deluxe, 376 Brunswick St (Cnr Rose St), Fitzroy
MONDAY3RD IBIMBO
HOT STEP Google Hot Step and you’ll get a bunch of Vietnamese
Have you always wanted to be a DJ but been cruelly cursed with tone deafness and a general inability to ver-
Your name is: Lauren & Laszlo What was the first ever tune you bought? Lauren: Tina Arena Laszlo: Too embarrassing to answer What’s the most played tune in ya’ box? Lauren: Turn On The Music – Roger Sanchez Laszlo: Changes every week. Which toy or game best describes you and why? Lauren: Trouble – Because the name is mischievous like me. Laszlo: Twister – it’s a sex thing What’s the cheekiest thing you’ve done behind the console? Lauren: Probably not appropriate to be putting in a magazine. Laszlo: Fulfilled a girl’s fantasy and got in some serious trouble doing so. What’s the biggest myth about DJs? Laszlo: That they are musicians What do you dislike the most about DJing? Both: There’s nothing I don’t love about DJing. And like the most? Lauren: When I mix in a song and the crowd screams Laszlo: Making people get lost in the moments and forgetting their problems for a short period of time, deep huh? When n’ where was your first gig? Lauren: Twenty1 2009 (Gold Coast), Laszlo: A very grubby little club that no longer exists Your ultimate DJing gig would be? Lauren: Headlining a Music Festival, Laszlo: Playing some of my own compositions to a large and attentive audience In your opinion, what is the worst dance track ever produced and why? Lauren: Any remix of Call Me Maybe. Laszlo: No comment Upcoming gigs: Fridays at Red Violin and Shake Ur A$$ Saturdays at Vinyl Lounge.
BIMBO DELUXE’S 10TH BIRTHDAY BEATS, BREWS AND BRUNSWICK ST: HAPPY BIRTHDAY While tastes may vary, there are three things Melburnians can agree on: quality food, quality drinks and quality music. Over the past decade our city has evolved into a cultural melting pot of boutique eateries and eclectic live music venues, all offering unique spins on traditional favourites. One of the names that can be closely associated with this ever-evolving boutique culture is Bimbo’s Deluxe. Located in the bohemian paradise of Fitzroy, right there on Brunswick St, it has become the after-work and pre-clubbing spot of choice for those looking for something laidback and unpretentious. It’s a busy time at Bimbo’s as we finally start experiencing some summer weather and they prepare for a range of patrons to come in and out. “It definitely picks up at this time, the spring racing carnival is almost like the gateway to the summer,” the affable Scott Campbell exclaims. The venue manager of Bimbo’s Deluxe, he originally dropped his plans of working for clubs and live venues to go back to uni. However, it was a casual job at Bimbo’s Deluxe that drew him back in. “The original owners showed me a different way these places can be run and I found a newfound love for this kind of work.” Over seven years later, he has taken the reins and has overseen the funky little venue as it has grown in reputation with both locals and tourists. “In its inception Bimbo’s was a place for the Fitzroy locals to hang out and it’s developed into an inner-city lounge, somewhere they could be at home without being home.” In addition to the welcoming lounge-style atmosphere, there has been another key ingredient to the success of Bimbo’s.
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“With the four dollar pizzas, word spread pretty quick to tourists, students, young professionals,” Campbell says proudly. “That offer really appeals to everyone and we’ve been lucky enough to get some good little write-ups in newspapers, magazines, travel things. We’re situated near a couple of backpackers as well.” To help ring in their 10-year anniversary, Bimbo’s will be having a week-long celebration with food and drink specials, including a return of the two dollar pizza for lunch. The week will also see live sets from longtime resident DJs Agent 86, Mu-Gen, Matt Radovich and others who have helped shape Bimbo’s Deluxe into what it is. “When putting together this week of celebrations we went back through what I can remember were the best running nights. Without a doubt one of the biggest nights was when Matt Radovich and Mu-Gen were playing on Thursdays. Without any sort of formal advertising the nights just took off. So we approached those guys and said ‘come back and do it for old time’s sake’.” In the decade since Bimbo’s Deluxe was first launched, the commitment to offering unique fare has remained the same. “I was lucky enough to work with the original owners for two or three years and [I] watched how they operated and saw what they were trying to achieve.” The Brunswick St-based building was originally the home of a much revered live music venue, the Punters Club. “It was a live music institution at the time and that was probably reflective of Melbourne at the time as well. Rather than more bars there seemed to be more live music venues and there was more relaxed, liberal licensing and those sort of venues flourished. It was a real icon at the time because we still to this day
ESSENTIALS
have people come through and say, ‘I remember when this used to be the Punters [Club]’.” While the ensuing years have unfortunately seen the closure of several iconic live venues, a new breed of diverse bars and music venues have opened. As the times were changing, Bimbo’s was playing its part in making Melbourne a capital for idiosyncratic, boutique venues. “What the guys were trying to achieve was trying to appeal not just to the commercial scene but something that was a little more underground.” It became a haven for both punters and DJs, who enjoy hearing an eclectic array of tunes. “Bimbo’s was the kind of place where any artist could come and play what they wanted to play and the crowd would be into that, rather than playing to the crowd. And that’s something we’ve tried to really hold onto. The brief is come and play what you want, play the records you don’t get to play anywhere else and play them
loud,” Campbell chuckles. The cosy confines of Bimbo’s, with its slightly dim lighting and couches, have enhanced the atmosphere and overall experience. “It’s a unique space to enjoy it, because it’s never been a standard flashy dancefloor. It’s really just meant to be that kind of laidback, comfortable environment. You don’t have lasers flashing, it’s just something different and about appreciating the music.” Andrew ‘Hazard’ Hickey Bimbo Deluxe will be celebrating their birthday from now until Sunday December 2. Their 10-year celebrations include names such as Mu-Gen, Adam Askew, Liz Millar, Agent 86 and a special Boogs vs Spacey Space superset amongst many more. Visit bimbodeluxe.com.au for more information.
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TODD TERJE NO REST: FOR THE WICKED
When I talk to Todd Terje, he seems tired. It has been a whirlwind couple of years for the Norwegian producer, who has evolved from a position as one of the leading purveyors of the niche ‘Oslo sound’ to that of a big room DJ playing to thousands of people on giant sound stages. With the crossover singles of Ragysh and Inspector Norse catapulting him into the crosshairs of the global techno fraternity, Terje has suddenly found himself a hot commodity amongst the bigger club promoters. “It’s been quite hectic, actually,” he recaps on his European summer. “It’s been a really heavy working summer. It’s going to be quite crazy next year as well, unfortunately. I mean, it’s good to be busy, but not so busy that your life passes [you by].” The work/life balance seems to have him torn. One the one hand, Terje is experiencing some of the best sound systems and biggest crowds of his career. “Sometimes it’s the most amazing thing ever,” he gushes. “I haven’t always played that many big sized clubs. I’ve come from the smaller rooms and the slower music. It’s good to now experience some really heavy, physical sound systems that blow you away. I actually sometimes get goose bumps when I play; I didn’t really get that earlier. Now it’s more just the physics of the bass. It just moves you. That’s a new thing for me, and it’s quite cool.” But he’s also discovered that as his star grows bigger, the life of the touring DJ begins to weigh heavy. “DJing is a lot of fun, but the travelling is shit,” he sighs. “I would like to stay more in the studio, but it’s hard to make any money out of it. I need to find new ways of working to keep me healthy – I don’t want to DJ at this pace for very long. I know a lot of DJs that DJ much harder than me, more often than me, but I don’t understand
Party Like It’s 2002.
how they do it. I think some people have it, and some people don’t. Me? I can do it for a length of time – but now, I really need to step down.” The break that Terje yearns for isn’t likely to occur any time soon. Along with Prins Thomas and Lindstrøm, he has become the poster child of the oh-so-cool disco sound that has gripped the world over the last few years, and is likely to keep him busy for years to come. Despite holding his own notions about his exact sound, he’s okay with being pigeonholed by the media as ‘nu-disco’. “I don’t really mind [the term nu-disco] because I know that it’s just for [industry people] to sell it. If I don’t have any other labels that they can pigeonhole my music in, then that’s my problem. I don’t feel like I have to do this or that. As long as I don’t think like that, then they can do whatever they want.” Terje returns to Australia this December for what seems like a yearly visit, playing club shows around the nation and Harbourlife in Sydney. So how does his set change when he plays a festival, compared to an intimate club gig? “The tendency this year has been that I’ve been playing more for a big audience because I’ve been booked to bigger clubs. Obviously if you play to a venue of 5000 people, you can’t play music without energy,” he explains. “But we’ll see – I never really plan anything.” Rick Warner Todd Terje [NOR] plays The Liberty Social on Friday December 7.
MICHAEL MAYER
Pizza Lunch
GERMAN JUGGERNAUT: MAGICAL MANTASY
Pizza Dinner Michael Mayer returns to Australia this month on his Mantasy album tour. It is the first album for the German producer since Touch in 2004 and it shows just how far things have progressed for him. This new offering is incredibly musical and takes you on a wonderful journey from start to finish. On the phone from his hometown, Cologne, Mayer says that he shifted his other commitments so that he could focus 100% on the album. “It was a whole different approach for me. To have time – it took me seven months to come up with and you see the results.” Whereas Touch was a collection of singles this album was conceived as a unified piece. “It was such an amazing experience to really focus on studio work. I didn’t play as many DJ gigs as I usually do. I stayed away from the office as much as possible and yeah, it made the dream come true.” Juggling his record label, Kompakt, and production has always been a challenge. “It’s got to be the story of my lifetime that I always try to get more room to do studio work, and it never worked. If we got someone else at the office, the work has just gotten that much more again. So I couldn’t stay away but this time it worked.” Mayer was born in the Black Forest in 1971 but he moved to Cologne in his early twenties. He had already been DJing and involved with music but the relocation stimulated a change to a straight house and techno sound. Alongside Tobias Thomas, he played as Friends Xperiment and started to build a great DJ reputation around the town. He started to frequent the record store Delirium, part owned by Wolfgang Voigt and Jürgen Paape who would later become his partners in Kompakt, and very quickly earned himself a music buyers position and then a partnership as an owner. The next few years saw him hone his DJ skills and start producing. He was getting more shows around Cologne and even venturing out to other cities. In 1998, Kompakt records was born. It was inspired by Andy Warhol’s Factory, with the aim of creating complete creative freedom in the music business. Today Kompakt includes the label, a record store, recording studios and booking agency as well as being a distributor. Whilst other German labels from the same era have faded away Kompakt has gone from strength to strength – partly due to the diversity of music on the label and their business diversification. Mayer appreciates the support of his label colleagues whilst he was working on Mantasy. “It was a hard time for them but you know, they’re musicians. They’re artists, a lot of them and they understand that kind of pursuit. I was able to prepare a lot of things before I left. Release wise we were all lined up for the first half year so things were already organised.”
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So how did Mayer approach the writing of his new album? “It was about inspiration but the way I was approaching it was in the first few weeks was that I just did a new track every day. I didn’t bother about the arrangement. I just left the details. It was about getting the ideas out and have this long list of notes I made over the last few years. I just wanted to try everything first. It was really almost child-like thing, like, ‘Wow! I wanna play with everything, you know’.” Mayer’s exuberance for the process reminds me of when he spoke about the joy of his daughter turning one this month. “In the first two months it was about getting a track every day. It’s very enjoyable. It was great! Then came the moment where I had to decide what I like and then there was all the hard work, the less enjoyable part. Cleaning up the mess and doing arrangements.” That process of editing is an essential part of the musical process though. “Yeah, I guess so. It’s a bit like sculpture. You got this piece of rock, and then there’s an idea. Like, it’s going to be a monkey but it’s real craftsmanship to really make it look like a monkey.” Mayer’s creativity strikes him late at night. “I usually work the very long shift. It’s always the same with me, at 11 o’clock at night the greatest creative juices begin to flow. Before that, I’m useless! I can wash the coffee cups, clean up but with music, nothing really comes out before 11 o’clock. At 11 o’clock I’m sure of this, some thing’s gonna happen! “You know, I have a classical education and I have almost lost everything. I was close to perfect pitch at some point. Then came DJing and pitching records. Everything was out of tune from then on!” he laughs. “That was the sexy thing though – that was my punk rock moment. That was what was so exciting about it! Bye bye Johann Sebastian Bach well tempo-ed piano! Nowadays it makes me sad that I forgot all these things but I’m still able to play my clarinet and saxophone a little bit. I lost all my piano skills – that’s what’s bothering me most.” Things don’t stop here for Mayer: “I’m getting remixes lined up for the album. What else? I’m working on remixes for other people as well. I’m really excited about this French artist Benjamin Biolay. He’s an amazing songwriter, singer, producer, and he did a track with Vanessa Paradis. I get to remix that track but I can’t stop listening to Vanessa all the time!” Mayer is looking forward to returning to Melbourne. “It’s actually in Melbourne that I had amazing times. I remember Honkytonks and good people.” Simon Hampson Michael Mayer [GER] plays the Prince Bandroom on Friday November 30. FEATURES
Corner Brunswick St and Rose St Fitzroy 9419 8600 bimbodeluxe.com.au
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URBAN ESSENTIALS THURSDAY29TH
MOTOWN THURSDAYS Kick start your weekend with Melbourne’s newest Thursday night! Motown Thursdays caters to all true music lovers. Join us on an eclectic musical journey of soul, funk and disco through to early R&B. A live Soul Band features some of Melbourne’s most talented musicians; Carmen Hendricks, Laurent Soupe, Duncan Kinell and Aaron Mendoza just to name a few. DJs keep the records spinning into the early hours; residents are Reg-e, Lee Davies, Kalepe, Dinesh, Suga, Rubz and Alwin Rafferty. Join us around a big, shiny disco ball or two, for free entry, soulful tunes, drink specials all night and a dance floor full of friends! Fashion Lounge, 121 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
relax in while overlooking busy Flinders Lane. A small plates menu is available to graze on whilst trying our delicious cocktails from the classics to contemporary, beer on tap and a wide range of beers, wines and spirits. Every Friday evening DJ Jumps of The Cat Empire will take to the decks at the bar spinning his rare afro Latin funk vinyl collected from around the world from 6.30pm until late. Papa Goose Cocktail Bar, 91-93 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
SWEET NOTHING FRIDAYS DJ Marcus Knight and DJ Xander James spin hip hop, R&B and house tunes all night from 8pm. Free entry and early drink specials. Temperance Hotel, 426 Chapel St, South Yarra
THE NICE UP RHYTHM-AL-ISM Start the weekend early with Fusion’s Resident DJs. Music for your funkin’ soul. Special guests every week! Fusion, Crown Entertainment Complex, Lvl 3, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank
FRIDAY30TH FAKTORY This is it. Faktory Fridays are open for business at Melbourne’s home of R&B, Khokolat Bar. Where else? Damion De Silva, Ken Walker, Durmy, K Dee, Simon Sez, Yaths and Jacqui Dusk spinning all night long. Khokolat Bar, Basement, 43 Hardware La, Melbourne
LIKE FRIDAYS Like Fridays at La Di Da serves up R&B and electro house across two rooms giving you a fun filled end to your week. DJs Dinesh, Dir-X, Sef, NYD, Shaun D, Shaggz, Broz and more. La Di Da, 577 Little Bourke St, Melbourne
LIGHT We celebrate everything that has made Light at Red Love, kicking off with our after work drinks session from 4pm. Our DJ lineup includes each and every one of the Daddy Mack’s who have helped lead Light into our 5th running year of old school R&B. Harvey Yeah, Ripz, TMC and Stel Kar locking down that Old School Flava with guest appearances by G.A.K. & The Seminar of Funk and Nick K. It’s all happening this Friday as we celebrate 5 years of doing our do and bringing that Red Love! Red Love, Level 1, 401 Swanston Street, Melbourne
THE LOOSE GOOSE The Loose Goose is focused on providing a wonderful array of cocktails and offers a great CBD location to lounge and
Tom Showtime presents The Nice Up. All flavours of hip hop, ghetto funk and reggae niceness provided. Sailor Jerry nice up the cocktails, Dos Blockos nice up the $5 beers. Fridays done proper. George Lane Bar, 1 George Lane, St Kilda
SATURDAY1ST KHOKOLAT KOATED All new experience, same great location with a fresh koat of Khokolat. Restless Entertainment reloads your favourite Saturday night party. Damion De Silva, K Dee, Jay Sin and weekly guests playing R&B & ol’ skool sounds strictly for the urban elite. Khokolat Bar, Basement, 43 Hardware La, Melbourne
REDLOVE SATURDAYS RedLove Saturdays is all about solid classics from the ‘80s, ‘90s and into the ‘00s! Dropping beats of retro pop, disco classics, old school funk, and certainly some of that old school R&B and house to kick! RedLove Resident DJs Phil, HB Bear and Da Gato bringing down the house every Saturday night. If you’re looking for quality service, music to rock, sumptuous drinks and just a cold hard good time; look no further! Red Love, Level 1, 401 Swanston Street, Melbourne
SHAKA SATURDAY The newest R&B Superclub Shaka Saturdays grand opening is set to hit Melbourne over two massive weeks. The northern suburbs newest, freshest club playing all of your favourite R&B, hip hop, old skool and reggae. Shaka Saturdays is showcasing Australias newest and favourite R&B DJs, including DJ C-RAM bringing video mixing to Melbourne and special guest hip hop band Yellow Cake. Set at one of the most amazing venues Melbourne has to offer with two levels, good music, great ‘Shaka’ atmosphere and cheap drinks, we are hoping to pack it out and create a night for people to remember. Level 2 The Club, 2 Arthurton Rd, Northcote
AUSTRALIAN B-BOY CHAMPIONSHIPS FREESTYLERS: POP, LOCK AND FREEZE As a nation with competitive spirit in its blood, Australia has long been associated with sporting success. For the youth of Australia however, that dynamic changed when a new phenomenon exploded. In the mid-‘80s, breaking, or breakdancing, became all the rage in schoolyards and local communities. Combining athletics with music, it gave young people a new physical and creative outlet, subverting the traditional idea of joining the footy team. “It became so huge I truly believe the ‘establishment’ got scared and the dance [culture] was forced to withdraw and become an underground culture,” says Scott Fox, the organiser behind the Australian B-Boy Championships (ABC). “The true heads never stopped the ‘body rock’ and in the mid ‘90s the fact that you had to go seek-out and search for the dance [culture] was a large part of its appeal.” Otherwise known under his b-boy name of Scot Doo Rock, the passionate Fox has been entrenched in hip hop culture from a young age. “The sound, lyrics and the way they dressed all appealed to me,” Fox says with reverence. Now in its ninth year, the event is a showcase for young local talent and one way Fox is hoping to keep breaking alive in Australia. “It’s good to see the scene is self-sufficient with a few b-boys in each state organising jams throughout the year.” Since first launching, the format of the ABC has not strayed too far from its humble goal of promoting and fostering young b-boys and b-girls. “My vision was always to keep the event grassroots within b-boy culture but showcase it in a way so that the general public can come [and] attend and enjoy watching the best breakers in the country compete in their own environment.” The finest breaking crews from Australia and abroad will be converging on the Northcote Town Hall, a venue that has been associated with the Melbourne breaking scene dating back to the ‘80s. Unlike past events, which were limited to dance crews with a maximum of eight members, this year’s competition is open to entire crews, who will take part in a knockout-style tournament. Along with a team from Japan, the event will feature established crews such as the Floor Pirates (ACT), Skill at Will (QLD) and Kings Only (VIC), as well as defending
URBAN
champs Rhythm Faction. For those that may have only been exposed to breaking through mainstream movies or footage, Fox expresses that there is more purity in the competition aspect, as opposed to a choreographed stage performance. “The battle is the expression of the hip hop elements in their purest form. Winning really means something to these dancers so there is a lot more emotion when compared to just a stage performance.” One of Fox’s colleagues, from the acting profession, called breaking “extreme impromptu theatre.” On the day, the Australian B-Boy Championships will also play host to the Break Hall of Fame induction ceremony. This year’s presentation will honour the influential Wickid Force Breakers crew, who the veteran Fox describes as an “instrumental part” of both the Melbourne and nationwide b-boy community. “There would not be too many b-boys or b-girls in Oz who have not been influenced by them directly or indirectly.” As with any event, particularly one with a lack of local community support, money is a big factor in staging the ABC. “Sometimes I have a vision of what I want and the people I want to fly out for it but do not have the financial resources to make it happen.” Not receiving the mainstream attention it did at its peak, Fox believes the scene could benefit from increased support in local communities. “The public awareness is still very low and I think there should be more government and community support for such events because of the incredible ability the dance has to entertain whilst breaking down all cultural, social and religious differences.” Counting himself lucky, the biggest stress he has faced so far was when the event’s venue was double booked on one particular year. “I think I lost about four years of my life because of it,” he chuckles heartily. “It’s a big financial risk and stressful for me but I just have to remember how much this dance has enriched my life.” Andrew ‘Hazard’ Hickey The Australian B-Boy Championships are on at the Northcote Town Hall this Saturday December 1.
11.
WHERE TO NEXT?
Highlander 11a Highlander Lane, Melb, 9620 2227
Revolt Elizabeth St, Kensington, 03 9376 2115
Hoo Haa 105 Chapel St, Windsor, 9529 6900
Revolver Upstairs 229 Chapel St, Prahran, 9521 5985
Horse Bazaar 397 Little Lonsdale St, Melb, 9670 2329
Rochester Castle Hotel 202 Johnston St, Fitzroy, 9415 7555
Iddy Biddy 47 Blessington St, St Kilda, 9534 4484
Rooftop Cider Bar, Cnr Swanston & Flinders St, Melbourne, 9650 3884
Jett Black 177 Greville St, Prahran
Room 680 Level 1, 680 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn, 9818 0680
John Curtin Hotel 29 Lygon St, Melb, 9663 6350
Roxanne Parlour Lvl 3, 2 Coverlid Pl, Melb
Khokolat Bar 43 Hardware Lane, Melbourne, 039642 1142
Royal Derby 446 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9417 2321
La Di Da 577 Lt Bourke St, Melb, 9670 7680
Roal Melbourne Hotel 629 Bourke St, 9629 2400
Labour In Vain 197A Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9417 5955
Ruby’s Lounge 1648 Burwood Hwy, Belgrave, 9754 7445
Lomond Hotel 225 Nicholson St, East Brunswick
Saint Hotel 54 Fitzroy St, St Kilda, 9593 8333
Longroom 162 Collins St, Melbourne, 9663 9226
Sandbelt Live Cnr South & Bignell Rd, Moorabbin, 9555 6899
Loop 23 Meyers Pl, Melb, 9654 0500
Scarlett Lounge 174 Burnley St, Richmond, 9428 0230
Lounge 243 Swanston St, Melb, 9663 2916
Seven Nightclub 52 Albert Rd, South Melb, 9690 7877
The Lounge Pit 386-388 Brunswick St, Fitzroy 9415 6142
Spensers Live 419 Spencer St, West Melb, 03 9329 8821
Love Machine Cnr Lt Chapel & Malvern Rd, Prahran, 9533 8837
Spot 133 Sydney Rd, Brunswick, 9388 0222
29th Apartment 29 Fitzroy St, St Kilda, 9078 8922
Cornish Arms 163 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Lucky Coq 179 Chapel St, Windsor, 9525 1288
Standard Hotel 293 Fitzroy St, Fitzroy, 9419 4793
303 303 High Street, Northcote
CQ 113 Queen St, Melb, 8601 2738
The LuWOW 62-70 Johnston St, Fitzroy, 9417 5447
Star Bar 160 Clarendon St, South Melb, 9810 0054
Abode 374 St.Kilda Rd, St.Kilda
Croft Institute 21 Croft Alley, Melb, 9671 4399
Mercat Cross Lvl 1, 456 Queen St, Melb, 9348 9998
Station 59 59 Church St, Richmond, 9427 8797
Albert Park Hotel Cnr Montague & Dundas Pl, Albert Park, 9690 5459
Cruzao Arepa Bar 365 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9417 7871
Mink 2 Acland St, St Kilda, 9536 1199
Stolberg Beer Café 197 Plenty Rd, Preston, 9495 1444
Alia Lvl 1, 83-87 Smith St, Fitzroy, 9486 0999
Cushion 99 Fitzroy St, St.Kilda, 9534 7575
Miss Libertine 34 Franklin St, Melb, 9663 6855
Sub Lounge & Restaurant 168 Elizabeth St Melb, 0411 800 198
Alumbra Shed 9, Central Pier, 161 Harbour Espl, Docklands, 8623 9666
Damask 1/347 Burnswick St, Fitzroy, 9417 4578
Misty 3-5 Hosier Ln, Melb, 9663 9202
Sugar Bar (Hotel Urban) 35 Fitztroy St, St Kilda, 8530 8888
Back Bar 67 Green St, Windsor, 9529 7899
The Drunken Poet 65 Peel Street, West Melbourne, 9348 9797
Mockingbird Bar 129 Fitzroy St, St Kilda, 9534 0000
Temperance Hotel 426 Chapel St, South Yarra, 9827 7401
Bar Open 317 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9415 9601
Der Raum 438 Church St, Richmond, 9428 0055
Musicland 1359A Sydney Rd, Fawkner, 9359 0006
Thornbury Theatre 859 High St, Thornbury, 9484 9813
Baroq House 9-13 Drewery Ln, Melb, 8080 5680
Ding Dong Lounge Lvl 1, 18 Market Ln, Melb, 9662 1020
Neverland 32-48 Johnson St, South Melb, 9646 5544
Tiki Lounge 327 Swan St, Richmond, 9428 4336
Bendigo Hotel 125 Johnston St, Collingwood 9417 3415
Dizzy’s Jazz Club 381 Burnley St, Richmond, 9428 1233
New Guernica Lvl 2, Hub Arcade, 318-322 Lt Collins St, Melb, 9650 4464
Toff In Town Lvl 2, 252 Swanston St, Melb, 9639 8770
Bertha Brown 562 Flinders Street, 9629 1207
Double Happiness 21 Liverpool St, Melb, 9650 4488
Night Cat 141 Johnston St, Fitzroy, 9417 0090
Tony Starr’s Kitten Club 267 Lt Collins St, Melb, 9650 2448
Big Mouth 168 Acland St, St.Kilda, 9534 4611
E:55 55 Elizabeth St, Melb, 9620 3899
Night Cat 279 Flinders Ln, Melb, 9654 0444
The Tote Hotel 67 Johnson St, Collingwood, 9419 5320
Billboard 170 Russell St, Melb, 9639 4000
East Brunswick Club 280 Lygon St, East Brunswick, 9388 2777
Noise Bar 291 Albert St, Brunswick, 9380 1493
Town Hall Hotel 33 Errol St, North Melbourne, 9328 1983
Bimbo Deluxe 376 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9419 8600
Edinburgh Castle 681 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Northcote Social Club 301 High St, Northcote, 9489 3917
Trak Lounge 445 Toorak Rd, Toorak, 9826 9000
Birmingham Hotel Cnr Smith & Johnston St, Fitzroy
Electric Ladyland Lvl 1, 265 Chapel St, Prahran, 9521 5757
Old Bar 74 Johnston St, Fitzroy, 9417 4155
Tramp 20 King St, Melb
Black Cat 252 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9419 6230
Elwood Lounge 49-51 Glenhuntly Rd, Elwood, 9525 6788
One Twenty Bar 120 Johnston St, Fitzroy
Transport Hotel Federation Square, Melb, 9654 8808
Blue Bar 330 Chapel St, Prahran, 9529 6499
Empress 714 Nicholson St, Nth Fitzroy, 9489 8605
Onesixone 161 High St, Prahran, 9533 8433
Trunk 275 Exhibition St, Melbourne, 9663 7994
Blue Tile Lounge 95 Smith St, Fitzroy
Espy 11 The Esplanade, St Kilda, 9534 0211
Order Of Melbourne level 2, 401 Swanston St, Melb, 9663 6707
Tyranny Of Distance 147 Union St, Windsor, 9525 1005
Boutique 134 Greville St, Prahran, 9525 2322
Eurotrash 18 Corrs Ln, Melb, 9654 4411
Palace Hotel 893 Burke Rd, Camberwell
Two of Hearts 149 Commercial Road, Prahran
Brown Alley King Street, Melb,9670 8599
Eve 334 City Rd, Southbank, 9696 7388
Palace Theatre 20-30 Bourke St, Melb, 9650 0180
Union Hotel Brunswick 109 Union St, Brunswick, 9388 2235
Brunswick Hotel 140 Sydney Rd, Brunswick, 9387 6637
Evelyn 351 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9419 5500
Palais 111 Main Rd, Hepburn Springs, 5348 4849
Veludo 175 Acland St, St Kilda, 9534 4456
Builders Arms 211 Gertrude St, Fitzroy
Ferntree Gully Hotel 1130 Burwood Hwy, Ferntree Gully, 9758 6544
Palais Theatre Lower Esplanade, St Kilda, 9525 3240
Victoria Hotel 380 Victoria St, Brunswick, 9388 0830
Cabinet Bar 11 Rainbow Alley, Melbourne, 9654 0915
Festival Hall 300 Dudley St, West Melbourne, 9329 9699
Papa Goose 91 Flinders Ln, Melbourne, 9663 2800
Wah Wah Lounge Lvl 1, 185 Lonsdale St, Melb
Caravan Music Club 95 Drummond St, Oakleigh
First Floor 393 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9419 6380
Penny Black 420 Sydney Rd, Brunswick, 9380 8667
Wesley Anne 250 High St, Northcote, 9482 1333
Caseys Nightclub 660A Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn, 9810 0030
Forum Theatre 154 Flinders St, Melb, 9299 9800
Pier Live Hotel 508 Nepean Hwy, Frankston, 9783 9800
Westernport Hotel 161 Marine Pde, San Remo, 5678 5205
Caz Reitops Dirty Secrets 80 Smith St, Collingwood, 9415 8876
The Fox Hotel 351 Wellington Street, Collingwood, 9416 4957
Pony 68-70 Lt Collins St, Melb, 9662 1026
Willow Bar 222 High Street, Northcote, 9481 1222
CBD Club 12-14 McKillop St, Melb, 9670 3638
Fusion Lvl 3, Crown Complex, Southbank, 9292 5750
Portland Hotel Cnr Lt Collins & Russell St, Melb, 9810 0064
Windsor Castle 89 Albert St, Windsor, 9525 0239
Chaise Lounge Basement, 105 Queen St, Melb, 9670 6120
The Gallery Room 1/510 Flinders St, Melbourne, 9629 1350
The Prague Hotel, 911 High St, Northcote, 9495 0000
Workers Club 51 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9415 8889
Chandelier Room 91 Cochranes Rd, Moorabbin, 9532 2288
Gem Bar & Dining 289 Wellingston St, Collingwood, 9419 5170
Pretty Please 61c Fitzroy St, St Kilda, 9534 4484
Workshop Lvl 1, 413 Elizabeth St, Melb, 9326 4365
Chelsea Heights Hotel Cnr Springvale & Wells Rd,
George Basement, 127 Fitzroy St, 9534 8822
Prince Bandroom 29 Fitztory St, St Kilda, 9536 1168
Yah Yah’s 99 Smith St, Fitzroy, 9419 4920
Chelsea Heights, 9773 4453
Gertrude’s Brown Couch 30 Gertrude St, Fitzroy, 9417 6420
Prince Of Wales 29 Fitzroy St, St Kilda, 9536 1168
The Vine 59 Wellington St, Collingwood, 9417 2434
Cherry Bar AC/DC Ln, Melb, 9639 8122
Grace Darling Hotel 114 Smith St, Collingwood, 9416 0055
Public Bar 238 Victoria St, North Melb, 9329 6522
Chi Lounge 195 Lt Bourke St, Melbourne, 9662 2688
Grandview Hotel Cnr Heidelberg Rd & Station St, Fairfield, 9489 8061
Railway Hotel 280 Ferrars St, South Melb, 9690 5092
Co. Lvl 3, Crown Complex, 9292 5750
Great Britain Hotel 447 Church St, Richmond, 9429 5066
Red Bennies 371 Chapel St, South Yarra, 9826 2689
Colonial Hotel (Brown Alley) Cnr King & Lonsdale St, Melb, 9670 8599
Grind N Groove 274 Maroondah Hwy, Healesville
Red Love Lvl 1, 401 Swanston St, Melb, 9639 3722
Commercial Club Hotel 344 Nicholson St, Fitzroy, 9419 1522
Grumpy’s Green 125 Smith St, Collingwood, 9416 1944
Retreat Hotel 226 Nicholson St, Abbotsford, 9417 2693
Cookie Lvl 1, 252 Swanston St, Melb, 9663 7660
Gypsy Bar 334 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9419 0548
The Retreat Hotel 280 Sydney Rd, Brunswick, 9380 4090
Corner Hotel 57 Swan St, Richmond, 9427 9198
HiFi 125 Swanston St, Melb, 1300 843 4434
The Reverence Hotel 28 Napier St, Footscray, 03 9687 2111
12.
