ISSUE NO. 687 NOVEMBER 2, 2016
FREE Now picked up at over 1,600 places across Sydney and surrounds. thebrag.com
MUSIC, FILM, THEATRE + MORE
THE UNUSUAL SUSPECTS Plus
THE LAURELS ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION CALIGULA'S HORSE TLC
CLIENT LIAISON
THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PL AN
CALL OF DUT Y: INFINITE WARFARE
Charting the peaks, valleys and waterfalls of their incredible career.
And why they’re sick of being asked about the ’80s.
One last victory lap of the world before they bow out.
Kit Harington and Conor McGregor star in the latest instalment.
ROYALSTON AND MUCH MORE
C I S U M T N E T L E G E I P S MDOU MOCTAR NIGER 21 JANUARY
JESSY LANZA CANADA 20 JANUARY
REGURGITATOR PEFORM THE VELVET UNDERGROUND & NICO AUSTRALIA 17 JANUARY
H T R O N K R A P E D Y H T A E G A L IL V L A IN MERITON FESTIV THE COMET IS COMING UK 28 JANUARY
WEYES BLOOD
USA/AUSTRALIA 19 JANUARY
PROGRAM OUT NOW SYDNEYFESTIVAL.ORG.AU thebrag.com
BRAG :: 687 :: 02:11:16 :: .
the BRAG presents
welcome to the frontline: what’s goin’ on around town... with James Di Fabrizio, Chris Martin and Joseph Earp
Brass Monkey Thursday November 17
five things WITH
JOEL SENA
Slyfox Thursday November 24
KATY STEELE Astatke, Sufjan Stevens, Joni Mitchell, Allen Toussaint, Mel Tormé. I’m inspired by good songs, good food, good rhythm, good melody and good love. Your Band Well I’m a solo artist but 3. I have some lovely Perth lads
me and my skin. My dad has always been a musician so we saw live music at least two to three nights a week growing
up. It was defi nitely not a boring childhood. Very exciting way to grow up.
2.
Inspirations Carole King, Francis and The Lights, Bon Iver, Mulatu
from bands such as Methyl Ethel and Panda Banda in the lineup now. I recorded my whole album in Perth with Matt Gio (Troye Sivan, Rudimentals) and we worked really hard on this LP, making it something we were both really proud of. Eric J Dubowsky (Flume, Chet Faker) mixed my ten-track record and really took it to another level. The record was then mastered in Los Angeles with Brian Lucey. The Music You Make I was really inspired by 4. the voice and its power when I recorded this album. I was
obsessed with choirs at the time of recording and was doing shows around Perth and Sydney with a six-singer choir. So that element is hopefully really apparent in the fi nished product. My live show is still steeped in that element but I’d say we’ve taken a more modern approach to the live show. It’s a slick set-up of three players and myself. It’s a really textured, upbeat, loud and fun show! Music, Right Here, Right Now 5. I think there’s some good stuff happening and it’s good to see the rest of the world taking notice. The last artist I saw that blew my mind was Jacob Diamond and band. He was supporting at one of our shows in Perth and he was incredible.
What: Human out now through Create/Control
MANAGING EDITOR: Chris Martin chris@thebrag.com 02 9212 4322 ONLINE EDITOR: James Di Fabrizio SUB-EDITOR: Joseph Earp STAFF WRITERS: Adam Norris, Augustus Welby NEWS: James Di Fabrizio, Harriet Flitcroft, Ariana Norton, Emily Norton, Anna Wilson ART DIRECTOR: Sarah Bryant PHOTOGRAPHERS: Brianna Elton, Ashley Mar COVER PHOTO: Vanessa Heins ADVERTISING: Tony Pecotic - (02) 9212 4322 tony@thebrag.com PUBLISHER: Furst Media MANAGING DIRECTOR, FURST MEDIA: Patrick Carr - patrick@furstmedia.com.au, (03) 9428 3600 / 0402 821 122 DIGITAL DIRECTOR/ADVERTISING: Kris Furst kris@furstmedia.com.au, (03) 9428 3600 GIG & CLUB GUIDE COORDINATOR: Sarah Bryant - gigguide@thebrag.com (rock); clubguide@thebrag.com (dance, hip hop & parties) AWESOME INTERNS: Anna Wilson, Ariana Norton, Harriet Flitcroft REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: Nat Amat, Arca Bayburt, Prudence Clark, Chelsea Deeley, Christie Eliezer, Matthew Galea, Emily Gibb, Jennifer Hoddinett, Tegan Jones, Lachlan Kanoniuk, Sarah Little, Emily Meller, David Molloy, Annie Murney, Adam Norris, George Nott, Daniel Prior, Tegan Reeves, Natalie Rogers, Erin Rooney, Spencer Scott, Natalie Salvo, Leonardo Silvestrini, Jade Smith, Aaron Streatfeild, Rod Whitfield, Anna Wilson, Stephanie Yip, David James Young Please send mail NOT ACCOUNTS direct to this NEW address 100 Albion Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010 ph - (02) 9212 4322 fax - (02) 9319 2227 EDITORIAL POLICY: The views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher, editors or staff of the BRAG. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE: Kris Furst: accounts@furstmedia.com.au ph - (03) 9428 3600 fax - (03) 9428 3611 Furst Media, 3 Newton Street Richmond Victoria 3121
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4 :: BRAG :: 687 :: 02:11:16
GET A LOAD OF LANEWAY
Don’t have the time (or moolah) to hit up Laneway? No need to despair: a whole load of sideshows have been announced. After selling out his debut Australian headline shows earlier this year, Tourist has announced another run in Sydney: he’ll take over the Factory Theatre on Wednesday January 25. Will Toledo of Car Seat Headrest will be bringing tunes from his studio debut, Teens Of Denial, and teaming up with Jarrow for a show at the Oxford Art Factory on Wednesday January 25. Londonbased Australian trio Jagwar Ma will play their first national headline shows since dropping their sophomore album Every Now & Then when they hit Metro Theatre on Thursday January 19, while Whitney will bring tunes from their debut album Light Upon The Lake when the duo expand to an epic six-piece for a show at Oxford Art Factory joined by Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever on Friday January 27. UK neo-soul artist Nao has announced her firstever Sydney headline show will take place at Oxford Art Factory on Wednesday February 1, whereas Glass Animals will be hitting the Enmore Theatre on Wednesday January 25. Finally, 19-year-old Norwegian singer-songwriter Aurora will arrive on our shores for a show at the Metro Theatre on Wednesday January 25 and White Lung will be joined by locals Phantastic Ferniture for a set at Newtown Social Club on Thursday February 2. You really are spoiled for choice, huh?
FROM LITTLE THINGS…
Son Little (AKA Aaron Livingston) will be bringing his solo set across the country for a string of shows. The tour comes in the wake of his successful North American dates with Leon Bridges, as well as his acclaimed self-titled debut album, one that had critics raving and fans flocking into his fold. Catch him at Newtown Social Club on Wednesday November 30.
CLIMBING MOUNTAINS
Mountain Sounds Festival is back with a 2017 lineup that features the who’s who of Aussie music. After announcing Dune Rats as the first act on the bill for the Central Coast shindig, the festival’s organisers have revealed a bumper full lineup. Alternative dance kings RÜFÜS will
lead the charge north in February, joined atop the bill by a mysterious special guest TBA. Also featured on the program are DMA’s, Ngaiire, Skegss, Mosquito Coast, The Gooch Palms and many more. Mountain Sounds 2017 takes
CORRINE BAILEY RAE Metro Theatre Sunday April 16
NIKKI HILL
Newtown Social Club Monday April 17
THE STRUMBELLAS Oxford Art Factory Monday April 17
ST PAUL AND THE BROKEN BONES Metro Theatre Wednesday April 19
over Mount Penang Parklands on the Central Coast, Saturday February 18.
DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL
In terms of influential punk outfits, there are perhaps none more touted and acclaimed than The Damned. These guys are heroes to members of The Replacements, the Rollins Band and Australia’s own Smudge, and have more than made their mark on the genre over several decades. For that reason, their announcement of an Australian tour should have any self-affacing punk spiking up their mohawk in preparation. They’ll hit the Metro Theatre on Friday March 10, so get ready, won’tcha?
BLUES BROTHERS
Lovers of retro blues, this one’s for you: soul sensations Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats are due to hit Australia next year. Better still, they’re partnering up with one of Australia’s own, the magical C.W. Stoneking. The pair’s coheadline tour will see them drop into a number of Aussie venues, bringing their, dusty, roadworn retro tunes along with them. Sydneysiders can check ’em out at the Enmore Theatre on Tuesday March 7.
PJ Harvey
BEST OF THE FEST
Those folks behind Sydney Festival really have outdone themselves this year. Joining the already announced PJ Harvey (Sunday January 22) for the Festival’s first run of shows at Darling Harbour’s new ICC Sydney Theatre will be Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds (Friday January 20 and Saturday January 21). Elsewhere, St Stephen’s Uniting Church will host international names including Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Moses Sumney and Dori Freeman, while the Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent will see Regurgitator perform The Velvet Underground & Nico in full, US foursome Lake Street Dive, Weyes Blood and Cash Savage, plus more. Just as excitingly, the Sydney Opera House will host a celebration of 50 years of indigenous music since the 1967 referendum, with performances from Dan Sultan, Adalita, Thelma Plum and more at a gala concert, Music In The Key Of Yes (Tuesday January 17). In addition, the annual Symphony Under The Stars will return to The Domain (Saturday January 14), as well as make its way west to Parramatta Park (Saturday January 28), and Opera In The Domain is back on Saturday January 21. Phew. Satisfied? For more, check out sydneyfestival.org.au.
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PJ Harvey photo by Maria Mochnacz
DEADLINES: Editorial: Friday 12pm (no extensions) Ad bookings: Friday 5pm (no extensions) Fishished art: No later than 2pm Monday Ad cancellations: Friday 4pm Deadlines are strictly adhered to. Published by Furst Media P/L ACN 1112480045 All content copyrighted to Cartrage P/L / Furst Media P/L 2003-2014
Ben Lee
11 albums in, Ben Lee is still kicking harder than ever, releasing his latest studio effort and heading out on a national tour to support it. His new record, Freedom, Love & The Recuperation Of The Human Mind continues Lee’s trajectory of introspective, spiritually aware albums – i.e. there’s a lot of talk about human attainment, the soul and other stuff us plebs might not understand without Benny explaining it to us. Recorded between Laurel Canyon and Nashville, the record is bolstered with contributions from Grant Lee Phillips, Sara Watkins and Nick Gaffaney. Lee will play One Space HQ on Thursday November 10 and Friday November 11.
Newtown Social Club Monday April 10
Katy Steele photo by Cybele Malinowski
CATCH HIS DISEASE
TURIN BRAKES
The Strumbellas photo by Josh Goldman
Growing Up I grew up around lots of 1. music so music is ingrained in
JOEL LEFFLER
St Paul and The Broken Bones photo by David McClister
music news
thebrag.com
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live & local
free stuff
welcome to the frontline: what’s goin’ on around town... with Chris Martin, Harriet Flitcroft and Emily Norton
speed date WITH
Melbourne. We’ve been told our sound fits between the clean tones of Daughter and The xx. Our ideal fan is easy-going and likes to hang out by the bonfire on a beach. Keeping Busy Recording new music and 2. heaps of touring! We actually
just finished supporting Mosquito Coast on their national tour, which was heaps of fun. In between those shows we’d been recording our new single ‘Hands Of Gold’ that’s just dropped. We’re about to take that track back on the road to play our own national tour that kicks off in Adelaide, so we’re getting super pumped for that. Gig Ever At the start of the year we 3. Best
THE PEEP TEMPEL
TIM CARROLL FROM STONEFOX
played a low-key pop-up set at the Sydney Opera House Forecourt – that would definitely have to be a major highlight for us. It wasn’t on a huge stage or anything but it was just such a beautiful location to perform, and we were pretty stoked that music had taken us to such an iconic place. It’s been a bit of a dream to play by the water like that. Another great highlight would have to be the final sold-out show of the Mosquito Coast tour; there was just such great energy in that room!
It kind of forces you to get out and see all the bands doing good things in the live scene, which is really refreshing after being in the studio for so long. Recently I went out to see JaysWays (an upcoming producer from Sydney) at The Warehouse here in Melbourne. It was his first interstate show and it was awesome to see how his project has grown. He’s a super talented kid!
Current Playlist We’ve been getting into 4. the latest tunes from a bunch of
an inflatable fox onstage. Or an ultimate green room that’s decked out for band naps.
West Melbourne’s The Peep Tempel are among the most captivating and necessary voices in Australian rock. Their new album, Joy, follows up 2014’s wonderful Tales with another injection of distinctly Australian storytelling, spanning everything from pain to paranoia and struggle with a cynical sense of humour and a bed of guitars and rhythm. Joy was recently a five-star BRAG Album of the Week, and if this is the sound of Australia circa 2016, then we’re well on board.
Where: Moonshine Bar, Hotel Steyne / Oxford Art Factory Gallery When: Thursday November 10 / Friday November 11
The Peep Tempel bring their album tour to Oxford Art Factory on Friday December 2, and we’re giving away two double passes to the show. To be in the running, head to thebrag.com/freeshit.
local performers like Lanks, The Winter Gypsy, Soft Corporate and Hollow Coves. One of the great things about touring so much is getting to check out all the cool acts popping up around Australia.
Your Ultimate Rider We’ve always joked about 5. how great it would be to have
Stonefox photo by Celeste Larkins
Your Profile We’re a mellow-pop/ 1. chill/ambient three-piece from
head to: thebrag.com/freeshit
Destroyer 666 photo by Ester Segarra
Destroyer 666
Suburban Haze
PURPLE HAZE
NUMBER OF THE BEAST
The devil incarnate is on his way to Sydney this weekend. Destroyer 666, the Victorian black metal band with destruction on their mind, are touring the land with their new album Wildfi re. It’s the fifth full-length release from these beasts, who’ve been together some 20 years since their inception under bandleader K.K. Warslut. Enter the darkness at Max Watt’s on Saturday November 5.
FOR THE REST OF YOUR DAYS
No Worries Festival is the new music shindig for the silly season, taking over the South Coast town of Moruya on Christmas Eve. The festival has come together thanks to an appropriately ‘no worries’ approach. Four years ago, the Paradise South Crew threw a party with their mates’ bands on a private property,
attracting 100 punters. 300 turned up the next year, then 600 the year after that. Before long, the authorities stepped in. Now they’ve turned legit and locked in a debut festival lineup, with 13 unsigned bands from the local area and beyond. The 2016 No Worries Festival lineup features Mild Manic, Neon Queen, Amastro, Gold Member and more. No Worries launches at the Waterfront Hotel, Moruya on Saturday December 24.
The Pretty Littles
Suburban Haze will play Sydney’s Black Wire Records as part of their national tour this weekend. The Novocastrians, who are known for defying genres, will celebrate the release of their two-single EP Silent, Go Home, which features titles ‘Keepsake’ and ‘Thelonious’. Taking a departure from their usual sound, not a single guitar distortion can be heard on ‘Keepsake’, and the song boasts an appearance from Newcastle singer-songwriter Rachel Maria Cox. Suburban Haze will perform at Black Wire this Saturday November 5.
SOMETHING FROM SÈBASTIEN
Parisian guitarist Sèbastien Giniaux will perform a single Sydney show this month. Giniaux’s melodies are influenced by a combination of classical, tango, Eastern European gypsy, modern jazz and rock music. He’s built a reputation as something of a virtuoso thanks to both YouTube and touring, and Sydney audiences might remember him from his last visit in 2014. He’ll be back at Django Bar on Wednesday November 23.
50 SHADES OF GARRY GRAY
Indie music mainstay Garry Gray will be performing in Sydney for the first time in ten years this month. Gray helped to form the Australian act Sacred Cowboys, whose claim to fame was Countdown’s Molly Meldrum calling them the worst band he’d seen in five years. Now Gray is back and ready to perform again with new band The Sixth Circle, and a new album Diamond In The Forehead. Once known for his chainsaw-wielding, Gray will play The Factory Floor on Friday November 18, The Beach Club in Collaroy on Saturday November 19 and Ruby L’otel on Sunday November 20.
CAN’T BE CHOOSERS
PRETTY VACANT
Those laid-back Melburnians The Pretty Littles are bringing their garage sensibility to Sydney this week. Soft Rock For The Anxious is the band’s new album – such a vivid title – and after tour dates supporting The Delta Riggs, now it’s the Littles’ time to shine. Neighbourhood Youth will cause a ruckus in the opening slot as The Pretty Littles play Moonshine Bar, Hotel Steyne on Friday November 4 and Brighton Up Bar on Saturday November 5.
RAZOR-SHARP ROCK’N’ROLL
Razor Blade Fest is returning for its fourth year running next weekend. Headlining the night will
LIGHT A FIRE
The smokin’ hot Smoking Martha are set to turn it up at Frankie’s Pizza on Thursday December 1. The rock’n’roll five-piece is celebrating the release of its new single ‘Say You’re Mine’, following on from the band’s first EP in 2014. Smoking Martha have gained a cult-like following due to their support of rock-solids Everclear, Prophets Of Addiction and Seether. They plan to add some finishing touches to their debut album and play tour dates along the east coast after the ‘Say You’re Mine’ tour wraps up next month.
OUTSTANDING IN THEIR FIELDS
Elko Fields bring their Brisbane scuzz to Frankie’s Pizza this month. Elko Fields, made up of Kella Vee on vocals and guitar and Tomas Stephenson on drums and vocals, have brought their riff-heavy and distorted sounds to the forefront of the live music scene in Queensland, with their ‘cut the bullshit’ style. After a number of garage demos, they won a fan in the form of Powderfinger’s Ian Haug, and since then the band has collaborated with heavy-hitters such as Yanto Browning and Nick DiDia to release a self-titled EP, featuring lead single ‘Cough It Up’. See Elko Fields on Wednesday November 16. thebrag.com
xxx
6 :: BRAG :: 687 :: 02:11:16
Melbourne’s Society Of Beggars have been rockin’ and rollin’ on their way to their debut EP, An EP Called Night. Produced by Lindsay Gravina, the release features the breakout single ‘Terrible Rain’. And to capitalise, these S.O.Bs are coming to Oxford Circus on Thursday November 10.
be Fireballs, a Melbourne band who formed back in 1989. Along with playing numerous fests around the world, these three rockers have supported KISS, so they must be pretty darn good. Also on the bill are Temtris (not to be confused with Tetris), punk and metal band Speedball, Batfoot (who have a Ramonesmeets-Screeching-Weasel vibe), NCOTW (which stands for Nudist Colonies Of The World; one can only hope they live up to their name), and lastly Sydneysiders Authority Downfall. Razor Blade Fest 2016 will go down on Friday November 11 at The Bald Faced Stag.
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Industrial Strength Music Industry News with Christie Eliezer
THINGS WE HEAR • Which singer sent his dancers and band to rehearse down the coast, an hour away, and then failed to turn up? • Whose divorce papers are claiming the person in question lost weight due to stress caused by their partner? • Did the Mariah Carey/James Packer romance end (like, big surprise!) because of arguments over her close relationship to hunky dancer Bryan Tanaka? • Is Calvin Harris throwing shade at his ex Taylor Swift in his new video for break-up anthem ‘My Way’? • Dead Or Alive’s Pete Burns was broke when he died of a cardiac arrest at 57, and borrowing cash from friends. • All 4,000 tickets for Newcastle’s Live at The Foreshore on Saturday November 5 have sold out.
DID JAY Z OFFER $40M FOR UNRELEASED PRINCE?
Rumours are circulating that Jay Z has offered US$40 million for Prince’s unreleased music in a bid to stake a claim on the hundreds of hours of audio and visual content lying in the late artist’s vault in his Paisley Park studio. The celebrity site TMZ claimed Jay Z flew Prince’s sister Tyka Nelson to New York to put the offer on the table with a mind to then release the content via his Tidal streaming service. But Prince’s long-time manager and attorney L. Londell McMillan, now a consultant to his estate, says no such deal exists. McMillan also corrected earlier reports that the three majors – Universal, Sony and Warner – were invited to bid for the material in the vault. He says the offer was not for them to buy it but for a licence. Meantime, the battle as to who stands to inherit Prince’s US$300 million estate (he died in April without a will) is slowly going through the legal process. Up to 29 people came out of the woodwork with hands stretched. However, a Minnesota state judge tossed out two claims. One was by the family of Duane J. Nelson Sr., who was said to be “regarded as a son” by Prince’s father. The judge ruled that such an argument was insufficient. The court has determined that six people can be considered Prince’s heirs: his full sister Tyka and five half-siblings Norrine, Sharon and John Nelson, and Alfred Jackson and Omar Baker.