VENUE DIRECTORY
FOR MORE VENUES, VISIT: BEAT.COM.AU/VENUES
NIKKO BY KRISSI WEISS
Lumped under the category of post-rock, Brisbane four-piece Nikko have shaken off that illfitting label with their latest album Gold & Red. Beginning in high school, Nikko have allowed more diverse influences (like Dirty Three) to creep into their fluid and jammed-based rock sound. Their skills in musicianship and songwriting have grown in leaps and bounds as well, cementing their place within the art rock side of indie rock. While in the early days Nikko seemed to be playing almost every weekend in their hometown, they have moved up from a band that’s playing for the rider and a bit of fun and into a band that want to make a solid career within this crazy industry. Bass player, Sam Whiting, now lives in Melbourne and his absence has made their respective musical hearts grow even fonder. “I guess for us, because one of our members lives in Melbourne now, we can’t just always play the same shows,” he says. “We have to book everything in advance and plan ahead so we know what’s gonna work. All of us came down to Melbourne in November of last year and we played a few shows around the place in December. Slowly, over a few months, we all came back to Brisbane one by one, but Sam stayed down there. There was never a question things would end there; it didn’t cross our minds. At that point, the album hadn’t come out yet so it would’ve been pretty suicidal to end it all then.” Sometimes, the more a band plays live, the less prosperous they seem to be, stuck on the treadmill of nominal, local success. “We definitely like to think everything right now is a professional step forward and not the other way,” he says. “It forces us to be productive whenever we have the opportunity and it forces you to look to the future instead of just thinking, ‘Oh what day should we practice next week?’” Recorded in heritage listed Brisbane venue The Old Museum with producer Cameron Smith (Velociraptor, No Anchor) at the helm, the sound of Gold & Red was
ultimately sculpted by engineer Aaron Cupples (The Drones, Paul and Dan Kelly). “All of our other recordings were live recordings done really quickly and I think when you do it live you have an idea in your head of what it’s gonna sound like and there’s no real surprise,” he says. “It was good to give it to a real mix engineer who hadn’t been a part of the process to see what they come up with. When we first listened to it, it was completely different to what we expected and we were really happy with it.” Vinyl – do people really love listening to it or is it merely a persistent hipster trend? For Nikko, it’s a genuine love of the sound of vinyl that has prompted them to re-release Gold & Red on that format. “We recorded this as an album and the best way to listen to it is in one go, vinyl encourages that,” he says. “Also, we pressed the 7” on vinyl and that sold really well. We’ve sold more vinyl copies than we have of the CD. People seem to really like having that personal piece of music. I guess it’s also a little goal that we feel we can tick off now.” NIKKO will be at The Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine on Thursday November 29, The Public Bar (with The Spinning Rooms and Jimmy Tait) on Friday November 30 and The Reverence Hotel, Footscray (with Epithets, Ballads and On Sierra) on Saturday December 1. The vinyl release of Gold & Red is out now.
LAMARAMA BY KRISSI WEISS
Former and current members of Melbourne bands The Woohoo Revue, Wilderbeast, Captain Groove, SS Pecker and Dizzy Grass joined forces about three years ago to create Lamarama – a lama-infused combination of psychedelic folk and brass-driven groove rock. The lama part really bares no relevance on their sound – they just like lamas. Singer Dave Adams begins by getting into the origins of the band. “Well I met Tim (Parry – guitar/vocals) and Loz (Bell – flute/vocals/percussion) when I walked into a tiny music venue on Smith Street,” Adams says. “They were playing at that time in the Gabi Smith Trio and I was the only audience member apart from a couple sitting on a couch. They were amazing [with] cheeky smiles and beautiful harmonies. I realised I’d walked in on the last song and asked them if they’d play one more for me and they were stoked someone had asked them to play another. They played a song that had meant a huge deal to me at the time that would be too daggy to name now – freaky, I thought. Years later in Facebook time, I had had a dream that I was in a band with Tim and found him and messaged him telling him my dream. He needed a singer for Lamarama – bam! He also needed a drummer, who was the dude in the couple on the couch at same gig. I promise that’s all true.” The synchronicity sounds too perfect to be true, and Lamarama’s cheeky style evokes a sense of wariness to a story with so much romanticism, but hey, for now that’s how it happened. The more Adams talks about Lamarama though, the more intriguing coincidences appear. For example, their association with the support act for their EP launch, Ghost Orkid. “Actually their first gig ever was supporting my other band Captain Groove, filling in for a band that had dropped out five hours before needing to be on stage. They got together and jammed the entire set as Matt Kelly and the Turbo Rads, I think the name was,”
he says. “We’ve supported them for one of their Monday night residency shows at The Evelyn recently and our bands seemed to really suit each other; it’ll be interesting to see how we go going on after them because they’re quite something.” When asked about any upcoming festival shows for Lamarama, Ghost Orkid appears again. “We’re doing Folk, Rhythm, and Life in a few weeks actually – a one in the morning Saturday night spot I think,” he says. “Oh and actually we have Ghost Orkid on right before us too! The amount of coincidences and weird things that happen around this band is bizarre. It’s because Loz is a hippy I reckon.” While the tales of the band’s inception and recurring coincidences appear convincing, Adams admits that he does play a role within the beast that is Lamarama and in his storytelling as a lyricist. “I’m a character man actually; too scared to sing about my own life, although that’s exactly what I end up doing, but through characters,” he says. “Ray Davies from The Kinks was almost the start of that, although John Lennon was putting on really different voices and things like that and I try to do both of those. I think wanting to be an actor for all of early high school plays a role in that. Sorry, we’re a very punny band.” Punfilled humour may be rife, but so is their instinctual and impressive talent as musicians and entertainers. LAMARAMA’S EP, ETC, will be launched at Bar Open on Saturday December 1 with Ghost Orkid in support. DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION
Beat Magazine Page 45
INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH MUSIC INDUSTRY NEWS & GOSSIP
with Christie Eliezer * Stuff for this column to be emailed to <celiezer@netspace.net.au> by Friday 5pm THINGS WE HEAR
TAME IMPALA WIN J, EG, AWARDS
Tame Impala took out two major awards last week. Their Lonerism was selected as Australian Album of the Year at the triple j awards at the Ding Dong Lounge, as well as Best Song of the Year for Elephant at the seventh EG awards at the Billboard club. Other winners at the Js were The Rubens as Unearthed Artist of the Year while Melbourne-based director and producer Kris Moyes won Australian Music Video of the Year for former Mercy Arms guitarist Kirin J Callinan’s debut solo single Way II War. Moyes’ resume includes Franz Ferdinand, Sia, The Presets, Beck, Bag Raiders, Alpine and Birds Of Tokyo. The EGs drew a packed house, and witnessed Weddings, Parties, Anything play their debut album Scorn Of The Women and being inducted by Tim Rogers into the Hall of Fame. Rogers was also took out best male (catching up to Hank Wagon who was initially leading) while other winners of the night were The Temper Trap (best band), Alpine’s A Is For Alpine (album), Bombay Royale (new talent), Lanie Lane (female), Jack White (tour) and Oh Mercy (outstanding achievement). Guest performers on the night included Van Walker, Liz Stringer, Angie Hart, Jess Cornelius from Teeth & Tongue, Mikelangelo and Emma Russack while Best New Talent nominees The Murlocs impressed with a punchy set as did Courtney Barnett.
SWEDISH HOUSE PLATINUM
GO
DOUBLE
THY ART IS MURDER CRACK WORLD DEAL
While the 30,000 tickets to the Sydney Showground show sold out in an hour, Swedish House Mafia also stormed the charts. Their summer anthem Don’t You Worry Child (feat. John Martin) last week topped the ARIA singles chart for the second week and was certified double platinum. The track has been #1 on the ARIA club chart for eleven weeks. A second show is added for Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl for February 1 for a rumoured fee of $1 million.
Sydney’s Thy Art Is Murder signed an international deal with Toronto-based metal label Distort – home to Cancer Bats, Architects, Comeback Kid and Crossfaith. Their Hate album will be issued overseas shortly. The band’s fortunes have grown since signing with Shock imprint Halfcut in August. Hate debuted at #35 on the ARIA chart – the highest debut from any Australian death metal band – while their Facebook page last week hit 50,000 likes.
FREEZA FUNDING RISES TO $7.4 MILLION
FANS TO FUND ESKIMO JOE ALBUM
The Victorian Coalition Government locked in an extra $1.6 million of funding for the FReeZA program. This brings the total of the youth organised, coordinated and promoted events to $7.4 million over the next three years. Youth Affairs Minister Ryan Smith announced $2.4 million in grants over the next year, saying “80 organisations Victoria-wide will benefit from this latest round of FReeZA funding.” These include $19,200 for the Salvation Army’s 614 Melbourne Festival Project (a series of festivals across Melbourne’s CBD), $24,000 for Cultural Infusion’s FReeZA Hip Hop at The Crom, $19,200 for Songlines FReeZA Youth to improve the selfesteem of Indigenous youth through dance and performance, and $24,000 for Minus18 FReeZA to provide socially inclusive events and workshops for same sex attracted, sex and gender diverse young people. Full list of grants at freeza.vic.gov.au.
LIVE MUSIC BACK IN KINGSTON VENUES UNDER KINGI Kingston Arts Centre and Kingston City Hall (979 Nepean Hwy, Moorabbin) are bringing back live music in autumn. AC/DC, Madder Lake and Spectrum played there in the ‘70s when it was Moorabbin Town Hall. The program is under booker Steve Kingi, its Business Development Coordinator. He posted, “Since moving on from the Prince Bandroom, I have teamed up with council to bring live music back to this historic venue. And now, after six months of work we feel ready to announce our plans to the music industry”. It includes a 1,000-capacity Grand Hall (with huge stage for gigs, presentations and awards) and 300-capacity Baby Grand. Phone number is is 03 9556 4435.
ROCKET MAN GETS OWN STAR
To celebrate Elton John’s 45th show at the Sydney Entertainment Centre since 1983, the venue officially named a Southern Hemisphere star ‘The Sir Elton John Star’. John got his plaque from SEC’s GM Steve Romer.
Beat Magazine Page 46
Eskimo Joe’s sixth studio album will be financed by their fans. The Perth band, previously with Warner Music, wants to raise $40,000 by February 9 through crowd funding site Pozible. They’re offering a BBQ and a private show for 20 people for any investor who pledges $6,000. Others include them producing your song in their Wastelands studio ($4,000), custom made guitars hand crafted by Stu ($2500), the chance to see them play the full album unplugged after recording ($850) and hearing the CD before release ($500). As of late last week, they’d got $22,542 pledged. See pozible.com/eskimojoe.
CORDRAZINE ONE-OFF
Cordrazine have a habit of the occasional live show in between long periods of disappearing. Last February they shot a video for Always Coming Down in a freezing swimming pool; but by the time of release, leader and singer songwriter Hamish Cowan had vanished. Since then, the media release says, “He’s been through a distressing work accident, a marriage breakup, escaped to Europe, taken a job as a lifeguard at a Bulgarian summer camp, undertaken numerous triathlons (his latest obsession) and occasionally dipped back to Australia, but otherwise he has relocated to Edinburgh.” The band play a show at Northcote Social Club on Thursday December 20.
MYSPACE SERVICE
TO
LAUNCH
MOBILE
A leaked prospectus to investors shows that the newly relaunched MySpace plans to take on Spotify and Pandora next year. It’s launching a mobile subscription service and an e-commerce solution for music downloads, ticketing and merchandise. MySpace is currently raising new capital of $50 million. $10m of this will go towards marketing the platform, $15-25m for renewing rights with labels and $15-25m towards general working capital purposes. It expects to make revenues of $15m (up from $9m last year). It made a loss of $40 million in 2012 and could lose another $25 million in 2013.
* With rumours strengthening of an impending Bruce Springsteen tour announcement comes the whisper that the Boss will play an outdoors show at Hanging Rock a la Rod Stewart and Leonard Cohen. * Bruno Mars, who axed a promo visit due to ill-health, will tour next year. * Tangerine Kitty, the mythical band appearing on the viral phenomenon that is the Dumb Ways To Die video (14.5 million views as of writing), is a play on the two bands involved in it – The Cat Empire and Melbourne’s TinPan Orange. The latter’s singer Emily Lubitz told triple j she doesn’t normally do ads but she had “bills to pay”. Which worked out beautifully because McCann Melbourne, the agency which created the safety ad told marketing site Mumbrella they specifically went for musicians who don’t normally do ads. * Flaming Lips singer Wayne Coyne caused Oklahoma City’s airport to lock down when he was caught carrying a grenade. He explained it had been given to him as a joke at a party the night before, and they let him go. * Shane Howard’s Other Side Of The Rock super-show at the Forum (Saturday December 8) has Alan & Steve Pigram and Tonchi McIntosh added to bill. * The grand final of The X-Factor, which saw Samantha Jade Gibbs crowned winner, drew 2.162 million viewers in five metro cities and blitzed all other shows that night. But it didn’t come close to the 3.09 million who tuned in when The Voice had its grand finale in June. * Are Aerosmith “barely speaking to each other” after new album Music From Another Dimension, sold only 65,000 copies in its first week in America? * The Hoodoo Gurus will bring back their Dig It Up! next year, Dave Faulkner posted on Facebook and promoter Feel confirmed on its website. * The Presets took over Brisbane’s Tivoli last week for Channel [V]’s The Next Gig to premiere on Thursday December 6 at 5pm. * When Nickelback were on tour in South Australia, bassist Mike Kroeger announced he wanted to dive with great white sharks in Neptune Island. * Real estate: the London home where Amy Winehouse lived and died is up for auction for £1.8 million. Meantime, the 1924 Asquith Corner Store in northern Sydney, which inspired Garry Frost to write Moving Pictures’ What About Me (he walked past it every day from school) is to be demolished … the Toorak house Deborah Conway grew up in is on the market. * Beats Audio has split from Sydney-based distributor Convoy. * Michael Gudinski and his wife Sue threw a cocktail party for 300 earlier this week at their Toorak mansion to celebrate a great 2012 – including being named Melburnian of the year, turning 60, getting over last year’s ill-health (he commended his promo chief Reegan Stark for managing to keep that from the media!) and international success for his acts. His staffers surprised him with video congratulatory messages from Sting, Kylie, Dannii, Garbage and Live Nation’s Irving Azoff, among others, while some of the finest Melbourne talent performed in the back garden marquee. Daughter Kate Alexa dedicated Most People I Know (Think That I’m Crazy) to her parents.
AC/DC: iTUNES, GRAMMYS
After holding out almost as long as The Beatles, AC/DC made their music available on iTunes. Aside from buying the CDs individually, they’ve got two digital deals – all their studio albums for $99.99, or a $149.99 box set with demos and live albums including Live At River Plate which this week enters the ARIA chart at #11, almost to the week 20 years ago when they debuted at #1 with their second live album, Live. In the meantime, the 1980 Back In Black is among a list of 27 to be inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame next year. The 27 include Paul McCartney & Wings’ Band On The Run, Bob Dylan’s The Times They Are A-Changing, Whitney Houston and Elton John’s self-titled debut, Ray Charles’ Hit The Road Jack and Here’s Little Richard.
TRIPLE J PLAYLIST FOR TRAUMA VICTIMS Triple j put together a playlist of new music for Red Cross’ website to help young people recover from trauma. The playlist includes music from 13 Unearthed acts including Tigertown, City Riots, L-Fresh The Lion and Rainy Day Woman. There are messages from j’s brekkie team and advice from experts on mental responses to disaster, relationships, sleep and diet.
FESTIVALS #1: SCoRCHeR OFF TO STRONG START
Promoters Karen King and Andrew Cooper say that SCoRCHeR FeST’s risky policy of having 80% local acts and 20% touring acts (like Luxembourg’s Angel At My Table on their first visit) has paid off in its tenth year run. The first of the five shows, at Adelaide’s Duke Of York, presold 95% of its tickets, while acts are already applying for next year’s SCoRCHeR FeST’s in March and April. It lands in Melbourne on Sunday December 9 at Noise Bar.
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LIFELINES Expecting: Natalie Bassingthwaighte and her drummer husband Cameron McGlinchey, their second child. Their first, Harper, is two. Split: record producer Patrick Leonard (behind some of Madonna’s biggest hits) and Wonder Years star Olivia d’Abo are ending their marriage. Split: Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell and wife Julie after 25 years. Hospitalised: Meat Loaf for knee surgery. Arrested: 55 people at the Strawberry Fields Music Festival in Tocumwal, in the NSW Riverina region, for cannabis, LSD and magic mushrooms. Arrested: a 20-year-old man on firearm offences after police were called to the Savvy Nightclub in Waymouth Street after security had refused entry to a group of men. The man was caught in the club’s carpark. In Court: Bobby Brown pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence, driving on a restricted license and driving without a interlock device which stops the car from starting if you’ve had something to drink. In Court: prosecutors have dropped charges against Justin Bieber that he beat up a photographer in May, saying there was not enough evidence. Died: North Carolina R&B singer Billy Scott, 70, from pancreatic and liver cancer. His hits included I Got The Fever and Seaside Love.
FESTIVALS #2: FALLS WINS TOURISM GONG The Falls Music & Arts Festival won the Qantas Award for Sustainable Tourism at the Victorian Tourism Awards. The event recognised tourism operators for their dedication to environmentally friendly practices, carbon footprint minimisation and sustainability management. Falls was among the first in recycling, waste composting, power minimisation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and engaging their many practices with their audiences.
FESTIVALS #3: NEW FESTIVAL FOR GEELONG?
Geelong mayor Keith Fagg signaled he wanted to hold a new event called Festival Of Geelong next year – or failing that, in 2014. It will cover music, arts and theatre over venues across the region. Fagg reckons the best time to hold is May, after the summer events and before the football season began.
VALE GERRY MORRISON
Geelong music luminary Gerry Morrison passed away in his sleep aged 64. Morrison, emerged in the ‘70s as singer with Shadowfax who recorded with Ross Wilson. He suffered Lupus, a condition which forced him to avoid direct sunlight. Nevertheless, he continued to perform in bands including The Stew, wrote for the Geelong Advertiser and for 32 years volunteered as stage manager for Port Fairy Folk Festival. On the weekend, the music community met at the Geelong Performing Arts Centre for a tribute and jam session. He is survived by his parents and brother Ian, an early member of Goanna.
GOOD WORKS #1: PURE POP HELPS LIGHTHOUSE FOUNDATION For the last eight years, Pure Pop Records has helped Lighthouse Foundation – they support homeless youth aged 16-25 – at Christmas. It’s asking the music industry and media to hand over CDs, DVDs and merchandising that’s sitting around in your offices to give to the kids. Ring Dave Stevens at 9525 5066, or send to Pure Pop at 221 Barkly Street, St Kilda Vic 3182 or put it in a box and Dave will come and pick it up before Christmas.
GOOD WORKS #2: SONIC FORGE RAISES FOR HAITI The Sonic Forge metal festival draws 1,000 fans each year to catch 30 bands. It’s also a charity event, donating profits to an orphanage in Hinche, Haiti called Centre Of Hope. In the past two years, it’s bought school uniforms for the kids, school supplies for a class and the payment of a teacher’s salary for one year. The next Sonic Forge is on Saturday December 15 at The Espy, with bands including Ne Obliviscaris, Death Audio (launching their album), Dreadnaught, Alarum, Decimatus and NSW’s Gods Of Eden.
GOOD WORKS #3: BENDIGO CONCERT FOR HOMELESS Bendigo’s Golden Vine holds a 12-hour concert on Saturday December 1 to mark the end of 12 months of fund raising by the Bendigo For Homeless Youth. It’s reached $60,000 of its $100,000 target, says organiser Luke Owens.
GRAETZ AT LIGHT
Jarrod Graetz is General Manager of LightFM and LightDigital in Melbourne.
SLEEPING TO ADELE A UK survey by the Travelodge hotel chain found customers find that the “soft and relaxing” music of Adele was most popular to sleep to. She was followed by Coldplay, Snow Patrol and One Direction. No sign of AC/DC, though.
TURBONEGRO BY JOSHUA KLOKE
“Most rock’n’roll bands start as a riot but end up as a parody. We started up as a parody but ended up as a revolution.” It’s been six years since Happy Tom of Norwegian punk act Turbonegro defined the band this way. And while anyone who’s attended one of the Oslo sextet’s live sets may have witnessed the band’s revolutionary prowess, the last six years haven’t exactly been kind to Turbonegro. 2010 saw the departure of lead singer Hank Von Heveltes to deal with a continuing drug problem. This came after the band announced in 2009 that they were going on hiatus. Considering Turbonegro wasn’t getting any younger and that the number of ‘ex’ members outnumbered current members, it seemed likely that we’d seen the last of the band. Their loyal legion of fans, The Turbojugend, an organised mafialike group of fans numbering in the thousands, saw things differently however. In the midst of their hiatus, an invitation was extended, and as bassist and founding member Happy Tom tells it, it was that invitation which changed Turbonegro for the better. “We got this invitation to go play at our fan club convention with the Turbojugend in Hamburg,” says the 43-year-old bassist, reached on the phone from his Oslo home. “We heard that different people were going to sing different songs, so we thought, ‘Why the fuck not?’ It’s not like we were all just sitting at home. We kind of have this legacy we have to take care of. And we thought it would be fun to go down and party.” Yet the pressing issue at hand was replacing lead singer Helvetes. Tom insists the solution came rather casually. “When we were thinking about who to get to sing, someone suggested Tony [Sylvester, former frontman of Dukes Of Nothing] because he knows the band’s songs and he knows the industry. He was going to come to Oslo anyway that weekend, which was weird. We had other people like Damian from Fucked Up doing songs. But Tony, he’s got such a great voice and he’s so charismatic, so we thought he sounded great.” Sylvester couldn’t have been more acquainted with Turbonegro. He was president of the London chapter of the Turbojugend and also served as the band’s UK press officer. The connection was instant, and there was no looking back for Happy Tom and Turbonegro. “We weren’t sure what the fans were going to think. We thought half the crowd would be into it but the other half would start throwing bottles,” he says of their first show with Sylvester. “But there was this huge emotional roar after the first song,” he continues. “I saw people started to cry, I even saw a guy throw himself off the balcony! And that was between songs!” The band utilised the energy from the addition of Sylvester and turned it into Sexual Harrassment, their first album in five years. It’s a fresh, revitalised approach and Turbonegro sound reinvigorated. “We’ve actually turned it up a notch for Tony,” says
Happy Tom. “It’s a brand new band, but it’s also very much Turbonegro. There’s some pissed off people out there, I’m sure. But I think we’re back and we’re happy about our latest record. We think it’s one of our best of all time. It’s certainly our most commercial record, as it’s the first one to hit number one on the Norwegian charts.” Sexual Harrassment has certainly pleased the Turbojugend. Modern music fans are faced with a plethora of choices when it comes to their listening pleasures, but Tom believes that it’s more about the group mentality than the adoration of their nine studio albums. It’s a refreshing and humble stance from the oft-goofy group. “The reason we have these loyal fans is because they feel the same way as us. It’s not a cult though; it’s not like once you get into the club, you can’t get out. It’s not North Korea or anything. A lot of the people in the club aren’t even fans of the band, but they’re fans of being in this dedicated club. Some of the best friends I have in my life I’ve met through the Turbojugend. They’re just people; beer drinkers, rock’n’rollers. It’s kind of like a punk rock retirement home.” Their new record hasn’t just satisfied their fans; it’s also satiated Happy Tom’s desire to please that old devil called rock’n’roll. Amidst all the gimmicks the band once utilised, from their outlandish song titles to the makeup band members adorn at shows, it’s rock and roll that Happy Tom ultimately stays loyal to. He does, however, think of rock and roll in a different manner than many of his peers. But that’s Turbonegro for you. “We don’t take ourselves too seriously, and we have our silly image that we’re kind of trapped in. It’s a love-hate thing with this band. The one thing we do take seriously is rock’n’roll. In no way ever would we try to be ironic when it comes to rock’n’roll. That’s our fans lifeline. I’ve been in bands since I was 11-yearsold; it’s my life. We try to take care of it. It’s like this crazy old whore that you have to keep paying money to. You can’t leave it. We’ve got a soft spot for her.”
“THE ONE THING WE DO TAKE SERIOUSLY IS ROCK’N’ROLL. IN NO WAY EVER WOULD WE TRY TO BE IRONIC WHEN IT COMES TO ROCK’N’ROLL. THAT’S OUR FANS LIFELINE”
DEERHOOF SEVERED HEADS DOVEMAN LUSTMORD BUKE AND GASE ACTRESS VAN DYKE PARKS WITH GUESTS INC. DANIEL JOHNS BRYCE DESSNER (THE NATIONAL) THIS IS THE KIT JHEREK BISCHOFF NEIL FINN PAUL KELLY GLEN HANSARD ARCHIE ROACH LAURIE ANDERSON & KRONOS QUARTET JG THIRLWELL’S MANOREXIA CLOGS (FEAT. PADMA NEWSOME) GORAN BREGOVIC DEMDIKE STARE SOLARIS (BEN FROST WITH VISUALS BY BRIAN ENO) ROBIN FOX POLE TIM HECKER & DANIEL LOPATIN (AKA ONEOHTRIX POINT NEVER) BEN FROST ATOMTM TRINITY (BIOSPHERE, LUSTMORD & MFO) THE CARETAKER / V/ VM
As well as playing the sold out Meredith Music Festival taking place from Friday December 7 to Sunday December 9, TURBONEGRO bring their high-energy set to The Hi-Fi for a sold out show on Friday, December 7. DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION
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The Beat Magazine Market Guide
St Kilda Esplanade Market.
What you’ll find:
Eat and drink:
Being one of Melbourne’s oldest markets – it’s been around since 1970 – St Kilda Esplanade Market is all about enjoying a traditional Sunday by the seaside. With arts and crafts from more than 130 stalls, there’s everything from furniture and home wares to handmade jewellery and body products.
There are plenty of fantastic options close by. Enjoy a seaside snack at one of the many restaurants along the Esplanade before more shopping.
Best kept secret: You never know what talent you might unearth amongst the stalls at the Esplanade. A former market artist is Adam Elliot – the Academy Award winning drector and animator who won an Oscar for his short film Harvie Krumpet.
Summer stall favourites: For cute as pie gifts for the little ones in your life, we suggest checking out stall number 51! Stallholders Robert and Patricia Thomson make unique wooden money boxes in 35 designs…from owls to kangaroos to koalas.
Christmas hit list: The Esplanade Market is perfect for picking up unique, crafty pieces for your loved ones this Christmas. There are plenty of artworks made from wood, resin and recycled materials that can become treasured items for years to come. When: Every Sunday from 10am to 5pm Where: Upper Esplanade, St Kilda. Take the 16 or 96 tram from the city. Website: esplanademarket.com
St Andrews Community Market. What you’ll find find:
Eat and drink?
An amazing array of unexpected and unique products and services, where there is literally something for everyone. Have a massage, shiatsu, reiki or reading. Have a chat, jam and a chai at the legendary tent. Get decked out with new or vintage clothing, imported from exotic locations around the world or hand made here in Melbourne. Buy your fruit, vegies and baked goodies, with organic, vegan and gluten-free options. There’s also face painting, pony rides and toy stalls for the kids, plus vintage tools, coins and collectables for the big boys.
So many options to choose from – falafel, Thai, poffertjies, hot dogs, vege burgers and curries, Turkish bread and dips, home cooked soup and bread and gluten-free organic sweet delights. Alternatively head across the road for a truly amazing pizza from ‘A Boy Named Sue’ or a counter meal from the St Andrews pub.
Best kept secret: St Andrews have the best of handmade with love products, exotic imported goods, and vintage treasure. Each week you can find quality second hand stalls for fabulous bargains in clothing, books, DVDs and vinyl. If you want to busk, you can, just leave your amps at home.
Summer stall favourites: If you love the stalls at the night markets and festivals, many of them can be found in St Andrews all year round. We love their smoothies, juices and vegie delights to eat in the shade of the gum trees. Also listen to music, lounge on the lawns and relax with a free event program over summer including African Drumming, Peter Gleeson’s Spontaneous Choir and crystal healing and spell workshops.
Christmas hit list: Don’t miss the twilight market. With live music and festivities into the night, you can actually make buying gifts for loved ones a really enjoyable experience. Forget soul destroying shopping centers, go support local and ethical small businesses and make people happy with unusual and exciting gifts. When: Every Saturday of the year (except total fire ban days) Where: Corner of Kangaroo Ground/St. Andrews and Heidelberg/Kinglake Roads Website: facebook.com/StAndrewsMarket and standrewsmarket.com.au/
Blender Lane Artists Market.