GRETTA RAY WINS VANDA & YOUNG COMP
The 2016 winner of triple j Unearthed High, 18-year-old Melbourne singer-songwriter Gretta Ray, has taken top honours in the 2016 Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition with her song ‘Drive’. The $50,000 from APRA AMCOS and Alberts will be used to support her move full-time into music. The runner-up, Queensland singer-songwriter Emma Louise (‘Underflow’), got $10,000, which she plans to use to buy a Rhodes piano and fit out her house with microphones. Tying for third place were Sydney band Tigertown (‘Lonely Cities’) and US writer Tia P (‘4 Seats From Beyoncé’) getting $5,000. This year, the comp received 3,934 entries from 2,412 songwriters in 20
• A movie shot at the INXS-headlined Australian Made festival is being rereleased to 40 Event Cinemas and Village Cinemas on Friday November 25 for one night only, marking its 30th anniversary. Set up by the managers of INXS and Jimmy Barnes (Chris Murphy and Mark Pope, respectively), its bill of Divinyls, The Models, The Saints, I’m Talking and The Triffids was designed to prove to Aussie crowds that local talent was on par with international bands. • Speaking of The Triffids, they are due to be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the WAM Awards in Perth this week. • Slipknot’s Clown left their Australian tour after his father-in-law died. • Status Quo’s Rick Parfi tt has left the band after nearly 50 years following a massive heart attack in June, during which he technically died for a few minutes.
countries and raised $200,000 for NordoffRobbins Music Therapy Australia.
Emma Mullings
WORLD PUBLISHING FOR J MOTOR
BMG Australia has signed rising Sydney artist J Motor to a worldwide music publishing deal. His debut single ‘Jungle Daze’ was picked up by MTV’s The Challenge before being featured in US ads for Budweiser and Acura, entering a number of overseas Spotify charts in the process. J Motor will spend the rest of 2016 in the US writing and collaborating.
15 MANAGERS READY TO TAKE CONTROL
INDIE MUSIC AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED
At the Australian Independent Music Awards at the Enmore Theatre last week, Emma Mullings took out artist of the year and the spiritual/Christian category after releasing her debut EP Skinny Roads. The night was organised by the Musicoz Foundation, and other winners were Grandhour (rock), Bozza (urban), Esther Sparkes (dance/electronica), Olsen (DJ/producer), Plgrms (alternative), Mischief (pop), Cornstalk (blues and roots), Horrorwood Mannequins (metal/hardcore), Demi Louise (world/folk), Peta EvansTaylor (live), The Escalators (jazz/ classical), Winters End (international), Natalie Pearson (country), Ben Craven (instrumental), Jesso (video), Mike Elrington (acoustic/singer-songwriter) and Abbey Gardner (schoolies). Announced as Musicoz Legends were King Tide, Johnny Gleeson and Richard Clapton.
Bad Pony
Clive Hodson’s publishing company Perfect Pitch has signed global deals with a number of acts. Sam Thomlinson, Jarred Young, Isaac Chamberlain, Mark Webber and Andries van Niekerk are all members of indie rock band Bad Pony, who only this week have launched an east coast tour to promote their new single ‘Bottles’. Luke August is an eclectic Perth based singer-songwriter/producer, while Bosnian-born Gold Coast troubadour Amela mixes classic songwriting with multi harmonies.
15 music managers have been picked for the Australian Music Industry Network’s professional development program Control: The Business of Music Management. Five are from Victoria: Shaun Adams, Pete Sofo, Carolyn Logan, Lorrae Therese McKenna and Jill Shelton. From New South Wales are Andrew Boon, Luke Girgis, Regan Lethbridge and Narayan Wallace. Others include Nicola Pitt (Alice Springs), Dominic Miller (Brisbane), Rachel Davison (Perth) and, from New Zealand, Dylan Keating, Fenella Stratton and Manu Taylor. The first of two residential workshops will be held in Hepburn Springs outside Melbourne in late November. Mentors include Terry McBride from Canada, Teresa Patterson from NZ, Australia’s Tom Larkin and entertainment lawyer Julia Kosky from LA.
ERIC CLAPTON SUED OVER COPYRIGHT
Eric Clapton and his record company Warner are being sued for US$5 million by the stepgrandson of late US blues artist Bo Carter. He alleges that Clapton’s version of the 1929 song ‘Corrine, Corrina’ on his 2013 re-release of Unplugged was wrongly credited to Lead Belly. But over the past 90 years, ‘Corrine, Corrina’ has been covered so many times in different styles that the melody has changed. Lead Belly did a cover he titled ‘Alberta’. It’s also possible that Carter might have copyrighted it in 1929 but it was in the public domain before that.
MORE AUSSIES TURN TO DIGITAL MUSIC SITES
Lifelines Ill: Michael Jackson’s ex-wife Debbie Rowe (mum to Paris and Prince Michael) is battling cancer. In Court: Coolio has been given three years’ probation for bringing a gun to LA airport. In Court: as part of Death Row founder Suge Knight’s ongoing legal issues, he’s demanding 30% of the US$1 billion Dr. Dre earned when he sold Beats to Apple. Suing: US photographer Allen Beaulieu, who took shots of Prince in his early years, has taken action against Minneapolis’ Studio 1124 to recover 3,000 of his photos. The studio responded that it has not been paid for services rendered to Beaulieu. Died: early ’60s US pop singer Bobby Vee (‘Take Good Care Of My Baby’), 73. His career began when he was 15. Died: Michiyuki Kawashima, guitarist and singer of Japanese electro rock band Boom Boom Satellites, 47, after years of battling brain tumours.
GOLDEN ROBOT SIGNS THE BUCKLEYS
Sydney indie label Golden Robot Records has signed Aussie sibling act The Buckleys. The group has made an impact in the US, including winning two songwriting awards there. Sarah Grace (17, vocals/guitars), Molly (14, mandolin) and Lachlan (16, guitars/ bass) head back to Nashville on Sunday November 20 to finalise management and publishing deals and play Music City Roots on Wednesday December 14 in Tennessee.
NEW AUSSIE BOUTIQUE BOOKING AGENCY
Collective Artists is a new Sydney boutique booking agency set up by Inertia Group and spearheaded by general manager Rebecca Young, ex-booker at Artist Voice and WME. She will run it with Inertia co-directors Ashley Sellers and Colin Daniels. “At a time when the eyes of the world are firmly placed on amazing Australian talent, it’s more vital than ever to create a space where we can nurture their careers with creativity, care and personal attention,” she says.
SOOTHSAYER’S FUTURE WITH SAM WESTON
Melbourne label Soothsayer have signed Sydney house producer Sam Weston, also one half of influential Sydney techno duo Alba. His new 13-minute single ‘Don’t Save Face’ was written during a two-month stint living alone in the remote desert in South Australia where the musician says, “I had inconsistent access to electricity for my synths so this track is more sample-based than previous pieces.”
CAROLINE AUSTRALIA ADDS UK’S HANDSOME DAD
More Aussies are making use of digital music sites, according to Nielsen digital stats for September. Six of ten sites reported extra traffic. Apple Music topped the music category with 7.7 million users. Shazam jumped from 1.6 million to 1.8 million, with growth driven by smartphone (13%) and tablet (14%) devices. Pandora’s growth from 958,000 to 1.1 million was driven by smartphones (52% of access).
Caroline Australia has added Britain’s Handsome Dad to its roster of labels, alongside Concord Music Group, Spunk, Cooking Vinyl Australia, Fiction, PMR, Popfrenzy, Fearless, Loma Vista, Communion, Good Manners, Spinefarm and Nuclear Blast. The first releases under the deal are singles by Aldous RH and Babeheaven.
OPENLIVE ADDS NEW FEATURES
GROVE STUDIOS ANNOUNCES OPEN DAY
OpenLIVE, an automatic track recognition program, inserts track marks into live recordings to reduce the time artists need to spend cutting up that audio into separate tracks. The Australian company was launched in August 2015, allowing acts to record their gigs at associated venues and sell them on, and now boasts a 2.5 million track library after helping 1,000 artists record over 1,600 performances. In addition, its CEO Dale Moore reveals it has added a number of new features including ‘Encore Check’, which means that acts who go over their scheduled set times can monitor audio signals to record any additional content. Updated sharing features allow acts to now share full shows or individual tracks at will via the OpenLIVE dashboard.
Grove Studios on Mangrove Road, Somersby is – as part of enrolments for its next Diploma of Sound Production course – holding an Open Day on Saturday November 19. Prospective students wanting more info will get a first-hand tour of the studios and specially created classroom.
IVY LEAGUE SIGNS I KNOW LEOPARD
Ivy League has signed Sydney-based indiepop outfit I Know Leopard. The band is best known for its 2015 EP, Another Life, which got a strong smattering of triple j support. For most of the year, I Know Leopard have been working with producer Steve Schram, with a single ‘Rather Be Lonely’ just out.
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Bad Pony photo by Cath Connell
NEW SIGNINGS FOR PERFECT PITCH
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• After their first UK tour, Sound Agency duo Teddy Cream have rushed back to Ireland to do three shows. • Though it’s not often Australian judges hold up 50 Cent as a role model, one recently told a 16-year-old pulled up before him on 49 charges, “Like you, 50 Cent came from the most tragic, traumatic circumstances. He was able to rise above them through sheer hard work and dedication.” • Sydney indie Life Is Noise has launched an online store called the Noise Store with records and merch from its own acts as well as bands and musicians that it likes. • While ISPs and the music industry returned to court in order to block Australians’ access to piracy site Kickass Torrents, they agreed DNS blocking was the best way to go. But the ISPs want the music industry to pay for the process.
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 3RD
GRIZZLEE TRAIN + SWEET JELLY ROLLS
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4TH
THE PRETTY LITTLES + SPACE MONK
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 6TH
V-TRIBE
LEVEL 2, 75 THE CORSO, MANLY WWW.HOTELSTEYNE.COM.AU | FACEBOOK/HOTELSTEYNEMANLY | @HOTELSTEYNE
ROLLING STONE
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BLACK OPAL Includes “ Helluva Lot” & “ Rivermouth”
NOVEMBER ALBUM LAUNCH Wed 16, Newtown Social Club, Sydney Fri 18, Anita’s Theatre, Wollongong thebrag.com
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COVER STORY
ALEXISONFIRE
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fter roaring out of Canada in the early 2000s, it didn’t take long for Alexisonfire to reach legendary status. 15 years, four studio albums and countless tours later, the band has become a staple in many a record collection. Ahead of the North Americans’ 2017 tour Down Under, we have a chat with vocalist, founding member and all-round good bloke, George Pettit. “Australia is a very, very easy place for us to come to,” says Pettit. “Not getting there – getting there is actually a bit of bollocks – but once we’re there it’s the easiest place to tour for us. We always have the best possible time. I think there’s some sort of weird brother-from-anothermother scenario between Canadians and Australians.” Pettit’s words are no surprise given the band’s epic touring history, which has included more than a few cheeky Aussie jaunts. “We both have this gigantic country without a lot of people in
it,” he says. “People are friendly and in for a good time. There’s something very similar about coming to Australia for us.” This is a pretty impressive compliment from someone like Pettit, who has travelled to most corners of the planet with his music. “There’s a lot of really wonderful places in the world,” he says. “As far as being wildly different from anything Western or English-speaking, Japan is a very awe-inspiring place to go to. It’s just so different from any other city. But there’s lots of cool cities around. We always enjoyed going through Europe and even across Canada. Our country is so big, even getting to the other side is very different.” Despite Alexisonfire’s sizeable following these days, Pettit still remembers the times they were decidedly grimier, crafting their songs in their first rehearsal space. “It was an insulation factory in St. Catharines and we had a room in the back of it,” he recalls. “There were all
B L O O D B R O T H E R S
BY BEL RYAN
these chemical smells kind of going on – it was just a dingy back room in this place. But you could just make a lot of noise and it didn’t really matter.”
playing all kinds of stuff from the band’s short but sweet discography, which was interrupted by a break-up in 2011 before a 2015 reunion tour.
Pettit also has a few tales to tell from the touring side of things. “We’ve done all sorts. We’ve done a lot of dirty stuff, a lot of sleeping in the van. The first US tours we would do, we’d ask people onstage, ‘So like hey, if anyone could put us up, that’d be great,’” he laughs.
“I get excited for all of [the songs], and now especially,” he says. “There was a period toward the end of the band… we were playing so much that I could have those sorts of opinions. But now it’s that I play so little with Alexis that really just getting up onstage again feels really good.”
One can only imagine the kind of reaction this would elicit at a show these days. “You’d go to the crowd and see who seems the least crazy, or judge who had the best living arrangement. Then you just go and stay with them. And we did that for a long time, because you’ve got to save money on the road, you know?”
These days, Pettit enjoys a decidedly more chilled lifestyle outside the band. Music is still in his blood – as evident with his new band Dead Tired – but that five-piece is on a smaller scale to Alexisonfire. “That’s the more kind of weekend, hobby band that just keeps me on the stage,” he says. “It’s just a fun little side thing that I do with some friends.”
It’s safe to say, however, that Alexisonfire’s impending visit to our shores will be nothing short of colossal. Pettit is looking forward to
When he’s not playing music, Pettit can often be found attempting to school his seven-
“AUSTRALIA IS A VERY, VERY EASY PLACE FOR US TO COME TO. NOT GETTING THERE – GETTING THERE IS ACTUALLY A BIT OF BOLLOCKS – 10 :: BRAG :: 687 :: 02:11:16
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year-old son on the virtues of punk music. “I’ve done my best to shelter him from top 40 pop music,” the singer laughs. “But he goes to daycare and he goes to school, so he hears the Frozen soundtrack. And like ‘Whip/Nae Nae’ and all this stuff. It’s all just so immediately gratifying. All of a sudden he wants to come home and hear those songs. For a while, though, he was doing pretty good, and into stuff like The Velvet Underground and Suicide – all this weird stuff that his dad likes.” Still, remembering his own parents’ music taste from when he was young, Pettit hasn’t totally given up hope on his offspring. “I remember a lot of long car rides with my parents listening to Roy Orbison and wanting to jump out of a window. Now I love Roy Orbison! I really do, more than Elvis. He’s incredible.” Pettit has also done his research on Australian music, and not just so he can talk it up ahead of his forthcoming visit. “I am among many people who find Nick Cave to be one of the greatest artists of our generation,” he says. “I’m [also] a big fan of the first wave of Australian punk and garage music. X, Razar, Boys Next Door, The News. I traded some rare Alexisonfire records to a gentleman online once for a copy of Ball Power by The Coloured Balls. You’ve also got Eddy Current Suppression Ring, My Disco, Royal Headache – those
are the kind of bands that resonate with me the most, but I’m sure I’m forgetting something.” Pettit is particularly keen to share Australia with his son, whom he’ll be bringing with him for the tour. “It’s going to be really fun. He came out once when Alexis played in Hamilton one time, when he was really young. Then we brought him out to Riot Fest last year, but he has no recollection of it [laughs]. I’m hoping to kind of blow his mind. Every time I think I’m going to be like, ‘Hey, look how cool your dad is!’ he’s completely unimpressed. “There’s a local magazine that Dead Tired was on the cover of. I was walking around with him, and was like, ‘Hey buddy, look at that right there.’ He looks over, and is just like, ‘Oh yeah. That’s daddy,’ and keeps walking!” Hopefully the tour to Australia will impress the youngster, though Pettit doesn’t seem overly optimistic. “I think what’ll happen is, we’ll play some big, crazy show and he’ll be excited about that for a second, and then I’ll get a picture of him with a kangaroo and that’s all he’ll talk about forever!” With: The Dirty Nil Where: Hordern Pavilion When: Thursday January 19
BUT ONCE WE’RE THERE IT’S THE EASIEST PLACE TO TOUR FOR US.” thebrag.com
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The Language Of Loss: How Music Deals With Death From Blackstar To Skeleton Tree By Joseph Earp full of alien intelligence as on Ziggy Stardust – it is the voice of a child, unable to provide answers to questions that might well lack them anyway. The same is true of the album’s title track, a song peppered with boasts both defiant and inherently doomed, loaded statements that have only a passing connection to what we usually describe as ‘meaning’. Bowie leaves death shapeless: it’s not corporeal, or a character, or even a ‘thing’. It has no basic properties or quantity, and his language gropes the space around it, marking out what it’s not rather than what it is. Death is something that happens outside of Blackstar, a full stop dropped off to the side. Cave’s modus operandi on Skeleton Tree is the same, though he is dealing not with the destruction of the self but the passing of a loved one: his son Arthur, who fell to his death in July 2015. In the process, Cave moves closer to mentioning the specifi cs of death than Bowie – the very first line of ‘Jesus Alone’ seems to explicitly reference the passing of his son – but he too never quantifies loss or gives it a name.
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owards the middle of Cormac McCarthy’s The Counselor, a hunted man takes a phone call from a Mexican Jefe to talk about death. “When it comes to grief, the normal rules of exchange do not apply, because grief transcends value,” says the Jefe. “You cannot buy anything with grief, because grief is worthless … The extinction of all reality is a concept no resignation can encompass.”
“NOTHING REALLY MATTERS WHEN THE ONE YOU LOVE IS GONE / YOU’RE STILL IN ME, BABY.” - NICK CAVE , ‘I NEED YOU’
Death and grief are unknowables. You can’t truly comprehend dying, the same way you can’t shout about silence or fuck into chastity, and in the face of the “extinction of all reality”, language fails. Nobody can tell you what it’s like to die, and you can’t talk it away with words: it forces us to peddle statements so reductive as to be pointless. Death just is, the way life is; the way we walk around, breathing, until the day we don’t any more. But despite death’s inherent opposition to language, it hasn’t stopped ‘grief and loss’ becoming a subgenre of self-help novels regularly
exploited by misty-eyed cranks and money-makers. The list of books about grieving is inexhaustible – it’s almost as popular a topic to write about as sex or automobiles – and to type “learning how to die” into Google is to be assaulted by a pithy stream of quotables. “You never attain wisdom until you die,” sayeth Socrates. “Death smiles at us all,” sayeth Marcus Aurelius. “With thoughts of you,” sayeth Hallmark. Finding true guidance in matters of mortality is rare. Given that dearth, it’s not only surprising that two of the finest albums released this year – David Bowie’s Blackstar and Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds’ Skeleton Tree – are about dying; it’s a genuine miracle. They are sister records: two brief glances at the same tarblack stretch of nothing, and two albums with complicated relationships to language.
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Cave’s language negates itself. He offers up pleasantries and quaint quips – “I need you, need you” – and he repeats lines and randomly drops poetry the way a dementia-addled gardener might sow seeds. By the time the final track ‘Skeleton Tree’ rolls around, he’s stopped dealing in stories altogether and offers up only images. The narrative has broken. The through-line is gone.
“SOMETHING HAPPENED ON THE DAY HE DIED / SPIRIT ROSE A METRE AND STEPPED ASIDE.” - DAVID BOWIE , ‘BL ACKSTAR’ both artists echoes the work of Paul Celan, the Germanlanguage poet who turned to writing following the horrors of Auschwitz and World War Two. “Only one thing
remained reachable, close and secure amid all losses: language,” wrote Celan. “In spite of everything, it remained secure against loss. But it had to go through its own lack of answers, through terrifying silence, through the thousand darknesses of murderous speech.” That selfsame lack of answers is particularly evident all across Blackstar, an album released 48 hours before Bowie’s death. The exemplary ‘Lazarus’, for example, full as it is with lines about bluebirds and freedom, deals deliberately in naivety – it offers no finalities; has no conclusion. Bowie’s voice is not worldweary as it was on Low, or
What’s the point, then? What does either record actually do, if grief is worthless and if death is silence, and we can’t talk about these things anyway? The answer, though hard-won, is simple, swollen with the reductive beauty we find ourselves talking in when we must discuss the things that can’t be discussed. What do Blackstar and Skeleton Tree do? They offer art up in the face of absence. And they do it as though that might be the kind of thing that matters. What: Blackstar is out now through Columbia/Sony, and Skeleton Tree is out now through Bad Seed Ltd/ Kobalt More: Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds play ICC Sydney Theatre on Friday January 20 and Saturday January 21 as part of Sydney Festival 2017
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Nick Cave photo by Kerry Brown
Indeed, what sets Cave and Bowie apart from the hucksters and word jockeys who present death as some minor hurdle to be vaulted over is their acknowledgement of their own inherent linguistic failings. On previous records, both artists have displayed a fondness for saturated turns of phrase, but on Blackstar and Skeleton Tree, they trade in their extensive vocabularies for tiny, trinketlike metaphors.
Celan’s “thousand darknesses” touch each of Cave’s lines. Cave’s neat, beat-poet-esque rounding off of couplets is akin to Bowie’s childlike approach, but he takes it further, offering up lines that only just manage to be heard, that only just land on the other side of silence. “Once it was on, it was on and that was that,” he mumbles on ‘Magneto’, rolling the words around his mouth as though they were marbles.
TLC Peaks, Valleys And Waterfalls By David James Young
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fter 25 years, the era of crazy-sexy-cool is drawing to a close. TLC – one of the most celebrated pop acts of the ’90s and among the highest-selling all-female groups of all time – have announced that a fifth and final studio album will arrive in 2017. Even with the impending conclusion of TLC as we know it, the group’s surviving members – Tionne Watkins (AKA T-Boz) and Rozonda Thomas (AKA Chilli) – have made a point of racing toward the finish line rather than running out of steam.
“There was a great energy going into making this album,” explains Thomas from her Los Angeles home. “I think that’s because we were approaching it by thinking outside of the box. That’s something we always do: I’d like to think TLC has always done things differently. To go through Kickstarter was something new for us, and it was so humbling to have so many people support us and tell us that our music was still relevant to them and their lives. We know that we have a reputation to uphold, and that our albums have always told very important stories to people. We wanted to keep that consistent, and I think that’s something we were able to achieve. We just got in the lab and got to work – we knew we had to make it count.” Indeed, the final TLC album was made possible due to a wildly successful crowdfunding campaign, which garnered a whopping US$150,000 within 48 hours of the site going live and went on to accumulate a further US$250,000 on top of that. The album, for which recording was completed earlier this year, is reported to have 15 songs and looks to place a bookend on the group’s patented blend of pop, R&B, soul and hip hop. “One thing that I will say was different on this album was that we were working with a lot of new people,” says Thomas. “I don’t think anybody who has worked on our albums in the past was a part of this album – we wanted to have Dallas [Austin] involved, but he was too caught up with working with other artists over in London. We brought in people that were new to the way that we work, and I think that’s a very powerful element on this album. We’re shouting out to artists like Prince, Michael Jackson, James Brown – some of the greats. I probably shouldn’t be so excited about all of this – it might jinx it – but I am so excited for you and for everyone to hear this album. I hope you all love it as much as I do.” Through the messages of songs like ‘No Scrubs’ and ‘Unpretty’, TLC established themselves as a key part of pop music’s ‘girl power’ movement in the ’90s – emphasising empowerment and self-confidence to an entire generation of young women and girls who perhaps couldn’t see themselves in the other pop stars of the time. There is a clear feminist subtext to the legacy of TLC, although that wasn’t entirely clear to the artists themselves at first.
“WE ALLOWED PEOPLE TO EMBRACE THEIR DIFFERENCES AND BE PROUD OF THEM. WE WALKED WITH CONFIDENCE SO OUR FANS COULD DO THE SAME.” “When people started putting that label on us when we were starting out, we were confused,” Thomas says. “We were all like, ‘What? No, we’re not!’ We were under the impression, somehow, that it was a negative thing. As time went on, and the more we thought about it, we came to realise that wasn’t the case at all. Being empowering to women of any kind was a good thing in our eyes. “Even when we were starting out, we knew we wanted to be doing something different. What was important to us was taking a stance in what we believed in. We had no idea it was going to touch people the way that it did. It resonated on so many levels, and it became so important to us that we continued to be ourselves. By doing that, we allowed people to embrace their differences and be proud of them. We walked with confidence so our fans could do the same.” In recent interviews, TLC have discussed plans to take on a performance residency, perhaps in Las Vegas. For now, they’re still touring internationally, and will arrive in Australia this month. Thomas says the reach of TLC’s music after so many years is something that blows her away. Among those who come to see them these days are the women who grew up idolising them, a younger age group that didn’t get to see them in their commercial peak, and even a couple of small surprise packages for good measure. “I remember hearing about this one little girl who was turning five,” says Thomas, “and she told her parents that she wanted to have a TLC party. You couldn’t call her by her real name – she insisted on being called Chilli! I sadly couldn’t go to her party, as we had some other stuff on at the time, but I got to meet her and I got to invite her out to come see our rehearsals for the tour we were about to do. I think it was especially amazing to me, given that she was even younger than my own son. From generation to generation, we’re still being heard.” With: Mimi Where: Enmore Theatre When: Tuesday November 15 and Wednesday November 16 And: Also appearing alongside Nelly, Mýa, 112 and more at RnB Fridays Live, Qudos Bank Arena, Friday November 18 thebrag.com
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The Laurels Sonic Siblings By Joseph Earp
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reative collaboration is a pain in the arse. With so many egos tied up in one project, it’s almost impossible not to hurt someone’s feelings, or to tarnish the product by allowing far too many cooks to spoil the broth. Indeed, for that reason, The Laurels’ Sonicology is not just a musical triumph, it’s a goddamn celebration of diplomacy – proof that a band can get together and create something of value without the creative process causing the members to straight up strangle each other. “All four of us have different ideas of how we want a record to sound,” says The Laurels’ lead singer Luke O’Farrell. “That’s always the case when there are multiple songwriters and everyone has creative input. But we always find a middle ground, and I guess the overarching influence for this album was the production style of hip hop producers, so that was generally a good indicator of how we wanted to put the songs together in the studio, and it dictated a lot of the sounds and equipment we ended up using.” Given how resoundingly fresh Sonicology sounds – it’s an uncompromising record, full of melodic left turns and dark subject matter – one can’t help but be surprised to learn it was written over a number of years, finely crafted rather than blurted out. “Some of the songs, tracks like ‘Sonicology’, date back as far as the writing sessions for [2012 album] Plains,” says O’Farrell. “Inevitably they evolved quite a bit over the years, what with all the different music we listened to in that time. The songs were picked from a batch that we’d written over a three-year period and then we spent a year working on the tracks together in our studio.” Indeed, The Laurels record and rehearse in a space they own, and have filled the hideaway with both
“I started playing saxophone when I was 11,” Sena says. “It was in year six in primary school … My parents chose it for me because my brother had been learning sax. I tried piano and it wasn’t really my thing, but they really wanted me to play some kind of musical instrument and I decided the sax was a little bit cooler. It was only a couple of years after playing it that I fell in love with it.” Now, all these years later, the sax has totally taken over Sena’s life. It’s the instrument he has used to craft his self-titled EP, due out this month, but it’s also the tool he uses to make a living wage. “I do a variety of little things for work,” Sena says. “I do a bit of instrumental tuition and odd stuff like that. But it’s all music-related. I play weddings on the weekend, all that stuff.”
of Music played a large part in the formation of his craft. “I mean, different people have different opinions on AIM,” he says. “I was lucky to be there when there were a bunch of really great musos, and really great teachers set me on the right path. Just my understanding of musical harmony really took things to another place.” Harmony being the key phrase. Sena writes and performs fl uid, sensual pop songs – tunes perfectly suited for both latenight listening and the thrumming confi nes of a house party. He writes often, and with a keen ear for melody, proving unafraid to embrace the mainstream. “I think now I try not to think about songs as I’m writing them too much,” he says. “Initially I did try to think about them a lot. But I mean, with a song like [single] ‘Be With You’, it was just about the sounds that were in my head. It just started
A lot of that lyrical and musical complexity comes from The Laurels’ four-pronged approach, and again, it is their sense of communal creativity that explains a lot of the record’s finest moments. “We’ve always brought in our own sketches of songs that we then collaborate on together,” says O’Farrell. “It really helps add another dimension and gives us the ability to take a song somewhere completely different. For example, there was originally no guitar on ‘Reentry’ and it was a repetitive
out with that melody – just the progression in the chorus – and kind of went from there. I added in parts to that as I heard them.” A lot of the difficult-to-determine nature of Sena’s creative process comes down to the infl uence of session musicians, outliers he hires largely because he is excited about bringing in fresh sets of ears to his evolving work. “Defi nitely going into the studio and hiring musicians to generate unusual sounds – that changes the songs,” he says. “I actually love that. It kind of takes the songs to an unexpected place and really adds to them.” Of course, being in charge of his own sound – becoming the master of the ship, so to speak – required some effort on Sena’s part, and he had to work hard at assuming his rather authoritarian role as bandleader. “I’ve hired bands before, but this is my first release under my own name,” he explains. “So I was a bit shy at first about telling them, ‘I want it like this’ or ‘I want it like that.’ But as we did more sessions, I got a bit firmer with that.” What: Joel Sena out independently on Friday November 11 Where: Slyfox When: Thursday November 24
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ustralia’s progressive music scene is in the best shape it’s been for years. The early 2000s saw the first massive rise of Australian prog, with the charge led by the likes of Karnivool and Cog. But by the turn of the decade, the seemingly indestructible bubble of prog and alternative rock had burst, leaving venues absent of 6/8 time signatures and pedal boards the size of pool tables. However, in the last five years, a new generation has risen to pack out venues not only at home, but abroad as well. The success of bands like Sleepmakeswaves, Voyager, We Lost The Sea and Dumbsaint – to name a few – is testament to the resurgent strength and public interest in a style that is now stronger than ever.
there. The integrity of the writers is still there, whether or not there’s a powerful following. “Right now it’s very strong – you can see that with the return of Progfest [in Melbourne], which we are headlining and is a part of our tour. There is definitely a flavour for that kind of music here. The success of bands and the hype that’s built around bands’ success here in Australia echoes and reverberates around the internet and people start picking that up overseas, and so bands like Ne Obliviscaris, Twelve Foot Ninja and Dead Letter Circus, they’ve all gone and kicked doors down overseas for bands like us to follow through. It’s a really good time for prog music right now, especially in Australia.”
“It’s something I give a lot of thought to, because it’s something that affects us a great deal,” says Jim Grey, lead vocalist of Brisbane’s Caligula’s Horse. “The scene’s had its peaks and lulls, but there’s always been the people pushing to make the music, and the integrity is still
In a matter of days, Caligula’s Horse will be embarking on a headline national tour, the first with their new drummer Josh Griffin. The Hands Shape Stone tour will visit all major cities, coalescing some of Australia’s best progressive acts as supports, as well as up-and-comers – a decision that Grey says is more about camaraderie than ticket sales.
“IT’S A REALLY GOOD TIME FOR PROG MUSIC RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY IN AUSTRALIA.”
“Obviously we care about ticket sales, and I’m not going to say we don’t. [But] this tour is really an opportunity for us to give some of the bands we like a shot on the lineup. We are in a unique position right now, in that Caligula’s Horse has reached a point where it can tour the country and we can sell out shows; we have support everywhere. So it’s xxxx
Additionally, Sena’s classical training at the Australian Institute
“MY UNDERSTANDING OF MUSICAL HARMONY REALLY TOOK THINGS TO ANOTHER PLACE.”
“I think anyone who has ever struggled with depression would know the feeling of having to put on a sunny facade in order to not worry the people around them,” O’Farrell says. “It is really about trying to keep a dialogue going about mental illness in order to reduce stigma and hopefully get sufferers to be taken more seriously. The majority of treatment options and services currently available aren’t good enough for the majority of those seeking help.”
The Cavalry Charge By Aaron Streatfeild
Let’s Talk About Sax By Joseph Earp
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It isn’t overambitious for O’Farrell to assume people will be listening to the record that closely – Sonicology is the kind of album that encourages attention, and the band often likes to engineer significant contrast between the medium and the message, presenting dark lyrics accompanied by jaunty, shoegaze melodies. A perfect example of such a dichotomy is ‘Hit And Miss’, a song about the tendency of people with depression to cover up their struggles.
Caligula’s Horse
Joel Sena oel Sena was 11 years old when he met the love of his life. But the story of his prepubescent romance is less Romeo And Juliet and more The Taming Of The Shrew, and it wasn’t exactly a case of instant mutual appreciation. Indeed, the subject of Sena’s adoration was forced upon him by his parents, and he initially struggled with his chosen partner.
junk and gems. “We found a space above Troy Horse Rehearsal Studios in Redfern and built our own studio in there with all the gear that we’ve amassed over the years,” O’Farrell explains. “We named it Volume Plus, after the petrol station that had just been knocked down next door. It was situated between two other studios and wasn’t properly soundproofed, so you’ll probably hear faint techno kick drums from next door leaking their way onto our vocal tracks.”
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drum loop running throughout, so once everyone had their input it really evolved from the original demo into something more lively that we all helped craft together.” The Sydneysiders are also notable live performers, known for their showmanship and ear-rupturing sonic warbles. Given that selfsame onstage confidence, it’s no shock that O’Farrell rarely has to contend with the horror of performance anxiety these days. “I don’t really [get nervous]. We’ve been doing it for so long now that it feels quite natural getting up there. I guess maybe a beer or a whisky beforehand can make it a bit easier?”
“YOU’LL PROBABLY HEAR FAINT TECHNO KICK DRUMS FROM NEXT DOOR LEAKING THEIR WAY ONTO OUR VOCAL TRACKS.”
But despite all their technical skill and self-assurance, nobody has a clean run, and The Laurels have encountered one or two hiccups along the way. “There are so many contenders for our worst show that it’s hard to pick,” O’Farrell laughs. “There was a festival that we did in the middle of nowhere where we played at 3am in the morning to about 20 people. The sound guy was high on MDMA, dancing at the front of the stage instead of mixing us.” Nonetheless, such disasters are unlikely to haunt them as they tour Sonicology over the next few months. The tour dates are the very definition of exhaustive, and will see them hit stages across the country. But despite the intensity of the schedule, O’Farrell is looking forward to it. “We’re mainly playing weekends so it’s more like having a nice getaway from our day jobs for a few days a week,” he says. “It’s getting to play with the bands we love in each city and catching up with all our mates from all over the country.” What: Sonicology out now through Rice Is Nice Where: Imperial Hotel When: Saturday November 12
cool to give some younger bands the opportunity.” The tour follows on from the band’s successful Turntail tour of April this year. This time around, Caligula’s Horse will bring along a few songs from their next album. “The setlist for this tour is going to be a little different,” Grey reveals. “We didn’t want to be playing one album over another like you normally do when you’re touring an album. We wanted to bring this new stuff with us but also wanted the setlist to reflect the band and its journey. There’s going to be stuff from every album. We wanted it to be as exciting as possible for the fans.” Their last release, 2015’s Bloom, saw Caligula’s Horse drawing heavily on melodic elements, whereas the new record may take a darker approach. “At the moment it’s sounding a little darker than Bloom,” says Grey. “We’ve returned to a conceptual basis for songwriting; everything fits into a story. There are characters within the conceptual framework, and although it’s about other characters, it still comes from a very personal place. “What we’re bringing with us [on tour] is the arc of one of the characters, so it’s going to be interesting to see how it translates live.” With: Hemina, Sevsons Where: Newtown Social Club When: Sunday November 20
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The Dillinger Escape Plan Their Separate Ways By Aaron Streatfeild
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he Dillinger Escape Plan have released their last album before an indefi nite hiatus, to sighs of relief echoing from venue owners across the globe. OK, that might be an exaggeration, but singer Greg Puciato remains proud of his band’s longevity. “If you were to ask me 13 years ago if in 2016 The Dillinger Escape Plan would be a band that people care about, I’d be like, ‘Are you out of your mind? There’s no way we’re even going to be a band in three more years!’ It’s because of the nature of the band and how volatile it all is. I thought we’d either all be arrested or kill one another. But let’s be honest, there’s still time for both of those things – we still have another year,” he says. This August, the music press far and wide bathed in the clicks after the band’s announcement of a fi nal album and tour, with headlines touting an ‘indefi nite hiatus’ to follow the New Jersey act’s latest offering, Dissociation, and a world tour.
Since their beginnings in 1997, The Dillinger Escape Plan have left audiences in dumbstruck awe with performances that need to be seen to be believed, or at least YouTubed (that ‘Virgin Megastore’ video included). But Puciato’s curiosity over how the band ever achieved mainstream success is justifi ed. The Dillinger Escape Plan’s music is an acquired taste – the mathematical chaos and spasmodic abrasion that make up a good chunk of their sound are far from radio material. That factor alone is enough to prevent any chance of success in the mainstream arena. But after 19 years, six studio albums and an address book’s worth of lineup changes, the band has secured a position as one of modern music’s great wonders. After a long haul of living the DIY ethos, The Dillinger Escape Plan will go out on a high. Puciato took the mic in 2001, replacing the band’s original vocalist, Dimitri Minakakis. His initiation into the lineup, 2004’s
Miss Machine, set a precedent for things to come, introducing hints of melody and dynamic into the Dillinger sound. Although late to the game, Puciato has been one of the few consistent members of the band, and he has seen it grow from its humble roots to its great successes. So after his 15 years in a group that’s rarely stopped to smell the mosh-trodden roses, and with the end in sight, does Puciato find himself in an uncertain state of mind? “You know what? I’m not even thinking about it at all,” he says. “The only people that are thinking about it are the people interviewing me or writing about it. We have so much stuff that’s immediately pressing – all the logistics of operating as a band are still very present. Right now, it’s more pressing than ever. We’ve just released a record and we’re going on tour in a few days – there’s so much shit happening in terms of the sheer logistics of it all. We’re not sitting around contemplating our demise. We’re rehearsing and trying to get shit done.”
“I THOUGHT WE’D EITHER ALL BE ARRESTED OR KILL ONE ANOTHER. BUT LET’S BE HONEST, THERE’S STILL TIME FOR BOTH OF THOSE THINGS.” 16 :: BRAG :: 687 :: 02:11:16
Appropriately, Dissociation is a culmination of the band’s previous efforts – it feels like a Dillinger Escape Plan record, but it doesn’t waste any time with farewells or goodbyes.
we’ve decided to stop – musically, thematically, where we are in our individual lives, it just seems like it makes sense. Whether we’ll come back to it or we won’t, I have no idea.”
“I’d say we were about halfway through [Dissociation] when we made the decision,” Puciato explains. “It’s the craziest mixed bag of emotions. There are feelings of dread, of hope, of sadness and celebration. Sometimes it just pisses me off and other times I have this regret, wishing I had done certain things differently. And then sometimes I get excited about what we accomplished. There are a million things that go through my head, and it’s hard to make sense of it. I’m just really grateful at what we’ve accomplished in the last 15 years I’ve been with the band.
In the meantime, the band’s guitarist and only founding member, Ben Weinman, will remain busy with his supergroup Giraffe Tongue Orchestra. They may also be more from Puciato, whose side project The Black Queen has gained momentum in recent years. But when asked about his future following The Dillinger Escape Plan, Puciato replies: “I’m going to sell tacos.”
“I think that sense of urgency, of knowing that we may not get another chance to show what we can do as a collective, and as individuals – it sets your mind to overdrive. And I think the record ended up being creatively better, and was executed better because we knew that it was all going to end. “We are just reaching our musical thematic conclusion,” he adds. “There are a lot of reasons why
“I make these really killer breakfast tacos,” he says, “and I was planning on opening a food truck and just driving around LA selling breakfast tacos.” Until then, Puciato and co. are hitting the road one last time, and Australian fans won’t be left out. “Oh, we’ll be there,” he says. “There’s nothing I love more about Australia than how killer Aussie slang is!” What: Dissociation out now through Party Smasher Inc/ Cooking Vinyl
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arts in focus
free stuff head to: thebrag.com/freeshit
arts news...what's goin' on around town... with Harriet Flitcroft, Anna Wilson and Ariana Norton
LADIES IN BLACK
five minutes WITH
BEN NOIR FROM A FRENCH CABARET Piaf since I was quite young, but back in 2002 my grandfather asked me to sing a French song for him at an important family event. It was such a poignant moment that the memory has always stuck with me. As a natural progression, I lived in French-speaking Switzerland for two years, became fluent in French and once I could understand the lyrics of the songs they took on a new meaning and I became even more passionate. Were there any specific influences behind your new release, Ben Noir? A culmination of life events [including] having appeared in the Moulin Rouge film, and my Swiss husband Stephane, who is the reason why I learned French in the first place! But musically I’m taken by the likes of Piaf, Brel, Trenet and others as well as the musical influences from my background. I also spent some time performing in Paris. It’s such an enigmatic city and I feel that this experience is imbued in the album.