Everyone knows that Melbourne’s where it’s at when it comes to amazing, colour rich street art. If you’re interested in soaking up those creative vibes, your market of choice has to be Blender Lane Artists Market. Located amongst some of the coolest art and home to emerging painters, sculptors, photographers, fashion designers, jewellery makers and wood workers, this vibrant open air market has it all- including delicious food and live music every week. So feast your eyes not only on the art-covered walls of iconic Blender Lane but also on the affordable crafts on offer. Also take a moment to drop by Dark Horse Experiment Art Gallery and explore through the open warehouse studios. Where: Blender Laneway, 110 Franklin St, Melbourne When: Every Wednesday from November 14 to Feb 27 (excluding December 26 and January 2) from 5pm – 10pm. Website: Facebook.com/Blendermarket
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Independent designers and artists – Hawker-style dining Cafés, bars and restaurants – Live music and entertainment
Thursday evenings 5.30 – 9.30pm 4 October to 20 December Under the Verandah, Coventry & Cecil Sts, South Melbourne styleafterdark.com.au
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Beat Magazine Page 49
The Beat Magazine Market Guide
STOREHOLDER PROFILE:
Jessica Tichonczuk of Black Diamond Accessories
Having started selling her wares in mid 2011, Jessica of Black Diamond Accessories keeps her designs modern and eclectic, while steering away from typical High St looks. With Mexican inspired Day Of The Dead themes prominent throughout her range of bright and edgy rings, necklaces, buttons and bracelets, Black Diamond Accessories is all about staying true to one’s personal style and daring to be different. No gothic reproductions of skulls here – just fun, feminine versions that will add a statement to any outfit. Find Black Diamond Accessories at South Melbourne Market’s Style After Dark, every Thursday night until December 20.
The Fine Design Market. Profound, Minka f d pop-art from f k Svarcs, stylish l h threads h d from f Fujinella, the pop-coloured jewels of Aacute, Kathy Koo, Daniela Kustura Art, JCDC, plus handmade treasures from Pippa & Rose.
Rose Street Artists Market.
What you’ll find:
Eat & drink:
You’ll find a selection of Melbourne’s best artists and designers showcasing everything from the wacky to the wonderful.
Their homemade chocolate cake and a freshly squeezed apple, pear and watermelon juice is to die for on a hot spring day.
Best kept secret:
Christmas hit list:
The market itself. Rose St Market is celebrating ten years of being Melbourne’s home of all things handmade, and is sneakily tucked away between warehouses and away from the hustle of Brunswick Street.
Summer stall favourites: They Call Me Ishmael for their quirky coloured dinosaur cactus pots, Urban Cartel for their French porcelain homewares in bright pastel colours, and FruitLoop for their geometric jewellery and accessories.
Whatever you get, it’s great to support local design talent. You know it’s going to be well made, unique and you can get the story behind the product. When: Saturdays and Sundays from 11am until 5pm Where: 60 Rose Street, Fitzroy. Just off Brunswick St. Website: rosestmarket.com.au
Eat and drink?
What you’ll find: Fine wares which include a fabulous selection of fashion, accessories, home wares, jewellery, art, photography and gourmet delights.
Best kept secret: The gourmet popcorn from Popped. People tend to go to the Popped stall first before it sells out.
Summer stall favourites: We love the fresh take on accessories from Something
The MC² Café is a tempting option alongside the market food vendors. You can’t go past the homemade lemonade for a contemporary ode to the nostalgic thirst-quencher.
Christmas hit list: Popped Gourmet Popcorn for some tasty stocking fillers, Liz Kent Pottery, Fable Baby & Nursery for the little ones, Silver Penny Puddings for festive feasting, Fudge by Rich and Chie No Wa Origami for a unique take on Christmas decorations. When: Sunday, December 9, 2012 Where: MC², 687 Doncaster Road, Doncaster, 3108 Website: thefinedesignmarket.com.au
Suzuki Night Market. What you’ll find:
Over 200 stall holders showcasing some of melbourne’s finest artisans, producing locally made clothing, jewellery, prints and an array of cultural goods. String bean alley is also open as part of the suzuki night market which is the newest destination for locally designed, locally made artisan wares.
Best kept secret: That they have sister events at Coburg & Geelong. The Coburg night market runs every Friday night from November 16 to December 21 at Bridges Reserve. Geelong night market is in it’s fifth year at Johnstone Park and runs from January 11 to February 15, 2013. Each event has everything you love about Suzuki Night Market but on a smaller scale with a real family vibe.
Summer stall favourites: With over two hundred traders it’s hard to pick one but essentially you can purchase everything from fashion, jewellery, accessories, beauty products,
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DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION
furniture, furniture homewares and stationary tthat is locally designed or locally produced. Melbourne is a buzz with incredible designers and the Suzuki Night Market is an incredible showcase of what is going on in the melbourne’s design scene.
Eat and drink? My pick at the moment is a meat ball slider from The Meatball Company with a coconut drink served in a coconut from The Coconut Hub. It’s as refreshing as it sounds!
Christmas hit list: Can’t go past the cutest santa sacks from House Of Masen. All their products are screen printed in Melbourne and each design is hand picked. When: every Wednesday night from 14th November 2012 - 27 february 2013 (excluding 26 December 2012) Where: Queen Victoria Market, Elizabeth st, Melbourne
Melbourneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s makers market by the sea
Every Sunday 10am-5pm Upper Esplanade, St Kilda Victoria Tram 16 or 96 from the CBD www.esplanademarket.com
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Beat Magazine Page 51
The Beat Magazine Market Guide
South Melbourne Market
What you’ll find:
Eat and drink:
Great music, food, and fashion all in the one place. There are local designers, lots of quality vintage clothing, handcrafts and an incredible assortment of locally made jewellery- plenty for the avid market trawler to work with!
There are plenty of tantalizing options to choose from… paella from Simply Spanish, gozelmes from Koy’s, peking duck from Linx, and grilled octopus from Claypot all get our tick of approval.
Christmas hit list: Best kept secret: You’ll never be bored at South Melbourne Market thanks to their diverse line up of entertainers. From an Elvis impersonator who’s sure to bring even the most reluctant of dancers to their feet, to Shepparton singer-songwriter Tom Tuena, and the markets resident drag queens Barbara Quicksand and Gloria Golddigger, you’re in for a good time.
Summer stall favourites: Looking for quick gift ideas for your girlfriends? We love Pleasure, Little Treasure. The stall specializes in handmade fashion accessories, mainly using recycled vintage materials for a kitschy touch. We think the headbands, hair clips and necklaces make the perfect stocking stuffers.
If you want to ditch the traditional route of spending hours at the shopping centre doing your Christmas shopping, Style After Dark will save you Not only can you get your whole list sorted, you can treat yourself to a drink and a dance while you’re at it.
This Week Catch the truly unique ensemble, The Hi Fi Lounge Lizards this Thursday December 29. A fusion of danceable electronica and acoustic sounds, they create the perfect ambience to your eating and shopping experience – and may just get you up for a dance after a sangria or two. When: Thursday evenings until December 20. Where: Corner Coventry & Cecil streets, South Melbourne Website: styleafterdark.com.au
BUY handmade this XMAS!
s
design. art. boutique craft. fine food. music
SUNDAY 9 DECEMBER 9.00 am > 2.00 pm 2>
MC
687 Doncaster Road
DONCASTER info@thefinedesignmarket.com.au www.thefinedesignmarket.com.au
Proudly supported by
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REEL BIG FISH BY AUGUSTUS WELBY
During the last seven years, Reel Big Fish have released a live album, a covers record, a best of, and a compilation of B-sides and acoustic versions of earlier material. The distinct lack of any new songs made fans wonder if the South Californian ska-punk collective had run creatively dry and resigned to self-revivalism. However, in July this year the band quelled these suspicions and delivered a brand new LP, Candy Coated Fury. Lyrically, Candy Coated Fury is characterised by a strong bitterness, presumably founded in some relationship woe. When asked about the autobiographical nature of the subject matter, band leader and chief songwriter Aaron Barrett coyly replied. “Well it’s kind of half and half. It’s half my own personal experiences that I’ve gone through over the years and the other half would be observing either friends or relatives that may have been going through certain issues of their own.” Barrett’s lyrics have often had an angsty disaffected focus, dating right back to the band’s 1995 debut LP Everything Sucks. “I always think of the lyric writing style as like a punch to the face followed by a really nice warm hug. It’s sort of ‘I hate you I never want to see you again, but I love you please don’t go’. The indecisive world of relationships that I think everyone can relate to, in a way.” Indeed, some songs on Candy Coated Fury show the development of contrasting feelings. During I Know You Too Well and She’s Not The End Of The World the angry narrator realises that beneath the desire to be free from an antagonistic lover there is still a strong attachment. “Usually, it starts off dark but I try to make it so that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. You don’t want everything to be just totally negative, because that would just suck! You always want a little bit of positivity in there.” On the other hand, songs such as PS I Hate You and Everyone Else Is An Asshole push things to their extreme, expressing direct loathing. Barrett claims that even when the lyrics dwell deeply in cynicism, the perky musical accompaniment and the band’s comic presentation soothes the sting. “I’d like to think it’s not completely negative. You have this happy-go-lucky energetic dance music, when you couple that with the lyrics I think it helps. I think in any art-form you need to have that balance. If you’re going to be positive all the time then that just sounds cheesy; if you’re going to be negative all the time then you’re just complaining. So I think that there is definitely a conscious effort to make sure each aspect complements the other and it all works together.” This notion of balance also applies to compiling the live show and Australian audiences can expect a diverse setlist from Reel Big Fish on their December tour. “We definitely play all the old hits that everyone knows and loves us for and we try and throw in some of the deeper cuts that we don’t get to play too often. And there’s the opportunity to throw in new songs too. That’s a big part of being a band and being on the road; trying to show people that you still have something to
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say. That’s definitely an important aspect.” Reel Big Fish’s ability to consistently tour without putting out new music confirms they have a regular and devoted fan-base. However, such devotion could potentially prevent the band from progressing if they felt obliged to cater to specific demands. Barrett explains that, rather than simply conforming to what is expected of them, the relationship with their supporters is mutually satisfying. “Early on we figured out what the fans love about us and it worked out so well because that’s what we do naturally and that’s what we love to do. It’s worked out pretty well, to be able to be honest and sincere about what we do. People can see right through it if you’re just trying to please your fans, so it works out great that this comes out of us naturally.” The band’s biggest hits, songs released in the late ‘90s, Sell Out and Beer, are setlist mainstays. Barrett has personally come a long way since that time but he doesn’t feel the songs have lost any relevance. “I think once a song has been written and it has been recorded and it’s been released and it’s out there in the world, a strange thing happens – it takes on a life of its own at that point. It almost becomes public property. Everyone who hears a song is going to interpret it a certain way, which is a really cool thing because at that point a song you wrote could be about a hundred different things to a hundred different people. So, once it gets released it’s almost like you can let go of it. It’s like the therapy is over at that point.” Reel Big Fish are perpetually on the road and Barrett admits that tour life is reasonably reserved. Yet, they do indulge in extravagance when the moment calls for it and the upcoming Australian visit is likely to be one of those occasions. “When we’re in Australia we usually cut loose pretty well because it’s kind of like a mini vacation.”
“I ALWAYS THINK OF THE LYRIC WRITING STYLE AS LIKE A PUNCH TO THE FACE FOLLOWED BY A REALLY NICE WARM HUG”
REEL BIG FISH play The Palace on Sunday December 2 with Goldfinger and Zebrahead.
TAME IMPALA BY JOSHUA KLOKE
To say that the last few months have included a whirlwind of activity for Perth psych-rockers Tame Impala would be a gross understatement. In early October, the band released their sophomore full-length, Lonerism, to rave reviews. A preciselycrafted collection of layered and textured tracks, Lonerism solidified the inroads Tame Impala made with their 2010 debut full-length, Innerspeaker. The five-piece soon took Lonerism on the road, with tours of Europe and North America. The hype surrounded the band continued to grow exponentially. The hipster elite provided Tame Impala with a stamp of approval while the normally reserved old guard admitted that frontman Kevin Parker’s artistic vision stays true to the original vision of psychedelia. The amount of hype delivered to Tame Impala can often swallow a band whole, but guitarist Dominic Simper believes the band, throughout their career, has managed to separate the hype from what’s really important. “We’ve been successfully doing this for nearly five years now,” he says. “We learnt very early that a lot of there are other sides to this that can be bullshit. We’re pretty good at separating ourselves from that and realising what’s important is the music. We move in directions that are important to us and we never buy into the press, especially the UK press, if it’s over the top.” Just having returned to his Perth home from the aforementioned tours, Simper sounds understandably tired. He admits to suffering from a serious case of jetlag. “We haven’t had time to adjust just yet,” he admits, before detailing the band’s normal approach to being weary from travel. “We just submit to it. There’s no use fighting it, so we just sort of wait it out for the week or so. We don’t do any of the things you’re supposed to, like avoid alcohol. We’re not exactly the pinnacle of travel health.” Throughout the thousands of kilometres the band have logged in the touring van over recent months, Simper notes there is one element of the band that has not changed – their friendship. If the hype hasn’t had an effect on their sanity, then surely the cramped quarters of the touring van and smallish backstages at clubs might. Not so, insists Simper. Their friendship as a band has allowed them to keep their heads above water. In fact, it’s made them a stronger unit. “Our relationships have become stronger. That’s certainly helped with the way we perform shows. We’re very lucky in the sense that the five of us, we’re five best friends. Touring has become our life and we almost feel more at home on the bus than we do our respective hometowns. It’s a very intimate relationship, probably more intimate than a lot of friendships. It’s quite nice, actually.” Simper’s faith in their friendship stretches into their professional relationship as well. He concedes that Tame Impala is largely centered around Parker’s vision, but should the need arise, the rest of the band is there to offer their opinion for the betterment of the band. “He’ll come to us for opinions but it’s very much Kevin’s project.” Does Simper still trust Parker to create music that he’d be happy to perform live? It’s a question that doesn’t take long to answer. “Absolutely,” he says. “That’s the result of us having been friends for years. We also have faith in our professional friendship which is based in the music.” Simper repeatedly returns to the notion that Tame Impala do not have grand plans to alter the course of rock with Lonerism. Replicating the stocked arrangements in a live setting presents enough of a challenge for the band. Yet without this challenge, continuing their artistic evolution might be out of the question. It’s for that reason that the band revels in the opportunity, difficult as it may be, to recreate Lonerism live. “We find the challenge to be a good thing. We’d hate for it to be too easy. There’s something really enjoyable about trying to replicate it live and it being difficult some of the time. We’ve got to work very hard while practicing and what not. We find that we’re enjoying the act of really laying it down and getting it right.” As the band returns home from tours abroad and prepares to unleash Lonerism on their countrymen for the first time, Simper maintains a confidence in how the band will be received. Less than an hour after our conversation, Lonerism was crowned with a j Award for Album of the Year. Though I wouldn’t get the chance to gauge Simper’s reaction to the award, his sentiment carried throughout our conversation may very well have been the same. For Dominic Simper and Tame Impala, the hype surrounding the band won’t lead to changes in their approach. There’s a focus they’ve attained that isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon. “I don’t know if it’s our place to even comment,” he says of the strong reaction to Lonerism. “We just play the music as well as we can and it’s up to the world to decide how they feel about it.”
TAME IMPALA play two sold out shows at The Forum on Wednesday December 5 and Thursday December 6. They also play Meredith Music Festival at the Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre from Friday December 7 – Sunday December 9, and Pyramid Rock at Phillip Island from Saturday December 29 until Tuesday January 1. Lonerism is out now through Modular.
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WILL & THE PEOPLE
BY KRISSI WEISS
Brighton-based reggae/ska/quasi-psychedelic pop band Will & The People have received praise and criticism in equal measures. Taking a risk by self-funding their self-titled debut album (standard procedure these days, really), Will & The People have had a comfortable amount of initial success in the UK, while in the Netherlands they’ve been skyrocketing up the ranks of the indie scene. Friends, their second album, has garnered them much more praise and a growing army of fans but some critics are still asking whether they’re guilty of style over substance. It seems that to play reggae some media outlets, like The Guardian, think you need to be a fully immersed member of the subculture, not simply a fan, colouring by numbers and fulfilling stylistic requirements. “I believe music is universal and potent and we feel it like all mankind does, we have accessed that in ourselves.” singer Will Rendle responds when asked about the recent criticism from The Guardian. “I think that cultural immersion is null and void if you are really free, and I wasn’t when they wrote that article. I was signed to Sony being told what not to do by people I had never met. Good review, but he missed the core though; the stone that the builders refuse will always be the
head-corner stone. Our music is real and extends beyond the realms of genre – like Bob Marley.” When you’re a touring musician, the line between work and play is easily blurred but that’s often half the fun. “We like to maintain the ethos that we’re always on holiday and when it comes to playing the music, we share the holiday with people – especially when we’re travelling in Australia and Asia,” he says. “None of us have ever done any travelling before so waking up knowing we’re doing it all the time is a great feeling. If you have grafted in cold places like England and Scotland for four years, Australia is nirvana. Back home we just party hard and work harder, like most people. But we are free and that makes anything easy to deal with.” Recorded in just a week in a 17th century barn filled with borrowed and bought equipment, Friends is seemingly as
spontaneous as Rendle maintains his band is. “We tackle writing and recording as it comes, well, at least up until this point,” he says. “We are always writing together, jamming our latest cottage trend, and hoping we can organise that into a song. It’s a melting pot I suppose, there are loads of songs I’ve written which we’re arranging and vibing as we go. Friends is really our debut album and although largely made up of songs I have written, it actually has the sound. We have a sound now, which we made ourselves. That’s something I have strived for a long time. But there are so many songs about that will undoubtedly change.” Any criticisms aimed at Will & The People suggesting they’re guilty of style over substance or image over honesty, are
floored when they perform live. Energetic, impulsive, and most importantly damned fun, Will & The People put industry pressures aside to simply do what they love. “We never write a set list and we enjoy ourselves; we are in fucking Australia playing to a new crowd of people!” he explodes. “It’s very therapeutic, kind of a meditative vibe, oh and being stoned is good too.” Maybe a little of that image creeps in ever so slightly, but who can blame him?
Wollongong, and discover a half sister in Sydney.) In the ‘60s, Black’s political world became clearer when she turned on the television and saw the segregation dramas being played out in the southern states of the United States. Black turned to folk music, before she joined The Selecter. Not long after Black joined as the band’s vocalist, The Selecter released its debut album Too Much Pressure, featuring the singles On My Radio and Missing Words. The Selecter became hot 2-Tone property, participating in many of the label’s legendary tours. “Part of the band’s agenda was very much embracing 2-Tone as an attitude, and not fashion – it was very much anti-racist,” Black says. In 1982, The Selecter called it a day (“the usual things, like musical differences,” Black says), and Black pursued other musical and theatrical interests (including a guest spot on The Bill in the late ‘80s). “The ‘80s was a time to go away from music – synth-pop didn’t really do a lot for me,” Black says.
Black reformed The Selecter in 1991, playing sporadically until the present day. “It was a chance to get back to making music with people that I respected,” Black says. (Neol Davies left not long after the original reunion, though original member Arthur ‘Gaps’ Hendrickson will perform with The Selecter on its upcoming tour.) While it would take until 1997 before the Conservative Party would lose power (Margaret Thatcher having been deposed by her own party in 1990), Black feels The Selecter did make a difference. “I think we possibly educated a generation,” Black says. “People come up to me and say that 2-Tone would wisen them up to racism. And while things aren’t perfect in Britain, the idea of having an anti-racist stance has morphed into something to be proud of.”
WILL & THE PEOPLE will be at The Whalers Hotel, Warrnambool, Friday November 30 and The Worker’s Club, Melbourne, Saturday December 1. Friends is out now through MGM.
THE SELECTER
BY PATRICK EMERY
In 1979, as England emerged gradually from the shadow of the Winter of Discontent, before plunging headlong into a decade of Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government’s arid social and economic policies, the English music scene stood in a state of flux. The punk movement had greeted the dominant political, social and commercial institutions – including those propping up with the music industry – with a defiant two-fingered salute. The Sex Pistols’ politics were simplistic and reactionary at best; with Bernie Rhodes at the helm, The Clash did a crash course in revolutionary discourse and punched above their ideological weight. But it was 2-Tone records, the ska-reggae label founded by The Specials’ Jerry Damners, and featuring such bands as The Specials, The Beat and The Selecter that represented the most visible and considered musical response to England’s social and economic problems. Pauline Black was the lead singer of the multi-racial ska combination The Selecter, affectionately referred to as the First Rude Girl of Ska. Formed originally in 1977 in Coventry in the county of Essex by Neol Davies and John Bradbury, Black was drafted into The Selecter by Davies after Davies had seen her performing in a local club. “I’d spent two years teaching guitar and playing in folk clubs, which were the main outlets if you were a female performer,” Black says. Black, who had been adopted into a white family in the late ‘50s, had developed an interest in reggae music, an interest that burgeoned as punk emerged to confront the dominant
musical order. “I grew up in Essex, and there was a bit of underground interest in reggae, which a lot of people had been introduced to through Bob Marley,” Black says. Black’s childhood identity was complex and confusing for a young black girl. Her parents were infected by the same racial prejudices that The Selecter and The Specials would come to challenge. “I was adopted into a white working class family, and they had relatively well developed racist beliefs,” Black says. “I was a little black girl growing up in that environment – although they weren’t racist to me.” (In a neat local angle, Black would eventually trace her birth mother to
THE PRETTY THINGS
BY PATRICK EMERY
“I don’t regret anything we did, though maybe we should have done things differently,” muses Dick Taylor, founding member and guitarist with ‘60s band The Pretty Things. The Pretty Things are one of rock’n’roll’s most enigmatic cult bands. Alongside The Rolling Stones, The Kinks and The Yardbirds, The Pretty Things were a cornerstone the British R&B scene. But while those bands became etched into broader public and historical consciousness, The Pretty Things became the stuff of obscure legend. “But if we had done it differently, maybe we wouldn’t still be around now,” Taylor says philosophically. In the ‘50s, Taylor was at Dartford Grammar School with Mick Jagger, sharing Jagger’s interest in the early rock’n’roll sounds of Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley. Later on, Taylor enrolled in Sidcup Art School, where he met Jagger’s primary school friend Keith Richards. By the early ‘60s, Taylor, Jagger and Richards had joined Brian Jones’ fledgling Rolling Stones outfit. In 1963 Taylor left the Stones (to be replaced by Bill Wyman), and formed The Pretty Things. Taking its name from Bo Diddley’s Pretty Thing, The Pretty Things became one of London’s most colourful and entertaining R&B outfits. Fronted by Phil May, and featuring the manic Viv Prince on
drums, The Pretty Things released a slew of now-classic R&B tracks, including Midnight to Six, Rosalyn and LSD. Unlike many of its contemporaries, The Pretty Things chose not to tour America and take advantage of the commercial and popular buzz of the British Invasion. Former member Viv Prince left the band around the time of their New Zealand tour (according to recent reports, Prince is living in Oregon, and has tempered the excesses of his rock’n’roll lifestyle), and The Pretty Things began the next phase of its musical career. Like Pete Townshend and Ray Davies, Phil May began exploring more complex lyrical themes. Despite confusing
staff at EMI with the mini-opera of Defecting Grey (“it was five songs in one about a guy sitting on a bench,” Taylor says), The Pretty Things embarked on the songwriting project that would culminate with SF Sorrow. Centred on the life of a character by the name of SF Sorrow, the album is said to have shaded The Who’s Tommy as the first rock opera. Taylor decided to leave The Pretty Things after the release of SF Sorrow, and threw himself into different activities, including producing Hawkwind’s eponymous debut album. “I hadn’t done anything else after art school, and I just wanted to see whatever else was out there,” Taylor says. “So I went off and recorded Hawkwind. There was nothing sinister at all in my decision to leave.” The Pretty Things continued on through the ‘70s under May’s leadership, at one stage having Led Zeppelin’s notorious manager, Peter Grant, looking after the band. In the ‘90s, Taylor reunited with May and the members of the SF Sorrow lineup of the band. “It happened almost by default,” Taylor says. “I’d started playing again, and someone rang up from Holland asking if we’d be interested in doing a reunion thing. So Phil got in touch with the other members, and we decided to start up again.” Since its resuscitation, The Pretty Things have throw caution to the wind by releasing two new albums (as well as re-releasing the album the band made with French artist Philippe DeBarge in 1969). While a new album is currently
THE SELECTER play The Corner Hotel on Friday November 30 with Strange Tenants.
being written, Taylor says the band’s first tour of Australia will have a mix of Pretty Things material. “When you play can’t really get away from your past – you can’t get on stage and only do new material,” Taylor says. And Taylor says it’s entirely possible that the Pretty Things’ original bassist, John Stax will make a guest appearance. “We have every intention of him getting up and doing a couple of numbers,” Taylor says. “He’s definitely the baldest member of the band!” THE PRETTY THINGS play The Corner Hotel on Tuesday December 4 and the Caravan Club in Oakleigh on Thursday December 13 and Friday December 14.
THE STRANGLERS
BY JOSHUA KLOKE
For the past 40 years, Jean-Jacques Burnel has been doing two things with near religious devotion. Manning the bass in one of punk’s most influential yet unheralded bands, The Stranglers is the one he’s known for. Practicing and teaching karate is the other. “It’s eight o’clock in the morning,” says the 60-year-old Burnel, answering the phone from his London home. “I have to go give a karate lesson in Chelsea in a few hours. I’ve been doing it for 40 years now,” he says in a mix of braggadocio and congenial, British manner. Burnel admits that his interest in martial arts might not be what he’s known for. But then again, Burnel and The Stranglers have made a career out of not being very well known. “I’m sure that keeping out of the limelight, and being vampiric has helped [The Stranglers] in a way. It detracts from who you are as a person. The parties, I don’t like that sort of thing. I’ve got my own life, which I’d prefer to keep quite private, to be honest.” It’s hard to believe Burnel, the same man who was once quoted as stating that The Stranglers were “…due for tyranny. You may laugh but it’s going to happen,” now graciously accepts a quiet existence. For The Stranglers, who began
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gigging in 1974 and rose to prominence as one of the more daring acts within England’s explosive punk scene, maintaining a private dignity was never an issue for the band. “We’ve been quite lucky because there’s never been any pressure on us to produce music that wasn’t honest to ourselves. The only time our record company tried influencing what we did, we told ‘em to fuck off,” he says dryly. Deeply-rooted with an anti-establishment and anti-commercial mentality from the beginning, punk found early leaders in The Stranglers. As Burnel walks me through the band’s history chronologically throughout our 30-minute conversation, he notes that even from the inside of the punk movement there was the understanding that momentum was growing. “There were only a few places that we could congregate with like-minded folk. I remember on one occasion, and it might have been when we played with Patti Smith, when Joe Strummer, who was in a band called the 101’ers before he started The
Clash up, was crying on my shoulder saying, ‘I wish I had a band like yours.’ We were part of a group of people who learned to play while they were gigging. We basically learnt to avoid beer bottles being thrown onstage. All these bands were coming to see us. There was definitely something in the air.” Though The Stranglers and The Clash lead the charge early on, it wasn’t long before The Stranglers were ostracised from the punk community. Burnel’s songwriting was evidently too adventurous in the eyes of some. “There was a new form of orthodoxy. We were criticised from our first record for using synthesisers. I don’t know who made this rule up, but it coalesces and when you have these rules, things lend themselves to falling apart. There was a spontaneous thing happening across the UK at the time and I found it be liberating. I thought you could really express yourself in your work in any way you wanted.”
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Yet Burnel refused to allow their position in pop culture define them as a band. They survived the next three decades and outlasted their contemporaries, even though many didn’t think it could be done. 2012 has brought the release of Giants, the band’s 17th full-length. While many his age are considering retirement, Burnel’s energy and enthusiasm within the band has been renewed. “You become energised by people and situations. At the moment we’re enjoying each other’s company, we’re throwing ideas off each other and there’s just so much to write about in the world. There’s so much music as well to explore. It just depends on how interested you are and how open you are.” THE STRANGLERS lend support to Blondie at Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Monday December 3 before headlining Billboard on Tuesday December 4.
JACKSON MCLAREN BY ZOË RADAS
It must sort of suck when you’re Macaulay Culkin, and you do Home Alone and everyone thinks you’re a precocious darling, but after a while you get into drugs and Mila Kunis dumps you and then you’re off the radar. Blessedly, this is not happening to Jackson McLaren. Elevated into the folk music world at just 17, a number of years later McLaren is creating some of the most beautiful melodic tales in the scene, with a twangy guitar and a voice like a young Paul Dempsey. For his second release Walk Along The Wire, McLaren will play at Gertrude’s Brown Couch in his stomping ground of northside. “I moved up [from Warrnambool] at the start of 2009, so it’s been a couple years now,” he says easily. “I did a little show with Jordie Lane in Adelaide on Friday night, and then Warrnambool on Saturday. It was nice! I caught up with my mum, and my sister, and my friends,” he says, listing them off affectionately. “I probably go back once every two months or something. It was a good place to grow up.” The EP’s first single This Be The Place has an accompanying
clip which was shot in New Zealand, but much to McLaren’s chagrin it’s not yet up on Vimeo. “It’s kind of in limbo, lala-land at the moment. I don’t know how long it takes to upload a video, I mean I’m not really a technical wizard or anything,” he laughs. The clip tells the story of a young man finding his way through the streets of Melbourne, then outer Melbourne, then into fields and snowy mountains, all the while gathering rocks into a hessian sack for a very sweet purpose at the end. The video was shot by Jefferton James who creates many of Boy & Bear’s music clips. “It was
JORDIE LANE BY JOSHUA KLOKE
A raconteur at heart, Jordie Lane understands the key to songwriting is to keep moving. The singer-songwriter’s rustic and charming folk-rock also has roots in American music, which has lead to multiple trips abroad. Yet as important as folk, rock and country have been to his upbringing, Lane insists it is the people he’s met since he began writing and travelling who have had the greatest influence on him. “That’s what I think about [when I write],” says the Thornbury-based Lane, reached on the road travelling between different promotional obligations on a particularly busy day. “I don’t use listening to music as my main source of inspiration when writing music. I use the experiences that I’ve had. That’s why I do my best to get out there. Growing up in the suburbs and having the yearning to get out and see the land, that was important too.” After multiple tours of Australia, Lane couldn’t deny his urge to tour abroad any longer. “My mum has told me this nearly everyday since I started playing music, she says, ‘Get
out while you can. Get out while you’re young. Australia’s so small and there’s a whole world out there.’” Lane set his sights on the birthplace of country and folk music, two genres he feels particularly comfortable being associated with. As he attempted to connect the dots between his music and his musical influences, Lane was able to attain perspective on his abilities as an artist. “I’ve been [to the United States] half a dozen times in the last few years, and the reason I’d always wanted to go was because it’s the birthplace of some incredible music. But the first place I went in the States was Joshua Tree, the desert
SARITAH
BY KRISSI WEISS
Born in Korea, raised in Perth, based in Melbourne and a seasoned traveller, roots/reggae/ soul singer-songwriter Saritah is a genuine citizen of the world. (Not in that Kylie Minogue and Simon Baker what-the-hell-is-that-freaky-accent kind of way.) Globally conscious and spiritually driven while never isolating herself from a wider audience, Saritah writes and performs the kind of music that’s designed to make you feel good. “I just love playing live,” Saritah says enthusiastically. “It’s when you get to share that magical moment with the audience. You give them a heap of energy, they give it back, and it cycles around – it’s that oneness that I really thrive on. That’s what got me into this in the first place, being inspired as an audience member. I aspire to inspire that in others.” With far more time spent on stage than in the studio, Dig Deep is only her third studio album in a career spanning nearly ten years. Recorded in California with Mario Caldato Jnr (whose eclectic resume includes Beastie Boys, Manu Chao, Jack Johnson and Beck), the album was written in the farthest corners of the globe. “Recording in
Santa Cruz came about because my manager is based in there,” she explains. “When the time came, we had visions of this album – the who, what and where – and all roads led to there. He hooked up the studio, the engineer, the musicians, and the producer we worked with. It was a big leap of faith on my part because I didn’t know a lot of the people involved but I know my manager and he really does share my vision. We made an amazing album and I’m really glad we did it all this way.” Lyrically inspired by her journeys, asking Saritah where she truly considers to be home is met with a standard, couchsurfing answer. “I live in Melbourne and that’s home; I’ve
THE KNOCKS
BY KRISSI WEISS
Ben “B-Roc” Ruttner, one half of New York-based production duo The Knocks (named after the incessant banging on their front door by angry neighbours ready to abuse them as they tried to create their music in a tiny apartment), is in their brand new studio in Manhattan putting together the next album. Hurricane Sandy is barely retreating as we speak, and phone reception has clearly not been fully restored to the battered island. In a way, Ruttner is used to technology hampering his pursuits, and maintains good humour in the face of adversity. “Before we started to get money from shows and syncs and stuff we had a massively slow computer and we didn’t have the equipment we wanted or, more importantly, needed,” Ruttner says. “There’s always gonna be stuff you want, but compared to a year and a half ago, we finally have a studio set up just the way we like it. Having your work slowed down due to technology is frustrating, so now our work flow is a lot more efficient.” While earning them a solid following as DJs in their own right, The Knocks’ production skills have also seen them producing original material for Katy Perry, Britney Spears
and Marina & The Diamonds, as well as a host of remixes – and their breakthrough singles Make It Better and Dancing With The DJ launched them out of the studio and onto some of the biggest festival and club stages around the world. The duo have shared the stage with an impressive roster of artists – Deadmau5, Skrillex, Big Boi, M.I.A, Tiesto, Martin Solveig – and they played as part of Jay-Z’s Made In America festival. But the next album The Knocks are working on (some of which will be road tested on this upcoming tour) is a departure from their earlier, pop-driven sound.
basically just me and [James], with a backpack, a camera and a guitar. We spent a week in New Zealand, travelling around, ate lots of good food, drank lots of beer,” McLaren says. Boy & Bear are amongst the 21-year-old’s colleagues on Wonderlick Records, a label created out of the Wonderlick Management crew in conjunction with Sony. “I was the first artist to be signed to them when I was a little spring chicken,” McLaren says a little shyly. “They’ve got such an incredible roster. They do Josh Pyke and Grinspoon and Boy & Bear and Airbourne. And so they’re just venturing out with the record company and I’m sort of the first cab off the rank for that. It’s been fantastic working with people at Sony, because it just opens up that whole world, and resources, and everything to really push the recordings and get them to the right ears. It’s a really good lead-up to do the first full-length album next year as well.” McLaren plans to get straight down to business with the album, beginning late January. True to his middle name of Bard (“I was really embarrassed about it as a kid, I thought I might change it to Bart for The Simpsons reference”), the singer had about 70 songs written for the just-released EP. “I feel like there’s an album there already to choose from quite easily but I’m really interested to push myself just outside of Los Angeles. I wanted to be in and around the place where Gram Parsons died,” he continues. “There was this feeling in being there that I could do anything I wanted and that I could take on the world. There was a feeling throughout my first trip there that I was standing in the place where so much great music was created. That didn’t ever leave me.” In fact, Lane’s respect and aspirations for gigging in the northern hemisphere only have specific limitations. “The only thing I’ll say I’ll never do is play a gig with Nickelback,” he quips. Already ripe with experience having shared the stage with Cat Power, The Moody Blues, Gotye, Weakerthans and Billy Bragg, it’s hard to imagine Lane fretting about not getting a call from the loathed Canadian foursome. Gigging with the aforementioned Bragg however, as he did on a recent Australian tour, did have a profound effect on Lane. “He’s an amazing storyteller. It was really inspiring. I tried to take what I could from those shows and learn how I’m going to be able to do that for the rest of my life as well.” The next step for Lane is launching his single Fool For Love from his yet to be named upcoming album. Moving away from the traditional singer-songwriter approach, Lane instead favours a more fleshed out sound. It’s part of a process that Lane doesn’t see
been there for about four years,” she begins. “But really, honestly, I feel at home wherever I am as long as I’m with good people and can eat good food and can check out the local vibe and culture and nature. I’m really inspired by the places I travelled to. Among them recently, I went to Canada, Korea where I was born and I wrote a song in a shack in Mozambique. For me lyrically, it’s all about being positive, about being a good influence on this Earth for the time you’re here.” As soon as that type of rhetoric enters into a conversation the cynics switch off and no matter how unpretentious and genuine Saritah is, channelling global concerns into music can lead to implications that the musician is just preaching to the choir. Saritah’s experience has been more positive than that but even she has her own doubts on occasion. “I don’t experience [any negativity] too much but that’s probably due to the people I surround myself with in my life,” she says. “I do think that more than ever, people in different walks of life are realising the importance of being conscious about what we eat and that every decision we make has an impact on the planet. It’s no longer just a small segment of society that cares about these things. We all make judgements as human beings and it surprises me sometimes when I’ll be playing a gig and someone who I’d never think would enjoy my music comes up to me and tells me that my music has helped them through something hard. Sometimes, we play in places where people drink a lot of “Our music now is a lot more free; we can just do what we want,” Ruttner explains. “It’s still early days for this album, but it’s sounding a lot more like a dance record than our last record. It’s more track-based and less song-based; there are a lot more songs that don’t have that verse-chorus-verse structure of a pop song. We’re not at any point on a release timeline; we’re just at the point where we’re seeing what works. As soon as we get an end date then we’ll get moving towards it, but for now we’re able to be relaxed.” Having produced music for artists ranging from the underground to ultra-shiny pop, Ruttner explains that he and partner James “JPatt” Patterson never really think consciously about what will sell. “We’ve been getting a lot more involved in that dance music world in the shows that we’ve been playing and when we DJ. It’s just what’s coming out while we write this,” he says. “There’s not really any level of conflict there between money and creativity. We’re lucky enough to have a label that lets us experiment a lot with our own sound, so there’s no push and pull between us. We just get to sit on the sound that we’re creating.” Their live show is full of a house party vibe, and more organic than might be expected. For their gigs in Australia, the pair are bringing out a range of instrumentation, ensuring it’ll be more than a two-turntables-and-a-microphone set. “Our live setup is full of instrumentation,” Ruttner says. “We’ve got guitars and keyboards as well as drums and live vocals, but the energy of it is still kinda like a DJ set. It’s non-stop
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a little bit further. Potentially even collaborating with some Australian artists.” There’ll be plenty of those lining up to co-write with this raconteur. “It’ll be interesting to see what we can get,” he says, “to get the strongest debut possible.” JACKSON MCLAREN (on a co-headline tour with The Falls) launches Walk Along The Wire at Gertrude’s Brown Couch in Fitzroy with his band The Triple Threat and on Thursday November 29.
himself finishing anytime soon. “I really want to have a good crack at creating a sound that I can call my own. I’m having a lot of fun trying to pinpoint exactly what that is. Lyrically, things are branching out and things, sonically at least, are sounding very different.” JORDIE LANE launches Fool For Love with three shows at the Northcote Social Club on Thursday November 29, Friday November 30 and a matinee performance on Sunday December 2.
alcohol and I think, ‘Is this message even getting through? These people have just drunk so much’. So now I really try to play in places where the message will get through and I think it works.” SARITAH will perform at The B.East on Friday November 30 with Ee’da. Dig Deep is out now through Time To Shine Records and MGM.
and there’s no breaks between the songs; everything just mixes into the next part. And there’s no extra players – it’s just going to be the two of us.” THE KNOCKS play The Toff In Town on Saturday December 1. Beat Magazine Page 55
ZEBRAHEAD
BY JOSHUA KLOKE
Some bands are the life of the party. Zebrahead instead, is the party. The Las Vegasbased act incorporates elements of rock, rap and metal into an intensely-charged sonic explosion. All the while, they never take themselves too seriously. Clearly not focused on making high art, 37-year-old guitarist Matty Lewis understands the band’s role: to make sure everyone at their shows gets their rocks off. “We’re human beings; not having to work an office job, that’s something we’re reminded of when we get onstage, so we try and let that show,” says Lewis, reached on the phone from his Las Vegas home. “We’re just regular dudes. We know we can’t change the entire world, but you can change that hour for everyone that’s come to our show. We just want the people in the crowd to have a good time. “What we lack in talent, we make up for in enthusiasm,” he continues, giving a certain insight into the band’s appeal. “We may not be the best band around, but we do give it 100% onstage. We make sure that we have fun and ensure that everyone else is having fun. You go to a concert to have a good time, not to cry with a bowl of ice cream.” Formed during the Orange Country, California punk explosion, Zebrahead understands that their audience is made up of a varied collection of people. So too then, should their songs contain a varied number of genres. Lewis admits that when it comes to influences within the band, there is indeed an incredible amount of variation. “I know (vocalist Ali Tabatabaee), he’s into a lot of rap. Greg, our lead guitarist is into metal. Ed, our drummer is into punk rock. Ed, our bassist, is into surf rock, some ska punk and I love ‘80s metal and ‘80s cheesy
pop. Our music and our influences, it’s like a shitty drink but still gets you pretty drunk.” It’s a drink that’s managed to sustain lineup changes and an ever-evolving record industry. Get Nice!, their 2011 full-length was their ninth, further solidifying the band’s fanbase. It may very well be the many number of genres Zebrahead fuses and subsequently balance in their albums which has kept them afloat since 1996. But if that’s the case, Lewis is unaware of it. “Sometimes things just happen. If we want to write a hip hop song, we’re going to write a hip hop song. We never say we need four metal songs, two punk songs or anything like that. For some reason, it just comes naturally for us. Maybe subconsciously we try to balance it out,” he says, before pausing to consider this statement. “Actually, no,” he says, laughing. “We don’t know what we’re doing.” Lewis joined the band in 2005 after creative differences led to the departure of then guitarist/ co-lead singer Justin Mauriello. Many fans were concerned how Mauriello leaving the band would affect Zebrahead’s vocal dynamics. His vocal pairing with Tabatabaee’s rapping was a key element to the band’s approach. Lewis has since quelled any fears. He’s stepped up as co-vocalist, though that doesn’t mean he can maintain a lucid retrospective look back
on his time in Zebrahead. “It’s all kind of a blur,” he admits rather sheepishly. Lewis may be the newest member of the band, but he certainly understands how the band approach the writing of a new record. The key again is for Zebrahead not to take themselves too seriously and to always make their intentions clear. “First things first, we try to write songs that don’t suck. And I know how that sounds, but we try not to write songs that we think people will like, or that the industry will like. It’s got to be cool for us first and foremost.” And the next batch of Zebrahead tracks might not be too far away. Lewis admits that he has writing a new track before he took my phone call and that the band now has a loose timing outline for their next record. “We’ve written a bunch of songs in the last two months and we’re putting the finishing touches
on them before we go into pre-production. We’ll probably go into the studio in January or February.” Until then, the band’s appearance in Australia will have to satiate their fans desire for a party. Rest assured, when it comes to Zebrahead, they’re looking forward to the party just as much. “You simply can’t have a party without good music. The last party I went to, some dude plugged his phone into the speakers, and I was so unimpressed by his music choices. It was the kind of music I assume you hear before you commit suicide. I don’t want that at a party! Everyone should be happy.”
allusion. “I guess I’ve just always had an interest in death metal, and the Australian bands who did it as well, and the macabre, and the ridiculous sort of shit that’s gone on in Australia,” he says thoughtfully. “As a young teenager, even the Chopper books. Seeing movies like Wolf Creek and Snowtown and stuff; Snowtown just almost made me violently ill. I guess loosely referencing stuff like that goes with the territory, the music. I definitely don’t think I’m the sort of person who would go out and commit any of those crimes, but it’s fun to write about,” he says. King Parrot are looking forward to their Melbourne show and playing with Extortion, one of Young’s
favourite bands. It’s brilliant to hear how much the supports are revered; a change from the nonchalance some headliners display. “I guess we’re sort of slanted in the old school in everything we do,” the singer says simply. “And that’s probably just because we’ve been around for a while. We want to do things the right way. When you approach a band in that way it has a more genuine feel to it, and it rings true for a lot of people as well.”
Despite the smallish crowds at some performances, one gig in particular sticks out as a highlight for Palomeque. And it was one that reminded them how important musicianship is to Aural Windows. “When we played Whiskey A Go-Go, the famous club on Hollywood Boulevard, we didn’t necessarily think that we’d made it, but we knew it was a good step for us. There’s so much history at that venue and it all just made is want to play better.” Away from burdens of smartphones and constant connection, Palomeque and Aural Window have carved out their own niche and have begun to flesh out a sound to call their own. Stones And Sounds
represents a maturity for the band, not only lyrically, but sonically as well. “We’re just into writing songs that people can singa-long to and that people can remember. Compared to the other EPs, with this new one we wanted to get heavier but really write some catchy melodies. And I think we did that.”
ZEBRAHEAD will attempt to cure your Sunday blues with a performance alongside Reel Big Fish and Goldfinger at The Palace on Sunday December 2. Get Nice! is out now via 3Wise Records.
KING PARROT
BY ZOË RADAS
There’s a real sense of camaraderie and respect laced through everything Matt Young – vocalist for accomplished thrash metal outfit King Parrot – has to say about the band’s experiences. Whether it’s their inclusion in the recent Bastardfest tour, the detailed explanations of support act choices, or their method of giving back to their ardent fans, King Parrot’s commitment to the scene is obvious. “We just thought, [second album Bite Your Head Off] came out in October, but we’re getting vinyl especially for this show,” Young says keenly. “We wanted to do a bit of a show in Melbourne at the end of the tour just to say thanks to the Melbourne people who support us, because this is probably where our main fan base is. Have a bit of a party and send the year out with a bang.” King Parrot got a chance to play their new material during Bastardfest, a national tour run by mates of the band. “They’re friends of ours from years ago,” Young confirms. “We’ve all played in other bands before so we know those guys just from our previous dealings and whatnot. We were just sort of lucky enough to be asked to play. It was really cool to be on board for that, it was a really awesome tour. We got to play in front of a whole bunch of people that we probably wouldn’t have [otherwise].”
King Parrot’s drummer is especially seasoned in the scene, and Young speaks of him with clear esteem. Rizzo is a natural talent with a real fluidity to his fantastic technicality. “He’s played in Blood Duster and a whole bunch of metal bands in Melbourne over the years,” says Young. “We feel we’re really lucky to have someone with his ability. He’s got amazing feel and can adapt to pretty much any type of music that you throw at him. Ari, Squizz [and Slattz] who play guitars and bass are all really talented in their own right, in their riff-writing abilities and their songwriting abilities.” Young doesn’t discount his own input, though. “I just do what I do, throwing vocals on top, singing about ridiculous stuff and acting like a lunatic.” The singer’s lyrics mix references to heavy incidents with waggish, ironic jokes, and they often have an Australian
KING PARROT launch Bite Your Head Off at The Tote on Saturday December 1.
AURAL WINDOW
BY JOSHUA KLOKE
For many, checking in on Facebook and Twitter throughout the day has become as common a part of their daily routine as visiting the toilet. It’s not pretty, but it’s a reality. Mike Palomeque, drummer for local pop-rockers Aural Window, believes many need to get back in touch with a different sort of reality. Reached on the phone during a break from his job as a warehouse manager in Dandenong, Palomeque is quick to detail the reason why the band released Stones And Sounds as the first single from their upcoming EP. “Because of what’s going on with social media right now, everyone’s always on their phones. People need to get back to reality sometimes,” he says. The video shot for the song is ripe with themes of isolation in the modern world, though Palomeque adds, “We meant it to be a bit of an uplifting song.” With an EP and a full-length already under their belt, Aural Window have been able to grow exponentially as a band in the past few years. Palomeque believes that their upcoming EP may contain some of their best work yet. When asked if Stones and Sounds is indicative of the band’s growing need to tell stories within their songs, Palomeque hints they’re simply becoming more comfortable with themselves. “I think as we’ve grown as a band from the first two EPs, it’s all more involved now. We all have different stories and (lead vocalist Sheena Young) is certainly getting more involved in the lyrics.” Young is certainly open to hearing ideas from the band when it comes to lyrics. Beat Magazine Page 56
“Everyone’s open to conversation,” adds Palomeque. “There’s a lot that goes into it and there’s a lot that doesn’t.” Though the band have managed to gig and record fairly consistently since their inception six years ago, January 2011 was the month that truly tested the band and introduced them to some of the harsher realities of the music industry. Aural Window embarked on an American tour, their debut performances overseas. The trip delivered many new fans for the band, despite having many shows cancelled thanks to the work of a shady promoter. Palomeque however maintains a positive frame of mind looking back on the trip, insisting that it helped the band much more than it harmed them. “That tour gave us a lot more fans, exposure and some great experiences playing to a ton of people. And then some not so great experiences playing to maybe five people. It was great for us though, because we learned to never expect anything.”
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AURAL WINDOW launch Stones And Sounds at the John Curtin Hotel Bandroom on Friday November 30 with special guests Circles, Caulfield and Evacuate The Fallen. Stones and Sounds is available on iTunes now.
CORE
PUNK, SKA, HARDCORE NEWS, REVIEWS AND GOSSIP BY EMILY KELLY: EK1984@GMAIL.COM
I was in Wellington, New Zealand this weekend and I thought it best if I track down a local gig and see how the Kiwis do their thing. As always, it was DESCENDENTS nothing short of fascinating to see how things rolled out. Even in New Zealand (a place whose cultural proximity I once assumed matched its geographical) things are a little different. For once, the lack of a massive scene, complete with dozens of venues and gigs to choose from very much centred their live music in one very small pocket of the city. It meant Wellington's residents did not have the broad range of music that we usually enjoy on a Saturday night, but it also resulted in anyone and everyone attending whatever gig was taking place at their local. The mixture of people that stormed into Cuba St venue Mighty Mighty on this particular Friday was incredible. Each one ran up the stairs and rejoiced at the barrage of sound emanating from the stage, even if on this occasion it was local band Cairo Knifefight (who are a bit Sabbathy and bordering on stoner doom in their more intense moments). Everyone from middle-aged mums, dudes on bucks nights and old mate construction workers fresh off the job crept forward to get a proper earful of the aural festivities. You could tell it was not necessarily to their taste, but that the mere presence of live music was invigorating enough. It makes you wonder if the more complex musical communities forming around Melbourne's venues appear too exclusive to foster this kind of widespread participation. Despite having broken up a couple months ago, local lads Graft Vs Host have released their second and final effort, Homefires. Head on over to bandcamp to get a taste of the new release that more closely captures the band's mental live shows. RIP GVH. Rad news for Sydney's Thy Art Is Murder. They've just been signed up Toronto-based label Distort for distro in Cananda. The album peaked at #4 in the Canadian charts and shows on their Aussie Reign Of Darkness tour have been selling out. Shot lads. Fans who enjoy ze pop punx will be stoked to know that Sum 41 and Billy Talent will play Soundwave sideshows together in Melbourne and Sydney. Catch them at The Palace on Thursday February 28.
Former triple j metal show presenter Andrew Haug has launched a 24/7 all metal digital radio station. You can stream it all for free at andrewhaug.com and it will feature the freshest local and international rock and metal as well as Heavy At Home (a focus on local talent) program and a local Haug Metal program that provides a metal news rundown. If you missed the launch shows for the Home Is Where The Arty Is book last weekend, then you missed out. Doesn't mean you have to miss out on a copy though. Get your coffee table book documenting the life and times of our beloved Arty from the Poison City Records webstore now.
CORE GIG GUIDE
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 29: Iwrestledabearonce, In Hearts Wake, For All Eternity, Storm The Sky, Pretty Little Liars at The Corner Hotel Built On Secrets, For This Cause, A Sleepless Melody, Empire at Next FRIDAY NOVEMBER 30: Gay Paris, The Peep Tempel at The Tote Hands Like Houses at Beaconsfield Community Complex Miles Away, Cruel Hand, The Others, Hopeless, Warbrain at The Bendigo Hotel Iwrestledabearonce, In Hearts Wake, For All Eternity, Storm The Sky, Ddriven To The verge, This Fiasco at TLC, bayswater SATURDAY DECEMBER 1: Festmas featuring Pour Habit, Anchors, High Time, Totally Unicorn, Darren Gibson, The Bennies, The Gun Runners, The Ramshackle Army, Cavalcade, Clowns, Take Your Own at The Evelyn Hotel Money For Rose, Fraser A Gorman at Evelyn Hotel Hands Like Houses at Bang Miles Away, Cruel Hand, Away From Now, The Others, SXWZD at Gasometer SUNDAY DECEMBER 2: Pour Habit, Hightime, Totally Unicorn, Declaration, Up and Atom at The Tote Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Band at The Corner Hotel Reel Big Fish, Goldfinger, Zebrahead at The Palace Miles Away, Cruel Hand, Hopeless, Iron Mind, Ill Visions, Outright at Phoenix Youth Center Hands LIke Houses at Musicaman Megastore, Bendigo
CRUNCH DEATH AUDIO WINS BMUSIC GRANT Congratulations to Death Audio, who have won DESCENDENTS the Bmusic Hard Rock/Metal Grant. Bmusic is a music store from Gawler, South Australia, who cater to everyone but seem especially tapped into the rock and metal scenes. They've offered a non-repayable grant of $1,500 to an Australian band, as well as a DR Strings endorsement, Seymour Duncan guitar pickups, a TASCAM DR680 8-track portable digital recorder and MXR pedals. Death Audio's self-titled album is out now, as is their video for the song Fallen Souls. THE CANING CANE THE PRINCE The Caning bring their proto-metal clutch of riffs to the Prince Of Wales Public Bar this Saturday, a stage which is so new it still has the swing tags on it. That's right, the Prince Public Bar is hosting live music again after a long, long hiatus. Joining them is the pop-rock-with-attitude of Berlin Postmark and science fiction grunge merchants The Pass Outs. Free entry.
OTEP HITS TOWN LA alternative metal activists Otep hit Australia in 2013. Led by artist, activist and intellectual loudmouth Otep Shamaya, Otep have been producing their own brand of uncompromising alternative metal since 2000. Tickets are on sale on April 29 at 9am, and the show is on April 26 at The Hi-Fi with special guests Darkc3ll.
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METAL, HEAVY ROCK, CLASSIC ROCK
LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL GOOD SHIT WITH PETER HODGSON: CRUNCHCOLUMN@GMAIL.COM
SUN RECORDS TRIBUTE ROCKS CHERRY Sun Records tribute show Sun Rising will celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Sun Records on Saturday December 15 at Cherry Bar. Designed to inform and educate the audience as well rocking them senseless, Sun Rising takes the infamous tales and hilarious anecdotes from the Sun artists (such as Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, BB King, Howlin’ Wolf, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash) and its creator, Sam Phillips, and walks the audience through a chronological tour of Memphis’ famed Sun Records. Aside from the Cherry gig, they're also at the Palais, Hepburn Springs on Friday December 14 and at the Ballarat Beat Rockabilly Festival on February 15, 16 and 17. THIS WEEK'S GEOFF TATE NEWS I dunno if you're all tired of this Geoff Tate stuff or not, but seriously, it's like a soap opera or something. Metal hasn't had a saga like this since, wait, metal's never had a saga like this. The latest is that guitarist Glen Drover (Megadeth, King Diamond, Testament, Eidolon) has just quit Tate's version of Queensryche before playing a single gig. "I am really sorry to say that I have decided to bow out of Geoff Tate's Queensryche," Drover says. "I was very excited about doing this gig initially, but learned in the past week or so that it's in my best interest not to do this right now. I feel really bad for those who were excited about the idea, and to Geoff himself, who, I have to say, was very nice to me on my past trip to Seattle. I, of course, am very disappointed for arriving at this point, and making this decision, to say the least. I sincerely wish the Geoff and the band all the luck on what they do in the future." KING PARROT BITE YOUR HEAD OFF King Parrot are winding the year up by launching their new album Bite Your Head Off on vinyl at The Tote on Saturday December 1. This version of Bite Your Head Off is made up of the 11 tracks on the CD version and all of the tracks from the 2011 EP The Stench of Hardcore Pub Trash as well as a bonus track and download card. The Tote will explode in a sea of sweat, beer and bodily fluid as this heavyweight lineup swaggers onto the stage consisting of Extortion, The Day Everything Became Nothing and Internal Nightmare in support.
Beat Magazine Page 57
MUSIC NEWS
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ECHO DRAMA Fresh off supporting Easy Star All Stars (USA), Melbourne eight-piece dub/reggae outfit Echo Drama are taking to The Evelyn for Wednesdays in November showcasing a band which is less than one year old, but a sound that dates back as far as ‘60s Jamaica. Echo Drama create music that is at once steeped in the traditions of dub and reggae but also unafraid to draw on modern manifestations such as ragga, hip hop and dancehall. Expect infectious bass bangers that flow from head to toe and righteous reggae rhythms that fuel the spirit with straight fire. With the added bonus of cheap jugs, hump day just became the perfect excuse for midweek debauchery with the Echo Drama crew.
SUZUKI NIGHT MARKET Now in its 15th year, the Suzuki Night Market attracts over 200 stall holders and showcases some of Melbourne’s finest artisans, producing locally made clothing, jewellery, prints and an array of cultural goods. The hawker-style food stalls offer everything from traditional African curries through to the sweetest of honey dumplings. Don’t stop at one stall; take a trip around the world one dish at a time. If your legs tire from all that shopping, settle in with your favourite beer, wine or sangria and listen to some of Melbourne’s finest musicians. No matter if you are a jazz enthusiast, country music fan, folk fanatic or world music aficionado, the Suzuki Night Market gig guide has you covered. Open every Wednesday night ‘til Wednesday February 27 at the Queen Victoria Market.
SUPER WILD HORSES After big shows with Dum Dum Girls, Pond and a mesmerising showcase at Big Sound earlier this year, it’s high time for Super Wild Horses to play their first headline show of 2012 and this time they’ll be armed with a suitcase full of new songs. The Melbourne duo recently recorded a new album in an old abandoned Butter Factory on the outskirts of Castlemaine. On the controls Mr Jack Farley (Twerps/Beaches) and on the mix Mr Mikey Young (Total Control, Eddy Current), the album will be released early 2013. Swing by and be amongst the other legends to hear the fresh new offerings first. With very special guests, Teeth And Tongue, playing their latest single The Party Is You and much, much more. Plus Pageants, killing it with tracks off their excellent debut record Dark Before Blonde Dawn. Presales available from Moshtix, don’t miss out. Playing at The Grace Darling Hotel on Friday November 30 from 9pm.
AURAL WINDOW
PONY’S LAST SLAM
Melbourne’s Aural Window will be launching their new single Stones & Sounds, the first off their freshly recorded EP at Electric Sun Studios (House Vs Hurricane, Dream On Dreamer, Built On Secrets). The band shot most of the music video at the much loved live venue The Prague, one week before its shocking demise. The next six months will see the band touring vigorously all over the land, but not before launching the radio-friendly single in Sydney and Melbourne. They’ll be playing at John Curtin Band Room on Friday November 30. Tickets on sale now.
Pony has put on many a great metal show over the years, so they thought it fitting to have a brutally heavy show on their penultimate night – that show is aptly titled Pony’s Last Slam. Featuring some of their favourite bands of recent times, be sure to come down and see this night of brutal fury with The Mung, A Million Dead Birds Laughing Seaford Monster, Whoretopsy and Iconic Vivisect. For the measly price of $12, it’s the perfect way for Pony’s metal fans to come down and give Pony a brutal farewell.
MONEY FOR ROPE If you haven’t been listening to Money For Rope, now is a ripe time to get started. The Money For Rope LP is a stunning production – nine songs that ooze the taste of Melbourne’s underground. Recorded and mixed by Steven Schram (The Vasco Era, Devastations, Little Red), the album follows years of intense touring across Australia, various festival appearances, and a run of four sneaky 7"s, which are almost all sold out. The Money For Rope LP will be launched at Ding Dong Lounge on Saturday December 1 with some very special guests. Six guys, two drum kits, two guitars, one bass guitar, one keyboard and four voices amounts to an impressive and perhaps surprisingly classy show that you’d be daft to pass up. Tickets are $12 available from Oztix, or $15 on the door.
LEON THOMAS
SIGNALS IN SILENCE
Leon Thomas and his band return from a hard day’s night in the studio to bring you a soul shaking series of shows at The Grace Darling. Having put the final touches on his upcoming EP (set for release in January), Leon is hungry for some action and ready to rock the scene with a sack of 24 carat tunes. Expanding on his three-piece band, Leon has put together a seriously talented group of local rock, blues and soul musicians. Hell bent on creation, they’re brewing a musical storm to wash away your darkest blues. Join Leon Thomas at The Grace Darling with their November residency every Wednesday at 8.30pm for just $10.
After receiving wide local praise for their song writing ability, catchy tunes and crowd involvement, not to mention only being together for one year, Signals In Silence will release their debut EP All Stories at The Espy Gershwin Room on Friday November 30. Joining Signals In Silence are fast growing Melbourne instrumentalists Anna Salen, Alex Anonymous launching a new single, TWSS, and Beggarman.
COCKFIGHT SHOOTOUT, DOZERS One of the most famous (and infamous) gigs available to bands in Australia is the 2am late show at Pony. A few other venues, both locally and interstate have tried to steal the idea but they have all failed, I guess they just aren’t dirty and scungey enough to make it work. They’ve had bands from all over Australia, Melbourne and overseas come through the late show. Many have gone on to bigger and betterthings; many no longer exist. It’s the timeslot when things get a bit loose and bands become unpredictable, performing in their rawest, and often, most enhanced state. For the final 2am show they thought we’d delve back to one of their favourite bands from the early 2000’s until now, as well as one of their favourite bands of more recent years (although they’ve been on hiatus with a band member living overseas). Cockfight Shootout and Dozers team up for the final 2am late show this Friday November 30. It’s gonna be loud, raucous and looser than usual – if that’s possible. As always, it’s free entry and you better be ready as they’re going to say goodbye to the 2am late show with one hell of a bang. Get down early as this one is sure to be a sell out.
RUBY BOOTS Ruby Boots were last seen in Victoria in May when they toured the release of their EP single and award-winning clip Wise Up. After extensive national radio play over several months, 26,000+ hits on YouTube and two writing/ recording trips to Nashville, the band started getting calls from promoters and agents. For the most part of winter and spring, front boot Bex Chilcott has been writing for the band’s first album planned for recording in May 2013 with Sydney producer Tony Buchen. However one of the songs just couldn’t wait and ended up at Club Roar studios, Nashville being worked on by producer Robin Eaton. This weekend, Ruby Boots are playing Queenscliff Music Festival, but you can also catch the gang performing their latest single Kellie Anne at their main headline show at The Workers Club tonight which also features Matt Glass and the Loose Cannons and ex-Perthie, Collector (aka Perrin Date).