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What makes cabaret audiences respond well during a show? I think the honesty of real experiences, and our genuine family connections (a couple
Briefs
You recently performed at the Montreal Burlesque Festival. What did you learn from the experience? That I have to perform! The feedback was so positive that it reminded me of why I do what I do. Who else is involved in your new show, A French Cabaret? We have some fabulous musicians: Inge Courtenay-Haentjes (violin), Paolo Campanari (accordion), Jane Andino (piano), Paul Laszlo (double bass), Cameron Reid (drums/ percussion), Rosie McDonald and Anna Crotti on backing vocals and Ann Palumbo (guitar and musical director, producer and arranger), as well as some dancers thanks to Wendy Brown Productions. What: A French Cabaret Where: Django Bar, Camelot Lounge When: Sunday November 6
Kati Thanda – Lake Eyre
MEET ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EYRE
Kati Thanda – Lake Eyre: Interpretations From The Air is a new collaborative book by four Australian photographers, Adam Williams, Luke Austin, Ignacio Palacios and Paul Hoelen. Embarking on off-road fourwheel driving and two charter plane rides, the photographers have taken the stunning natural landscapes of Australia’s Lake Eyre and turned them into incredible artworks in themselves. The aerial photography must be seen to be believed, and you can do just that at the exhibition showing Thursday November 3 – Saturday November 12 at Waterloo’s Gallery II. distinctive personality. Heard will be in the centre of the city on Thursday November 10 and at Carriageworks on Saturday November 12.
SYDNEY FESTIVAL GOES ARTSY
The full program for Sydney Festival 2017 is packed to the brim with visual and performing arts, exhibitions, talks and more. Highlights include Aboriginal playwright Nathan Maynard’s The Season making its world premiere at the Sydney Opera House, Measure For Measure by Cheek By Jowl with Pushkin Theatre – a British-Russian collaboration that takes a Shakespearean tale into modern Moscow – and The Encounter with Richard Katz, in which audiences don headphones and follow the epic journey of National Geographic photographer Loren McIntyre. Sydney Festival’s signature largescale installations are back, starring a House Of Mirrors at Hyde Park and The Beach, an enormous monochromatic ball pit at The Cutaway, Barangaroo Reserve. Campbelltown Arts Centre will host Another Day In Paradise, the first major exhibition by Myuran Sukumaran, the Bali Nine member who died under Indonesia’s death penalty in 2015. Meanwhile, Scent Of Sydney turns its focus to the sense of smell, as Carriageworks hosts Cat Jones’ exhibition of Sydney’s identity, distilled into scents. Parramatta will welcome its most exciting Sydney Festival program yet, as Circus City takes over the western CBD with a bunch of physical fun for the whole family, while the ever-popular cabaret program at the Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent is headed up by The Second Coming with Briefs, fresh from sold-out seasons in Berlin and London. For the full program and to book, visit sydneyfestival.org.au.
COMEDY AT THE UNICORN Cam Scale at Wonderwalls 2015 photo by Luke Shirlaw
Ladies In Black will play at the Sydney Lyric from Tuesday January 3 – Sunday January 22, and we’ve got two double passes to give away for the opening night. Enter the draw at thebrag.com/freeshit.
Sydney has a brand new comedy night. The Unicorn in Paddington launched its regular Monday night lineup of funnypeople with Akmal Saleh this week, with Katie Burch and David Smiedt joining him for some jokey times. Already, the pub has a weekly schedule featuring trivia on Tuesdays and live music on Thursdays and Sundays, so the comedy is a welcome addition – not to mention a foolproof cure to Mondayitis. Keep an eye on thebrag.com for lineup announcements as they come.
NOVEMBER AT THE LAUGH STAND
It’s time to chortle and chuckle again as The Laugh Stand shows off the funny bone hidden in its November lineup. Across every Tuesday night in November, The Laugh Stand at the Harold Park Hotel is playing host to a series thebrag.com
A WORLD OF TRICKS
From Kermond Creative straight to Sydney comes the sensational theatrical cabaret production, Spielgel’esque. Performed in the wonderful Spiegel Zelt at Leichhardt’s
Italian Forum, Spielgel’esque is part cabaret, part song and dance, part circus, and all decadent entertainment. The world of Spielgel’esque sees acclaimed cabaret performer Wayne Scott Kermond play host to a cast of performers intent on providing romantic insight into old-world theatre, and is sure to delight and amaze. It opens Wednesday November 23.
GONNA BE THE ONE THAT SAVES ME
The fifth instalment of Wonderwalls Festival will be heading down to Wollongong over the weekend of Friday November 25 – Sunday November 27. Local and international artists will paint live artworks over 20 walls in the city’s west end to celebrate the unique style of street and graffiti art. The festival will also feature the Wonderwalls Exhibition, curated by Detroit’s 1XRun, and a live artist Q&A on Saturday November 26. Starting the weekend off will be a rooftop party at Wollongong Central on the Friday, which is open to the public, with live music and art, plus a DJ spinning from 6:30pm. Cam Scale at Wonderwalls 2015
of comedic talents. Highlights include the UK’s JJ Mullard (Tuesday November 8), The Stevenson Experience with MC Ciaran Lyons (Tuesday November 15), musical comedian and national treasure Mick Meredith (Tuesday November 22), and a final bumper gala event at the end of the month featuring MC Christina Van Look, Tommy Dean and Bruce Griffiths among others (Tuesday November 29). You’ll be in stitches.
DANCING WITH THE HEARD
Sydney’s streets are set to be transformed this month as 30 life-sized raffia ‘horses’ dance their way through town. The choreographed performance is the latest from acclaimed American artist Nick Cave and features 60 local dancers in horse sound suits of brightly coloured raffia and recycled materials. The dancers will don the sound suits, which produce a distinctive swooshing noise, and transform themselves into a spirited herd of horses, each with their own BRAG :: 687 :: 02:11:16 :: 17
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Kati Thanda – Lake Eyre photo by Adam Williams
ow did you first discover your passion for performing French cabaret? I’ve always been inspired by the music of Édith
of members being in the band). And a few surprise antics always help! What we offer is something that is a little unique but is underpinned by the familiarity of great songs.
Queensland Theatre Company’s Ladies In Black might be a production from north of the border, but it’s set in none other than Sydney. Now, the musical is coming home for Sydney Festival. With 20 original songs by legendary songwriter Tim Finn, and starring Bobby Fox, Sarah Morrison and Natalie Gamsu, Ladies In Black is an adaptation of the Madeleine St John novel set in a stylish CBD department store in the 1950s, with the city set for a post-war cosmopolitan boom.
arts in focus
game on Gaming news and reviews with Adam Guetti
new releases
NOV
Been holding out for the annual video game flood? Well, that time is well and truly upon us, so now’s the perfect chance to work out what should be at the top of your list.
2016
Kicking off the month on Thursday November 3 is the latest expansion for The Sims 4: City Living (PC). Whether you create order or chaos, the add-on will feature the much busier city lifestyle of San Myshuno. Meanwhile, a day later on Friday November 4 comes one of the biggest releases of the year in the form of Call Of Duty: Infi nite Warfare (PS4, XBO, PC), where you’ll discover if Game Of Thrones’ Kit Harrington can succeed in a villainous role. Alternatively, 3DS fans can enjoy their own fun with SEGA 3D Classics Collection. Packed in are ten memorable titles like Sonic The Hedgehog. Nearly a week later on Thursday November 10 comes the PS4, Xbox One and PC’s next heavy hitter, Dishonored 2. Corvo Attano returns to the series, as does Empress Emily Kaldwin, who is joining in the murderous affair. Speaking of sequels, meanwhile, Watch Dogs 2 (PS4, XBO, PC) is hoping to show off a few new tricks from 2014’s original thanks largely to a new lead and improvements to core systems. It hacks its way into your life on Tuesday November 15. Finally worth your attention are Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon for the 3DS, which celebrate the series’ 20th year. Catch ’em all from Friday November 18.
Review: FIFA 17 (PS4, XBO, PS3, 360)
Asian Dub Foundation [FILM/MUSIC] THX Redux By Joseph Earp
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oor George Lucas. Though the US filmmaker is far from being a one-trick pony, his varied and wide-ranging contribution to the pop culture pantheon is often overlooked in favour of a series he started work on back in the ’70s – a cinematic legacy kicked off by a little film you might not have seen called Star Wars.
Both Lucas and Murch have been hugely supportive of what the Foundation have been doing with the film, something that Savale could never have dreamed of. “I personally thought initially that someone like Lucas would never find the time to even consider giving us the permission to rework his film. I was wrong. And many thanks also have to go to Walter Murch, who has been so supportive of what we’re doing too.”
But despite decades of being poorly reviewed and largely ignored, THX is finally getting its dues, thanks in no small part to the folks over at Graphic Festival and ragga/ electronica/punk crew Asian Dub Foundation. The Foundation, led by charismatic frontman Steve Chandra Savale, have long been fans of the film, and now they’re getting the chance to pay tribute to it in the best way possible: by playing a live, updated score alongside a screening in the Sydney Opera House.
Given the high regard in which they hold the film’s creators, it’s been very important for the Foundation to nail this performance, and they have been practising and re-watching the film exhaustively. Indeed, their aim is to pay homage to the real thing as much as they possibly can: they’re not reinventing original composer Lalo Schifrin’s work as much as they are encouraging audiences to see it in a brand new light.
“I first saw the film in the late ’80s,” says Savale. “When I first saw it, what struck me was the brilliant and radical idea that a 20th century viewer looking at a society 500 years into the future would find it completely unrecognisable and have to gradually feel out how that society worked.”
“We try to complement the original score,” says Savale. “It’s pretty much 95 per cent as it was. I personally owe a great debt to Lalo Schifrin, whose music I have loved since I was nine years old. Working with the soundtrack has seriously expanded the band’s musical horizons – it’s been amazing.”
“LUCAS AND MURCH VIEW THE FILM LIKE AN ARTEFACT FROM THE FUTURE THAT IS INEVITABLY ALIEN TO THE ARTEFACT’S DISCOVERERS – I.E. US.”
Savale credits a lot of the film’s success not only to Lucas but also Walter Murch. Though best known as a sound designer and film editor, having worked on such masterpieces as The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, Murch co-wrote THX with Lucas, and is partly responsible for the film’s distinct feel.
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On a more holistic level, some inconsistent AI and an increasingly repetitive commentary track could use some love, but that doesn’t deter from the fact that FIFA 17 continues to be an incredibly solid package for fans.
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Indeed, little media attention is ever really afforded to his debut, a surprisingly dark, cynical work named THX 1138. Though it shares the sci-fi setting of Lucas’ best-known film series, it bristles with cynicism and bitterness, concerning as it does a world in which sex and emotions have been outlawed. Look elsewhere if you’re after a film about underdogs and wookies: this one is about as bleak as they come.
“Lucas and Murch view the film like an artefact from the future that is inevitably alien to the artefact’s discoverers – i.e. us,” Savale says. “The ironic thing is, as time has gone on, the film has become less unrecognisable. Lucas and Murch’s projections in the realm of surveillance, religious fundamentalism, pharmaceutical control, racism and the ever-present cacophony of digital bleeps are much closer to the mark than critics thought they were in 1971.”
TC
hances are if you’re a devout FIFA fan, review scores matter little, but the good news is that FIFA 17 continues the franchise’s stellar run over the last few years. The big success for this year’s iteration is its headline act – The Journey. Essentially FIFA’s own story mode, The Journey tells the tale of the young talent Alex Hunter as he attempts to become a 4 stars household name by making it in the Premier League. Surprisingly theGuetti mode is well handled, effective and creates a new reason to Adam draw people to the series.
Review: Rise Of The Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration Edition (PS4)
A
fter wowing Xbox One owners last year, Lara Croft’s latest adventure is finally free to be enjoyed by PS4 owners, and the result is equally as impressive.
Should you have already played the main campaign, there’s not much reason for you to rush out and buy it again, but if you haven’t, there are also a few neat extras to make the most of. A new short story-focused chapter Blood Ties is chief among them, allowing you to explore Croft Manor – which also supports PS VR should you have your hands on a unit. A must-buy for any adventure lover.
What: George Lucas’ THX 1138 Live Scored By Asian Dub Foundation as part of Graphic 2016 Where: Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House When: Saturday November 5
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Dishonored 2 [GAMING] The Rules Of Nature By Adam Guetti
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Review: Gears Of War 4 (XBO, PC)
F
ollowing the relatively lacklustre reception for Gears Of War: Judgment, fans and critics alike were a little unsure about Microsoft’s premiere chainsaw-loving franchise. Had the series finally run its course, or if handled properly could some new blood reinvigorate it? Thankfully it’s a big case of the latter, as developer The Coalition has without question managed to rev the engine back up with Gears Of War 4.
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Taking place 25 years after the events of the third game, Gears Of War 4 swaps out Marcus Fenix for JD Fenix as well as his two friends, Kait and Del. It’s new blood that is welcomed with open arms, allowing The Coalition to steer proceedings in some bold new directions. In fact, the game’s first act is free of gore as JD and his crew have shunned the Coalition of Ordered Governments (COG) to live as outsiders – exuding a vibe almost reminiscent of Robin Hood. If that sounds like cause for concern, don’t fret, because before long you’ll be fighting COG robots and dealing with a new monster race as familiar faces return, as do classic mechanics. And they’re mechanics that remain as polished as ever – presenting chapter after chapter of intense action backed by well thoughtout set pieces. Horde moments have also been thrown into the mix, despite not always gelling as well as they should. One could argue that the campaign plays things perhaps a little too safe, but it’s difficult to hold much of a grudge when the end result is as enjoyable as it often is. The return of Horde mode and Versus (competitive multiplayer) round out the package, and both complement the main game well should you wish to sink more time into this brutal new world. Versus is particularly impressive with eight modes and ten maps, so here’s hoping the community sticks around – especially if The Coalition hopes to make a dent in the ever-growing eSports crowd. All things considered, Gears Of War 4 is a return to form for the series, which is only good news considering the implication that this is merely the beginning of a brand new saga. You might not have the same level of attachment to JD, Kait and Del as you did to Marcus and his crew, but it’s an incredibly respectable and beautiful start.
ollowing on from Arkane Studios’ surprising success with Dishonored, its sequel aims to push the boundaries even further, expanding on many of the mystical and supernatural elements that helped make the original game a hit. But does any of it have some degree of scientifi c foundation? We spoke with Professor David Reilly, head of Sydney University’s Quantum Nanoscience Laboratory, to fi nd out. First up: the supernatural powers shown off by returning favourite Corvo Attano and newcomer Emily Kaldwin. Could such abilities actually exist in real life? “I really think so,” says Reilly. “Right now we are at a special time in the development of many powerful technologies, especially in the area of quantum tech. We are just starting to understand how to harness the bizarre rules of nature laid out in the quantum world. That nature permits these phenomena – things like quantum entanglement – hints that one day we may use them. All technologies look like supernatural powers before we understand and harness them.”
“WE ARE AT A SPECIAL TIME IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MANY POWERFUL TECHNOLOGIES, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA OF QUANTUM TECH.”
So with the possibility of powers on the table, how about Corvo’s ability to ‘Blink’ to nearby destinations (acting as short-range teleportation)? “It has a sound basis in quantum mechanics,” explains Reilly. “In that context it is usually referred to as a means of reconstructing the quantum state of a particle or system. Recently, in nanoscale quantum devices, the term ‘teleportation’ has been used to describe the behaviour of particles that enter on one side and emerge the other. This is a consequence of the mathematics of topology.”
today, it’s hard to see how time travel is possible,” says Reilly. “But we also know that we are yet to have a complete theory of quantum gravity and there may be indeed opportunities there – we’ll have to see what happens in theoretical physics in the coming decades. I would say that in the meantime, Hollywood is getting better. Interstellar was very well done. As to time travellers with us now, MIT in May 2005 hosted a time-traveller convention, a place and time where travellers could meet and reveal themselves. It was widely advertised. Nobody claimed to be from a different time, unfortunately.”
Sadly, however, we might still have to wait a little for time travel – at least outside the world of gaming and entertainment. “From the physics we understand
The nature of choice is also an element the Dishonored series places a great deal of focus on, as the gamer constantly decides between stealth and going in loud;
between death and mercy. But how about our real lives? How much weight should we be placing on choices and the consequences they could have for our reality? “Does free will exist?” Reilly teases. “Is it an illusion? How do our choices take us to the same or totally different outcomes? These philosophical questions have fascinated us since the dawn of time. Dishonored brings some of these ideas to life in a game that combines suspense, mystery, historic reference, drama and philosophy.” Looking back at the scientific leaps Dishonored’s world has made, it’s obvious that these are both for better and for worse. We have to wonder, then, does Reilly fear what might be uncovered by pushing the discoveries of quantum science, or is every discovery a welcome one? “Nearly all areas of science and engineering have this doubleedged sword,” he replies easily. “Knowledge can be used for good or evil. Practically, I don’t know too many scientists who fear that which is yet to be discovered. It is more a deep fascination and curiosity for what nature has waiting.” What: Dishonored 2 When: Out Thursday November 10 on XBO, PS4 and PC
Call Of Duty: Infinite Warfare [GAMING] Ground Control To Major Jon By Adam Guetti
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ith another year comes the latest release in the Call Of Duty juggernaut. Infi nite Warfare, however, hopes to shake things up. Infinity Ward’s studio art director Brian Horton speaks with the BRAG about moving the series to the final frontier: space.
Keeping up a yearly release schedule is difficult for many reasons, but Infinity Ward hopes individuality is the solution. “I was just so excited about this idea of creating a game that didn’t feel like science fiction, but science fact,” explains Horton. “And how do we make it feel like a document of this good versus evil war where two human factions are fighting over this natural resource in space? That to me was like, ‘OK, that’s my mission and that’s what I’m going to try to achieve.’ Considering his experience with visuals, I wonder if Horton worries about games feeling too real. “I think [in] every age there are these walls that people put up where people say, ‘Oh, this is too far, we can’t go this far,’” he says. “I’m sure there are going to be some things as we get more and more real where people are going to start to lose their perception of reality. I think we’re pretty far away from that, but I’m really excited about the idea of VR [virtual reality]. The first time you’ve had a true VR experience you’re like, ‘That’s what this is about.’ It’s when you start to pick things up
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“I THINK [IN] EVERY AGE THERE ARE THESE WALLS THAT PEOPLE PUT UP WHERE PEOPLE SAY, ‘OH, THIS IS TOO FAR, WE CAN’T GO THIS FAR.’”
and feel like you’re manipulating the world – that’s what gets me excited about our medium. We keep finding innovations.” Infi nite Warfare will once again combine a single player campaign, multiplayer suite and zombies mode into the one package, but distinguishing between those three facets is paramount. “The tech works universally for all of those modes, but we try to imagine the personality of each of them,” says Horton. “Zombies has this ’80s, campy, fun take on the franchise, and it allowed us to be a little more fun and have colours with a little more pop. Then for multiplayer we needed to be clearer, so where we went dark and atmospheric on the single player game, we had to be a lot crisper and clear so that players could get visibility.”
Despite the heavy emphasis the series places on multiplayer, a lot of love has still been given to the single player campaign. “We spent a lot of time working our tech to make the whole single player campaign stream so that you’d never have a loading screen,” Horton says. “We really want you to feel immersed in the game. Obviously that’s one of the big advancements beyond all the graphics features, so you can play the single player experience all the way through and just feel like you’re in this world the whole time.” Actor Kit Harington (AKA Game Of Thrones’ Jon Snow) will also be making his video game debut. “We had our villain and we were having difficulties finding the right person to cast for him,” says Horton. “Then this opportunity came up for Kit Harington and we were like, ‘But he’s a hero.’ Then we thought, ‘Wait a second, that’s perfect! He always plays the hero, why don’t we go against that archetype?’ And he was like, ‘Yes, I get to play a villain.’ So he was really excited about the opportunity to do something against what most people see him as, and I think it’s a wonderful match, because it’s not what you expect, yet it works so well.” What: Call Of Duty: Infi nite Warfare When: Out Friday November 4 on XBO, PS4 and PC
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film reviews
arts in focus ■ Film
HACKSAW RIDGE In cinemas now Hacksaw Ridge tells the very true story of a man who simultaneously acted as a conscientious objector and a genuine war hero, and therein lies its inherent contradiction: as a film, it both glorifies and condemns, pushing forward for the genre while remaining entrenched in its more unpalatable conventions.