LA BASTARD After a six month hiatus, La Bastard are back, with a new bass player and a new album just around the corner. Help them celebrate their triumphant return at The Old Bar on Friday November 30, with the awesome Sun God Replica and dark country of Mightiest Of Guns. Kicks off at 9pm.
60 SECONDS WITH… FAHRENHEIT 43 Define your genre in five words or less: Epic as f*ck pop rock. What do you love about making music? Being able to connect with so many different kinds of people. If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why? Michael Jackson. I used to emulate his dance moves and went from being bullied to the most popular kid in primary school just for being able to do the moonwalk. Epic! What can a punter expect from your live show? Plenty of jokes about my height, plenty of singalongs, smoke machines, some stories about love lost and song tracks you can swing to. What’ve you got to sell CD-wise? We’re about to release our debut album Underneath The Overturned. It drops December 7. When’s the gig and with who? We’re playing Spencer’s Live on Friday December 7 with our mates The Sunsleepers, Bendigo lads, Grand Perceptor, our mates from BNE, The Aerials and some young local kids Red Attraction. What do you think a band has to do these days to succeed? Create your own luck and keep your ear to the phone. Network, be real and surround yourself with good people. Describe the best gig you have ever played. 2010, sold out show at Araneta Colisseum in the Philippines. We were on tour with a US band and I still can hear the sound of the 18,000 strong crowd Beat Magazine Page 58
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in my ears. Greatest moment of my life! Describe the worst gig you have ever played. 2011 Fuse Festival in Adelaide. We played after this really popular local band and after they finished, we watched the venue go from being packed to the rafters to empty in five minutes. We played to our manager and the sound guy. That really sucked and was a tough moment for us as a band. What’s your favourite song, and why? The Dangerous Summer – Where I Want To Be. That song was the anthem of our 2010 tour of the Philippines. It’s even more special because we loved this band so much we flew out their producer to make our record.
THE EMERGENCY The Emergency launch their third full-length album Last Exit at The Tote. Available on bandcamp and in good record stores. Supported by Superstar, Constant Light and Towels on Thursday November 29 at 8.30pm.
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PERCH CREEK FAMILY JUG BAND
ENGINE THREE SEVEN One of Melbourne’s most powerful live bands, Engine Three Seven, have been hard at work writing their debut album. The Byron Bay ex-pats will be taking a break from the studio to headline The Evelyn Hotel on Friday November 30. Fresh off their blistering sets at Creepshow Halloween Festival in Melbourne and Brisbane, Engine Three Seven will be previewing new songs from their forthcoming debut, as well as playing all the crowd faves. Supported by Glass Empire, Swerve and The Villain Epic.
WORLD’S END PRESS After making a splash earlier this year with their single Second Day Uptown, World’s End Press seem destined to take the dance world by storm. Playing the final week of The Good Hustle - November Music Salon at the Abbotsford Convent this Saturday December 1 supported by future pop duo Collarbones. The Good Hustle is presented and filmed on a purpose built set in an 18th Century former Industrial School at The Abbotsford Convent. The setting provides for a truly unique staging of live music. Doors at 6pm.
KING PARROT King Parrot launch their debut album Bite Your Head Off at The Tote on Saturday December 1 with a monster lineup featuring Extortion, The Day Everything Became Nothing and Internal Nightmare. This show will celebrate the release of the King Parrot album on vinyl. The record will also feature 2011’s EP The Stench of Hardcore Pub Trash and an unreleased track as a bonus. This will be the last show of the album launch tour for King Parrot, who will have been all over the country with Bastardfest. Come have a beer, grab yourself a record and get your head bitten off at the The Tote with King Parrot on Saturday December 1 from 8.30pm.
Recently returned home after a grand and triumphant twomonth tour of Europe, The Perch Creek Family Jug Band will be launching their brand new 7” single, Way Down Gone, at Caravan Music Club on Friday November 30 and at the brand new Brunswick venue, The Spotted Mallard, on Saturday December 1. Supports from Ruby Boots and The Bearded Gypsy Band.
THE DEMON PARADE The Demon Parade are a psychedelic explosion of pop goodness. They’ve supported the likes of The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Swervedriver, British India, Bleeding Knees Club, The Cruel Sea, The Jungle Giants, The Black Ryder, The Morning After Girls, Belles Will Ring, Even and The Laurels and played various festivals including Playground Weekender and Cherry Rock. The Demon Parade will perform at The Spotted Mallard on Friday December 30 with support from The Quivers and House Of Laurence, 8.30pm entry, $10.
RICHIE 1250 & THE BRIDES OF CHRIST Richie1250 & The Brides Of Christ are proud as punch to be launching their debut LP at The Old Bar on Saturday December 1. They’ll be joined by an array of guest singers and dancers, and ably supported by The Murlocs, The Night Party (in their debut performance) and Midnite Bosom as Elvis Angels, doing an all-Elvis set to kick off the night. Amy and Hayley from Super Wild Horses will be spinning records between acts and all night long.
THE PRETTY THINGS As one of the first ever 'garage' rock bands, The Pretty Things raw sound influenced everyone from likes of Iggy Pop to Nirvana and The Ramones. Psychedelic, leering and completely untamed, their music is back by pure energy. As a band that make The Rolling Stones look tame their live shows this December will be nothing short of a brilliant loud hot mess. Catch The Pretty Things playing at The Corner Hotel on Tuesday December 4 and at The Caravan Club on Thursday December 13 and Friday December 14.
FAHRENHEIT 43
GAY PARIS
FEST-MAS
Underneath The Overtuned LP is the debut offering from Australian band Fahrenheit 43. What’s immediately apparent is the enormous growth that the band has shown both musically and lyrically since the release of their very first EP, The Six Degrees. Since the four years the band have been together, they’ve suffered two lineup changes, loss of love, relationships and no shortage of the drama that comes with being in a band. Therefore Underneath The Overturned is a musical summary of Fahrenheit 43’s life as a band. The good, the bad and the ugly. They launch it at Spensers Live on Friday December 7 with Grand Perceptor, Aerials, Red Attraction and The Sunsleepers.
Gay Paris are a dirty fucking rock band from Sydney, and come November they’ll be doing dirty fucking rock band things all over the country to promote the first single Hollybone from their forthcoming sophomore album. These bills will deliver a booze-swilling, rockin’ good time. Gay Paris are going to entertain the shit out of you whether well dressed or three quarters naked, they’re wild, sexy, abrasive and catchy as fuck. Don’t let your sense of morality make you miss out on what promises to be some of the most exciting, inventive and visceral performances this side of LSD. See them at The Tote on Friday November 30 from 8.30pm.
Unfolding across two stages from The Evelyn band room to the rooftop overlooking Fitzroy’s famous Brunswick St and featuring both international and local talent, Fest-Mas 2012 will be a unique punk rock experience to bring in the summer. Featuring Fat Wreck Chords five-piece punk band Pour Habit all the way from Compton, California. These guys first appeared on Australian shores back in 2009 supporting label mates NOFX and punk-rock heavyweights Bad Religion. Since then they have toured relentlessly at home and broad, releasing their critically acclaimed record Got Your Back last year. Don’t miss Fest-Mas on Saturday December 1.
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Beat Magazine Page 59
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HIPSHAKER & THE HIGH LEARY’S LuWOW proudly presents Hipshaker – a night dedicated to searching for the best in underground dance music from the ‘60s. No groove is too obscure for them in their quest for the perfect vibe. From the funkiest R&B to the fuzziest beat, if it’s a dance floor killer it’s on the playlist. Saturday December 1. $10, members free, doors at 8pm.
SMOKY SEAS Smoky Seas are a six-piece Melbourne band that plays a kind of darkly folky pirate-y prog rock that makes the most of their brass section and strong female lead vocals. With songs ranging from tragic soothsayer warnings to angry guitar-solo frenzies with some blissed-out epic numbers in between, Smoky Seas will be sure to keep you entranced. Supported by the beautifully bedroom-y Obvian and the virtuoso acoustic funk of Super Fat Fruit, Smoky Seas are playing at The Great Britain Hotel on Thursday November 29 at 8pm.
MIKE HAYNES TRIO The Mike Haynes Trio, consisting of Mike Haynes, lead guitarist Damon Goulas, and bass player Michael Tonkes. Drawing on influences from the likes of Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, Kevin Welch, Joe Ely, and John Prine, the band perform a repertoire that includes a variety of styles including folk, country blues, cajun and celtic music. The trio is able to entertain a broad audience for those who enjoy story orientated songs, and foot tapping and up tempo rhythms. Head down for a relaxing and entertaining evening at The Great Britain Hotel, Sunday December 2, 8pm.
HONEY BADGERS RON JEREMY RUM LAUNCH LuWOW and Ye Olde Rum Club are proud to be hosting the launch of their very own official LuWOW tiki mug. Joining the regular Wednesday night of worshipping all things rum related will be the Hedgehog himself, Ron Jeremy, splashing around cocktails featuring his “rum for adults” Ron De Jeremy Rum. He’s a bit of fun in case you haven’t heard and will be hanging out and signing posters, bottles and whatever else you can convince him to sign in The Forbidden Temple. The regular Rum Club will be on with half-price rums all night and a special, one night only giveaway of a LuWOW tiki mug with any cocktail purchase over $10. Tonight, 5pm. Entry is free.
LOUNGE
ALEXIS & THE MISSING PIECES
Lounge go loud and live with garage-rock bands and DJs on Thursday nights. Northside fashionistas and musos rejoice. Think The Dom NYC circa 1967. Head down and drink cheap booze and get your sweat on to the grit of garage-punk-DIY bands. What else you gonna do on a Thursday night? Free entry. From 10pm at Lounge.
The Toff In Town is hosting Alexis & The Missing Pieces’ EP Launch, with special guests The Tiger & Me and The Bonscotts tonight from 8pm. Following the release of their single Got To Be Real (featured in the AIRIT Top Ten most ordered for airplay for weeks in a row), Alexis & The Missing Pieces are set to release their first EP in November. The EP, entitled Paper Cut Outs, was recorded in Brisbane after Footstomp Music encouraged lead singer/songwriter, Alexis Nicole, to venture up after having seven years of success in the Melbourne local music scene. Tickets for the EP launch at The Toff are available from Moshtix for $13+bf.
THE DIRTY CHAPTERS Thrash rock and rollers The Dirty Chapters are going to be ripping up The Reverence Hotel Front bar on Thursday November 29 with The Dosage and The Try Hardz. Doors at 8pm and it’s only $5.
EPITHETS Epithets are heading down to Melbourne for a show at The Reverence Hotel on Saturday December 1. Go and witness their jangly pop brilliance with supports from fellow Brisbanites Nikko and locals Ballads and On Sierra.
HARRY HOWARD & NDE Get the smelling salts at the ready because everyone’s favourite voodoo-trash meisters, The Stu Thomas Paradox, are descending on The Gasometer Hotel on Saturday December 1 to play sweet, sweet music. Main act on the night is Harry Howard & NDE, and in-between are Gold Tango. Be uber-cool, be there.
THE CITRADELS
SONS OF LEE MARVIN
Tonight, Bar Open will hold a night of good old psychedelia and ear-splitting shoegaze. It’s the debut gig for Lioness Eye, who will bring their fuzzed out rock’n’roll to create a large wall of sound. Making a name for themselves in recent times, Lunar Ghost exude their unique brand of neo-psychedelic shoegaze. Heavily versed in everything ‘60s, The Citradels play drone and roll psychedelia influenced by The Black Angels, The Velvet Underground and The Brian Jonestown Massacre that’ll make your head spin. Doors at 8pm, free entry. Dig it.
Melbourne’s garage and gonzo elders Sons Of Lee Marvin have just released their third album Cutthroats & Conjurers with some fairly fucked up and loose launch shows that resulted in broken bones and busted instruments. Having recovered slightly, they’ll be hosting a Shakedown Party on Sunday December 16 at The Tote from 3pm with guests La Bastard, Damn The Torpedoes, Uptown Ace, Harvest Smoke, Nici Blue Eyes, Leeches and The Mockingbird. $12 entry.
Beat Magazine Page 60
Melbourne boys Honey Badgers survived winter’s chill by digging their filthy little paws into any and every bar which will have them. Built from members of The Hondas, Master Gunfighters and The Euphoriacs, Honey Badgers have in their short lifespan built themselves a formidable reputation as one of the city’s most engaging live acts. A combination of sickly sweet hooks and belligerent drum and guitar squalls, Honey Badgers are equal parts rock’n’roll vigour, unapologetic emotion and infantile playfulness. Catch them as they play The Retreat Hotel this Friday November 30 with help from Buried Feather. Music from 9.30pm, free entry.
LAMARAMA After many months of writing tunes, designing their live show and serving time in the studio, Lamarama are finally ready to drop their debut release on Melbourne’s front porch. The record features a psychedelic mélange of squelchy synth tones, hypnotic horn lines, intoxicating guitar work and some filthy grooves. This is with a bearded man roaring over the top of it all. The long awaited EP ETC will be launched Saturday December 1 at Bar Open. Joining them will be the groove lords of Ghost Orkid, bringing to the table a vivid blend of soul, electronica and hip hop. Drool-catching handkerchiefs are advised. Kicks off 10pm, free entry.
HEAVY BEACH After releasing two singles this year 1963 and Good Intentions and receiving great reviews and solid radio play, Heavy Beach are releasing their debut self-titled EP. Filled with psych-pop-grunge goodness, the trio blend together their love of ‘90s influences with fuzzy guitars, cymbal heavy drums and feedback to create an original yet familiar shoegazing sound. The launch will be held at The Gasometer on Friday November 30 with supports from local dreamboat band Lowtide, Brisbane’s rope slinging babes Nite Fields, and superstars Atolls. Entry is $10 and bands start at 9pm sharp.
THE GREASY HAWAIIANS & THE VOLCANIKS Melbourne’s 20 year veteran instrumental combo The Greasy Hawaiians battle it out with down the coast surf upstarts The Volcaniks for a winner takes all Summer Surf Instro Explosion at The Great Britain on Saturday December 1. The twin reverb spitting guitar & rasping sax attack of The Greasy Hawaiians versus the double fender whammy of the volcanic Volcaniks. Who will be traveling up from the coast to do battle and try to take the crown and claim complete and total victory? Don’t miss this all in, last band standing, instrumental cage match. And if that’s not enough to get you down there there’s also a huge Hawaiian shirt/frock contest so wear you best or worst Hawaiian shirt or muumuu. The winner will be sacrificed on the night by being tossed into the colcano as a tribute to the Surf Gods. The Great Britain Hotel, Saturday December 1, 9pm.
RIVER OF SNAKES For a midweek night of noise, rock and mayhem, River Of Snakes are returning to Cherry Bar as part of the 2012 Best Of The Wednesday Residencies month throughout December. They’ll be joined by Geelong’s newest sludge punks The Kremlings. Head down to Cherry Bar on Wednesday December 5, bands start at 9pm, free entry (and $4 Jaegers).
CHRIS ALTMANN It’s the last show for Chris Altmann’s Wednesday night residency at The Retreat Hotel front bar tonight, so if you haven’t caught one of these shows, make sure you don’t miss out. Chris returns to Australia to present his new album, Nothing But Nice Things, a follow up to his 2010 solo debut, Que Paso. Drawing from his recent experience cowriting with some of Nashville’s hottest, the album explores themes like spirituality, love, and people in society, with soulful, piano-driven melodies, sparse guitars, and rich backing vocals grooving to solid drum and bass lines. A different musical friend has been joining Chris each week and tonight should be a very special one with Chris being joined by ex-Vanda guitarist Mikey Madden. Show starts at 8.30pm, free entry.
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LOVE MIGRATE Love Migrate are throwing a launch party for their debut album Plagued Are All My Thoughts, Like White Ants In the Fence at The Toff In Town on Sunday December 2 with special guests Jimmy Tait. Plagued Are All My Thoughts, Like White Ants In The Fence is the debut title from the Melbourne six-piece and is a mature and poignant offering. It was released on Melbourne imprint Flightless last month but this show will be the official live launch. The album is an impressionable and compelling debut for a band who’re certain to do great things. $10 entry, doors at 8pm
JOE OPPENHEIMER Joe Oppenheimer’s vision of music is spontaneously stung together super-medleys and compositions of heartfelt experiments with digital mediums. The electronic festival folk synthesiser returns to his native land of acoustic instruments partnered with balladeering banter this Sunday December 2 at The Barley Corn Hotel.
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JUDE PERL JESS RIBEIRO Recent AIR award winner and AMP nominee Jess Ribeiro has made quite a name for herself as an acclaimed country-folk artist following the release of her debut album My Little River through GAGA DIGI in May 2012. She’ll be performing a special one off show at the Spotted Mallard on Thursday November 29 accompanied by a collection of special guest musicians and friends. It’s free.
DAVE WRIGHT Dave Wright’s songs are personal tales writ large; the themes are universal but the stories are intimate. With long time musical collaborator Liam Cameron-Jayes on drums, Tim Cavanagh laying down some solid bass lines and Robert Barber covering anything from mandolin picking to squealing guitar solos, a night out with Dave Wright & The Midnight Electric is to run the gamut of human emotion. They’ll make you think, they might even make you cry. One thing that’s guaranteed is they’ll give you a good time. The band play the final show of their November residency at The Bendigo Hotel in Collingwood tonight supported by The Brave and ‘80s power-pop legends Little Murders.
Singer, songwriter and pianist Jude Perl is fast becoming a name synonymous with the word “wow”. Her infectious blend of catchy pop sensibilities and funk-driven soul combined with mouth watering vocals sends her audience into a retro-flavoured spin. Her debut EP 3am features the single Girls & Boys which is currently at #4 on the triple j Unearthed pop chart. Appearing on the EP are Tony Floyd (Things of Stone and Wood, The Black Sorrows) and emerging talent’s Timur Togacay and Jeremy Badcock. Aaron Silver (Francolin) and Will Morrissey from uber-cool Saskwatch also make a special guest appearance. Perl launchers her EP Launch, along with Tommy Rando and Dru Chen on Wednesday 12 December at the Northcote Social Club. Doors 7.30pm.
THE OCEAN PARTY
SEA LEGS Sea Legs were localised in the short spring of 1982 when an entirely new conception was born. Within this seeded stream, they found a small African bear. They’re joined at Bar Open by their partners in crime Howard, the devilishly good instrumental hybridists of Koala Kings and to kick things off will be Emily Shobbrook. Something a bit different for a Thursday night. The sun will be shining and Bar Open will be pumping. Thursday November 29, 9pm, free entry.
THE SKAMPZ
EE’DA Ee’da will be launching her new EP My Heart Is A Bird, alongside Saritah on Friday November 30. With a sound reflecting this diversity, Ee’da glides through elements of R&B, soul, hip hop, pop, folk and dubstep with her music. Hailing from South East Asia, this versatile singer, dancer and spoken-word artist is optimistic and light-hearted but isn’t afraid to explore shadow sides, with songs touching on themes of personal freedom, social justice, heartbreaks, empowerment, love and the lack thereof. My Heart is A Bird is available for purchase on iTunes. Don’t miss Ee’da’s launch of My Heart Is A Bird, Friday November 30 at The B.East.
The Skampz – a vibrant all-girl band – could very well bring you the best night of your life. They play all of your favorite hits from across the decade and from a diverse selection of genres including classic rock, modern club hits and slow dance ballads. They formed in 2009 and in a short amount of time became very popular amongst various pubs and clubs in Melbourne, such as Verludo’s, Brunswick Hotel and Hawthorne Hotel and soon built up their own audience. They will be headlining at The Hills Harmonies Music Festival, a fundraiser for youth mental health awareness, on Saturday December 1 at Mt Dandenong Hotel, Olinda.
Social Clubs is album number two for Melbourne guitar-pop group The Ocean Party. After their debut The Sun Rolled Off The Hills was released early in 2012, the band were quick to record a follow up. Social Clubs isn’t sonically a far hike from their debut. However within the album there is far more depth with the welcome addition of Casio-tone keys and three guitars it’s a brighter and fuller 30 minutes. The Ocean Party will launch Social Clubs in Melbourne on Saturday December 1 at The Grace Darling with friends New Estate, Cat Cat and Great Outdoors.
NOÛS
MILES AWAY
Don’t be a sad nut and stay home, go have fun and be brutal at The Bendigo Hotel this Thursday November 29 with a lineup boasting an array of thrilling bands. Umbilical Tentacle’s sound is best described as partynoise-core. Brutal cowbells and crushing blasts of epic proportion propel disgruntled and abrasive electronic noise whilst screams of chaos and delight smash your head from side to side in a whizzing like motion. Warpigs play meandering dissonance. Like wandering a field somewhere in Russia, you look up and all you can see are the power lines and you just can’t stop thinking about Grandpa. Funeral Moon blast black metal, featuring members of monster doom metal band Spacebong. Relentless and bleak with curdling screams that will leave you haunted. Nous denounce devastating doom. Easily one of the most punishing doom bands Australia has to offer.
Miles Away are on the road once again, this time to celebrate their tenth anniversary as a band. The Make It A Decade tour will see the band share the stage with very special friends, the hardcore juggernaut Cruel Hand and fellow Perth wild ones The Others. From releasing three full length albums and touring worldwide for a decade, Miles Away have cemented themselves as one of the most respected and celebrated bands in Australian hardcore. Throughout the country, their distinct style is adored and has led to some of the most memorable shows in recent history. After ten years playing on floors, stages and everything in between, Miles Away will return to The Bendigo Hotel on Friday November 30 after their last sold out show earlier in the year. Awesome local supports Hopeless and Warbrain make this one of the hardcore shows of the year. Tickets cost $21+BF and are on sale now from The Espy, Fist 2 Face, Polyester Records and Greville Records as well as through Oztix. Selling fast.
FLY-ON-THE-WALL THEATRE PROUDLY PRESENT TWO OF MELBOURNE’S MOST UNIQUE + CAPTIVATING INDIE PERFORMERS FOR TWO NIGHTS ONLY!
GOES LIVE
FRIDAY & SATURDAY, 14 + 15 DECEMBER 2012 @ 8.00PM
ENJOY LIVE MUSIC FROM SOME OF MELBOURNE’S BEST LOCAL MUSCIANS
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 30TH FROM 8PM
JOHN DELORD PROJECT SATURDAY DECEMBER 1ST FROM 4-7PM 7PM
DICKEN ST PREACHERS FROM 8PM
JAHMAKN IT FUNKY SUNDAY DECEMBER 2 SHARE THE EXOTIC LATIN AND CUBAN SOUNDSS ND
SON 3 3-6PM RUMBA MANANA 6:30-9:30PM
SHAR THE EX OTIC LATIN &ES CUBAN SO UNDS ENJOY LIVE MUSIC FROM SOME BEST LOCAL MUSICOF MELBOURNE’S IANS
EVERY SUNDAY
SON 3 SANTIA G
A master of ethereal delicacies, Melbourne’s Wintercoats aka James Wallace combines his chameleonic compositional talents + profound arrangement dexterity to create aural artworks of fragility + grandeur. His debut self-released EP Cathedral adventured through sweeping + idyllic vocal harmonies underpinned by brash + heavily reverbed string loops. A search of his rawest emotions; through the endurance of despair, Cathedral was the idealization of tension + tranquiilty, a release of inhibitions and a philosophical exploration of love, lust + social complacency. Truly one of Melbourne’s most talented + promising solo musicians, already widely celebrated within the underground community + having supported the likes of Beach House, How To Dress Well, HTRK, Julianna Barwick, MONO, Mirah, Oliver Tank + tUnE-yArDs, we expect further immense feats + achievements from one of our most humble, gifted + opulent prospects.
Fresh, exciting and dynamic, Albert Salt is fast emerging as one of the most promising young musicians in the country. Melding Jazz, alt-rock and electro/acoustic influences with pop sensibilities, Salt has already enjoyed generous airplay on Triple J and a continuing residency at Melbourne’s The Toff In Town wowing audiences with his breathtaking performances. Coming from a background in classical, Salt began developing his distinct sound in 2009 with the assistance of lyricist Patrick Dower. Since that time, his style has augmented + deepened culminating into the album Dearest Stranger. Original, distinct + even daring, Salt’s ever-expanding repertoire promises bright things for this tirelessly inventive artist.
TICKETS Tickets $15.00 [+ transaction fee]
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BEN SALTER
ROSENCRANTS Rosencrants are the most aggressive, psychotic and sensual young band to ever play music. Coming off their recent launch of the Losin’ It film clip, the band have been working on an entirely new set of material with heaps of ‘60s influenced harmonies and rhythms. They will be putting on a night of garage rock’n’roll with The Naysayers for their first headline gig at The Retreat Hotel. Saturday December 1 will be a day to mark on the calendar, as you now have an appointment to experience a night you’ll never remember. Free entry.
BARBARION Your favourite fur-clad purveyors of fine Melbourne metal, Barbarion, are back with two brand new studio tracks. Recorded in a secret recording cave in Melbourne and mastered in a secret mastering cave in Sweden, the new tracks are tighter than a fat man’s jeans and tougher than a $10 steak. To celebrate the release of these undisputed masterpieces, the band will be venturing west to The Reverence Hotel in Footscray on Friday November 30. Come along early and catch the authoritarian, manly riffs of Sheriff and the super-party-sexy-rocking mayhem of Vice Grip Pussies before Barbarion hits the stage in all their sweaty glory. The first 150 who come to the show receive a free copy of the new singles on their very own collectors edition CD.
CHERRY BAR After signing to Napalm Records, Mammoth Mammoth are sittin’ pretty in their November residency at Cherry Bar tonight. Catch Dog Hair Jacket and Cowsmuff before the Cherry DJ kicks it ‘til 3am. Thursday brings Melbourne funk and soul fivepiece The PutBacks. For only $10 see DJs Vince Peach and Pierre Baroni on the decks till 5am. On Friday afternoon enjoy cocktail hour and Australian blues royalty cosy in his residency, Chris Wilson will play two sets from 6pm. Start the evening with Phillip Island’s White Summer along with Guests Of Ghosts and The Dark Fair followed by DJ Max Crawdaddy. Don’t miss the one-off reformation of Melbourne rock band Dern Rutlidge on Saturday alongside Matt Sonic & The High Times then kick on with DJ Mermaid from 10pm. Sunday is Cherry Blues. See Chris Wilson and Chris Russella with Dean Muller from 3pm. Head into Sunday night with Humbug supported by Tiller & Kid Ory followed by Cherry DJ 'til 2am. Monday is Cherry Jam, Cherry supplies the back line, the mixer and the stage and you and your band plug in and play from 6.30pm. And finally on Tuesday Red X play two sets from 9pm in their December residency.
LEECHES Leeches are regulars on the Perth thrash-punk scene and are touring Melbourne for the release of their debut 7” vinyl ROTT (with artwork from the legendary Ray Ahn of Hard-ons and Nunchukka Superfly). They play short and fast songs inspired by early punk and '80s skate punk like Bad Religion & Minor Threat among others. Check them out at the following shows as part of their Melbourne tour: The Public Bar on Friday December 14 with Firearms and Street Fangs; The Gasometer Hotel on Saturday December 15 with Damn The Torpedoes, Bad Vision and Spermaids; and The Tote on Sunday December 16 with Sons Of Lee Marvin, La Bastard, Harvest Smoke and more.
Q&A
ILDIKO Ildiko’s cathartic brand of folk returns with the band’s debut LP The Carousel Stray, a collection of lush reveries about heartbreak, loss and losing your mind. With supports from J Walker (Machine Translations) and Jim Patterson, their LP launch will leave the audience spellbound & wanting more. Tuesday December 4 at The Northcote Social Club. Doors 7.30pm, Entry $10.
VAUDEVILLE SMASH Vaudeville Smash are set to round out an extraordinary year and bring in the summer with a final 2012 show at the Workers Club. But unlike most of their shows, this one’s on a Sunday. And Sunday equals fun-day. They’ll be supported by the wonderfully enigmatic Charlotte Nicdao. Tickets are $12 and will only be available at the door. Sunday December 2.
SIGNALS IN SILENCE VS. ALEX ANONYMOUS
Bernard Guevara (Alex Anonymous) grills Tom Farfalla (Signals in Silence). You boys are about to release your debut EP All Stories. What can fans expect from this first release? A blend of rock and pop, with some splashes of punk and progressive in there for good measure! You guys recently headlined the Super Unsigned Music Festival at The Corner Hotel. How was that experience, headlining such an awesome line-up of local talent? We were stoked to play the Corner Hotel. It was our second SUM festival there, and there was definitely some talent in the building that night, so we felt very privileged to be playing and taking top spot. So many great bands are coming out of Melbourne and we just want to be a part of that movement. Any upcoming tour plans? Not sure if you got the memo, but we are going to discuss doing a tour with you guys soon. You will then think long and hard about it, only to realise that agreeing is the best option. You travelled up to Sydney to record your EP at Jungle Studios. What made you choose Jungle Studios? How was the recording experience? Jungle Studios came to me with a package deal that really sucked us in. The recording experience was great. We learnt a lot from Sydney producer Greg Stace. We slept on cockroach-infested floors and couches for six nights with the occasional drink and chinwag, it was fun. And finally, what can the people expect from the launch on November 30th? You can expect to see our CD for sale – that would be kind of awkward if we launched without it. We have some awesome bands supporting us and we’ve made some changes to our set. So hopefully we have a full house and a monster night. Tom Farfalla (Signals in Silence) tackles Bernard Guevara (Alex Anonymous).
Beat Magazine Page 62
Best known as a founding member of The Gin Club, Giants Of Science and The Wilson Pickers, Brisbanebased singer-songwriter Ben Salter has also been a solo performer in his own right for over ten years. He has played throughout Australia and Europe, where his striking vocal range and captivating lyricism have drawn comparisons to Neil Finn, Elliot Smith and Nick Drake. Whilst many of his solo compositions to date have been gifted to The Gin Club, Salter has also been quietly accruing a collection of songs all of his own, and now, after ten years of empty threats, has finally released his debut solo album The Cat. Catch Ben Salter when he plays The Retreat Hotel beer garden this Sunday December 2 at 6pm. Free entry.
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
Your new single Equilibrium has just been launched at The Barwon Club Hotel in Geelong. What was the experience like? It was a top night. It was our second time playing in Geelong and now we can’t wait to head over again! Awesome lineup plus amazing crowd plus great sounding venue equals pretty flippin’ good times! If you could have written any song in history what would it be and why? Personally I would have to go with John Lennon’s Imagine. The lyrics and melody are so simple but the message is so powerful. Also, it doesn’t have the word dance-floor or DJ in it or any other nonsensical partying associations, which is always a plus! While touring, you have played alongside some pretty big artists such as; Evermore, The Butterfly Effect and Regurgitator. What was the experience like and when are we hooking up a tour? Yeah it’s funny you know. You listen these bands growing up hoping to one day get the chance to share the stage with them. So they were very humbling experiences to say the least, as well as inspiring. Every time we play with a big band, it’s like getting a second wind and we try to put on the show of our lives. The Butterfly Effect show was particularly amazing, as they have been heroes of ours since day one. In fact one of the first gigs I ever went to was The Butterfly Effect at the Hi-Fi Bar. Hope to be touring with you boys across the country real soon! You are doing a dual launch with us on Friday November 30 Got any cool things planned for the night? And are we partying after? We’ve got a few surprises in the works, including paying homage to a group that’s had a huge influence on us. Also some theatrics as well, but you’ll have to wait and see. And also, yes! I plan not go to sleep until my ears stop buzzing. SIGNALS IN SILENCE and ALEX ANONYMOUS play The Espy Gershwin Room on Friday November 30.