■ Film
ELLE In cinemas now Elle is a whodunnit in which the main character doesn’t particularly care who done it. The film opens with a horrific act of sexual violence, played for dark laughs and committed against video game developer and icy matriarch Michèle (Isabelle Huppert in a typically brilliant turn). Rather than tell her dopey son or the police about the incident, she instead cleans up the damage and goes about her life as though nothing has happened, even while her mysterious attacker continues to bait and taunt her with text messages and open threats.
What's in our diary...
Though Huppert is hypnotic, the real MVP is director Paul Verhoeven. The Dutch auteur has never received his dues as a filmmaker – his early American films, genre masterpieces like RoboCop and Total Recall, were unfairly sniffed at by mainstream critics – but he has a strikingly steady directorial style. He shoots melodrama with remove, creating an intoxicating interplay between medium and message, and encouraging audiences to swallow blatantly overripe madness they might never usually tolerate. He also shows his deft hand at comedy. Elle is raucously funny at times, albeit in a way that will have a good proportion of its audience squirming in their seats. Running jokes about tentacle sex, circumcised penises and numerous spousal affairs are both shocking and amusing in equal measure, with an
uncomfortable Christmas dinner proving a comedic high point. That said, the film’s third act lacks oomph, and Verhoeven’s neat, methodical tying up of loose ends does begin to wear a bit thin. The film spends a good 40 minutes setting itself up for a conclusion that is surprisingly humdrum in nature, and though Verhoeven’s intention might be to deliberately subvert audience expectations – to let them down after stuffing them full of ugliness for some 90 minutes – it doesn’t make for a particularly satisfactory viewing experience.
Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield) is the son of a Great War veteran (Hugo Weaving) and your typical country boy Yankee. When the fight against the Japanese calls America to action, Doss accepts the call on one condition: he will never carry a gun.
Doss is an utterly spotless character, almost too pure and naive to be real. Garfield’s awkward rendition of him strangely works, even if it strays a little close to Forrest Gump territory at times. This autobiography paints Doss in the colours of a contemporary Christ, often conspicuously – no surprise given the director’s previous work (The Passion Of The Christ) or Doss’ own faith. There’s no debate: as both a pacifist and a man who saved the lives of 75 Americans and tended to Japanese wounded, he is an unequivocal goddamn hero.
Mel Gibson’s fifth feature is his first war film since 1995’s Braveheart, yet we don’t arrive on the shores of Okinawa (and thus into combat proper) until more than an hour in. Time is first spent establishing Doss and his particular antiviolence bent, as well as his relationships with his father, soon-to-be sweetheart Dorothy (Teresa Palmer) and his military unit led by
But in establishing so unassailable a protagonist, an ugly ‘us versus them’ mentality prevails. At first it is merely an obstacle to be overcome: Doss battles the prejudices of a corps spiteful of conscientious objectors, who they see as cowards. Sam Worthington makes for a convincing square-jawed captain, though Private Smitty (Luke Bracey) approaches parody with his steeliness.
In Okinawa, it becomes dogma. American soldiers die rapidly in scenes lashed with horror and tragedy; Japanese deaths are glorious, victories for the allies. The enemy are a merciless, screaming horde, relentless and inhuman. 80 years on, why does this impression linger? Why has our love of glory and spite for enemies long since our allies not yielded to time? Gibson is confident with the battlefield, capturing fear, devastation and the exultation of victory, but he dives into slow-motion, giving as much attention to those who mow down enemies with chainguns as he does to Doss’ selflessness, and it creates a serious cognitive dissonance that undermines the film. Hacksaw Ridge’s protagonist is one of the most inspiring men in the history of armed conflict – but had Doss lived to see it, would he, too, revel in the grandeur of war? David Molloy
Nonetheless, the film is still full of dark pleasures, anchored by a supreme filmmaker at the height of his powers. It’s never pleasant or polite, but in its deranged exuberance Elle reaches heights of depravity not glimpsed in years.
Hacksaw Ridge photo by Mark Rogers
By its very nature, then, the plot is episodic, and the tale meanders into occasionally strange, occasionally mundane, occasionally horrific territory. The game for the audience is about deciphering what is relevant and what is mere distraction, filtering through subplots concerning Elle’s imprisoned serial killer father, domineering mother
and handsome, conflicted neighbour.
Sergeant Howell (the weirdly cast Vince Vaughn).
Joseph Earp
Arts Exposed
on the bookshelf The latest additions to your libary...
Sydney Open 2016 Various locations, Saturday November 5 and Sunday November 6 Some of Sydney’s most notable public sites, as well as its hidden secrets, will throw open their doors for urban explorers this weekend as part of Sydney Open 2016. The Sydney Living Museums event invites Sydneysiders and visitors behind the scenes at some of our city’s landmarks, including several sites making their Sydney Open debut: Barangaroo’s Two International Towers, EY Centre, Walsh Bay’s heritage piers, No.1 Martin Place and the Australian Museum. It’s a chance to discover the architecture and practices behind the buildings you walk past every single day. Tickets start at $35. For the full program and to book, visit sydneylivingmuseums.com. au/sydneyopen.
20 :: BRAG :: 687 :: 02:11:16
Cured: The Tale Of Two Imaginary Boys By Lol Tolhurst (Hachette Australia, $32.99) The Cure are one of the defi ning bands of our time. Born out of working-class England in the late ’70s and early ’80s, the iconic alt-rock group went on to infl uence impressionable youngsters across the world – and not only in music, but fashion too. Founding member Lol Tolhurst met Robert Smith at the age of six, and stayed with The Cure throughout their heyday. Cured is a tale of friendship, confl ict and forgiveness, charting the band’s rise, Tolhurst’s messy departure, and his eventual reunion with the group for an unforgettable performance at the Sydney Opera House.
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out & about Queer(ish) matters with Arca Bayburt
The Trappings And Freedoms Of The Queer Uniform
T
here are certain things gay people use to signify to each other that they are friends of Dorothy. We don’t have the luxury of assuming that everyone is a homosexual in the way that heterosexuals do, so over the years we’ve seen the development and eventual decay of different kinds of language, non-verbal communication and sartorial clues to signify queerness. In some places one must be discreet for safety’s sake, so it becomes harder – the clues are more subtle out of necessity. I can’t speak for gay men, but I know how queer women navigate the heterosexual seas to find their lesbian sirens. A lot of it has to do with identifying and finding each other – and that requires surface judgements. Best way to facilitate those judgements efficiently? Presentation. Perhaps the most obvious and most mocked signifier is the ‘lesbian haircut’. You know what I’m talking about – the asymmetry, the crazy colours, the inexplicably shaved and patterned patches. Any number of those hairstyles screams queer, but the signs don’t stop there. After all, plenty of straight women keep their hair short. In terms of the lesbian litmus test, it’s only step one. You look at nails, long or short. Look at their choice of clothing, their mannerisms, eye contact. All that stuff. Generally, the queer uniform has seen many changes and shifts, but what’s infuriating about stereotypes is that they’re Voldemort-esque in their lifespans. I can’t help but roll my eyes when I hear the same jokes that were told 40 years ago: “Flannel? You mean lesbian lingerie!” It’s this predictable, unfettered mocking offered up by unoriginal twits who don’t have a single new thought in their heads that drives me crazy. Their perception of lesbians has been predetermined by a
list of old jokes and stereotypes they’ve heard throughout their lives – jokes they proudly regurgitate like they’re reciting the Gettysburg Address. Oh, you just compared lesbians to lumberjacks? How astute and observant you are, you clever little possum. The uniform that we are, in a lot of ways, sometimes forced to don in order to find each other can be equally trapping as it is liberating. While it’s nice that we don’t always have to conform to the bizarre and merciless world of heterosexual femininity in order to please the patriarchy, we’re still scrutinised by it and are also, even more bizarrely, policed by each other. I remember in college, a fellow queer chick told me that I should be identifying as a butch lesbian because my hair was short. I laughed in her face, and she seemed actually, sincerely distraught by my reaction and my seeming ignorance of my place in that ridiculous binary that grossly mimics heterosexuality. So I had short hair, which automatically meant I was masculine, which automatically meant I was dominant – which then, naturally, meant I was to find a submissive femme partner and that was the way to do it. Bitch please. What’s worse than pretending to be a heterosexual is mimicking the heterosexual gender dynamic. That’s a no from me, thanks. My hope is that queers will police each other’s presentation less and less. I’m also hoping those stupid, outdated and shitty jokes rooted in lazy stereotypes will eventually die, choked out by irrelevance. Until then, yeah, we do have a uniform. Sometimes it’s necessity. Sometimes it’s just personal preference. Either way, it’s a lot less crass than running around screaming “I’M A HOMOSEXUAL” at every person you see. I mean, you could do that if you want. You do you.
this week…
Photo courtesy Gareth Williams/Flickr
On Wednesday November 2, Birdcage is having its Halloween ball at Slyfox in Enmore. A $100 bar tab goes to the best dressed. DJs include HipHopHoe and Maple Behaviour, with a burlesque show performed by Memphis Mae. Free entry. On Friday November 4, get on down to Tokyo Sing Song in Newtown for The Diva Dive. There’ll be a show from The Magda Szubanskis, while DJs Cunningpants, Estee Louder and James Smithers will bring you tunes from Donna Summer to Debbie Harry and all the ladies of the underground. On Saturday November 5, Babylon –
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The Magda Szubanskis Legendary Clubbing makes its return to The Shift Club. DJs Murray Hood and James Tobin take over the decks for two hours of back-to-back, and a mystery international selector will join more legendary locals in the booth including Coco Jumbo, Ripley Waters and DJ Du Jour. More names to be announced, tickets are on sale now.
BRAG :: 687 :: 02:11:16 :: 21
BARS BRAG
B R A G ’ S G U I D E T O S Y D N E Y ’ S B E S T WAT E R I N G H O L E S
A Work In Progress 50 King St, Sydney CBD (02) 9240 3000 Mon – Fri noon-2am; Sat 5pm-2am Ash St Cellar 1 Ash St, Sydney CBD
ADDRESS: 292 STANMORE RD, PETERSHAM PHONE NUMBER: (02) 9568 3703 WEBSITE: PUBLICHOUSEPETERSHAM.COM.AU OPENING HOURS: MON – FRI 11AMMIDNIGHT, SAT NOON-MIDNIGHT, SUN NOON-10PM
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EK
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PUBLIC HOUSE PETERSHAM
(02) 9240 3000 Mon – Fri 8.30am-11pm
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The Attic 275 Pitt St, Sydney CBD (02) 9284 1200 Mon – Wed 10am-midnight; Thu 10am-1.30am; Fri 10am-3am; Sat noon1.30am Assembly 488 Kent St, Sydney CBD (02) 9283 8808 Mon – Tue 5pm-midnight; Wed – Fri noon-midnight; Sat 5pm-midnight The Australian Heritage Hotel 100 Cumberland St, The Rocks (02) 9247 2229 Mon – Sun 10.30am-midnight Bar Eleven Lvl 11, 161 Sussex St, Sydney CBD (02) 9290 4712 Mon – Thu 4-9pm; Fri – Sat 4-11pm The Barber Shop 89 York St, Sydney CBD (02) 9299 9699 Mon – Wed 4pm-midnight; Thu – Fri 3pm-midnight; Sat 4pm-midnight
bar
Basement Bar Basement, 27-33 Goulburn St, Sydney CBD (02) 8970 5813 Mon – Thu 5pm-10pm; Fri – Sat 5pm-midnight The Baxter Inn Basement 152-156 Clarence St, Sydney CBD Mon – Sat 4pm-1am Beta Bar First Floor, 238 Castlereagh St, CBD (02) 8599 8970 Wed – Thu 5pm-midnight; Fri midday-midnight; Sat 5pm-midnight Bulletin Place First Floor, 10-14 Bulletin Place, Circular Quay Mon – Wed 4pm-midnight; Thurs – Sat 4pm-1am; Sun 4-10pm
Tell us about your bar: Come on in to PHP and straight into our beer garden – beer is what we’re passionate about. Pass the giant woodfired pizza oven and grab a seat in the heart of PHP! This is where the magic happens. What’s on the menu? Pizzas are hand-made in front of you and daily specials feature the ‘from scratch’ philosophy of head chef Martin Cerny, with food that is made for sharing. From the house-made smoked sausage on our Pigfest Platter, to homemade sauerkraut and breads, you can taste the quality along with our love for fresh, unpretentious comfort food. Care for a drink? Our tap beers rotate regularly and are very crafty in nature. The bar is a cosy spot to enjoy a schooner or a jug with friends, plus there’s a small but mighty selection of fresh cocktails.
Burrow Bar De Mestre Place, Sydney 0450 466 674 Mon – Sun 4pm-midnight The Captain’s Balcony 46 Erskine St, Sydney CBD (02) 9299 3526 Mon – Fri noon-midnight; Sat 5pm-midnight Sounds: Every Saturday night we have some of our fave local legends DJing in the beer garden, and all week we’re soundtracked by some of our fave new tunes and classic jams. You can even punch in requests and get them playing while you relax. Highlights: We’re your new fave hang spot. We’ve just started hosting the
legendary Cult Sinema Obscura with Jay Katz and Miss Death every Tuesday, and on Wednesdays we’ve got heaps of games – card games, board games and video games on our giant projector. And week-long it’s hot food, cold drinks and great vibes. The bill comes to: Cheesus Christ Pizza ($21) + Batch beer ($7.50). No meat cheeseburger ($19) + hard lemonade ($17).
deVine 32 Market St, Sydney CBD (02) 9262 6906 Mon – Fri 11.30am-11.30pm; Sat 5.30-11.30pm Easy Eight 152-156 Clarence St, Sydney (02) 9299 3769 Mon – Sat 4pm-midnight El Camino Cantina 18 Argyle St, The Rocks Mon – Thu noonmidnight; Fri – Sat noon-3am; Sun 11.30am-midnight
Grandma’s Basement 275 Clarence St, Sydney CBD (02) 9264 3004 Mon – Fri 3pm-midnight; Sat 5pm-1am The Fox Hole 68A Erskine St, Sydney CBD (02) 9279 4369 Mon 7am-3pm; Tue – Fri 7am-late The Grasshopper 1 Temperance Ln, Sydney CBD (02) 9947 9025 Mon – Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri noon-1am; Sat 4pm-1am Hacienda Sydney 61 Macquarie St, Sydney CBD (02) 9256 4000 Mon – Sun noon-late Harpoon Harry 40-44 Wentworth Ave, Sydney CBD (02) 8262 8800 Mon – Sat 11.30am-3am; Sun 11am-midnight Kittyhawk 16 Phillip Ln, Sydney CBD Mon – Thu 3pm-midnight; Fri – Sat 3pm-2am The Lobo Plantation Basement Lot 1, 209 Clarence St, Sydney CBD 0415 554 908 Mon – Thu, Sat 4pm-midnight; Fri 2pm-midnight
Mon – Sat 4pm-midnight
Ramblin’ Rascal Tavern 199 Elizabeth St, Sydney CBD Mon – Sat 4pm-midnight Rockpool Bar & Grill 66 Hunter St, Sydney CBD (02) 8078 1900 Mon – Sat noon-3pm, 6-11pm The Rook Level 7, 56-58 York St, Sydney CBD (02) 9262 2505 Mon, Sat 4pm-midnight; Tue – Fri noon-midnight The SG 32 York St, Sydney CBD Tues – Fri 4pm-midnight; Sat 6pm-midnight Shirt Bar 7 Sussex Ln, Sydney CBD (02) 8068 8222 Mon –Wed 8am-8pm; Thu – Fri 8am-10pm Since I Left You 338 Kent St, Sydney CBD (02) 9262 4986 Mon – Wed 5pm-10pm; Thu – Fri 4.30pm-midnight; Sat 6pm-midnight Small Bar 48 Erskine St, Sydney CBD (02) 9279 0782 Mon – Fri noon-midnight; Sat 5pm-midnight The Smoking Panda 5-7 Park St, Sydney CBD (02) 9264 4618 Mon – Sat 4pm-late
The Local Bar 161 Castlereagh St, Sydney CBD (02) 9953 0027 Mon – Wed 7.30am-10pm; Thu – Fri 7.30am-11pm
Stitch Bar 61 York St, Sydney CBD (02) 9279 0380 Mon – Wed 4pm-midnight; Thu – Fri noon-2am; Sat 4pm-2am
The Loft (UTS) 15 Broadway, Sydney (behind 2SER) (02) 9514 1149 Mon – Fri 2-11pm
The Swinging Cat 44 King St, Sydney CBD (02) 9262 3696 Mon – Sat 4pm-midnight
Mojo Record Bar Basement 73 York St, Sydney CBD (02) 9262 4999 Mon – Wed 4pm-midnight; Thu 4pm-1am; Fri – Sat 4pm-1am The Morrison 225 George St, Sydney CBD (02) 9247 6744 Mon – Wed 7.30am-11pm; Thu 7.30am-midnight; Fri 7.30am-2am; Sat 11.30am-2am The Palisade 35 Bettington St, Millers Point 9018 0123 Mon – Fri noon-midnight; Sat – Sun 11am-midnight Mr Tipply’s 347 Kent St, Sydney CBD (02) 9299 4877 Mon – Thu 11.30am-10pm; Fri 11.30am-midnight; Sat 10pm-4am
Gilt Lounge 49 Market St, Sydney CBD (02) 8262 0000 Mon – Fri 5pm-2am; Sun 5pm-midnight
Papa Gede’s Bar Laneway at the end of 348 Kent St, Sydney CBD (02) 9299 5671 Mon – Sat 4pm-midnight
The Glenmore 96 Cumberland St, The Rocks (02) 9247 4794 Mon – Thu, Sun 11am-midnight; Fri – Sat 11am-1am
Plan B Small Club 53-55 Liverpool St, Sydney CBD Wed 5pm-11pm; Thu 5pm-1am; Fri 5pm-3am; Sat 6pm-3am PS40 40 King St, Sydney CBD
Tapa Vino 6 Bulletin Place, Circular Quay (02) 9247 3221 Mon – Fri noon-11.30pm Tuxedo Bar 195 Gloucester St, The Rocks Mon – Fri noon-7pm Uncle Ming’s 55 York St, Sydney CBD Mon – Fri noon-midnight; Sat 4pm-midnight York Lane 56 Clarence St, Sydney CBD (02) 9299 1676 Mon – Wed 6.30am-10pm; Thu – Fri 6am-midnight; Sat 6pm-midnight
121BC 4/50 Holt St, Surry Hills (02) 9699 1582 Tue – Sat 5pm-midnight Absinthe Salon 87 Albion St, Surry Hills (02) 9211 6632 Wed – Sat 4-10pm Arcadia Liquors 7 Cope St, Redfern (02) 8068 4470 Mon – Fri 4pm-midnight; Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-10pm Bar Cleveland Cnr Bourke & Cleveland St, Redfern (02) 9698 1908 Mon – Thu 10am-2am; Fri – Sat 10am-4am Bar H 80 Campbell St, Surry Hills (02) 9280 1980 Mon – Sat 6pm-11.30
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Public House Petersham photos by Nikki To
Frankie’s Pizza 50 Hunter St, Sydney CBD Sun – Thu 4pm-3am; Fri noon-3am
Palmer & Co. Abercrombie Ln, Sydney CBD (02) 9240 3000 Sun – Weds 5pm-3am; Thu 3pm-3am; Fri noon3am; Sat 4pm-3am
Grain Bar 199 George St, Sydney 22 :: BRAG :: 687 :: 02:11:16
CBD (02) 9250 3118 Sun – Fri noon-9pm
S
Bellini Lounge 2 Kellett St, Potts Point (02) 9331 0058 Thu – Sun 6pm-late
2 Elizabeth Bay Rd, Elizabeth Bay (02) 8070 2424 Tue – Sun noon-midnight
The Bells Hotel 1 Bourke St, Woolloomooloo (02) 9357 3765 Mon – Sun 10am-1am
Golden Age Cinema & Bar 80 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills (02) 9211 1556 Wed – Fri 5pm-midnight; Sat – Sun 2:30pm-midnight
The Beresford 354 Bourke St, Surry Hills (02) 8313 5000 Mon – Sun noon-1am Big Poppa’s 96 Oxford St, Darlinghurst Mon – Sun 5pm-3am Black Penny 648 Bourke St, Surry Hills (02) 9319 5061 Mon – Sat 7am-midnight; Sun 7am-10pm Button Bar 65 Foveaux St, Surry Hills (02) 9211 1544 Mon – Sat 4pm-midnight Café Lounge 277 Goulburn St, Surry Hills (02) 9016 3951 Mon – Thu 5pm-midnight; Fri – Sat 4pm-midnight; Sunday 4-10pm Casoni Italian Bar & Eatery 371-373 Bourke St, Darlinghurst Tue – Thu 5pm-11pm; Fri – Sat 5pm-midnight Central Tavern 42-50 Chalmers St, Surry Hills (02) 9212 3814 Mon – Sat 10am-2am; Sun 10am-10pm Ching-a-Lings 1/133 Oxford St, Darlinghurst (02) 9360 3333 Wed 6-11pm; Thu – Sat 6pm-1am; Sun 5-10pm The Cliff Dive 16-18 Oxford Square, Darlinghurst Fri – Sat 6pm-late The Commons 32 Burton St, Darlinghurst (02) 9358 1487 Tue – Wed 6pm-midnight; Thu – Fri noon-late; Sat – Sun 8:30am-late Darlo Bar 306 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst (02) 9331 3672 Mon – Sun 10am-midnight Darlo Country Club Level 1, 235 Victoria St, Darlinghurst (02) 9380 4279 Wed – Thu 5pm-midnight; Fri – Sat 5pm-2am Dead Ringer 413 Bourke St, Surry Hills (02) 9331 3560 Mon – Fri 5pm-midnight; Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-midnight Della Hyde 34 Oxford St, Darlinghurst Thu – Sat 5pm-late Eau-De-Vie 229 Darlinghurst Rd, Darlinghurst 0422 263 226 Sun – Fri 6pm-1am; Sat 6pm-midnight The Exchange 34 Oxford St, Darlinghurst (02) 9358 2311 Mon – Sun noon-late The Forresters 336 Riley St, Surry Hills (02) 9212 3035 Mon – Wed noonmidnight; Thu – Sat noon1am; Sun noon-10pm Gardel’s Bar 358 Cleveland St, Surry Hills (02) 8399 1440 Tue – Sat 6pm-midnight Gazebo thebrag.com
Goros 84-86 Mary St, Surry Hills (02) 9212 0214 Mon – Wed 11:30am-midnight; Thu 11:30am-1am: Fri 11:30am-3am; Sat 4pm-3am Hinky Dinks 185 Darlinghurst Rd, Darlinghurst (02) 8084 6379 Mon – Sat 4pm-midnight; Sun 2-11pm Hollywood Hotel 2 Foster St, Surry Hills (02) 9281 2765 Mon – Wed 10am-midnight; Thu – Sat 10am-3am The Horse 381 Crown St, Surry Hills 1300 976 683 Mon – Thu noonmidnight; Fri 11.30am-midnight; Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon10pm Jangling Jack’s Bar & Grill 175 Victoria St, Potts Point Tue – Wed 4-11pm, Thu – Sat 4-1am, Sun noon11pm Hustle & Flow Bar 3/105 Regent St, Redfern (02) 8964 93932 Tue – Thu 6pm-midnight; Fri – Sat 5pm-midnight; Sun 2pm-midnight Li’l Darlin Darlinghurst 235 Victoria St, Darlinghurst (02) 8084 6100 Mon – Sun 4pm-midnight Li’l Darlin Surry Hills 420 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills (02) 9698 5488 Mon – Fri noon-11pm; Sat 4pm-midnight LL Wine and Dine 42 Llankelly Place Potts Point (02) 9356 8393 Mon – Thu 5pm-11pm; Fri – Sat 5pm-midnight; Sun 11am-10pm The Local Taphouse 122 Flinders St, Darlinghurst (02) 9360 0088 Mon – Sun noon-9:30pm Love, Tilly Devine 91 Crown Ln, Darlinghurst (02) 9326 9297 Mon – Sat 5pm-midnight; Sun 5-10pm Low 302 302 Crown St, Surry Hills (02) 9368 1548 Mon – Sun 6pm-2am Mr Fox 557 Crown St, Surry Hills 0410 470 250 Tue – Wed 4pm-midnight; Thu – Fri 4pm-midnight; Sat 3pm-midnight; Sun 10am-10pm Moya’s Juniper Lounge 101 Regent St, Redfern 0431 113 394 Tue – Sat 4pm-11pm; Sun midday-10pm The Noble Hops 125 Redfern St, Redfern 0431 113 394 Mon – Fri 4pm -midnight; Sat 3pm-midnight; Sun 3pm-10pm
The Norfolk 305 Cleveland St, Surry Hills (02) 9699 3177 Mon – Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-10pm Old Growler 218 William St, Woolloomooloo 0458 627 266 Tue – Sat 5pm-midnight The Oxford Circus 231 Oxford St, Darlinghurst 0457 353 384 Wed – Sat 7pm-3am The Owl House 97 Crown St, Darlinghurst 0401 273 080 Mon – Sat 5pm-late; Sun 5-10pm Peekaboo 120 Bourke St, Woolloomooloo 0403 747 788 Tue – Thu 4pm-10pm; Fri – Sat 4pm-midnight Play Bar 72 Campbell St, Surry Hills (02) 9280 0885 Tue – Thu 5pm-midnight; Fri 4pm-midnight; Sat 5pm-midnight Pocket Bar 13 Burton St, Darlinghurst (02) 9380 7002 Mon – Sun 4pm-midnight The Powder Keg 7 Kellett St, Potts Point (02) 8354 0980 Wed – Thu 5pm-midnight; Fri – Sat 4:30pm-midnight; Sun 4pm-midnight The Print Room 11 Glenmore Rd, Paddington (02) 9331 0911 Thu – Fri noon-midnight; Sun – Wed noon-10pm Queenie’s Upstairs 336 Riley St, Surry Hills (02) 9212 3035 Tue – Thu 6pm-late, Fri noon-3pm & 6pm-late; Sat 6pm-late Riley St Garage 55 Riley St, Woolloomooloo (02) 9326 9055 Mon – Sat noon-midnight Roosevelt 32 Orwell St, Potts Point (02) 8696 1787 Tue – Fri 5pm-midnight; Sat noon-midnight; Sun 3-10pm Rosie Campbell’s 320 Crown St, Surry Hills (02) 9356 4653 Mon – Thu 5pm-midnight; Fri – Sun 11am-midnight Shady Pines Saloon Shop 4, 256 Crown St, Darlinghurst Mon – Sun 4pm-midnight The Soda Factory 16 Wentworth Ave, Surry Hills (02) 8096 9120 Mon – Wed 5pm-midnight; Thu – Fri 5pm-3am; Sat – Sun 6pm-3am Surly’s 182 Campbell St, Surry Hills (02) 9331 3705 Mon – Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-10pm Sweethearts Rooftop 33/37 Darlinghurst Rd, Potts Point (02) 9368 7333 Mon – Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri – Sun noon-midnight This Must Be The Place 239 Oxford St, Darlinghurst (02) 9331 8063 Mon – Sun 3pm-midnight
The Tilbury Hotel 12-18 Nicholson St, Woolloomooloo (02) 9368 1955 Mon 9am-10pm; Tue – Fri 9am-midnight; Sat 10am-midnight; Sun 10am-10pm Tio’s Cerveceria 4-14 Foster St, Surry Hills (02) 9368 1955 Mon – Sat 4pm-midnight Tipple Bar 28 Chalmers St, Surry Hills (02) 9212 0006 Mon midday-10pm; Tue –Sat midday-midnight Vasco 421 Cleveland St, Redfern 0406 775 436 Mon – Sat 5pm-midnight The Village Inn 9-11 Glenmore Rd, Paddington (02) 9331 0911 Mon – Sun noon-late The Wild Rover 75 Campbell St, Surry Hills (02) 9280 2235 Mon – Sat 4pm-midnight The Winery 285A Crown St, Surry Hills (02) 9331 0833 Mon – Sun noon-midnight
Anchor Bar 8 Campbell Pde, Bondi (02) 8084 3145 Mon – Fri 5pm-late; Sat – Sun 12.30pm-late Bat Country 32 St Pauls St, Randwick (@ The Spot) (02) 9398 6694 Mon – Sat 7am-midnight; Sun 7am-10pm Beach Road Hotel 71 Beach Rd, Bondi Beach (02) 9130 7247 Mon – Fri 11am-1am; Sat 10am-1am; Sun 10am-10pm Bondi Hardware 39 Hall St, Bondi (02) 9365 7176 Mon – Thu 5pm-midnight; Fri noon-midnight; Sat 9am-midnight; Sun 9am-8pm The Bucket List Shop 1, Bondi Pavilion, Queen Elizabeth Drive (02) 9365 4122 Mon – Tue 11am-5pm; Wed – Sun 11am-midnight The Corner House 281 Bondi Rd, Bondi (02) 8020 6698 Tue – Sat 5pm-midnight; Sun 1pm-10pm Fat Ruperts 249 Bondi Rd, Bondi (02) 9130 1033 Tue – Fri 4pm-midnight; Sat – Sun 2pm-midnight Jam Gallery 195 Oxford St, Bondi Junction (02) 9389 2485 Tue 4pm-midnight; Wed – Sat 4pm-3am The Phoenix Hotel 1 Moncur St, Woollahra (02) 9363 2608 Tue – Wed 4-11pm; Thu – Fri 11.30am-1am; Sat 8am-11pm; Sun 8am-10pm The Robin Hood Hotel 203 Bronte Rd, Waverley (02) 9389 3477 Mon-Sat 10am-3am; Sun 10am-10pm Selina’s at Coogee Bay Hotel 253 Coogee Bay Rd, Coogee (02) 9665 0000 Selina’s Thu 8pm-midnight; Coogee Bay Hotel
Mon – Thu 7am-3am, Fri – Sat 7am-6am; Sun 7am-midnight
Speakeasy 83 Curlewis St, Bondi (02) 9130 2020 Mon – Sat 5pm-11pm; Sat – Sun 4pm-10pm Spring Street Social 110 Spring St, Bondi Junction (02) 9389 2485 Tue – Sat 5pm-3am Stuffed Beaver 271 Bondi Rd, Bondi (02) 9130 3002 Mon – Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-10pm
Bar-racuda 105 Enmore Rd, Newtown (02) 9519 1121 Mon – Sat 6pm-midnight Batch Brewing Company 44 Sydenham Rd, Marrickville (02) 9550 5432 Mon – Sun 10am-8pm Bauhaus West 163 Enmore Rd, Enmore (02) 8068 9917 Wed – Thu 5-11pm; Fri 4-11pm; Sat 2-10pm; Sun midday-10pm The Bearded Tit 183 Regent St, Redfern (02) 8283 4082 Mon – Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri – Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-10pm Blacksheep 256 King St, Newtown (02) 8033 3455 Mon – Fri 4pm-11pm; Sat 2pm-11pm; Sun 2pm-10pm Bloodwood 416 King St, Newtown (02) 9557 7699 Mon – Fri 5pm-midnight; Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-10pm Calaveras 324 King St, Newtown 0451 541 712 Wed – Sat 6pm-midnight Cornerstone Bar & Food 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh (02) 8571 9004 Sun – Wed 10am-5pm; Thu – Fri 10am-late; Sat 9am-late Corridor 153A King St, Newtown 0405 671 002 Mon 5pm-midnight; Tue 4pm-midnight; Wed – Sat 3pm-midnight; Sun 3-10pm Cottage Bar & Kitchen 342 Darling St, Balmain (02) 8084 8185 Mon – Thu 5pm-midnight; Fri – Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-10pm Different Drummer 185 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe (02) 9552 3406 Mon 4.30-11pm; Tue – Wed 4.30pm-1am; Thu – Sat 4.30pm-2am; Sun 4.30am-midnight
11am-midnight; Sun noon-10pm
Freda’s 109 Regent St, Chippendale (02) 8971 7336 Tues – Sat 4pm-midnight; Sun 4pm-10pm The Gasoline Pony 115 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville 0401 002 333 Tue – Thu 5-11.30pm; Fri – Sat 3-11.30pm; Sun 3-9.30pm The Grifter Brewing Co. 1/391-397 Enmore Rd, Marrickville (02) 9550 5742 Thu 4-9pm; Fri – Sat noon-9pm; Sun noon-7pm The Hideaway Bar 156 Enmore Rd, Enmore (02) 8021 8451 Tue– Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri – Sat 4pm-1am Hive Bar 93 Erskineville Rd, Erskineville (02) 9519 1376 Mon – Fri noon-midnight; Sat 11am-midnight; Sun 11am-10pm Kelly’s On King 285 King St, Newtown (02) 9565 2288 Mon – Fri 10am-2.30am; Sat 10am-3.30am; Sun 11am-11.30pm Kingston Public Bar & Kitchen 62-64 King St, Newtown (02) 8084 4140 Mon – Fri 4pm-midnight; Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-10pm Knox Street Bar Cnr Knox & Shepherd St, Chippendale (02) 8970 6443 Tue – Thu 4-10pm; Fri – Sat 4pm-midnight; Sun 5-10pm
(02) 8019 9351 Mon – Thu noonmidnight; Fri – Sat noon3am; Sun noon-10pm
Lord Raglan 12 Henderson Rd, Alexandria (02) 9699 4767 Mon – Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon10pm The Record Crate 34 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe (02) 9660 1075 Mon – Thu 5pm-midnight; Sat 2pm-midnight; Sun 3-10pm The Royal 156 Norton St, Leichhardt (02) 9569 2638 Mon – Thu 10am-1am; Fri – Sat 10am-3am; Sun 10am-midnight Secret Garden Bar 134a Enmore Rd, Enmore 0403 621 585 Mon – Tue 7am-5pm; Wed – Fri 7am-11pm; Sat 7am-10pm; Sun 7am-11pm Staves Brewery 4-8 Grose Street, Glebe (02) 9280 4555 Thu 4-10pm; Fri – Sat 4pm-midnight; Sun 4-10pm Temperance Society 122 Smith St, Summer Hill (02) 8068 5680 Mon – Thu 4pm-11pm; Fri – Sat: noon-midnight; Sun: noon-10pm Thievery 91 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe (02) 8283 1329 Mon – Thu 6pm-11pm; Fri 6pm-midnight; Sat noon3pm & 6pm-midnight Timbah 375 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe (02) 9571 7005 Tue – Thu 4-10pm; Fri 4-11pm; Sat 3pm-11pm; Sun 4pm-8pm
Kuleto’s 157 King St, Newtown (02) 9519 6369 Mon – Sat 4pm-late; Thu – Sat 4pm-3am
Vernon’s Bar L2. One Penny Red, 2 Moonbie St. Summer Hill (02) 9797 8118 Mon – Sun 4pm-11:30pm
Leadbelly 42 King St, Newtown (02) 9557 9409 Sun – Thur 4pm-midnight; Fri-Sat 4pm-1am
Wayward Brewing Co. 1 Gehrig Ln, Annandale (02) 7903 2445 Thu – Sat 2-10pm; Sun noon-8pm
The Little Guy 87 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe (02) 8084 0758 Mon – Fri 4pm-midnight; Sat 1pm-midnight; Sun 3pm-10pm
Websters Bar 323 King St, Newtown (02) 9519 1511 Mon – Sat 10am-4am; Sun 10am-midnight
Mary’s 6 Mary St, Newtown (02) 4995 9550 Mon – Fri 4pm-midnight; Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-10pm The Midnight Special 44 Enmore Road, Newtown (02) 9516 2345 Tues – Sat 5pm-midnight; Sun 5pm-10pm Miss Peaches 201 Missenden Rd, Newtown (02) 9557 7280 Wed – Sun 5pm-midnight
Wilhelmina’s 332 Darling St, Balmain (02) 8068 8762 Wed – Fri 5-11pm; Sat – Sun 8am-11pm The Workers Lvl 1, 292 Darling St, Balmain (02) 9555 8410 Fri – Sat 5pm-3am; Sun 2pm-midnight Young Henrys D & E, 76 Wilford St, Newtown (02) 9519 0048 Mon – Sat 10am-7pm; Sun noon-7pm Zigi’s Wine And Cheese Bar 86 Abercrombie St, Chippendale (02) 9699 4222 Tue 4pm-10pm; Wed 4pm-midnight; Thu – Sat 3pm-midnight
Doris & Beryl’s Bridge Club and Tea House 530 King St, Newtown Mon – Fri 5pm-midnight; Sat – Sun 3.30pm-midnight
Mr Falcon’s 92 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe (02) 9029 6626 Mon – Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri 3pm-midnight; Sat noon-midnight; Sun 4pm-10pm
Earl’s Juke Joint King St, Newtown Mon – Sat 4pm-midnight; Sun 4-10pm
Newtown Social Club 387 King St, Newtown (02) 9550 3974 Mon – Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri – Sat noon-2am; Sun noon-10pm
Crooked Tailor 250 Old Northern Road, Castle Hill (02) 9899 3167 Mon – Sun 4pm-midnight
The Oxford Tavern 1 New Canterbury Rd, Petersham
Daniel San 55 North Steyne, Manly (02) 9977 6963
Forest Lodge Hotel 117 Arundel St, Forest Lodge (02) 9660 1872 Mon – Sat
Your bar’s not here? Email: chris@thebrag.com
Mon – Thu 4pm-midnight; Friday – Saturday noon–2am; Sunday noonmidnight
Firefly 24 Young St, Neutral Bay (02) 9909 0193 Mon – Wed 5-11pm; Thu 5-11.30pm; Fri noon11.30pm; Sat noon-11pm; Sun noon-10pm The Foxtrot 28 Falcon St, Crows Nest Tue – Wed 5pm-midnight; Thu 5pm-1am; Fri 4pm-2am; Sat 5pm-2am; Sun 4-10pm The Hayberry Bar & Diner 97 Willoughby Road, Crows Nest (02) 8084 0816 Tue – Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri & Sat noon-midnight Sun noon-10pm Hemingway’s 48 North Steyne, Manly (02) 9976 3030 Mon – Sat 8am-midnight; Sun 8am-10pm The Hold Shop 4, Sydney Rd Plaza, Manly (02) 9977 2009 Tue – Fri 5pm-midnight; Sat 3pm-midnight; Sun 3-10pm Honey Rider 230 Military Rd, Neutral Bay (02) 9953 8880 Tue – Sat 4pm-midnight; Sun 4pm-10pm InSitu 1/18 Sydney Rd, Manly (02) 9977 0669 Tue – Fri 5pm-midnight; Sat 9am-midnight; Sun 9am-10pm The Hunter 5 Myahgah Rd, Mosman 0409 100 339 Mon – Tue 5pm-midnight; Wed – Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon- 10pm Jah Bar Shop 9, 9-15 Central Ave, Manly (02) 9977 4449 Tue 5pm-midnight; Wed-Fri noon-midnight; Sat 8am-midnight; Sun 9am-midnight Manly Wine 8-13 South Steyne, Manly (02) 8966 9000 Mon – Sun 6.30am-late Miami Cuba 47 North Steyne, Manly 0487 713 350 Mon – Sun 8am-4pm Moonshine Lvl 2, Hotel Steyne, 75 The Corso, Manly (02) 9977 4977 Mon – Thu 9am-3pm; Fri – Sat 9am-2am; Sun 9am-midnight The Pickled Possum 254 Military Rd, Neutral Bay (02) 9909 2091 Thu – Sat 9pm-1am SoCal 1 Young St, Neutral Bay (02) 9904 5691 Mon – Wed 5pm-midnight; Thu 5pm-1am; Sat noon-2am; Sun noon-midnight The Stoned Crow 39 Willoughby Rd, Crows Nest (02) 9439 5477 Mon – Sat noon-late; Sun 11.30am-10pm The Treehouse Hotel 60 Miller St, North Sydney (02) 8458 8980 Mon – Fri 7am-midnight; Sat 2pm-midnight BRAG :: 687 :: 02:11:16 :: 23
T its m S
Album Reviews What's been crossing our ears this week...
ALBUM OF THE WEEK DORSAL FINS
Digital Zodiac Dot Dash/Remote Control
A litany of voices come together in a faithful translation of Dorsal Fins’ energetic live show.