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FLYYING COLOURS Sonic guitars, lush harmonies and fuzzy psychedelic grooves, Flyying Colours make reverb drenched pop music that echoes sounds of shoegaze, postpunk and psychedelia. The reaction to their mesmerising performances after just a handful of support shows in 2012 has been astonishing, which bodes well for their first ever headline shows. They’re playing a huge lineup at Yah Yah’s on Saturday December 1 with Warmth Crashes In, Ovals and The Laughing Leaves. Free entry.
THE DEATH RATTLES
OVER-REACTOR
The Death Rattles herald in the summer with a Sunday Residency at The Old Bar this Decmber. A bitter-sweet soup brewed from a love of the delta blues and swamp stomp, lurking somewhere on the road to nowhere are haunted guitars, train tracking drums and bass, and crooning vocals. A ticket to the summer heat wave, this will be their last performances before the release of their debut album in 2013. The Death Rattles invite you to dress to the nines, or sixes and sevens and join them for a Sunday soiree under the blue lights ‘til dawn. Old Bar Beer Soaked Sundays from 8pm.
Hot off the heels of their AFL Finals Themed Single When Collingwood Choke (which has had 53,000 views on YouTube in three weeks), Melbourne’s genre bendingexperimental-folk-metal duo Over-Reactor are back into the serious stuff. Ezekiel Ox (ex Mammal and Full Scale) and Cory Blight (ex-Dukes of Windsor) are hitting the road this November and December, to launch their new single/ film clip for The Throne, the second single from their album Mouth Of The Ghetto, which was released June this year. In a world where mediocrity is around every corner, and indifference is encouraged, Over-Reactor are rampant, prolific and ahead of every curve. See them at The Evelyn on Thursday November 29.
MAJOR TOM & THE ATOMS In just a year, Major Tom & The Atoms have made big atomic waves. Their explosive debut EP Shake It Til You Break It was immediately picked up by triple j, PBS and RRR, earning glowing reviews and damaging eartrumpets nationwide. Taking its cues and clues from the great rhythm and blues acts of yesteryear, the Major Tom & The Atoms sound is an intoxicating brew of honky-tonk blues and howlin’ jungle grooves. Now, as they gear up to record their debut LP over summer, Major Tom & The Atoms roll into The Old Bar at the top of their game – a dazzling rhythm and blues sextet exploding with passion and a bag-full of brand new earworms to try out on you. Catch them tonight for free.
ALEX WATTS & THE FOREIGN TONGUE Ridiculously good-looking pop sensation Alex Watts & The Foreign Tongue will be performing a free show at The Penny Black on Friday November 30, spruiking their brand of rock/pop/whatever, delivered with panache and a knowing wink. Support will come from The Atlantic Fall, who rose to fame recently after their video for Gangnam Style went viral in 40 million countries. Be There.
MILES & SIMONE Simone Page Jones and Miles O’Neil are dear friends and have been for quite some time. In the summer months of last year they found themselves on many an afternoon drinking gin and singing lonesome duets in the backyard. As the months got colder they left the backyard and began recording the songs in Miles’ spare room studio. The resulting album was then picked up by Darren Hanlon and taken to Portland Oregon to be mixed by Adam Selzer of M. Ward and Jolie Holland fame. Their songs are sparse acoustic duets subtly augmented by an old piano, pedal steel and the plunk of a banjo. Catch Miles & Simone as the headline act at The Retreat this Thursday November 29 after Benezra 9pm. Free entry.
60 SECONDS WITH… BEN WELLS AND THE MIDDLE NAMES Define your genre in five words or less: Dark indie-pop. Bearing the terrible clichéd nature of this question, what do you reckon people will say you sound like? We have a pretty varied sound but I’ve heard people compare us to the Cloud Nothings or The Kooks. If you could assassinate one person or band from popular music, who would it and why? I wouldn’t assassinate anyone, everyone has their place in music even if it is to show how shit music can be. What can a punter expect from your live show? Lots of energy, expect to get sweaty! What’ve you got to sell CD-wise? We released an EP earlier this year House, Come Home. When’s the gig and with who? Wednesday December 5 at The Workers Club with Buchannan, Tom Milek and Winter York DJs. Which band would you most like to have a battle/ showdown with? Sons of Rico because those guys are boss. What inspires or has influenced your music the most? Living in Tassie inspires me; it also effects what I write a lot. When are you playing live/releasing your album/EP/ single/etc? We’ve just released a new single Bear In A Birdcage and we’re going on tour up the East Coast of Australia.
What makes you happiest about what you’re doing? Playing live, being young and being able to play the kind of music I want to play. And what makes you unhappiest about what you’re doing? Having no money. What’s the strangest place you’ve ever played a gig, or made a recording? We played a gig on the back of a truck the other day! Where would you like to be in five years? Playing a festival in Sweden. CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
Beat Magazine Page 63
ALBUM OF THE WEEK
3RRR Soundscape
NEIL YOUNG AND CRAZY HORSE
1. Alice DICK DIVER 2. Nuggets: Antipodean Interpolations of the First Psychedelic Era VARIOUS ARTISTS 3. Down Under Nuggets: Definitive Aussie 60s Garage Collection VARIOUS ARTISTS 4. Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era: 1965-1968 VARIOUS ARTISTS 5. Lonely At The Top LUKID 6. Diaspora THE TOWNHOUSES 7. The Life & Times Of THE HOT 8 BRASS BAND 8. Fracture EP KHARKOV 9. 24 Hours In A Disco 1978-82 KIKI GYAN 10. Order Of Noise VESSEL Supercash (//This Thing//) ELECTRIC SEA SPIDER **Album of the Week
Psychedelic Pill (Reprise/Warner)
WEDNESDAY 28 NOVEMBER RESIDENCY – FINAL NIGHT
ECHO DRAMA KESHIE THE SEVEN UPS DJ R.E.L ENTRY $7, 8.30PM
THURSDAY 29 NOVEMBER SINGLE LAUNCH
OVER-REACTOR
SELF IS A SEED (SYD) DON FERNANDO PONY GIRLS AND THE OUTSIDERS
ENTRY $15 DOOR, $12 THRU MOSHTIX, 8.30PM $2.50 POTS, $5 VODKAS!
FRIDAY 30 NOVEMBER
ENGINE THREE SEVEN GLASS EMPIRE SWERVE – ALBUM LAUNCH THE VILLAIN EPIC
ENTRY $15 DOOR, $12 THRU MOSHTIX, 8PM
SATURDAY 1 DECEMBER
FESTMAS – ROOFTOP + BANDROOM SHOW
POUR HABIT (USA) ANCHORS HIGHTIME TOTTALLY UNICORN THE BENNIES + 6 EXTRA BANDS ENTRY $33, 4PM
SUNDAY 2 DECEMBER
Loitering in a shop in Aspen, Colorado, almost 20 years ago, I overheard a conversation that epitomised the paucity of credibility left in ‘60s mythology. “Yeah, in the ‘60s it was such an amazing time,” preached a middle-aged American in the dulcet tones of every former wannabe radical and their freak-flag flying dog. Clad in chambray shirt, pressed chinos and sporting a haircut laced enough product to detonate a small bomb in nearby Nevada, this guy represented the point where the so-called ‘60s dream had come to rest: a tired, flaccid rhetorical corpse, kept on life support by the cynical celebrations of corporate interests and the rosecoloured reflections of hangers-on, shysters and the odd chemically-ravaged survivor. On Driftin’ Back, the opening track on Neil Young and Crazy Horse’s new record, Psychedelic Pill, Neil Young spends 27 minutes labouring through a treatise on the cultural generation into which his music was born. It’s messy and occasionally incoherent, like a grandparent meandering through a loosely-constructed story of walking to the shop and buying a bottle of lemonade with three shillings, a piece of string and a rusty nail. Young’s lyrics are idiosyncratic to the point of silliness – hip hop haircuts, Picasso computer wallpaper, spiritual awareness bought for $35, crappy MP3s. It’s the self-indulgent ranting of an old bloke who’s pissed off at the world; like the dementia-ridden nursing home resident basking in an imaginary world, Young drifts back to a time when things were better. The ‘60s, man. And that’s the subtle beauty of Psychedelic Pill. This isn’t a baby boomer’s sugar-coated memories. This is Neil Young, crotchety iconoclast walking the line between indulgence and parody. The title track – almost an ephemeral pop song in its three-and-a-half minute tenure – renders that same history in a dirty psychedelic wash. On Ramada Inn, Young spends another 16 minutes stumbling through geographical and emotional journeys. It’s The Eagles without the egos and the cocaine, The Band on the plains, America with credibility. The production is avowedly analogue, as if Young has thrown his friends in his garage, and turned on the cassette player. Born In Ontario is almost comical, a catchy ditty with Young holding court in the metaphorical music hall to a crowd of enthralled middle-aged fans. The second disc is the same, but different. Twisted Road
is autobiographical whimsy, with the Louvin Brothers and Johnny Cash loitering in the shadows. She’s Always Dancing is Young in the ‘70s, freed from the shackles of Crosby’s crack pipe, Stills’ precious ego and Nash’s grating smug Britishness. For The Love Of Man is a soppy love song that starts nowhere and runs itself into cheap spiritual abandon. What the fuck is going on here? Nothing. And finally there’s another 16-minute psychedelic opus, Walk Like A Giant. And it’s here that Psychedelic Pill evolves from curiosity into greatness. Young laments the dream that’s been lost: “We were trying to save the world, we were trying to make it better/But the weather changed... and it fell apart.” But the tongue is wedged firmly in the singer’s cheek – there was never a properly formed dream, simply a series of cheap rhetorical promises that faded quicker than Jerry Rubin embracing Chicago School economics. From Jane Fonda to Jane Fonda. The ‘60s is dead, philosophically at least. But Neil Young – cantankerous, self-indulgent old bastard that he is – is still going strong. PATRICK EMERY Best Track: Driftin' Back If You Like These You'll Like This: NEIL YOUNG (more than any other cheap imitation). In A Word: Indulgent.
SINGLES BY SIMONE
EP LAUNCH
RETURN TO YOUTH THE DARJEELINGS SEVEN YEAR ITCH TANE EMIA-MOORE ENTRY $6, 1.30PM
EVENING SHOW
THE CITRADELS VOWEL MOVEMENT ENTRY $4, 8PM
MONDAY 3 DECEMBER
RESIDENCY – OPENING NIGHT
PSYCHODASIES
THE CLITS FRANNY AND THE INFIDELS ENTRY $2, 8.30PM $10 JUGS!
TUESDAY 4 DECEMBER
RESIDENCY – OPENING NIGHT
SEX ON TOAST ENTRY $5, 8.00PM $10 JUGS!
COMING UP
TIX AVAILABLE THRU MOSHTIX: PSYCHODASIES (MONDAYS IN DECEMBER) SEX ON TOAST (TUESDAYS IN DECEMBER) THE PRIMARY (WEDNESDAYS IN DECEMBER) THE BOMBAY ROYALE (THURSDAYS IN DECEMBER) MYRIDIAN – ALBUM LAUNCH (DEC 7) COPIA & FREESTATE (DEC 8) THAT GOLD STREET SOUND 7” LAUNCH (DEC 14) BOOMGATES – ROOFTOP SHOW (DEC 15) BINARY SOLO #1 (DEC 15)
I am now wondering if I can’t learn to love that Train song ironically. Like a physical challenge. Like if I stop myself from wanting to throwing up whenever I hear it, I win. DICK DIVER Alice (Chapter Music) Dick Diver’s artfully low-key jangle pop is in perfect form on Alice, a tune that marries sloppy, bleating Australian accents with the vague remnants of ‘60s garage pop. The opening strums of guitar are so casual you’re not sure they’ll continue; the lyrics are scattered but vivid strokes of colour. TOBY MARTIN Nylex Nights (Ivy League) Toby Martin’s penchant for nostalgia, rhyming couplets and dreamy piano folk heralds the spiritual return of The Whitlams’ Tim Freedman: “It’s raining hard on the new Coke sign, I’m walking home after closing time/The streets are full of the ghosts of drinkers, who raise their glasses up to sink us.” (It rhymes, yes, but what exactly does it mean?) This wretched, mewling pap was awful but iconic the first time around, then mildly funny in the hands of Tim Minchin, now somewhere between creepy and depressing. THE RUBENS The Best We’ve Got (Ivy League) The Rubens have gone big and bombastic on their latest single – too big, I think. This overblown chorus of strings, bells and pompous thrums of guitar gives the spunky fraternal collective the feel of a British X Factor graduate; a post-Robbie Williams big band pop aesthetic without the smirking edge. Makes me want to track them down and rub a little dirt in their faces. BEST COAST The Only Place (Pop Frenzy) There’s no reading the levels of irony in Best Coast’s paean to Los Angeles living. She has the ocean, has the babes, has the sun and the waves, ergo LA is the only place for her. But is it, really? The film clip features a series of awkwardly filmed wish-you-were-here indie-rock vignettes (hey guys, let’s throw our drums into the sea!) that make the whole thing seem self-consciously ridiculous. I can’t help but feel like something else is going on. Although I may be expected too much from someone who up until now was best known for wishing you were her boyfriend. HUNGRY KIDS OF HUNGARY Twin Cities (Stop Start/EMI) A preview of the forthcoming album You’re A Shadow,
Beat Magazine Page 64
TOP TENS
Twin Cities is a chipper chunky monkey of a tune from this dapper Brisbane quartet – something more energised and a bit more reckless than their previous fare, and way better for it. The drums slap with goofy enthusiasm while Dean McGrath leads his band on a ramped up Patridge Familystyle romp through ‘60s bubblegum pop. Big fun. BROKEN SPLENDOUR Posters (Independent) Broken Splendour is a Melbourne three-piece fronted by ex-Texan songwriter Thomas Vecera, who appears to favour a mild kind of MOR pop-rock, judging by this single (Dire Straits without all the crafty songwriting). Posters strives to overcome its own hokey nature with the occasional staccato drum beat and some shiny synth layers, but fails. NEW NAVY Regular Town (Future Classic/Remote Control) Sydney’s New Navy follow their Ulluwatu EP with a breezy new single, which ably if unimaginatively recycles the Vampire Weekend sound. Regular Town has a great hook and dynamic pacing, lovely guitars made to sound like steel drums, and a little uke for bonus twee points, but it’s utterly derivative. Should do very well on triple j. CHIDDY BANG Happening (EMI) Shiny, explosive hip pop from Chiddy’s debut album – trashy, fun, addictive and completely bereft of nutritional value. What’s not to love? TRAIN This’ll Be My Year (Sony) As if releasing a new single wasn’t crime enough, Train have taken the opportunity to contribute to the already hideous trope of naming-things-in-date-order that began with Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start The Fire. Here’s a hint, Train – if Billy Joel couldn’t make it work, and you are Train, just stop.
SINGLE OF THE WEEK
THE CHEMIST Spray Paint Or Praise (Create/Control) Following two attention-grabbing EPs and the brilliant single Lullaby, Perth act The Chemist return with a superbly ground-up jazz pop tune. Raising the ghost of Amy Winehouse, Spray Paint Or Praise has a sensual, grimy core; a slinking, degraded swing that is littered with Spaghetti Western guitar parts, drunken bass and shimmering organ notes. Messy and excellent.
FOR MORE REVIEWS GO TO BEATTV.COM.AU/REVIEWS
WOOLY BULLY 1. Racism UV RACE LP 2. Under The Water Under The Ground LAMPS LP 3. On Triple Beams TYVEK LP 4. Smart Bar, Chicago 1985 SONIC YOUTH LP 5. Sweaty Hands DEGREASER LP 6. Live At The Gluepot 1980 TOY LOVE LP 7. Family Perfume Vol. 1 & 2 WHITE FENCE LP 8. Self Titled NEW MEMPHIS LEGS LP 9. House Safe For Tigers LEE HAZLEWOOD LP 10. Autonomy & Deliberation OST UV RACE LP
AIRIT NOW 1. COURTNEY BARNETT History Eraser 2. OCEANICS The City 3. TUKA Die a Happy Man (Feat. Jane Tyrrell) 4. AVABERÉE Lover Of Mine 5. PVT Nightfall 6. MOONBASE COMMANDER Peace, Love & Happiness From Boston, Massachusetts 7. SLEEP DECADE Bicycle 8. THE RAY MANN THREE Wannadoo 9. MONEY FOR ROPE Misery Lane 10. LILY & KING Drinking Song
COLLECTORS CORNER MISSING LINK 1. Spencer P. Jones & The Nothing Butts SPENCER P. JONES & THE NOTHING BUTTS CD 2. Make ‘Em Suffer THE KILL CD 3. Solvents/Cronenberg NUN 7” 4. Another Gory Mess FUCK...I’M DEAD CD 5. Celebration Day LED ZEPPELIN 2CD/DVD 6. Lights Out GRAVEYARD CD 7. Temporal ISIS 2CD/DVD 8. Sgt Peppers THE BEATLES 180 GM LP 9. Pull Down The Shades TOY LOVE DVD 10. Nuggets - Antipodean Interpolations VARIOUS CD
PBS TIPSHEET 1. Sorta Heavy Metal SUPER XX MAN 2. Everyone’s Alone THE DARK HORSES 3. Girl and Robot With Flowers THE GREG FOAT GROUP 4. The Life and Times of..THE HOT 8 BRASS BAND 5. Self Titled EP ULTRAVIBRALUX 6. The Constant RESONATORS 7. Bastards BJORK 8. Tropical Bass Station CUMBIA COSMONAUTS 9. Alice DICK DIVER 10. Some Kind of Eden DEAR TIME’S WASTE
BEAT’S TOP TEN SONGS ABOUT FALLING 1. The Fall Of Mister Fifths WHY? 2. Ashes in the Fall RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE 3. Let It Fall LYKKE LI 4. Jigsaw Falling Into Place RADIOHEAD 5. Fallin’ ALICIA KEYS 6. All Falls Down KANYE WEST 7. Rise & Fall CRAIG DAVID & STING 8. Fall of ’82 THE SHINS 9. Fear of Falling MAXIMO PARK 10. Downfall CHILDREN OF BODOM
ALBUMS
JOHN CALE
Shifty Adventures In Nookie Wood (Domino) FOR MORE REVIEWS GO TO
BEAT.COM.AU/REVIEWS
SUN ARAW
The Inner Treaty (Drag City) If you want to know what it’s like to claw your way out of an oppressive desert and into a watery mirage, than Sun Araw’s latest album makes for a good aural equivalent. These half-dozen tracks are feverish and frantic, but lurch along in a slurred, stumbling manner. They slowly evolve, but never make a complete whole. The Inner Treaty meanders its way through the middle ground of day and night, caught somewhere between awake and asleep. Sometimes it riffs along like a stuck record, but it thrashes about within its confinements, forcing you to uncover a melody somewhere within its big, squelchy mess. Just when you think every element is starting to get in sync, a new instrument will dart in and turn the rhythm on its head. Cameron Stallone’s vocals are variations of the song titles, yelping commands like “Out of Time! All Around!” or ‘Like Wine! Alright!”. Somehow it never sounds too cluttered, with the production afforded more clarity and the music less weighed down by drone than previous albums. Earlier in the year, Sun Araw dazzled with a live performance at the Sugar Mountain festival. Stallone’s recordings usually sound more like raw captures of these kind of improvised live shows than actual albums, and The Inner Treaty is no exception, but that’s all part of their Best Track: The Summum wibbly-wobbly appeal. If You Like These, You’ll Like This: 936 PEAKING LIGHTS, Platoon MAGIC LANTERN CHRIS GIRDLER In A Word: Amorphous
Who else but John Cale – or maybe the late Frank Zappa – would choose Shifty Adventures In Nookie Wood as the title for his album? Cale – classical musician, avantgarde artist, punk rock progenitor, post-punk stylist and rock’n’roll impresario – is the iconoclast’s iconoclast. An artist for whom convention is nothing short of an annoyance, and an impediment to innate creative spirit. So is it any good? As with any Cale creation, the first run through is only part of the story. The critical attribute, however, is Cale’s interest in electronic music. There’s a dose of Eno-infused funk in I Wanna Talk 2 U, and a Fame-era Bowie dance attitude in Scotland Yard. On Hemingway, Cale crowds in the shadows of the notorious literary figure, Cale’s Welsh brogue ideal for the narrative. Face to the Sky suffers from the ‘80s production disease, saved only by the odd moment of Art of Noise clatter and clutter; on Nookie Wood Cale draws inspiration from the proto-rap artists of the New York ghettos. December Rains is a left-field dance track and Mary is a simple, but heartfelt love song. There are the occasional moments when you sense Cale is playing more to himself than his audience: Vampire Cafe is tainted with self-indulgence, a stripped back early PiL event without Lydon’s obnoxious personality. You can dance to Mothra, but only on the right drugs, while Living With You is a soppy romantic song that wants to say something profound, but lacks the delivery and purpose. Midnight Feast throws back to ‘70s – Cale in his most haunting guise; Sandman (Flying Dutchman) is the sound of a man playing with lush sonic textures like a kid with a new Lego set. John Cale works on a higher plane than the rest of us – sometimes we encounter him on his orbit, other times he Best Track: Nookie Wood If You Like These, You’ll Like This: PARLIAMENT/ passes straight by. Shifty Adventures In Nookie Wood is all of that, for better and worse. FUNKADELIC, GRANDMASTER FLASH, BRIAN ENO In A Word: Welsh PATRICK EMERY
SAN CISCO
San Cisco (Island City Records)
HEAVY BEACH
Heavy Beach EP (Independent) I hesitate to describe this band as the latest vehicle for the ever-prolific Ali Edmonds, but there’s no denying that her contribution to Heavy Beach’s debut six-track EP outshines that of her bandmates. There’s enough paeans to the ‘90s in her repertoire (Little Athletics, Damn Terran) to give some clue as to what to expect here, while her singing has obviously benefited from a solid 18 months of solo performances around town. There’s some interesting things going on here. Standout number Five Days is catchily reminiscent of Magic Dirt at their hot mess ’96 best, but the track sounds incongruous next to what are otherwise mostly down-tempo songs. This is likely the product of a lengthy recording process drawn out over the year. However if Five Days is any indication of where the band is headed, give us more, pretty please! The drums are a bit of a disappointment. Mark Renall’s stripped down kit doesn’t lend itself to anything outlandish, which probably works a lot better live than it does on the record. Bass player Clayton Pegus has accordingly kept the rhythm section subdued in the mix, and in places this seems to inhibit his own adventurousness. The exception being the rollicking closing track Warm Shadows, where his contribution is the highlight. Ali’s got a great voice, but it’s a shame it is double-tracked on parts of the EP – particularly on opener 1963. The track is already laden with subtle synth work and an acid flashback guitar tone, but as previously mentioned, the gap between this and the rather sparse track that follows it is maybe a little big. Perhaps there lies a clue as to where Heavy Beach will take their sound next: they’ll either work out how to reconcile the jarring fluctuation between the understated and the saturated, or they’ll run off in one direction or the other. In any Best Track: Five Days event, whatever these three put out next will be amazing. If You Like These, You’ll Like This: Passover THE BLACK ANGELS, Young And Full Of The Devil MAGIC DIRT SEAN SANDY DEVOTIONAL In A Word: Promising
In accord with San Cisco’s string of hook-laden singles, the Fremantle quartet’s debut long player is a chipper affair. The 12 song album displays development in both songcraft and an understanding of each other as musicians. The band have identified how to expand their sound by cleverly utilising their constituent components. Throughout the album the young four-piece explore various zones of pop and rock with bubbly consistency. Josh Biondillo’s introduction of a company of keyboard into the fray seems to have been a major catalyst for venturing into new territory. This is most evident on album opener Beach, which is a synth-soaked dream. The shimmering pop song, with a chorus led by drummer Scarlett Stevens’ vocal, hints at naff but it’s more pretty than mercenary. The guitars that dominated the band’s cheeky indie-pop on their two preceding EPs return to the fore on the jangly Fred Astaire and similarly Jordi Davieson’s recognisable bratty vocal charm resumes its place next to surging distorted guitars on No Friends. Alongside the lively portrayal of youth, Lyall, and the bold keyboard foray, Mission Failed, are some moments of relaxed sophistication. The album’s two standout tracks Hunter and lead single Wild Things are perhaps less obvious, but they’re very confident pop songs. San Cisco’s organic adaptation to new living conditions indicates that the band’s ingredients have sat with each other long enough to evolve effervescence, rather than fast tracking carbonation and producing a neutral flavour. There’s a ‘handmade’ banner that proudly hangs above San Cisco’s music. They don’t try to cover up that they were there touching things and interacting as a group of bodies. San Cisco’s self-titled album doesn’t try to bend the pop song form, nor does it make stylistic departures just for the hell of it. They Best Track: Hunter carefully seize their strengths in a manner that lets them If You Like These, You’ll Like This: News And Tributes THE capably execute stylistic tangents. FUTUREHEADS, Mink Car THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS, Up All Night RAZORLIGHT AUGUSTUS WELBY In A Word: Equinox
TOMBSTONE RAMBLERS Tombstone Ramblers (Off The Hip)
SUB ATARI KNIVES
Sub Atari Knives EP (Independent) A large dose of serendipity saw this band come together. Featuring former members of Mammal, MM9 and K-Oscilate, those three bands happened to split up at approximately the same time, freeing the musicians up to form Sub Atari Knives. And our ears are the beneficiary. Obviously there are a few outfits out there doing the electro-rock thing. It’s a good double-pronged market to tap into, but this is something else altogether. These guys, almost accidentally, have tapped into something quite unique, fresh and dynamic. That electro feel is there in droves, there are elements of dubstep, and occasionally they resemble someone like Aphex Twin. But they have taken that feel and cranked it up several notches, even more so than drummer Ben’s former and MM9. With its wild and frenetic tempos you could be forgiven for dubbing (pardon the pun) this ‘electro thrash’, but there’s even more to it than that. There’s a subtle but strong symphonic feel to some of the songs as well. There’s even some didgeridoo on Alter Ego. These things could sound very out of place in the hands of less skilled musicians in a frenzied electro rock setting, but this trio blend and meld them seamlessly. This EP is five tracks of slamming electro rock with an infectious and uplifting energy. They show a musical sensibility that is light years beyond what most robotic electro artists are Best Track: Hear.Life.Spoken capable of. Yet another stunning Aussie release of 2012 – If You Like These, You’ll Like This: MM9, THE PRODIGY, the year has been a smorgasbord. KORN (the last album) In A Word: Electric ROD WHITFIELD
EVERY MONDAY
DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
POP-CULTURE TRIVIA FREE WEDS 4/12 ASH OFFICER INTRODUCING CURTIN CHILLI BOATS SLOW COOKED CHILLI CON CARNE ON CORN CHIPS W
GUACAMOLE AND SOUR CREAM. FOR ALL THOSE WHO APPRECIATE A LATE NIGHT SNACK. $8.50 - 6PM TILL LATE
Back in the 19th century, city planners in New Orleans made the mistake of building a cemetery in low-lying territory. When the heavy rains came, the additional water caused corpses buried in the cemetery to rise to the surface, adding a particularly ghoulish physical element to the city’s already confronting cultural edge. The links between such grisly scenarios and Sydney’s Tombstone Ramblers are tenuous, but potentially significant. When Ricky Drabsch, former bass player in the Dolly Rocker Movement, found himself ensconced in Canberra for a year, Drabsch bunkered down and set about writing the songs that would eventually appear on the Tombstone Ramblers’ debut eponymous album. It’s difficult to identify the pigeon hole into which to forcibly shove Tombstone Ramblers: the opening instrumental track, The Last Ride Of Pablo Esteban is gringo psychedelia spiked with Chuck Berry issue amphetamine rock’n’roll; The Ballad Of Will Kane jumps on a box car and rattles all the way past the Mason-Dixon line with an armful of Hank Williams records and a bottle of cough mixture. Heavily Sedated is folk-punk for the Summer of Love survivors, Take It Down Easy gets down and dirty on the beach and Elvis is alive and well in Touch Of A Woman, prescription barbiturates and all. On Keep On Ramblin’ Tombstone Ramblers are a slick bunch of motherfuckers wandering the streets under the watchful guise of Speedball Baby. I Think I’m In Love is so dirty it warrants treatment in an STD clinic, Baby, I Want You Back is Jon Spencer on brown acid and Black Hair, Red Lips forces Marc Bolan into the margins of Australian boogie rock and has a freaking good time. The Alpha And Omega is Gloria in disguise, The Morning Light is Dick Dale meets Eye Of The Tiger doused in acid and Lucky Day is just a nice country Best Track: The Last Ride of Pablo Esteban rock track to play to your good ol’ gal (or guy). It’s been a If You Like These, You’ll Like This: THE PRETTY THINGS, ramblin’ good time; y’all come back sometime. TY SEGALL, HEAVY TRASH, DOLLY ROCKER MOVEMENT In A Word: Rattling PATRICK EMERY
WED 28TH
LANDS
W DAIMARU AND JEALOUS HUSBAND + DJ JAMES TOM THURS 29TH
MELTING POT PRESENTS...