TIGERTOWN Papernote Inertia Bangin’ beats? Check. Glittering electronics? Check. Choral bursts and rallying ‘woah’s? Check, check. Sydney alt-pop four-piece Tigertown have been globetrotting for the past year, but their latest EP Papernote oozes more Aussie summer vibes than last year’s kelvin-filtered Insta photo of you on the beach in a Bintang singlet. Brimming with bold, bright and shimmering sounds, opening cut ‘Papernote’ wastes no time in introducing this kaleidoscopic collection. There’s an earworm of a riff borrowed from Zimbabwean guitar god Oliver Mtukudzi, muffled vocals galore (conjuring up those hot and humid days) and lyrics soaked in sunshine and a serotonin-fuelled optimism worthy of Grouplove, Passion Pit and Foster The People. ‘Take Me Away’ offers a breather with washy ’80s synths and bubbling, burbling electronics, while ‘What You Do’ channels a cacophony of strings, horns and vocals into a shamelessly saccharine, four-to-the-floor pop number. The EP closes out with a swirling Børns remix. What’s refreshing is the lack of pretension here. Sure, the production is slick and there’s some interesting electro experimentation going on, but ultimately Papernote is not about innovation, but celebration. Jennifer Hoddinett
While it was just over a year ago that Dorsal Fins released their electrifying debut Mind Renovation, the prolific nine-piece aren’t taking any time to slow down between albums. It’s pretty damn amazing to sound like a different band on each release, let alone each track, but Dorsal Fins do this with relative ease. ‘Romeo’ is a mammoth opener that has Ella Thompson crooning for her
wayward lover. Jarrad Brown takes the helm on ‘Sedated’, which teases with a bubbling intro before kicking into full gear, while other vocalists on the album include Tim Karmouche of Crepes, Tim Nelson of Cub Sport and Nick Vorrath of Custom Kings. ‘High Low’ has been a staple in the band’s live set for a while, with its recorded version impressively capturing the same vivacity. Given the quality of the songs here, it’s virtually impossible to choose a standout track until album closer ‘Full Of Fear’, a touching duet between Thompson and Brown that will no doubt make you a little teary.
24 :: BRAG :: 687 :: 02:11:16
Holly Pereira
JOYCE MANOR
KORN
TKAY MAIDZA
Black Peak Caroline
Cody Epitaph
The Serenity Of Suffering Roadrunner/Warner
Tkay Dew Process/Universal
Xylouris White’s second album Black Peak represents the pairing of two virtuosic musicians and the union of two divergent musical styles. Greek folk music collides with Australian post-rock, resulting in an exploratory hybridised torrent of frenetic energy and palpable intensity. This is a record simultaneously anchored in tradition and yet free; it’s elemental and celebratory, a travelogue that explores the union of cultures and shared ground.
Since 2011, everyone’s been waiting for a spiritual follow-up to Joyce Manor’s energetic self-titled debut. The songs were fast and short, with the emotive punk energy of Jawbreaker and the lo-fi vibe and soul of Royal Headache. While that first record was firmly planted in the melodic punk/emo style, the raw punk energy set it apart from the genre’s explosive revival.
It’s not hard to believe Korn are the same angsty band some of us locked ourselves away with as teens, because really, they still sound the same as they always have – only the novelty has worn off and they’ve lost direction. While it is heavier than their 2013 release The Paradigm Shift, the 12th album from the genre-hopping heavyweights is muddy at best.
Following on from her infectious EP Switch Tape, Tkay Maidza’s debut album somehow ups the ante even further.
The collaboration of Dirty Three’s Jim White and Crete’s George Xylouris is no happy accident. The pair have a long association, going back to the early ’90s when Xylouris would sometimes sit in on Dirty Three sets. Festivalgoers will remember seeing the pair at All Tomorrow’s Parties when they backed Antonis Xylouris (George’s father), better known as Psarantonis, a world-renowned singer and lyra player. He makes an appearance here on closing track ‘The Feast’. In appropriate fashion, there are moments of reckless abandon and hysteria dotted throughout the record. Tracks like ‘Black Peak’, ‘Forging’ and ‘Short Rhapsody’ are hypnotic, percussive and frenzied.
Cody, their fourth full-length, continues Joyce Manor’s path directly into clean radio rock territory. Takes are tight, production is slick, and arguably more effort has been put into managing a cohesive level of sonic safety and comfort within the realm of guitar- and vocal-driven indie-emo. While the Californians have always been fans of a solid pop hook, the overall performance on many of Cody’s tracks treads dangerously close to radio-ready Weezer or Jimmy Eat World hits. This is fine in and of itself, but the band’s originality and edge is showing signs of struggle, especially when a dangerously saturated market of a whole new generation of artists is currently emerging on those early 2000s emo influences.
It’s the sort of music that might inspire you to down copious shots of ouzo and dance all night with good friends.
The songwriting is up to scratch, but Joyce Manor are clearly facing the age-old problem of simply getting too technically proficient and falling into a comfort zone.
George Hyde
Joe Hansen
Grr, argh! There’s much meaty metal to be had in the debut offering from Sydney stoner sludgers Black Rheno. This truly is a juicy release, with six tracks of epic brutality rumbling back to back – and six tracks is all the EP needs to prove the band’s worth.
Let’s Start A Cult Independent/Rocket
infectious tunes with a lot of heart, Dorsal Fins are one of the most exciting bands in the country.
XYLOURIS WHITE
INDIE ALBUM OF THE WEEK
BLACK RHENO
While there might be a lot going on across Digital Zodiac, the album is so masterfully executed that it never feels overbearing or thrown together haphazardly. Truly adept at fun,
There’s something wonderfully grating about Let’s Start A Cult. With no shortage of thunderous drum lines, rolling guitars and gritty vocals, it’s sure to become a staple in your stoner rock collection this year. As the title suggests, ‘First World Bitches’ is fast and furious, sticking out like a sore thumb between the discordance of ‘Lock The Gate’ and the more ambient opening melody of ‘Destruction
Line’. In contrast to other tracks here, the latter fuses more melodic aspects of the genre, momentarily demonstrating Black Rheno’s slightly softer side. A point is lost for the indiscernible vocals – the brutality of the style aside, so much of the gnash in Ryan Miller’s voice is lost because of an apparent imbalance in the mix, which favours the beefy guitar and basslines, and not always in an enjoyable sense. Though Black Rheno are still in their relative infancy, Let’s Start A Cult is evidence that they’re set to do great things.
Early on in the record with ‘Rotting In Vain’ we get our first taste of Jonathan Davis’ trademark style of metal rapping, and while his skills are still as impressive as ever, the delivery is incredibly scattered. He erratically tests out one style or another with a great measure of incoherence, riddling his melodies with lyrics of the most depressing kind. Davis does have an ageless and distinct voice, no argument – it’s just the same old tales of bleeding hearts, black souls and merciless enemies that are hard to make peace with. ‘The Hating’ sees JD whining about “the child within me”. Someone get this man some therapy already. Is the album catchy? Well, sure, but only because it parallels so many of Korn’s past releases. If you’ve heard one Korn song since 2004, you’ve heard all the songs on their new album. Anna Wilson
‘Always Been’ hits the ground running with a grimey, bass-heavy backing, quickly establishing the positive influence of producers Salva (Young Thug, A$AP Ferg) and Dre Skull (Major Lazer, Snoop Dogg). The lyrical flow within ‘Afterglow’ is amazing, and first single ‘Carry On’ remains catchy even after being overplayed on radio – especially with that awesome verse from Run The Jewels’ Killer Mike. ‘Simulation’ has that feel-good beach vibe, which will no doubt help it become an essential summer party anthem, though both ‘Tennies’ and ‘Monochrome’ get a little repetitive (apart from some impressive spitting in the latter) and unfortunately break the flow built early on. Thankfully, ‘Drumsticks No Guns’ is as playful as it is powerful, holding strong as one of the best tracks on the album, while ‘State Of Mind’ is strangely hypnotic with its slightly unbalanced, bouncing bass. The album finishes in fine form with the melody-driven dance-pop hit ‘You Want’ before ‘At Least I Know’, a showcase of Maidza’s lyrical mastery. Ladies and gents, Tkay has arrived. All pretenders step aside. Chris Bright
OFFICE MIXTAPE And here are the albums that have helped BRAG HQ get through the week... THE PEEP TEMPEL - Joy THE SOFT MOON - Deeper OASIS - Don’t Believe The Truth
THE ROLLING STONES - Sticky Fingers THE BEATLES - Help!
Anna Wilson
thebrag.com
HIT
THE
STREET
P U D E K O O H T GE
BUY A H-D STREET™ 500 AND GET ® HOOKED UP WITH A H-D : LEATHER JACKET, HELMET, GLOVES, BOOTS VALUED AT $1000* LEARNER APPROVED L
CHOOSE YOUR HARLEY-HEAVEN:
SYDNEY
(02) 9317 8777 85 O'Riordan Street, Alexandria
WWW.HARLEYHEAVEN.COM.AU
WESTERN SYDNEY
(02) 9621 7776 70 Sunnyholt Road, Blacktown
HarleyHeavenAU
harley_heaven #HHFREEDOM
*This offer applies to the 2016 XG500 only and must be purchased at RRP. The complimentary Jacket, Helmet, Boots & Gloves is up to the value of $1000 and is based of available floor stock. Offer expires November 30, 2016. © H-D 2016. Harley, Harley-Davidson and the Bar & Shield logo are among the trademarks of H-D U.S.A., LLC. thebrag.com
BRAG :: 687 :: 02:11:16 :: 2
live reviews
thebrag.com/snaps
What we’ve been out to see...
Horns up, motherfuckers. Bullet For My Valentine made a long-awaited return to Sydney with a complementary metal uniform in tow, and boy, the brutality did not disappoint. The curtain dropped to reveal a huge BFMV banner, and while visually very cool, the intentionally moody build-up of smoke lost a lot of its tension in being obscured by an ocean of smartphones (it doesn’t matter if you missed the opener, there are going to be hundreds of videos available on YouTube). Performing from inside an excessive mass of strobe lighting, Bullet For My Valentine were constantly in silhouette, casting shadows of muscly arms and big guitars over the stage, the lights pulsating with every beat of the drums through prolonged breaks in the songs. Regardless of the painfully blinding visuals, the circle pit ran with great speed and aggression, just as lead guitarist Michael Paget dropped his impressive solo in ‘Waking The Demon’. As the band preferred to gaze out onto the fans rather than be illuminated itself, ‘Venom’
PHOTOGRAPHER :: ASHLEY MAR
A massive shout-out must go to drummer Michael Thomas, who, when left alone onstage mid-set, took the opportunity to rumble around his kit with great fluidity. Though lead singer Matt Tuck provided very little commentary, what he did say held nothing short of the utmost gratitude and love for the audience. And while there were several dramatic breaks in between songs, these odd breaks were never silent, filled with chants of “Bullet, Bullet!” from the adoring legions. Tuck’s vocals throughout ‘4 Words (To Choke Upon)’ sounded as clean as their studio recording, giving credence to the suspicion that perhaps being able to see Bullet For My Valentine isn’t really necessary – you just need to hear them. The seminal ‘Tears Don’t Fall’ closed what felt at times like an overly scripted and regimented show, but the Welshmen nevertheless gave a performance that proved one important thing: this wasn’t a concert for the band to receive love, this was a concert for the band to share it. Anna Wilson
the delta riggs
28:10:16 :: Metro Theatre :: 624 George St Sydney 9550 3666
sticky fingers + scabz
PICS :: BE
Big Top Sydney Thursday October 27
up all night out all week . . .
was recited with no faces to be seen – nothing but voice and melody, scattering out among the masses so powerfully that they penetrated your insides as each lyric dropped.
PICS :: AM
BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE
snap sn ap
VIEW FULL GALLERIES AT
28:10:16 :: Enmore Theatre :: 118-132 Enmore Rd Newtown 9550 3666
PHOTOGRAPHER :: ASHLEY MAR
SLIPKNOT, LAMB OF GOD Qudos Bank Arena Saturday October 29
Take a pinch of Lamb Of God and a heap of Slipknot, blend the metal concoction together on an arena stage, et voilà: a substantial serving of blood, sweat and cheers. As Lamb Of God began ‘512’, the crowd displayed excellent potential for mayhem pending the headliners’ arrival, encouraged by the openers to create the ultimate pit. Three colossal circles formed on the floor, one in the front and two in the back, an (un)holy trinity of biblical proportions. Though a relatively brief set from Lamb Of God, it wasn’t short of energy. Limbs and hair were fl ailing about from both the band and the crowd, encouraged by the chocker setlist of gnarly favourites like ‘Ruin’, ‘Still Echoes’ and the sublime ‘Redneck’, an homage to Lamb Of God’s rural beginnings in Virginia.
26 :: BRAG :: 686 :: 26:10:16
Images of blood, gore, insects and all manner of things typically Slipknot hit the stage in a sensational media production of lights and noise as the band ripped into ‘The Negative One’. While the absence of last remaining original member Clown was felt, fellow custom percussionist Christopher Michael Fehn filled the Clown-sized hole with relentless effort, a force to be reckoned with as he navigated two mechanical sets either side of the stage. One of the most enigmatic vocalists in metal, Corey Taylor ripped right through an impressive back catalogue of songs for just over two hours. ‘Eyeless’, ‘The Heretic Anthem’ and ‘Psychosocial’ sent the loyal maggots into a frenzy as Taylor stalked the stage with a punishing presence. After a three-song encore that closed with the unforgiving ‘Spit It Out’, bloody noses and hands rubbing sore necks were a common sight on exiting the venue – a true telling that Slipknot had been here. Anna Wilson
thebrag.com
www.gasolinepony.com 115 Marrickville Road, Marrickville (02) 9569 2668
Tue—Thu 5pm — 11.30pm Fri—Sat 3pm — 11.30pm Sun 3pm — 9.30pm
Marrickville small bar & live music venue
COMING UP IN NOVEMBER!
LIVE MUSIC 6 NIGHTS A WEEK
FRI 4 - THE LOW DOWN RIDERS SUN 6 - BERNIE HAYES
LOCAL CRAFT BEERS ON TAP
WITH
ELMO & PETE
TUE 8 - OPEN MIC NIGHT WED 9 - LOCAL
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INDIE SONGWRITERS!
FRI 11 - KING CURLY SAT 12 - PAUL HAYWARD’S SIDEKICKS (2.30PM)
Keira, via Facebook. May 2016.
SUN 13 - BLUNT
PRESENTS:
GAS ACOUSTICA!
TUE 15 - MARRICKVILLE (SEA!) SHANTY CLUB
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TUE 15 - ACCAPONY COMMUNITY CHOIR WED 16 - SANCHA &
Mark, via Facebook. July 2016.
THE
BLUE GYPSIES
THU 17 - THE VILLEBILLIES FRI 18 - THE GLAMMA RAYS
LARGE SUNNY COURTYARD
SAT 19 - ANDY BAYLOR TUE 22 - OPEN MIC NIGHT
COMMUNITY MUSIC EVENTS
WED 23 - BLEEDING GUMS MURPHY FRI 25 - QUEEN PORTER STOMP SAT 26 - SUGAR BOWL HOKUM
O=<<AF?K$ H9JLA=K&&&
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full listings online: gasolinepony.com/upcoming
+ ChrisRussell and special guests
SATURDAY 19 NOV CAPTAIN COOK HOTEL, PADDINGTON BOOK TICKETS AT WWW.DALLASCRANE.COM.AU / CAPTAIN COOK HOTEL - 1/162 FLINDERS ST, PADDINGTON
thebrag.com
BRAG :: 687 :: 02:11:16 :: 27
g g guide gig g send your listings to : gigguide@thebrag.com
pick of the week Missy Higgins
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 3 – SATURDAY NOVEMBER 5
State Theatre
Missy Higgins
+ The Sydney Symphony Orchestra 8pm. $99.90. WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2 ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK
Manouche Wednesday - feat: Gadjo Guitars Mr Falcon’s, Glebe. 7pm. Free. Musos Club Jam feat: Jim Finn Ruby L’otel, Rozelle. 7:30pm. Free.
JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC
Hammerhead Lazybones Lounge, Marrickville. 8pm. Free. Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival - feat: Melissa Aldana + Pablo Menares + Colin Stranahan Foundry616, Ultimo. 8:30pm. $42.50. The Fever Pitch feat: Special Guests The Hideaway Bar, Enmore. 8pm. Free. The Gypsy Art Club Django Bar @ Camelot Lounge, Marrickville. 6:30pm. $10. Wailing Wednesdays - feat: Live Reggae Acoustic Rosie Campbell’s,
Surry Hills. 7pm. Free.
INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS
Busby Marou Brass Monkey, Cronulla. 7pm. $28. Jon McLaughlin + Bob Stamper The Basement, Circular Quay. 7pm. $34.50. Mariachi El Bronx Manning Bar, Camperdown. 8pm. $50. Mark Lucas + Tom West + Callum Wylie The Gasoline Pony, Marrickville. 7pm. $7. Shawn Mendes Enmore Theatre, Newtown. 8pm. $76.40.
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 3 JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC
Heart & Hawk The Temperance Society, Summer Hill. 7pm. Free. Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival - feat: Ingrid & Christine Jensen + Mike Nock Trio Foundry616, Ultimo. 8:30pm. $42.50.
28 :: BRAG :: 687 :: 02:11:16
INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS
Anthony Charlton Australian Arms Hotel, Penrith. 7pm. Free. Australian Music Week 2016 - feat: The Moving Stills + Hedge Fund + Letters To Lions + Allan Smithy + Red Wine Roses + White Blanks + Tall Hearts El Sol Mexican, Cronulla. 6pm. $23.50. Australian Music Week 2016 - 301 Stage - feat: Jake Meadows + Control + Ivy + Uncle Axel + Lepers & Crooks + Cubans In Whistler Cronulla RSL, Cronulla. 6pm. $23.50. Australian Music Week 2016 - feat: Lachlan Bryan + Fanny Lumsden + Taasha Coates + Diesel + William Crighton Space 44, Cronulla. 6pm. $23.50. Burning Chair + Persian Drugs + Delta Riggs DJs Leadbelly, Newtown. 6pm. $28.05. Crvena Jabuka Factory Theatre, Marrickville. 8pm. $75. Crystal Cities Vic On The Park, Enmore. 8pm. Free. Day Of The Shred - feat: Midnight Tea Party + Bones Jones And The Skeletones
+ La Tarantella + That Redhead Slyfox, Enmore. 8pm. Free. Dean Michael Smith The Bourbon, Potts Point. 5pm. Free. Do It In A Dress feat: Hurst + Sun Sap + Mount Zamia Factory Theatre, Marrickville. 8pm. $15. Harbourview Hulabaloo - feat: Zack Martin + Chris Brookes Harbourview Hotel, The Rocks. 7:30pm. Free. John Maddox Co Sappho Books, Cafe And Bar, Sydney. 7pm. Free. Live & Original feat: Jacob Bucknell + Love Ernving + Cloudbird Lewisham Hotel, Lewisham. 7:30pm. Free. Live Band Karaoke Unity Hall Hotel, Balmain. 9pm. Free. Michael Fryar General Gordon Hotel, Sydenham. 5pm. Free. Missy Higgins & The Sydney Symphony Orchestra + Ben Abraham State Theatre, Sydney. 8pm. $99.90. No Refunds The Bald Faced Stag, Leichhardt. 8pm. Free. Richie Ramone + Rocks + Rust + Punxie And The Poison Pens Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 7pm. 38. Speedball + Liability + Fit Bird + Curb Craw Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 8pm. $10. Steve Crocker Observer Hotel, The Rocks. 7:30pm. Free. The Black Sorrows The Basement, Circular Quay. 7pm. $44.70. The Ramalamas + Nic Dalton’s Gloomchasers + Matt Tow The Gasoline Pony, Marrickville. 7pm. $7. Upstairs Live The Beresford Hotel, Surry Hills. 8pm. Free.
ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK
Anthony Charlton Australian Arms Hotel, Penrith. 8:30pm. Free. Australian Music Week 2016 - feat: Jodi Martin + Hollow Coves + Damien Leith + Claire Anne Taylor + Bush Gothic + Bella Hardy St Andrew’s Church Cronulla, Cronulla. 6pm. $23.50. Australian Music Week 2016 - feat: De’May + Brielle Davis + Amber Rae Slade + Jen Mize + Jason Kearney Space 44, Cronulla. 6:30pm. $23.50. Australian Music Week 2016 - feat: Matt Stillert + Big Erle + Claude Hay + Colin Jones & The Delta Revue + Knox + Lindsay Broughton + Dog The Duke Brass Monkey, Cronulla. 6:20pm.