LEADLIGHT AND BUSY KINGDOM + GUESTS FRI 30TH
WED 5TH
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AARDVARK WORLDWIDE CHARITY FUNDRAISER FEATURING MONIQUE BRUMBY + SPECIAL GUESTS TIX FROM WWW.TRYBOOKING.COM FRI 7TH
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THE CHRIS ALTMANN REVUE LIVE ALBUM RECORDING AND DOUBLE SHOW
SAT 1ST
DANE CERTIFICATE W RED BEARD AND THE ARCHETYPALS
CANOS ‘JWUST BEFORE’ SINGLE LAUNCH LILY AND KING + WINTERLIGHTS SUN 2ND
CHRISTOPHER COLEMAN COLLECTIVE
W ATLUK, DARK MATTER OF STORY TELLING + JACKSON THORNTON
RUSTY@JOHNCURTINHOTEL.COM FOR MORE ALBUM NEWS AND REVIEWS GO TO WWW.BEAT.COM.AU
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SUN 9TH
THE MORNINGS W TANYA BATT, WINTER YORK AND PORCELAIN PILL COMING SOON -
15/12 - THE RED LIGHTS ‘GHOST’ SINGLE LAUNCH 21/12 - ELECTRIK DYNAMITE VS WITCHGRINDER - DOUBLE HEADLINE 23/12 - HAYLEY COUPER + GUESTS 12/1 - TAKE YOUR OWN ‘RECORD LAUNCH’ + HUGE GUESTS 25/1 - BED WETTIN BAD BOYS (SYD) RECORD LAUNCH
Beat Magazine Page 65
GIG GUIDE WEDNESDAY NOV 28 INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS
ALEXIS & THE MISSING PIECES + THE BONSCOTTS + THE TIGER & ME Toï¬&#x20AC; In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $13. AUDIO CAFFEINE Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 5:30pm. COLLAGE - FEAT: THE HIDDEN VENTURE + & HOUSE OF LAURENCE + THE BALLS Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm. DASH Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 9:00pm. ECHO DRAMA + DJ REL + KESHIE + THE SEVEN UPS Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $7. HAYLEY COUPER BAND + ALI E BAND + CABIN INN The Public Bar, Melbourne. 8:00pm. LANDS + DAIMARU + DJ JAMES TOM + JEALOUS HUSBAND John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 8:00pm. LEON THOMAS + ALEXI KAYE + THE ALEISTER JAMES ASSEMBLY Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. $10. MAMMOTH MAMMOTH + COWSMUFF + DOG HAIR JACKET Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. MICHAEL PAYNTER + CHRIS MITCHELL + JESSICAJADE Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 8:30pm. $15. PLAGUE DOCTOR + MAJOR TOM & THE ATOMS + RICH DAVIES Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. RUBY BOOTS + COLLECTOR + MATT GLASS & THE LOOSE CANNONS Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. SPENCER P. JONES - FEAT: SPENCER P. JONES & THE ESCAPE COMMITTEE + DAN KIRK Tago Mago, Thornbury. 9:00pm. STONG PUSH - FEAT: STRONG PUSH + GEN & FLORA + PAN Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $5. THE CHURCH + RAIN PARTY + THE MODERNS Corner Hotel, Richmond. 7:30pm. $45. THE CITRADELS + LIONESS EYE + LUNAR GHOST Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC DIZZYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BIG BAND Dizzyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jazz Club, Richmond. 9:00pm. $14.
EMMA GILMARTIN & THE TIM STEVENS TRIO Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $20. MELODY MOON Open Studio, Northcote. 9:00pm. THE MAGNUSSON & WILSON QUARTET 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. $5. THE NASH LEE QUARTET Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $15.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK ALICIA ADKINS + DAVY SIMONY Gertrudes Brown Couch, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. AUSTIN BRADY Bebida, Fitzroy. 11:00pm. BEARDED GYPSY BAND Prince Public Bar, St Kilda. 8:00pm. BOOK OF SHIPS + BLACK PADDOCK + DJ BRAM PRESSER + IVY STREET + MAJOR CHORD Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 8:00pm. CHRIS ALTMANN + MIKEY MADDEN Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:30pm. DAVID WRIGHT & THE MIDNIGHT ELECTRIC + LITTLE MURDER Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $5. GUY KABLE Kent St Bar, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. OPEN MIC Dancing Dog, Footscray. 8:00pm. OPEN MIC Thornbury Local, Thornbury. 9:00pm. OPEN MIC Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm. OPEN MIC Great Britain Hotel, Richmond. 10:00pm. OPEN MIC Grind N Groove, Healesville. 8:30pm. OPEN MIC Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm. OPEN MIC Elwood Lounge, Elwood. 8:00pm. OPEN MIC & JAM NIGHT Grind N Groove, Healesville. 9:00pm. OPEN STAGE Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine. 7:30pm. PLAY LIKE A GIRL Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6:00pm. QUEEN & CONVICT Standard Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. SUMMER OF CLASSICS - FEAT: THE HAZELMAN BROTHERS Pure Pop Courtyard, St Kilda. 8:00pm. WINE WHISKEY WOMEN - FEAT: JENNY BIDDLE + COOKIE BAKER Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8:00pm.
THURSDAY NOV 29 INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS
MONEY FOR ROPE Money For Rope have been asking punters for money to buy rope for ages now. Their fund-raising has taken them across our fair country and now, on Saturday December 1 at Ding Dong Lounge they will launch their debut rope. I mean album. As It turns out they werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t spending the money on rope and were instead recording an album. Jerks. Bring ya mum, bring ya legs and bring some rope, this will be a high ropes course of epic. Fraser A Gorman is along for the ride. BLACK ACES + ABLAZE + CHASING MORIARTY + PADAVONA Idgaï¬&#x20AC; Bar & Venue, Abbotsford. 8:00pm. BROOKLYNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S FINEST + THE WINTERS + UP UP AWAY Penny Black, Brunswick. 8:30pm. CLAUDIA GEMES Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 9:00pm. DAMN TERRAN + THE PRETTY LITTLES The B.east, Brunswick East. 9:00pm. HOWARD + EMILY SHOBBROOK + KOALA KINGS + SEA LEGS Bar Open, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. IWRESTLEDABEARONCE + FOR ALL ETERNITY + IN HEARTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S WAKE + PRETTY LITTLE LIARS + STORM THE SKY Corner Hotel, Richmond. 7:30pm. $28. JACKSON MCLAREN & THE TRIPLE THREAT + AINSLIE WILLS + THE FALLS Gertrudes Brown Couch, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10. JESS RIBEIRO & THE BONE COLLECTORS + LAURA K CLARKE Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 8:30pm. JORDIE LANE + LIZ STRINGER + RYAN NICO Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 7:30pm. $20. KISSTROYER + HIGH VOLTAGE Central Club Hotel, Richmond. 7:30pm. $10. KUJO KINGS + LARK + LILY & KING Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $10. LACHY DOLEY TRIO 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. $10. LEADLIGHT + BUSY KINGDOM John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 8:00pm. MAX SAVAGE & THE FALSE IDOLS Prince Public Bar, St Kilda. 8:00pm. MOTHER & SON + MESSED UP + THE YARD APES The Public Bar, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $8. NEON & VENOM + KILLING LIARS + RAYGUN MORTLOCK Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10. NIKKO + CHERRYWOOD Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine. 8:30pm. $10. OVER REACTOR (THE THRONE TOUR) + SELF AS A SEED Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $12. PENCIL (TAPE LAUNCH) + JONNY TELEFONE + MOON DICE + NERVOUS Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $5. SAVING CLEOPATRA Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 11:00pm. T-BYRDS + KID WOLF + STEVIE & THE SLEEPERS + THE LACHLAN BRUCE BAND Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. TERRORBYTE STRIPES + CHARM + POISON FISH + SHOOT THE SUN + SON OF SET + TONE SONIC Pony, Melbourne. 8:00pm. THE BALLARAT SKA ORCHESTRA The Luwow, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $10.
THE BELLIGERENTS + SKYWAYS ARE HIGHWAYS + THE RED LIGHTS + YOUNG MAVERICK Espy, St Kilda. 8:30pm. THE EMERGENCY + CONSTANT LIGHT + SUPERSTAR + TOWELS Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. THE GREAT GEOFF ACHISON RETURNS + MICK ROHOTAS Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm. $15. UMBILICAL TENTACLE + FUNERAL MOON + NOUS + WARPIGS Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $10. VOODOOCAIN + PLASTIC SPACEMAN + TWO HEADED DOG Yah Yahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Fitzroy. 9:00pm.
JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ALWAN Claypots Tavern & Fair, St Kilda. 9:30pm. CHANTAL MITVALSKY Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $20. CHARLOTTE NICDAO + TIARYN & OFFICER PARROT Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8:00pm. $8. GABRIEL LYNCH Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6:00pm. JUDY BLUE Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 10:00pm. KRIS KRINGLE NIGHT MARKETS - FEAT: REFLEJOS Northcote Town Hall, Northcote. 5:30pm. LABJACD The Night Cat, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. MOTOWN THURSDAYS Fashion Lounge, Melbourne. 5:00pm. OVEREASIES Claypots Evening Star, Melbourne. 8:00pm. PAUL CAREY & JULIAN SCHEFFER Open Studio, Northcote. 7:00pm. RBS LIVE - FEAT: HARTS + ELECTRIC ORCHESTRA + STRAYLOVE Red Bennies, South Yarra. 7:00pm. $10. SALSA EXPLOSION - FEAT: DEL BARRIO First Floor, Fitzroy. 11:00pm. SLOW DOWN EARTH (EP LAUNCH) + GLASFROSCH + RIVAL REVOLUTION + THE BLACK GALAXY EXPERIENCE Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:30pm. $10. THE LUKE HOWARD QUARTET Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. THE PUTBACKS Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $10. THE RE-THINK PROJECT Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. THE RORY CLARK TRIO Dizzyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8:00pm. $14. WILBUR WILDE + JOHN MONTESANTE QUINTET The Commune, East Melbourne. 6:00pm. $5.
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Beat Magazine Page 66
SUBMIT YOUR GIGS TO GIGGUIDE@BEAT.COM.AU
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK ACOUSTIC NIGHT 29th Apartment, St Kilda. 8:30pm. BLOW The Horn African Music Lounge, Collingwood. 8:00pm. CHRIS RUSSELL’S CHICKEN WALK Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. EDWARD DEER (ABOUT MONSTERS LAUNCH) + GABRIEL LYNCH + KATE WALKER Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $10. JANE MCARTHUR + BRIDGEWATER TRIO + FRANKIE ANDREW TRIO Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 8:30pm. KLARA ZUBONJA + KRISTIE GLAB Gertrudes Brown Couch, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. MILES & SIMONE + BENEZRA Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 10:00pm. OPEN MIC Acoustic Cafe, Collingwood. 7:30pm. OPEN MIC Arcadia Hotel, South Yarra. 8:00pm. OPEN MIC Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 9:00pm. OPEN MIC Balaclava Hotel, Balaclava. 7:30pm. ROESY Elwood Lounge, Elwood. 9:00pm. SIMON PHILLIPS Two Brothers Brewery, Moorabbin. 8:00pm. SMOKY SEAS + OBVIAN + SUPER FAT FRUIT Great Britain Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm. TOMAS STRODE & THE TOUR GUIDES + NIGEL B SWIFTE + RAT & CO Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 9:00pm. $10. TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC SESSIONS - FEAT: DAN BOURKE Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 6:00pm. VANCE JOY Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $8. WAYLON JOES + ZEON Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8:00pm. WOODWARD & ROUGH Bebida, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
FRIDAY NOV 30 INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS 2AM LATE SHOW (DOUBLE HEADLINE) - FEAT: COCKFIGHT SHOOTOUT + DOZERS + DJ MR SHARP Pony, Melbourne. 2:00am. ARGURIOUS + CREATE DESTROY + MOUSTACHE ANT + ORDANCE Idgaff Bar & Venue, Abbotsford. 8:00pm. $5. BARBARION + SHERIFF + VICE GRIP PUSSIES Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 8:00pm. BITTER SWEET KICKS Prince Public Bar, St Kilda. 8:00pm. BURRIED FEATHER + DJ DR LUDWIG + THE HONEY
THE PRETTY THINGS Consider yourself a pretty thing? Its fine if you do. It’s not like you just read that question out loud or anything, so don’t feel embarrassed. Go on. Admit it. Do it. You know who doesn’t mind people knowing they know they’re pretty things? The Pretty Things. Be like them and go see them at The Corner Hotel on Tuesday December 4 and The Caravan Club on December 13 and 14. Yeah baby, yeah. BADGERS Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 9:30pm. BUZZ KULL + B. DEEP + HYPERBOREA + STRAYLIGHT Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $5. CAT OR PILLAR + AUXILLA + BEAR THE MAMMOTH + MILK + THE MERCURY THEATRE Ruby’s Lounge, Belgrave. 8:00pm. $10. CHARLOTTE NICDAO + JAMES MOLONEY + OH PEP! Wesley Anne, Northcote. 2:58pm. CIRCLES + AURAL WINDOW + CAULFIELD + EVACUATE THE FALLEN John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 8:30pm. $18. COTTON SIDEWALK + BROOKE RUSSELL + EASY PLEASE + THE KILNIKS Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm. DAVE HAVEA Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 5:30pm. ENGINE THREE SEVEN + GLASS EMPIRE + SWERVE + THE VILLAIN EPIC Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $12. GAY PARIS + STIFFYS + THE PEEP TEMPEL Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. HEAVY BEACH (10” LAUNCH) + ATOLLS + LOWTIDE + NITE FIELDS Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $10. HOWLIN STEAM TRAIN Elsternwick Hotel, Elwood.
JACKSON MCLAREN Love. It’s a doo-zee of a thing. Jackson Mclaren knows about love in all its triumphant pain and glory. He sings about it and sometimes, when you watch him sing about love, you fall in love. He is launching his EP Walk Along The Wire at Gertrude’s Brown Couch with his band The Triple Threat on Thursday November 29. The Falls will be there too. They used to be in love. Love it. 9:30pm. INCA ROADS MUSIC FESTIVAL - FEAT: BANGS + CANYONS + 8 BIT LOVE + ALBERT SALT + ANIMAUX + ELECTRIC SEA SPIDER + GALAPAGOOSE + I’LLS + THE MCQUEENS + WILLOW BEATS Inca Roads Music Festival Site, Mt Edgeton. 8:00pm. JORDIE LANE + LIZ STRINGER + RYAN NICO Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm. $20. KIM SALMON & THE SURREALISTS Tago Mago, Thornbury. 9:00pm. KINDRED FESTIVAL OF SURF - FEAT: GOOFYFOOTER + BEWARE! BLACK HOLES + FRESHWET Kindred Street Front Space, Yarraville. 8:00pm. $10. LA BASTARD + DJ COMMISSION FLATS + MIGHTIEST OF GUNS + SUN GOD REPLICA Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10. LIVEWIRE + THE FORTUNATE SONS Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm. $10. MASSIVE + 12FU + KILL SHOT + NICHOLAS ACQUROFF + THE CORSAIRS + THE MERCY KILLS Espy, St Kilda. 6:30pm. MIDNIGHT WOOLF + HUMBUG + THE YARD APES +
THE PUBLIC BAR 238 VICTORIA ST, NORTH MELBOURNE WED - SAT 2PM - 3AM
BAND ROOM RE-OPENED!!! WEDNESDAY 28TH NOVEMBER SUZUKI NIGHT MARKETS:
HAYLEY COUPER BAND ALI E BAND CABIN INN 8PM FREE
74 JOHNSTON ST FITZROY 9417 4155
www.theoldbar.com.au OPEN EVERY DAY 2PM - 3AM FREE WI FI
Wednesday 28th November
PLAGUE DOCTOR MAJOR TOM & THE ATOMS RICH DAVIES
8:30PM FREE
Thursday 29th November
THURSDAY 29TH NOVEMBER
MOTHER & SON THE YARD APES MESSED UP 8:30PM $8
NEON & VENOM RAYGUN MORTLOCK (BRIS) KILLING LIARS
8:30PM $10
Friday 30th November
LA BASTARD
FRIDAY 30TH NOVEMBER
THE SPINNING ROOMS NIKKO JIMMY TAIT 8:30PM $10 DJ RUARI FANGIN’(PBS)
SATURDAY 1ST DECEMBER
THE HARLOTS - LAUNCH BAYOU BLACK FOX 8:30PM $10 DJ DEL AMP
SUN GOD REPLICA MIGHTIEST OF GUNS DJ COMMISSION FLATS
8:30PM $10
Saturday 1st December
RICHIE 1250 & THE BRIDES OF CHRIST - LAUNCH THE MURLOCS THE NIGHT PARTY ELVIS ANGELS SUPER WILD HORSES DJ’S
8:30PM $10
Sunday 2nd December
THE DEATH RATTLES MOTHER & SON THE RUBY BOOTS DJ MATT STABS
8PM $6
Monday 3rd December
UNPAVED PRESENTS:
FREE POOL ALL DAY AND NIGHT CHEAP JUGS TIL 8PM
SONGWRITER SESSIONS
W/ CHARLES JENKINS, KIMBERLY CLEMENS, NICK O’MARA, BBQ, CHEAP JUGS ALL NIGHT 8PM $7
Tuesday 4th December
for bookings: bandbookings@theoldbar.com.au
BULLS
8PM FREE
band bookings: bandbookings@theoldbar.com.au
SUBMIT YOUR GIGS TO GIGGUIDE@BEAT.COM.AU
Beat Magazine Page 67
Deaf Wish
SAN CISCO San Cisco’s hold on youthful indie grooves is so strong that fully grown adults the world over are reliving their more pimply years through this exceptionally talented band. They’re playing The Corner Hotel on Saturday December 1 and Sunday December 2 (under 18s show) to launch their new single Wild Things and you’re invited! Don’t be the only kid in the playground that didn’t go.
THE LAST RIDE AT PONY Not once, but twice, in the last two days I have asked two of my friends, all bright-eyed and curious, “Where did you end up after the NGV on Friday night?” and both times the answer has been, “At Pony......at the 2am show.....with you.” I can’t even fathom the amount of times this exact conversation must have happened in this city. Pony rules. The fact that it’s closed for the immediate future sucks. There’s one last ride in the old gal left though, and it’s a corker. From midday Saturday December 1 to midday Sunday December 2, Pony are serving up 24 hours of their favourite bands and probably spilling some beers onto the carpet. Bands include Deaf Wish, The Onyas, The Bonniwells, Yis, Fathoms, and fucking tonnes more, but it’s sold out. Sorry. Salute, Pony.
REEL BIG FISH I listened to Why Do They Rock So Hard? on my discman so much in 1998 that when this tour was announced I hurriedly streamed it for the first time in over ten years and still pretty much knew every word to every song. I felt awake. I felt young. In that moment, I was infinite. And so on. Ska punk is heaps of fun, and Reel Big Fish with Zebreahead and Goldfinger is going to be a rad show. It’s Sunday December 2 at The Palace. TILLER Palais, Hepburn Springs. 8:00pm. $5. MILES AWAY + CRUEL HAND + HOPELESS + THE OTHERS + WARBRAIN Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $25. MUNRO MELANO + MECHANICAL PTERADACTYL + THE SKIES Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8:00pm. $10. NEIGHBOURHOOD YOUTH (EP LAUNCH) + PRIVATE LIFE + SUNK JUNK Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $10. PONY’S LAST SLAM - FEAT: A MILLION DEAD BIRDS LAUGHING + ICONIC VIVISECT + THE MUNG + THE SEAORD MONSTER + WHORETOPSY Pony, Melbourne. 8:00pm. RICK ASTLEY + CHANTOOZIES + WA WA NEE Palace Theatre, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $80. ROSE TATTOO + FINE ART DEALER + JACKSON FIREBIRD Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully. 8:30pm. $30. SHAPESHIFTER Forum Theatre, Melbourne. 8:00pm. $53.
Beat Magazine Page 68
SIGNALS IN SILENCE + ALEX ANONYMOUS + ANNA SALEN + PAINT ME A PHOENIX + TWSS Espy, St Kilda. 7:30pm. $12. SIMPLE MINDS & DEVO + DEVO + SIMPLE MINDS + THE CHURCH Palais Theatre, St Kilda. 7:00pm. SMUDGE + BANOFEE + SCOTDRAKULA Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $20. STEPH HILL & THE MISSING FUNDAMENTAL + DANN WEBB + DIANA’S BOW + LAUREN GLEZER + MARMOSET Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 8:00pm. $15. SUPER WILD HORSES + PAGEANTS + TEETH & TONGUE Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 9:00pm. $12. THE HIGH LEARYS + THE KAVE INN + THE PERFECTIONS Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. THE SPINNING ROOMS NIKKO JIMMY TAIT + DJ RAURI FANGIN’ + JIMMY TAIT + NIKKO The Public Bar, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $10. THE TIGER & ME + JIM KENYON Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine. 8:30pm. $12. THIS IS JUST A TRIBUTE - FEAT: THE AUSTRALIAN
QUEEN TRIBUTE SHOW + TENACIOUS CS + THE FAUX FIGHTERS Trak Lounge Bar, Toorak. 8:00pm. THRILLING TRUE STORIES Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 8:00pm. WHITE SUMMER + GUESTS OF GHOSTS + THE DARK FAIR Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $13.
JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC AND HE SANG + LITTLE FLAME & THE STRINGS WITHIN + NEVER THE EMPRESS 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. $10. DANY MAIA & THE DANIEL GASSIN TRIO Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 9:00pm. DECADANCE FOOD HALL & FASHION PARADE Decadence Food Hall, Melbourne. 7:00pm. $129. JAMES SHERLOCK TRIO Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. L7 TRIBUTE BAND + DEAD RIVER + I AM DUCKEYE Victoria Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. LAUREN BRUCE Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6:00pm. MARTIN MARTINI (THE VIENNA PROJECT) Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm.
SUBMIT YOUR GIGS TO GIGGUIDE@BEAT.COM.AU
SARITAH & EE’DA The B.east, Brunswick East. 9:00pm. $10. SIMON BURKE & THE MELTDOWN Bar Open, Fitzroy. 10:00pm. THE NORIA LETTS QUINTET Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. $20. THE PERCH CREEK FAMILY JUGBAND + THE BEARDED GYPSY BAND Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8:00pm. $20. TRIO AGOGO 303, Northcote. 6:00pm.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK ALEX WATTS & THE FOREIGN TONGUE + THE ATLANTIC FALL Penny Black, Brunswick. 9:30pm. CHRIS ALTMANN Basement Discs, Melbourne Cbd. 12:45pm. CHRIS WILSON Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 5:45pm. CRAIG WOODWARD’S FLYING ENGINE STRINGBAND Railway Hotel, Fitzroy North. 9:30pm. JUNES Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:30pm. LOCK STOCK’N GYPSIES + DONT GET LOST + RED LEADER + THE SPITTING SWALLOWS Gertrudes Brown Couch, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.
MATT KATSIS Elwood Lounge, Elwood. 9:00pm. MEG & PAU + CITRUS JAM Balaclava Hotel, Balaclava. 8:00pm. MILAN PERKINS Two Brothers Brewery, Moorabbin. 8:00pm. RAINDOGS + ZEEBZ VS. MISS VITULA Barleycorn Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. THE SUNDANZE KID + VALLEY OF THE DOLLS Pony, Melbourne. 7:00pm. THE TEK TEK ENSEMBLE Open Studio, Northcote. 9:00pm. WAYLON JOES DUO Highway 31, Brunswick. 7:30pm.
SATURDAY DEC 1 INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS BANG - FEAT: HANDS LIKE HOUSES + A BREACH OF SILENCE + WHO INVITED THE WOLF Royal Melbourne Hotel, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $20. BRUNSWICK STREET TO BOURBON STREET Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $20. CANOS + LILY & KING + WINTERLIGHTS John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 8:00pm. CLAMPDOWN Rochester Castle Hotel, Fitzroy. 10:00pm. DERN RUTLIDGE + MATT SONIC & THE HIGH TIMES Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $20. DV8 - FEAT: BIG D & THE KIDS TABLE + THE RESIGNATORS Cbd Club, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. $15. FESTMAS - FEAT: POUR HABIT + ANCHORS + CAVALCADE + CLOWNS + DARREN GIBSON + TAKE YOUR OWN + THE BENNIES + THE GUN RUNNERS + THE RAMSHAKLE ARMY Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $33. FLYYING COLOURS + THE LAUGHING LEAVES + THE OVALS + WARMTH CRASHES IN Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. GOOD HUSTLE - FEAT: WORLD’S END PRESS + COLLARBONES Abbotsford Convent, Abbotsford. 8:00pm. GOSTI Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 4:00pm. HARRY HOWARD & THE NDE + GOLD TANGO + STU THOMAS PARADOX Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $10. HELLBRINGER + BLACK JESUS + MANIAXE + THRALL + WITCH HAMMER Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $12. HIPSHAKER - FEAT: THE HIGH LEARY’S + DJ SOOSIE WONG + DJ SYE SAXON The Luwow, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $10. INCA ROADS MUSIC FESTIVAL - FEAT: BANGS + CANYONS + 8 BIT LOVE + ALBERT SALT + ANIMAUX + ELECTRIC SEA SPIDER + GALAPAGOOSE + I’LLS + THE MCQUEENS + WILLOW BEATS Inca Roads Music Festival Site, Mt Edgeton. 8:00pm. KERRYN FEILDS Thornbury Local, Thornbury. 10:00pm. KING HORN LEG HORN + SCARAMOUCHE Penny Black, Brunswick. 9:30pm. KING PARROT + EXTORTION + INTERNAL NIGHTMARE + THE DAY EVERYTHING BECAME NOTHING Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. $15. KUTCHA EDWARDS Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine. 8:30pm. LAMARAMA (EP LAUNCH) + GHOST ORKID Bar Open, Fitzroy. 10:00pm. MADDER LAKE St Andrews Hotel, St Andrews. 9:00pm. $20. MILES AWAY + AWAY FROM NOW + CRUEL HAND + SXWZD + THE OTHERS Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 7:30pm. MISS INK AUSTRALIA FINAL - FEAT: SUNSET RIOT + MASSIVE Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm. $20. MONEY FOR ROPE + BIG HARVEST + FRASER A GORMAN Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong. 8:30pm. $10. MONEY FOR ROPE (ALBUM LAUNCH) + FRASER A GORMAN Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $12. MONSTERS OF ROCK - FEAT: KISSTROYER + APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION + AUS BON JOVI SHOW + DOORS OF PERCEPTION + HIGH VOLTAGE + LOS AMIGOS The Hi-fi, Melbourne. 6:00pm. $29.
PAUL COLMAN (OUR BACKYARD TOUR) + ADAM AGEE + SCOTT DARLOW Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury. 8:00pm. $23. PERICO Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 8:00pm. RICHIE 1250 & THE BRIDES OF CHRIST + ELVIS ANGELS + SUPER WILD HORSES DJ’S + THE MURLOCS + THE NIGHT PARTY Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10. ROSENCRANTS + DJ ADALITA + THE NAYSAYERS Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 10:00pm. SAN CISCO (THE WILD THINGS TOUR) + CHELA + THE PREATURES Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:30pm. $20. SHAUN KIRK + HALFWAY TO FORTH + JEN KNIGHT & THE CAVALIERS Ruby’s Lounge, Belgrave. 8:00pm. $15. SKYSCRAPER STAN & THE COMMISSION FLATS The B.east, Brunswick East. 9:00pm. STRADA9 + ADMIRAL ACKBAR’S DISHONOURABLE DISCHARGE + SLOWJAXXX & HIS FLYING BONG BROTHERS Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm. $12. SUMMER OF CLASSICS - FEAT: SMUDGE Pure Pop Courtyard, St Kilda. 4:00pm. $10. TEQUILA MOCKINGBIRD + ROBID ZULU + TWO HEADED DOG Idgaff Bar & Venue, Abbotsford. 8:00pm. THE B.EAST GARAGE SALE - FEAT: FOX ROAD The B.east, Brunswick East. 12:00pm. THE BUSHWACKERS Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury. 8:00pm. $18. THE CANING + BERLIN POSTMARK + THE PASS OUTS Prince Public Bar, St Kilda. 9:00pm. THE ENGAGEMENT + FINDING ALICE + SCARLAR FIELDS + STOLEN FIELDS + THE WINTERS Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm. THE FROWNING CLOUDS + JEREMY NEALE + SUPER WILD HORSES + WINTER MOON Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm. THE GOOD HUSTLE - WORLDS END PRESS AND COLLARBONES - FEAT: WORLD’S END PRESS + COLLARBONES Abbotsford Convent, Abbotsford. 6:00pm. THE GREASY HAWAIIANS + THE VOLCANIKS Great Britain Hotel, Richmond. 9:00pm. THE HARLOTS + BAYOU + BLACK FOX + DJ DEL AMP The Public Bar, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $10. THE KNOCKS + 96 BULLS + ALISON WONDERLAND + CARL FOX Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $25. THE LAST RIDE AT PONY - FEAT: DEAF WISH + EUPHORIACS + FATHOMS + TEENAGE MOTHERS + THE ONYAS + THE THOD + THE WHITE GOODS + WOLFPACK + YIS Pony, Melbourne. 12:00pm. THE PAUL KIDNEY EXPERIENCE + ELIZABETH PISTOL CLUB + WONDERLUST Tago Mago, Thornbury. 9:00pm. THE SKAMPZ + DOVES & ARROWS + THE OTHERSIDE + TOM RULE Mount Dandenong Hotel, Olinda. 2:00pm. THE STONE MOGGERS + MUSTERD + ROSENCRANTS + UNICYCLE INVENTORS Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm. TINKER MOUSTACHA + THE TAYLOR PROJECT Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 9:00pm. VICE GRIP PUSSIES Prince Public Bar, St Kilda. 8:00pm. WILL & THE PEOPLE + BRISCOE Workers Club, Fitzroy. 10:00pm. $15.
Preston. 7:00pm. TINPAN ORANGE Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $25.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK BAKERSFIELD GLEE CLUB Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 5:00pm. BENI SMITH Elwood Lounge, Elwood. 9:00pm. KID GARRETT Bebida, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. LONE TYGER Victoria Hotel, Brunswick. 10:00pm. LUCY LEHMANN & WILDFLOWERS Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:30pm. LYREBIRD FAREWELL - FEAT: IZZY COX Lyrebird Lounge, Ripponlea. 8:00pm. MOONEE VALLEY DRIFTERS + GABRIELLA Highway 31, Brunswick. 7:30pm. OL TIMEY STRING BAND Victoria Hotel, Brunswick. 4:00pm. PERCH CREEK FAMILY JUG BAND + RUBY BOOTS + THE BEARDED GYPSY BAND Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $15. PHIL MANNING St Andrews Hotel, St Andrews. 1:00pm. PHIL PARA BAND Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm. $10. SATURDAY ACOUSTIC REVUE - FEAT: LA NOUVELLE + WILD HONEY PIE + JIMMY DANIEL Chandelier Room, Moorabbin. 8:00pm. $10. SHANNON BOURNE BAND Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. TERRY MCCARTHY SPECIAL Town Hall Hotel (north Melbourne), North Melbourne. 6:00pm. THE CHRIS ALTMANN REVUE + HENRY WAGONS + LIZ STRINGER + SUZANNEH ESPIE + VAN WALKER Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8:00pm. $22. THE SIDESHOW BRIDES Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 4:00pm. WILD TURKEY Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm. WIRED Elsternwick Hotel, Elwood. 9:30pm.
SUNDAY DEC 2 INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ARTIST PROOF + MEL CALIA Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm. CHRISTOPHER COLEMAN COLLECTIVE + ATLUK + DARK MATTER OF STORY TELLING + JACKSON THORNTON John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 8:00pm. FATTI FRANCES (SWEATY LAUNCH) + ASPS + FALSE MATURITY + MOON DICE Gasometer Hotel, Colling-
wood. 8:00pm. HEART BREAKERS & PANTY SHAKERS Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 4:00pm. HUMBUG - FEAT: HUM BUG + KID ORY + TILLER Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. HVRS + THE RUSTY CUTLERY CONDUCTORS Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 2:00pm. JORDIE LANE + LIZ STRINGER + RYAN NICO Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 2:00pm. $20. JUXTPOSE + THE PRIMARY COLOURS + VIRTUAL PROXIMITY Idgaff Bar & Venue, Abbotsford. 8:00pm. LOVE MIGRATE + JIMMY TAIT Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $10. OMAR RODRIGUEZ LOPEZ GROUP + A DEAD FOREST INDEX + FOX SUI Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm. $35. PLYMOUTH REVERENDS + RPGS Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. POUR HABIT + DECLARATION + HIGHTIME + TOTALLY UNICORN + UP & ATOM Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 5:00pm. $20. REEL BIG FISH + GOLDFINGER + ZEBRAHEAD Palace Theatre, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. RETURN TO YOUTH (SAIL AWAY LAUNCH) + SEVEN YEAR ITCH + TANE EMIA-MOORE + THE DARJEELINGS Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 1:30pm. $6. ROB FARNHAM Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 8:00pm. SAN CISCO (THE WILD THINGS TOUR UNDER 18S) + CHELA + THE PREATURES Corner Hotel, Richmond. 12:30pm. $20. SPACE CACTUS + CREAKS + GLASS BRICKS Bar Open, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. SWAMP MOTH + THE UNDERHANDED Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 4:00pm. $5. THE DEATH RATTLES + DJ MATT STABS + MOTHER & SON + THE RUBY BOOTS Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $6. THE DESERTERS + DAVEY LANE Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 5:00pm. THE LUAU COWBOYS Victoria Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm. VOODOO SWAMP DADDIES + REPROBETTES Tago Mago, Thornbury. 4:00pm. WATERLINE + PHILLIP & SUBURBAN COCOON + TEMPLE OF TUNES 303, Northcote. 2:30pm. YOUNG GUNS FESTIVAL - FEAT: ANTI-VIOLET + BRUTAL ASSAULT + KAYLA BORG + THE ARCANE FOLLOWING + BLACK REVOLVER + KAITLYN THOMAS + KARMA OF A VANDAL + LONEFREE + NO BREAK AVENUE + NO SENSE OF DIRECTION + SEACHING FOR SOLSTICE + SITUATION DESPERATE + TOM DE ROSE + TOXIC DAZE Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury. 2:00pm. $15.
JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC JULIEN WILSON QUARTET Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. MEGAN BERNARD + CAT CANTERI 303, Northcote. 9:00pm. $10. SWING TRAIN Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. $20. THE BOYS Wesley Anne, Northcote. 5:30pm. THE DOROTHY-JANE GOSPER BAND Palais, Hepburn Springs. 8:30pm. $20. THE JOE CHINDAMO TRIO Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 9:00pm. $20. THE SECOND LINE - FEAT: DANE CERTIFICATE + RACHAEL BYRNES + SOMEONE ELSE’S WEDDING BAND + THE ORBWEAVERS The Parlour Studios,
SUBMIT YOUR GIGS TO GIGGUIDE@BEAT.COM.AU
Beat Magazine Page 69
CLASSIFIEDS
33c PER WORD PER WEEK (INC GST) • Send your classified listing information to Beat Magazine at 3 Newton St, Richmond 3121 with a cheque, money order or credit card number (including expiry date and name on card, NOT AMEX or DINERS) (1.5% surcharge on Visa and MasterCard) OR deliver it yourself with cash OR you can email your classifieds to us - classifieds@beat.com.au with credit card details • DEADLINE IS THURSDAY 5pm, prior to Wednesdays publication • Minimum $5 charge per week. We do NOT accept classifieds over the phone - sorry.
BATTLE OF THE BANDS. Registration now, starts wednesday the 28th and every wednesday after for 8 week (less the 26th & the 2nd). First prize: recording time in a studio. Call Jesse 0411 803 579 DRUMMER WANTED for studio recording 15-25 January. Must be able to play pop/rock & reggae. Must have good gear and transport. Will pay cash. 0434 300 959 VENUE IN FITZROY IS SEEKING BANDS in style of acoustic, funk, soul, rock-a-billy. Please send demo to drink@the86.com.au
MUSICIANS WANTED ACOUSTIC ACTS WANTED for Bar Betty in Smith Street, Fitzroy. Paid Gig. Please phone Sandra or Michelle on 9417 3937. Bar Betty - 129 Smith Street, Fitzroy. BASS PLAYER WANTED for studio recording 15-25 January. Must be able to play pop/rock & reggae. Must have good gear and transport. Will pay cash. 0434 300 959 .
JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ALANNA & ALICIA Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. BLACK JESUS EXPERIENCE The Horn African Music Lounge, Collingwood. 7:00pm. DIVINA PROVIDENCIA + AMY GANTER & THE LOVE & SQUALORS Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8:00pm. JAYNE IN + RASHI + RIV & THE WHITE GUYS 303, Northcote. 7:30pm. $5. NUDIST FUNK ORCHESTRA + BAD BOYS BATACUDA + MS BUTT + THE DALE RYDER BAND Espy, St Kilda. 5:30pm. QUARTER STREET ORCHESTRA The Night Cat, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. THE BEN CARR TRIO Open Studio, Northcote. 5:00pm. THE NORTH EAST COLLECTIVE Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $15.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK 8 BALL AITKEN Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 4:00pm. ACOUSTIC SUNDAY SESSIONS @ TRUNK - FEAT: WILLOW DARLING + BEN WRIGHT SMITH & SUKI & OSH + SKYSCRAPER STAN Trunk, Melbounre. 4:00pm. BIG GOSPEL BREAKFAST - FEAT: TRACEY MILLER & THE SINNERMEN Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8:00pm. $20. CHARLES JENKINS + ART STARR Carringbush Hotel,
SERVICES DRUMMER AVALIABLE for live & studio. Australian experience (Angus Stone, Gossling) & European (Bo, Dictafone). Duncan 0466 333 490 * DJ AGENCY SEEKING EVENT MANGERS, promoters and party organisers to work with. Text 0411 024 794 FREE VENUE HIRE - Fully stocked bar - Huge capacity, Abbotsford. 4:00pm. CHRIS WILSON + CHRIS RUSSELL’S CHICKEN WALK + DEAN MULLER + DJ MAX CRAWDADDY Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 2:00pm. DAN WARNERS’ CORNER BBQ BAND + MARTY KELLY & AUBURY MAHER Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 5:30pm. FREYA HANLY + LOREN Workers Club, Fitzroy. 1:30pm. $10. HOWLIN’ STEAM TRAIN + THE HARLOTS Wheelers Hill Hotel, Wheelers Hill. 8:00pm. JACK CARTY Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 4:00pm. JAMS Musicland, Fawkner. 8:00pm. JOE OPPENHEIMER’S SMALL BAND Barleycorn Hotel, Collingwood. 5:00pm. MATT DWYER Elwood Lounge, Elwood. 3:00pm. MICHAEL SPIBY Bay Hotel, Mornington. 3:00pm. MICK HAYNES TRIO Great Britain Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm. RAISED BY EAGLES Standard Hotel, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. RICH DAVIES Prince Public Bar, St Kilda. 4:00pm. ROESY + WAZ E JAMES Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 4:00pm. RORY ELLIS St Andrews Hotel, St Andrews. 3:00pm. SEAN MCMAHON’S WESTERN UNION Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine. 4:00pm. SONGWRITERS IN THE ROUND Wesley Anne, Northcote. 2:00pm. $8. SUMMER OF CLASSICS - FEAT: JACK HOWARD Pure Pop Courtyard, St Kilda. 4:00pm. SUPER XX MAN + KIKUYU Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 7:00pm. $5.
whole venue or partial. Call Jesse 0411 803 579
+ BEAT PRESENT... EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCED BAND BOOKER WANTED. If you’re experienced in booking bands and want to work with an experienced well known venue booker at a great venue in Melbourne’s music heartland then send us an email. Let us know a bit about yourself, what type of bands you’ve booked, where, contacts you have and how long you have been in the game and importantly what you may be able to bring. Be quick. Send email to: shimgapi@gmail.com FLAUNT IT. Internationally acclaimed producer of profeminist erotica looking for confident, adult women to smash the stereotypes and earn good money ($400 and up). Don’t overlook this til you’ve found out more about it. Jessica 9495 6555 or www.feck.com. WE WANT EVERYONE Promoters, Bands, DJs Revitalised bar, The Barley Corn, has reopened its doors 7 days a week and we want YOU. Call Jesse 0411 803 579 SWAMPLANDS Penny Black, Brunswick. 5:00pm. TERRY HART Elwood Lounge, Elwood. 6:30pm. THE HIRED GUNS Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 5:00pm. THE THREE KINGS + BEN SALTER + THE DOROTHYJANE GOSPER BAND Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 6:00pm. VAUDEVILLE SMASH + CHARLOTTE NICDAO Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $12. WIKIMEN Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 4:00pm.
MONDAY DEC 3 INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS BLONDIE Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne. 8:00pm. CHERRY JAM Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. MONDAY NIGHT MASS - FEAT: TANTRUMS + CONSTANT LIGHT + HOW LOVE Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 6:00pm. ZOOPHYTE + TOM TUENA Espy, St Kilda. 8:30pm.
JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN &AMP; WORLD MUSIC BENNETTS LANE BIG BAND Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. DIVINA PROVIDENCIA Felix, St Kilda. 9:00pm. SLUMBER RACE + MINGUS THINGUS 303, Northcote. 9:00pm. $8.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK SONGWRITER SESSIONS - FEAT: CHARLES JENKINS + KIMBERLY CLEMENS + NICK O’MARA Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $7.
TUESDAY DEC 4 INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ABBIE CARDWELL & CHICANO ROCKERS Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $15. BRUNSWICK HOTEL DISCOVERY NIGHT Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. COLLAGE Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm. MELBOURNE FRESH INDUSTRY SHOWCASE Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm. $15. MISSY HIGGINS + GURRUMUL Palais Theatre, St Kilda. 7:00pm. PLAYWRITE + CARL FOX + KIKUYU Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $10. RED X Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. THE PRETTY THINGS Corner Hotel, Richmond. 7:30pm. $49. THE PROMISES Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:30pm. THE STRANGLERS Billboard, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.
JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC MAKE IT UP CLUB Bar Open, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. PRESHIL Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8:00pm. $14. THE ELLA THOMPSON TRIO Open Studio, Northcote. 8:00pm. THE WILLOW NEILSON QUINTET Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK CHRIS ALTMANN Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. ILDIKO (ALBUM LAUNCH) + J WALKER + JIM PATTERSON Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 7:30pm. $10. KLUB MUK 303, Northcote. 7:30pm. OPEN MIC Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 8:30pm. OPEN MIC Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8:00pm. OPEN MIC Prince Public Bar, St Kilda. 7:00pm. RYAN WEST Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
Beat Magazine Page 70
SUBMIT YOUR GIGS TO GIGGUIDE@BEAT.COM.AU
whatson@thepush.com.au
ACCESS ALL AGES Wednesday November 28th, 2012 With Ruth Mihelcic
Where did this year go? December’s here already, and Christmas is just around the corner along with some brutal hot weather and some rad festivals/ events Get online at www.thepush.com.au to check out the gig guide, we’ve got too much news to list any this week. If you’re in Castlemaine this weekend, make your way to the skate park from 10am – 4pm for the 2 THE XTREME skate party. They’ve got something for everyone here - on Saturday there will be a skate and BMX competition (entries close today!), best skills comp for scooters, jumping castle and bbq, with performances by Melbourne skater and singer Scott Cain, local band Durt, and the Projex Parkour Crew. Sunday’s line up will have free workshops and competitions, one on one battles in break dance and hip hop, crew competitions, emcee rap battles, and special guest performances by Burn Squad, Projex DJ Ez and more. For more info give Sarah Cook a call on 0402 087 949 or check out xtremeinc.org. For those among us with a creative flair geared towards street and graff art, check out Signal’s Street Art Mentoring workshops in Melbourne’s Union Lane on December 15 and 16. You’ll get the chance to explore paste-ups, spray-can graffiti, stencil and murals with artists from the Blender Studios. It’s free but you’ll need to book your spot online at melbourne.vic.gov.au/Signal. Signal’s also got something on for those who like to dance! Dance Like Everybody is Watching is a social media viral-video dance project presented by us here at The Push. Learn a choreographed hip hop dance routine via YouTube, film your crew performing the routine in your school/uni/ workplace/neighbourhood, upload it and join us in creating Melbourne’s own hip hop flash mob at Signal on December 22 at 3pm. There’s an Expression of Interest program and a mailing list you can join if you want to stay updated with these cool events too. Send your deets to signal@ melbourne.vic.gov.au to get on it. If you’re looking to get work in the entertainment industry, check out Entertainment Emporium. They arrange entertainment for corporate functions, dinners, parties, product launches, conferences, seminars, awards nights, birthdays and weddings. Their folio ranges from dance acts, circus acts, bands, DJ’s, stilt walkers, live art, children’s entertainment, roller skating acts and more. If you’re interested in joining their agency as an act, and have some photos/videos and marketing material to send along, contact 0415 103 628 or email info@entertainmentemporium.com. au by this Friday. Another job opportunity closing on Friday is live quiz show ‘We Should Know Better’ looking for writers, a promotions manager and an online manager. Position descriptions are available at weshouldknowbetter.com, email contact@ weshouldknowbetter.com or call Peter Hayward on 0408 392 807. If you were planning on entering triple j Unearthed’s Big Day Out 2013 competition to score a spot on the line up, make sure you have youtr band’s tracks uploaded by Sunday to be in the running! Here’s something a little left field for the all ages scene… the 16th Japanese Film Festival is runs from this Thursday until next Sunday at Hoyts Cinema in Melbourne Central. They’ll be putting on a totally sweet line up of film and entertainment with over 40 Australian premieres of the latest Japanese cinema, some yet to be released. There are some free screenings available too, but check out japanesefilmfestival.net for all the details. That’s all folks!
THURSDAY NOV 29TH
CHRIS RUSSELL’S CHICKEN WALK
LIVE & ACOUSTIC FROM 8.30PM FINAL SHOW OF NOV RESIDENCY
GREAT BRITAIN HOTEL
THURS 29 NOVEMBER
SMOKY SEAS + SUPER FAT FRUIT + OBVIAN FROM 8PM
ST
SATURDAY DEC 1
BAKERSFIELD GLEE CLUB CLASSIC COUNTRY FROM 5 - 7 PM
SAT 1 DECEMBER
THE GREASY HAWAIIANS + THE VOLCANIKS FROM 9PM
SUNDAY DEC 2ND
THE HIRED GUNS 2 SETS FROM 5 -7 PM
SUN 2 DECEMBER
MIKE HAYNES TRIO FROM 8PM
WEEKLY ASSORTMENTS TH
TUESDAY DEC 4
CHRIS ALTMANN
3 WEEK ACOUSTIC RESIDENCY FROM 8.30 PM
MonDAYS
FREE POOL ALL NIGHT $10 PIZZA & POT
TueSDAYS
MRS SMITH’S TRIVIA $10 PIZZA & POT 9PM
WEDNESDAYS
OPEN MIC NIGHT 9PM
447 CHURCH ST RICHMOND 9429 5066 www.greatbritainhotel.com.au
Wed. November 28th: wine, whiskey, women
8pm: Cookie Baker 9pm: Jenny Biddle Thurs. November 29th:
8pm: Zeon (Ireland) 9pm: Waylon Joes Fri. November 30th:
6pm: Trad. Irish music session with Dan Bourke & Friends Sat. December 1st:
9pm: Tinker Moustacha & The Taylor Project Sun. December 2nd:
4PM: Waz E James 6.30PM: Roesy Tues. December 4th:
8PM: Weekly Trivia The Drunken Poet, 65 Peel Street (directly opposite Queen Vic Market), Phone: 03 9348 9797. www.thedrunkenpoet.com.au SUBMIT YOUR GIGS TO GIGGUIDE@BEAT.COM.AU
Beat Magazine Page 71
BACKSTAGE THE PLACE FOR MUSICIANS
for more information or ad bookings call Aleksei on 9428 3600
REHEARSAL PROFILE
VALLEY MUSIC
THIS SPACE COULD BE YOURS! CONTACT ALEKSEI ON 9428 3600 OR MIXDOWN@BEAT.COM.AU
Location: 5/9 Hightech Place, Lilydale VIC 3140 Hours of operation: Rehearsal studios operate from about 6pm ‘til midnight weekdays, 10.30am ‘til 5pm on Saturdays, and 11am ‘til 5pm on Sundays. The repair shop and retail store are open from 10am ‘til 6pm weekdays, 10am ‘til 5pm on Saturdays, and 11am ‘til 5pm on Sundays, however access to the repair and retail shop is available during the week throughout rehearsal studio hours (ie. 6pm – midnight). Rooms and facilities: 4 brand new rehearsal studios! Three of the studios are 4.2m x 4.9m in size, and the ‘deluxe suite’ is a huge 6.8m x 5.5m. All three have 400 watt PA systems, and the large room has a full monitor rig as well as front of house speakers. Shure Beta 58 and SM58 mics are provided (we can pretty much cater for any number of vocalists), and back-line hire is also available.
Live recording available: Live recording is available upon request in any of the rehearsal studios. We use a portable Pro-Tools / RME rig with a total of 10 simultaneous channels of hi-def recording, using some tasty microphones. You can walk away that evening with a live demo, or leave it with us to be mixed and mastered for a great quality demo CD. Instruments available for hire: We have various guitar and bass amps (mostly vintage stuff), and drum kits for hire in the rehearsal studios. All at very reasonable rates. Cost of rooms and special deals: The 3 regular rooms are $70 per night and the deluxe room is $85 per night. We also offer a special monthly deal: Book a whole month and pay for two weeks in advance and receive a regular room for $55 per night ($220 for the month), or the deluxe room for just $70 per night ($280 for the month). Subject to availability of course.
Parking and loading available?: Heaps of parking and roller-door access. No stairs! The way it should be! Extras: Don’t bother nicking down to Maccas or ordering a pizza, because at Valley, included in the rehearsal studio price is a complimentary BBQ dinner! Yep, snags all round! That’s how we roll at Valley Music. Of course there’s the usual complimentary tea and coffee thing too… In addition to the rehearsal studios, Valley Music also has a retail store, a music school (we teach drums, guitar, bass, piano, and singing), and a topnotch guitar repair workshop run by renowned guitar luthier Adam Cole.
Phone: (03) 9735 4025 Website: www.valleymusic.com.au E-mail: store@valleymusic.com.au
Toyland
Recording Studio
Toyland in Northcote for recording bands, singers or any other audio project Recording, Mixing and Mastering Call Adam Cal on 9482 2111 or 0412 060 664
18 Duffy street Burwood 3125
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PH: (03) 903 88101 M: 0417 000 397 Email: hydrastudios@bigpond.com
www.toyland.com.au
BACKSTAGE NOW RUNNING FULL COLOUR! Beat Magazine Page 72
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10 large and identical 30m2 rooms Air-con and ventilation in PA/foldback combos at 1000w Storage and every room Acoustic Engineer-designed soundproofing amp/kit hire
BACKSTAGE: BEAT’S ONE STOP SHOP FOR MUSICIANS
TRAVEL PACK
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PHOTOGRAPHIC AND VIDEO STUDIO Pro & Conc. Rates Available For Photographic, Music Video & Band Shoots Starting From $150 Multi-Purpose Change & Makeup Room Grip & Lighting gear available Communal Lounge & Wireless Internet Excellent on-site parking CONTACT: CY -ARTISTIC DIRECTOR- 0401 379 973 9687 0233 w w w . t h e w h i t e r o o m . n e t . a u
PA HIRE
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www.bssound.com.au bssound@bigpond.com
571 High Street Preston VIC 3072 Tel (03) 9471 1023 Fax (03) 9471 1919 Internet: www.jamhutstudios.com
Guitars and Amps wanted Top CA$H Paid
Clean and fully ventilated rooms with professional equipment. Complimentary tea & coffee.
REHEARSAL
Expert Guitar & Amp Repairs Mods & Restoration Fast Turnaround Affordable Rates Technicians on site
3 hr sessions from $40 6 hr sessions from $65 RECORDING
$60 per hour, ProTools HD with engineer
Vocal PA’s from $80, amplifiers and drumkits available.
CD with 2 PAGE INSERT in PVC (sleeve)
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313 – 315 Whitehorse Rd BALWYN 3103 Phone: 03 9888 6899 www.eastgatemusic.com
EQUIPMENT HIRE
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LIVE
Photos Richard Sharman
Photo Charles Newbury
GOBLIN Wednesday November 21, Melbourne Town Hall
COLDPLAY Tuesday November 14, Etihad Stadium Following in the footsteps of their heroes U2, Coldplay created a stadium spectacular in the sold out Etihad stadium. On what would have otherwise been a quiet Tuesday night in Melbourne, Coldplay’s massive hits along with a bang of fireworks echoed throughout the Docklands. The band connected with their fans through light up wrist bands which turned the stadium into a sea of twinkling colours at various points in their performance. The beginning of the concert was marked with fireworks, a massive light show on stage as well as lasers shooting across the stadium and bouncing off the seating banks. This was, of course, followed by a flood of confetti as Chris Martin’s sweet voice filled the stadium with the familiar lyrics of In My Place. The band stroked the egos of their rampant fans by labelling them “the best in the world”. Their set list to catered for all Coldplay fans, from the most recent to the old school with early track Warning Sign included. It was a pleasant change to see the band’s front man really soaking up the unbridled enthusiasm from the massive 62,500 person crowd when in the past he might have recoiled from the band’s massive impact. Their latest album Mylo Xyloto was well received and Princess of China featured an Asian inspired video of Rihanna. And of course Paradise, their first single to hit number one in the Australian charts. Martin was already dripping with sweat and ready to change into his second T-shirt as he sat down at the paint covered piano to sing The Scientist, a crowd favourite that had the whole stadium singing or in tears.... or both. The effect of all of the lights, fireworks and confetti at the beginning of the concert made for a visceral overload that left the crowd salivating for more. They blended seamlessly between tracks from various albums that
seemed worlds apart. Coloured balloons went across the moshpit as the insanely vivacious Lovers In Japan was played, followed by giant light up inflatables popping up around the stadium in the theme of their latest Mylo Xyloto album. Martin thanked the crowd for paying the high ticket prices and coming out on a Tuesday night to see their concert with the humility of a guy from a band just playing in their garage. Overall, they promised an amazing show and they delivered with their final songs Fix You, Clocks and Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall absolutely bringing the house down. The concert was nothing short of breathtaking with the onslaught of audio and visual effects that stirred up the senses and created a truly electric atmosphere. Every single person who left the stadium did so with a massive smile etched on their face from the bands infectious joy and genuine love for their fans. Credit must also be given to their supporting Australian band The Temper Trap who unleashed their incredibly different sound over an enthusiastic pre-show audience. With massive hits such as Sweet Disposition, Trembling Hands and Love Was Lost, it’s no wonder Coldplay chose them to build up the crowd in anticipation for what would surely be one of the greatest concert experiences to date. EMILY MACFARLANE LOVED: How sweaty Chris Martin got. HATED: The “singing” from the woman beside me (more like a cat being strangled). DRANK: A coconut water in respect to Chris Martin’s yoga instructing hobby.
THE WAR ON DRUGS Tuesday November 13, Northcote Social Club There’s a lot of stuff for music-lovers to try to catch this time of year and it’s nigh on impossible to do it all. That a band like The War On Drugs fall at the bottom of a Harvest Festival lineup list in small font says a lot about the quality of international and local acts on tap, but the fast sellout for this Tuesday night gig showed that a dedicated mass were not going to let this Philadelphia band’s sideshow pass them by. There are pros and cons to the War On Drugs experience. Actually, it’s all pros to me, though Adam Granduciel’s vocal wanderings as a live performer can lack the emotive kick of his recordings. It’s great to get a different perspective on things in the live setting, though. Otherwise, shouldn’t we just all stay home and listen to the albums? The big thrill of the band’s contrasting live show is the muscular boost applied to the music, twisting songs that are hypnotic and heady into something raw and electrifying. Their opening song, Brothers is a good example of this transformation; given a looser, Dylanesque vocal interpretation and a more jagged guitar delivery. It’s simultaneously familiar and like meeting a
new friend. Their softer side came through a little more toward the end of the night’s set, via songs like Black Water Falls and Buenos Aires Beach. It’s something of a challenge typing up this review on a Sunday morning, in the haze of an epic, impeccable Radiohead concert. Yet it’s a welcome reminder of how affecting the smaller, more intimate gigs from lesserknown international acts can be. Local support was on form too, with Terrible Truths wearing their influences on their T-shirts (Love of Diagrams, Gang Of Fours), but using their spiky dual vocals to meld their music into a beast all of its own. CHRIS GIRDLER LOVED: Best Night and Arms Like Boulders were the standouts from a strong set. HATED: The annoying, though slightly endearing ‘biggest War on Drugs fans ever’ talking through the more ambient parts. DRANK: My benevolent editor bought me a pint.
A few minutes after arriving at the Melbourne Town Hall, we found ourselves in a queue to the bar. At least, it seemed to be a queue, beginning at the make-shift bar secreted at the rear of the room, and snaking around into a horseshoe shape. But was it a queue? The people immediately in front of us weren’t sure, and no-one seemed to be falling into line after us. When, after seeing other punters approach the bar without recourse to the queue, I wandered down parallel to the queue, only to be rebuked sharply for not adhering to queuing protocol. By the time we were served, the apparent queue had disappeared; there never really was a queue. That wasn’t the highlight of tonight’s gig, but it did provide a suitable conceptual context. Goblin, the legendary Italian prog-rock outfit of yore, was in town for the first time, playing the equally impressive Melbourne Town Hall, complete with 29 pipe grand organ as part of Melbourne Music Week. The concept was perfect – and an intriguing concept can go a long way. We missed Night Terrors for reasons not germane to this review; suffice to say, we were celebrating a life well lived, and someone always loved, and forever missed. Consistent with the intensely pluralist nature of subjective musical experience, subsequent reports were mixed: it was either a transfixing experience, or nothing to write home about, depending on your source. Thematica, a supergroup of sorts featuring members of the Midnight Juggernauts, The Smallgoods, Lost Animal, Pikelet and Architecture In Helskini, took full advantage of the acoustics, and the grand organ, to perform various movie tracks, including the theme to Midnight Express, and the Star Wars cantina song. The only thing missing was John Williams – not to be confused with that
bloke that Steve Waugh likes – and a lavish orchestral accompaniment. Goblin is best known for its cinematic associations of yore, most notably the soundtrack to the ‘70s film Suspiria. Like the best progressive rock, Goblin finds a riff, sits on it, and turns it inside out. The sound is one aspect of the composite aesthetic; it’s a casual walk down a rural road, an inebriated late night thrash at a favourite rock club, a reflective emotional moment. It all holds together like a multi-dimensional sonic collage. It’s weird, but inviting. Not surprising, it was Suspiria – delivered around threequarters of the way through the set tonight – that generated the most significant reception. An attempt by keyboard player Claudio Simonetti to start an audience sing-along ran foul of enigmatic local crowd custom; arms folded or not, it metaphorically brought the house down. Guitarist Massimo Morante barely utters a word all night, leaving his elaborate guitar licks to do all the conversing. Simonetti scales the stairs to play the grand organ; we hoped he’d stay there, but sadly it’s only an occasional treat. The show ends on a crescendo of intensity: Tenebrae, Phenomena and the mesmerising Profondo Rosso. The band bows gracefully and the lights come on. The queue is a distant memory, and we’re all in a happy place. PATRICK EMERY LOVED: Claudio Simonetti on the grand organ. HATED: The bar set-up. DRANK: In open defiance of the regular logistical and transaction difficulties.
GRIZZLY BEAR Monday November 12, Billboard Performing support duties tonight, Kirin J Callinan made his third Melbourne appearance of 2012. He must be a real cunt to work with or something, as each respective appearance has featured an entirely different backing band. After an elongated showcase of his wonderfully stunted banter, Kirin played his haunting paedophileas-protagonist ballad Thighs in solo mode, with each sudden burst of guitar providing a startling jolt to the slightly bemused crowd gathered at the foot of the stage. Amongst that crowd was Chris Taylor, multiinstrumentalist for the headline act, who signed Kirin for a US deal through his own Terrible Records. After Thighs, Kirin welcomed onstage his band for the evening. They were very excellent, loosely complementing Mr Callinan’s role as teeth-gnashing loop-conductor. The set-closing rendition of W II W was a far-removed misfire from the studio original of one of the best tracks of the year. The sparse arrangement was stripped of the usual strobeaccompaniment, and fell well short with Evelyn Morris (of Pikelet, and also quite possibly the best drummer in Melbourne) making way on the kit for Super Wild Horses’ Amy Franz. The rudimentary kick-snare beat was an overwhelming distraction, if nothing else. Still, the bold experimentation works for the most part. Question is whether Kirin can resolve the creative dissonance before releasing his debut full-length next year? Or, do we even want him to? Billboard is a decidedly undersized venue for a band with the stature as Grizzly Bear. It also used to be a strip club. That historical factoid was threaded throughout
the night by co-lead singer Ed Droste. Kirin earlier got his kit off, as he is prone to do. Supplementary touring keyboardist Aaron Arntz became the second ever person to crowdsurf at a Grizzly Bear show, removing his shirt for a splendidly inappropriate stint above a sea of hands for the heartwrenching While You Wait For The Others. Then there was Ed groaning at his own shoehorned wordplay when describing the acoustic runthrough of All We Ask, the final song of the evening, as “stripped back”. Tracks from latest LP Shields sounded fantastic in the live context. Grizzly Bear are tremendously adept at translating the aural splendour of their studio output onto the stage – Daniel Rossen’s vocals are invariably something to behold. Two Weeks – the outfit’s biggest song – was too big for tonight’s intimate confines, but its placing in the setlist was optimal. Yellow House standout Knife was a dreamy opening to the encore. Then there they were, the four core members of Grizzly Bear sharing a couple of microphones at centre stage, brandishing the breathtaking harmony coda of All We Ask – “I can’t get out of what I’m into with you.” LACHLAN KANONIUK LOVED: The elusive balance of levity and emotional resonance. HATED: The overly literal lighting triggers. DRANK: Didn’t drink, but I ate some grapes.
JAMIE HAY AND LINCOLN LEFEVRE The Reverence Hotel, Saturday November 10 It’s a great feeling, when you can get all your friends together in one room. That sentiment has been evident at recent shows featuring artists on the Poison City label. Continuing from the famed Weekender back in September, there was a complete and utter lack of pretence as an assortment of punters mingled in the front of the newly opened Reverence Hotel in Footscray. Kicking the night off, Jen Buxton’s punkish, acoustic stylings exuded a sarcastic edge and a playful warmth. From the outset, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a night that would alter the course of time in an homage to high Beat Magazine Page 74
art – but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t be memorable! While two of the biggest bands in the world would grace Melbourne the following week, Saturday night at The Reverence proved a lesson in intimacy; an element of live music that just can’t be faked. Case in point: Lincoln LeFevre. The Tasmanian export launched his folk-punk masterpiece Restorations to eager ears. Within moments of LeFevre and his gargantuan beard taking the stage, the room was thick with sweat and an eager, palpable mood. Fancying himself as a modern reincarnation of Tom
Gabel’s early work with Against Me! LeFevre’s tunes quickly began speaking a language that only friends can understand. Smiles abounded as he sang of lost loves and old friends. Closing with Get Drunk, See Bands, LeFevre managed a rare feat: he sung to, and about his crowd at the same time. If LeFevre was a modern Tom Gabel, then equallybearded Jamie Hay sounded like a younger Chuck Ragan, amping up the acoustic charm with continually husky notes. With fists in the air, the crowd sang along to his new album King Of The Sun
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as if it were their one and only mantra. Saturday nights may come once a week, but nights like this stick out. JOSHUA KLOKE LOVED: Good time buddies. HATED: King Of The Sun not being available for purchase on vinyl. DRANK: Beers!
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