$23.50. Australian Music Week 2016 International Beach Festival Stage - feat: Matt Stillert + Demi Louise + Tay Oskee Cronulla Beach, Cronulla. 4pm. $23.50. Folk At The Lodge - feat: John Vella + Leroy Lee + Friends Forest Lodge Hotel, Forest Lodge. 7pm. Free. Moonshine Thursday - feat: Grizlee Train Moonshine Cider & Rum Bar, Manly. 8pm. Free. Musos Club Jam feat: Jim Finn Carousel Inn Hotel, Rooty Hill. 8pm. Free. Queen Porter Stomp Mr Falcon’s, Glebe. 8:30pm. Free.
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4 JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC
Jenny & Graham Well Co. Cafe And Wine Bar, Glebe. 8pm. Free. Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival - feat: Sydney Women’s Jazz Collective + Ellen Kirkwood + Christine Jensen Foundry616, Ultimo. 8:30pm. $42.50. The Low Down Riders The Gasoline Pony, Marrickville. 7pm. $7. The Marvin Gaye Experience Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL Club, Hurlstone Park. 8:30pm. $35.
ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK
Australian Music Week 2016 - feat: Kay Proudlove + Poor Nameless Boy + Mark Lang + Talisk + Garrett Kato + Sarah Macdougall + The Mae Trio St Andrew’s Church Cronulla, Cronulla. 6pm. $23.50. Australian Music Week 2016 International Beach Festival Stage feat: The Weeping Willows + Rita B + Jodi Martin Cronulla Beach, Cronulla. 4:20pm. $23.50. Flamin’ Beauties feat: Jim Finn Crown Hotel, Surry Hills. 8pm. Free.
INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS
6 Strings + The Marquis + The Bright Sides CC’s Hotel, Campbelltown. 8pm. $10. Angelena Locke Chatswood RSL, Chatswood. 5pm. Free. Australian Music Week 2016 - feat:
Vince Purcell + Bearfoot + Cheap Fakes + Fripps & Fripps + The Kava Kings Space 44, Cronulla. 6pm. $23.50. Australian Music Week 2016 - feat: Melanie Dyer + Hannah Robinson + Rita + The Game River + Goo + Waza Space 44, Cronulla. 6:30pm. $23.50. Australian Music Week 2016 - feat: Demi Louise + Dos // Enos + Rich Aucoin + Hayley Couper + Stay At Home Mum + Youngblood + Mvrks El Sol Mexican, Cronulla. 6pm. $23.50. Australian Music Week 2016 - feat: Tay Oskee + Joel Leffler + Tomato/Tomato + Tenderfoot + I Am Apollo + Fox Holmes Brass Monkey, Cronulla. 6:50pm. $23.50. Australian Music Week 2016 - 301 Stage - feat: Rory Ellis + The Weeping Willows + Little Georgia + James Thomson And The Strange Pilgrims + Catherine Britt + Luke O’Shea + Key To The Highway Cronulla RSL, Cronulla. 6pm. $23.50. Blaming Vegas Fortune Of War, The Rocks. 8pm. Free. Botany Idol feat: Karaoke Competition Botany Bay Hotel, Banksmeadow. 9:30pm. Free. Dave Anthony - feat: Steve Crocker Clovelly Hotel, Clovelly. 4:30pm. Free. Emma Louise + Fractures Metro Theatre, Sydney. 7pm. $40.40. Fridays - feat: New Horizons Band + M7 & DJ Marty Rooty Hill RSL Club, Rooty Hill. 7pm. Free. Fridays - feat: The Pretty Littles Moonshine Cider & Rum Bar, Manly. 9pm. Free. Jep And Dep + Jo Meares Petersham Bowling Club, Petersham. 8pm. $10. Kim Wilde & Howard Jones Enmore Theatre, Newtown. 8pm. $91.65. LJ 99 On York, Sydney. 5:30pm. Free. Mark Crotti Hunters Hill Hotel, Hunters Hill. 4:30pm. Free. Mi-Sex The Basement, Circular Quay. 7pm. $30. Michael Dimarco Buckley’s Bar, Circular Quay. 6pm. Free. Michael Gorham Lord Raglan Hotel, Alexandria. 7pm. Free. Michael Gorham Duo Coogee Bay Hotel, Coogee. 11:55pm. Free. Missy Higgins & The Sydney Symphony Orchestra + Ben Abraham State Theatre, Sydney. 8pm. $99.90.
Oliver Thorpe Mr Falcon’s, Glebe. 8:30pm. Free. Osaka The World Bar, Kings Cross. 7:30pm. $10. Rick Fensom Observer Hotel, The Rocks. 9:30pm. Free. Stephen Kiely The Push Bar, The Rocks. 7pm. Free. Studio 529 Twin Willows Hotel, Bass Hill. 7:30pm. Free. Sun God Replica + Yes I’m Leaving + Neptune Power Federation Factory Floor, Marrickville. 8pm. $12. Superheist + Earth Caller + Segression + Horrorwood Mannequins Factory Theatre, Marrickville. 8pm. $38. Ted Nash Duo The Bourbon, Potts Point. 6:30pm. Free. The Dandy Warhols Big Top Sydney (Luna Park), Milsons Point. 7:30pm. $78.45. The Hard Aches Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 8pm. $19. Thirsty Merc The Bunker, Coogee. 7:30pm. $20. Travis Loughhead Observer Hotel, The Rocks. 7:30pm. Free. Twin Fires Leadbelly, Newtown. 8pm. Free. Valve Bar Spectacular - feat: Dividers + The Shorts + The Great Awake + Kang! + Phosphorous Bombs + Colytons Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 8pm. $10.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 5 ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK
Los Romeos Oxidados The Gasoline Pony, Marrickville. 3pm. $7. Manalion Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $11.60. Stormcellar Town Hall Hotel, Newtown. 10pm. Free. The Maybes The Gasoline Pony, Marrickville. 7pm. $7.
JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC
African Rhythm & Roots Festival - feat: Afro Moses + Chris Gudu + King Tide + Keyim Ba Addison Road Community Centre, Marrickville. 12pm. $20. Australian Music Week 2016 - feat: Vince Jones + Simone Waddell St Andrew’s Church Cronulla, Cronulla. 7:30pm. $46.95. John & Yuki Well Co. Cafe And Wine Bar, Glebe. 8pm. Free. Sydney International Women’s Jazz
Festival - feat: Queen Porter Stomp Foundry616, Ultimo. 3pm. Free. Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival - feat: Tricia Evy Trio Foundry616, Ultimo. 8:30pm. $37.50. Tallis Scholars City Recital Hall, Sydney. 7:30pm. $89.
INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS
90s Music Festival - feat: Rage Against The Machine Performed By People Of The Sun + Tool Performed By The Jerk Offs + Metallica Performed By Seek And Destroy + Static-X Performed By + Rob Zombie + Smashing Pumpkins Performed By Butternut Squash Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 8pm. $15. Acoustic Grooves Clovelly Hotel, Clovelly. 4:30pm. Free. Blake Wiggins St George Masonic Club, Mortdale. 7pm. Free. Brad Myers Observer Hotel, The Rocks. 4:30pm. Free. Dave Anthony Duo The Bourbon, Potts Point. 7:30pm. Free. Destroyer 666 Manning Bar, Camperdown. 8pm. $45. Furnace And The Fundamentals Metro Theatre, Sydney. 8pm. $33.90. Geoff Davies The Push Bar, The Rocks. 7:30pm. Free. Glenn Esmond Rocks Brewing Co, Alexandria. 2pm. Free. Glenn Esmond Trio Oatley Hotel, Oatley. 8pm. Free. Jared Baca Peachtree Hotel, Penrith. 7pm. Free. JP Project Hunters Hill Hotel, Hunters Hill. 5pm. Free. Missy Higgins & The Sydney Symphony Orchestra + Ben Abraham State Theatre, Sydney. 8pm. $99.90. Peter Northcote’s Annual Birthday Show The Basement, Circular Quay. 7:30pm. $49.80. Red Slim The Bald Faced Stag, Leichhardt. 8pm. Free. Scattered Order + The Loop Orchestra + A Cloakroom Assembly 107 Projects, Redfern. 8pm. $10. Songsonstage feat: Russell Neal + Murder Of Crows Kauri Foreshore Hotel, Glebe. 8pm. Free. Spit Roasting Bibbers The Belvedere Hotel, Sydney. 7:30pm. Free. Tay Oskee Leadbelly, Newtown. 4pm. Free. Ted Nash Trio Coogee Bay Hotel, Coogee. 11:55pm. Free. The Delta Riggs + Gideon Bensen thebrag.com
g g guide gig g
g g picks gig p up all night out all week...
send your listings to : gigguide@thebrag.com Mona Vale Hotel, Mona Vale. 8pm. $24. The Pinheads Botany View Hotel, Newtown. 7pm. Free. The Pretty Littles Brighton Up Bar, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $12. This One’s For Mum - feat: Safe Hands + Suburban Haze + Msv Bcp + Homesick + Skin Prison Black Wire Records, Annandale. 6:30pm. $10. Tim Mcartney Buckley’s Bar, Circular Quay. 7:30pm. Free. Unleash Carousel Inn Hotel, Rooty Hill. 8pm. Free. Vengaboys + DJ Sammy + Crystal Waters + Whigfield + Sonique + Joanne + Tina Cousins Big Top Sydney (Luna Park), Milsons Point. 7pm. $96.80. Zac Coombes Observer Hotel, The Rocks. 8pm. Free.
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 6 JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC
Dan Barnett Big Band Unity Hall Hotel, Balmain. 4pm. Free. Double Bay Street
Festival - feat: Soul Messengers Knox Street, Double Bay. 2:30pm. Free. Sundays Roots & Reggae - feat: V-Tribe Moonshine Cider & Rum Bar, Manly. 4pm. Free. Sunshine Sunday Sound System feat: DJs Bossman + Prince Vince + Guests Rosie Campbell’s, Surry Hills. 4pm. Free.
ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK
Bucket Lounge Presents – Live & Originals - feat: Charli Simmons + Tracey Coombs + Kiara Maree Grind Espresso, Cronulla. 5:30pm. Free. Chris Cain + Ray Beadle The Basement, Circular Quay. 6:30pm. $39.60. Heath Burdell Unity Hall Hotel, Balmain. 3pm. Free. Jim Finn The Kent Bar & Grill, Hamilton. 8pm. Free.
INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS Angelena Locke Waterworks Hotel, Botany. 4pm. Free.
Bad Pony + Mar Haze + Capital Coast Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 6:30pm. $15. Bernie Hayes With Elmo And Pete The Gasoline Pony, Marrickville. 7pm. $7. Dave Anthony Bellevue Hotel, Paddington. 2pm. Free. Dean Michael Smith Rocks Brewing Co, Alexandria. 2pm. Free. Glenn Esmond The Bourbon, Potts Point. 12:30pm. Free. Glenn Esmond Fortune Of War, The Rocks. 6pm. Free. HiFi Days - feat: The Delta Riggs + Jeff Martin + Terepai Richmond + Bootleg Rascal + Letters To Lions + Betty & Oswald Cronulla Park, Cronulla. 12pm. Free. Jared Baca The Mill Hotel, Milperra. 12pm. Free. JJ Hausia The Push Bar, The Rocks. 4pm. Free. JP Project Observer Hotel, The Rocks. 3:30pm. Free. Michael Fryar Hunters Hill Hotel, Hunters Hill. 12:30pm. Free. Michael Gorham Wentworth Hotel, Homebush West. 1pm. Free. Nathan Cole The Rivo Hotel, Riverstone. 4pm. Free. Richard Murphy Observer Hotel, The
Rocks. 6:30pm. Free. Save Bondi Pavilion - feat: Hoodoo Gurus + Art vs. Science + Martha Marlow And The Dawsons + Bondi Youth Wave Graduates Bondi Pavilion Theatre, Bondi Beach. 1:30pm. Free. Singing Sydney Presents Monthly Showcase Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 6pm. $10. Vanessa Heinitz Moorebank Sports Club, Hammondville. 2pm. Free. Vengaboys + Tina Cousins + DJ Sammy + Crystal Waters + Whigfield + Sonique + Joanne Big Top Sydney (Luna Park), Milsons Point. 7pm. $96.80. Youngblood Leadbelly, Newtown. 4pm. Free.
MONDAY NOVEMBER 7 JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC
Latin & Jazz Open Mic Night The World Bar, Kings Cross. 7pm. Free. Sonic Mayhem Orchestra Lazybones Lounge, Marrickville. 8pm.
Free.
ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK
John Maddox Duo Mr Falcon’s, Glebe. 7pm. Free. Live & Original @ The Corridor Corridor Bar, Newtown. 7pm. Free.
INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS
Frankie’s World Famous House Band Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney. 9pm. Free. Open Mic Night The Gasoline Pony, Marrickville. 7pm. Free. Songquest, Semi 2 - feat: Russell Neal + Ruby Run + Simon Shaw + Peter Conaty + Oswald Mac + Minnie Rose + Gia Clarissa + Dale Ostridge Kelly’s On King, Newtown. 7:30pm. Free. Swerve Society - feat: The High Ceilings + Prints Familiar + Smug Gums Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 7:30pm. Free. The Monday Jam The Basement, Circular Quay. 8:30pm. $6.
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8 ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK
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SATURDAY AFTERNOON
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SUNDAY AFTERNOON
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EVERY SATURDAY
Party DJs GROUND FLOOR - AFTER BANDS
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3:30PM 6:30PM
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Kay Camargo + Bill Hunt + Santino Salvadore Lazybones Lounge, Marrickville. 7:30pm. $10. Live & Original + Callum Rowland + Minh + Mihka Chee Mr Falcon’s, Glebe. 7:30pm. Free.
INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS
04 Nov
(8:30PM - 11:30PM)
The Dandy Warhols
Départe + Lo! + Rise Of Avernus + Gvrlls + No Haven The Bald Faced Stag, Leichhardt. 8pm. $15. Jerry Can Ride feat: Barefoot Alley + Velociraptor And Australia Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney. 7pm. Free. Karaoke Party Rooty Hill RSL Club, Rooty Hill. 7:30pm. Free. Songsonstage - feat: Russell Neal + Chris Brookes + Pauline Sparkle Gladstone Hotel, Dulwich Hill. 11:10am. Free. Vengaboys + DJ Sammy + Crystal Waters + Whigfield + Sonique + Joanne + Tina Cousins Big Top Sydney (Luna Park), Milsons Point. 7pm. $96.80.
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2 Busby Marou Brass Monkey, Cronulla. 7pm. $28. Jon McLaughlin + Bob Stamper The Basement, Circular Quay. 7pm. $34.50.
Enmore Theatre, Newtown. 8pm. $91.65. Mi-Sex The Basement, Circular Quay. 7pm. $30. Sun God Replica + Yes I’m Leaving + Neptune Power Federation Factory Floor, Marrickville. 8pm. $12.
Mariachi El Bronx Manning Bar, Camperdown. 8pm. $50.
Superheist + Earth Caller + Segression + Horrorwood Mannequins Factory Theatre, Marrickville. 8pm. $38.
Mark Lucas + Tom West + Callum Wylie The Gasoline Pony, Marrickville. 7pm. $7.
The Dandy Warhols Big Top Sydney (Luna Park), Milsons Point. 7:30pm. $78.45.
Shawn Mendes Enmore Theatre, Newtown. 8pm. $76.40.
The Hard Aches Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 8pm. $19.
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 3 Australian Music Week 2016 - Feat: Matt Stillert + Big Erle + Claude Hay + Colin Jones & The Delta Revue + Knox + Lindsay Broughton + Dog The Duke Brass Monkey, Cronulla. 6:20pm. $23.50. Australian Music Week 2016 - Feat: The Moving Stills + Hedge Fund + Letters To Lions + Allan Smithy + Red Wine Roses + White Blanks + Tall Hearts El Sol Mexican, Cronulla. 6pm. $23.50. Burning Chair + Persian Drugs + Delta Riggs DJs Leadbelly, Newtown. 6pm. $28.05. Moonshine Thursday - Feat: Grizlee Train Moonshine Cider & Rum Bar, Manly. 8pm. Free. Richie Ramone + Rocks + Rust + Punxie And The Poison Pens Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 7pm. 38. The Black Sorrows The Basement, Circular Quay. 7pm. $44.70.
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4 Australian Music Week 2016 - Feat: Demi Louise + Dos // Enos + Rich Aucoin + Hayley Couper + Stay At Home Mum + Youngblood + Mvrks El Sol Mexican, Cronulla. 6pm. $23.50. Emma Louise + Fractures Metro Theatre, Sydney. 7pm. $40.40. Jep And Dep + Jo Meares Petersham Bowling Club, Petersham. 8pm. $10. Kim Wilde & Howard Jones
Thirsty Merc The Bunker, Coogee. 7:30pm. $20.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 5 African Rhythm & Roots Festival - Feat: Afro Moses + Chris Gudu + King Tide + Keyim Ba Addison Road Community Centre, Marrickville. 12pm. $20. Destroyer 666 Manning Bar, Camperdown. 8pm. $45. Furnace And The Fundamentals Metro Theatre, Sydney. 8pm. $33.90. Manalion Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $11.60. The Maybes The Gasoline Pony, Marrickville. 7pm. $7. The Pretty Littles Brighton Up Bar, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $12. Vengaboys + DJ Sammy + Crystal Waters + Whigfield + Sonique + Joanne + Tina Cousins Big Top Sydney (Luna Park), Milsons Point. 7pm. $96.80.
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 6 Bad Pony + Mar Haze + Capital Coast Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 6:30pm. $15. HiFi Days - Feat: The Delta Riggs + Jeff Martin + Terepai Richmond + Bootleg Rascal + Letters To Lions + Betty & Oswald Cronulla Park, Cronulla. 12pm. Free. Youngblood Leadbelly, Newtown. 4pm. Free.
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brag beats
BRAG’s guide to dance, hip hop and club culture
on the pulse club, dance and hip hop in brief... with Chris Martin, Anna Wilson and Emily Norton
five things WITH
Simon Caldwell
SIBO BANGOURA FROM KEYIM BA
SIMON CALDWELL’S ONE NIGHT STAND
One of Sydney’s finest DJs, Simon Caldwell, is set to return for a One Night Stand this month. Returning for a third time to the Picnic all-night event, Caldwell is a legendary spinner and all-round techno genius. Two years since his last One Night Stand appearance, he’s back this month at Jam Gallery for a night of supremely good house and disco, all with the aim of shaking Sydney up a bit. Put it in your diary: Saturday November 19.
Growing Up I grew up in 1. Conakry, Guinea on the
west coast of Africa. Growing up, the three most important things to me were family, music and soccer. Both my parents were musicians, my father a master balafon player and my mother a singer. I would perform with them from a young age just as my own children do with me now. I was born into a Griot family – the traditional storytellers and custodians of culture through music and dance. Life in Guinea was simple – do my studies, drum for hours with the rehearsing local ballets and play soccer. It is no surprise that I am now a professional musician – music is in my blood.
2.
Inspirations Salif Keita, Youssou N’Dour, Baaba Maal, Hugh Masekela, Amadou
Keith Ape
& Mariam, Toumani Diabaté… just to name a few. These musicians have inspired me to take my music around the world and fulfil my role as a Griot to keep West African music traditions alive. I have also been inspired greatly by some of my generation of local Guinean artists who have brought the genre of African rap to the forefront. Your Band Keyim Ba is a 3. band that tries new
things and embraces the traditional and modern, fusing them together for a unique, funky sound. Each musician in the band brings their expertise and creativity to the songs and our energy onstage is huge. I’m joined by percussionist Yacou Mbaye from Senegal on talking drum, sabar and congas, Jonathan Pease on lead guitar, the funky
Tina Harris on bass, Blair Greenberg on rhythm guitar, Calvin Welch holding it all together on drum kit and Paula Baxter adding her soulful vocals to the mix.
that, you gotta love the vibe in places like 505 in Surry Hills and places like Lazybones and Camelot Lounge in Marrickville and Jam Gallery in Bondi Junction. A shout-out to these places for keeping the spirit of interesting live music alive in this city. There are so many awesomely talented musicians out there doing some unique and funky fusions. Hopefully the Sydney music scene isn’t further squashed by regulations and the lure of replacing stages with pokie machines.
The Music You Make 4. Keyim Ba’s music is
current, edgy and truly representative of the Afro-Aussie that I have become. Many songs are based on traditional rhythms and songs with a twist of funk, reggae and rap. The band is incredibly tight, with breaks and rhythm intros that require precision and accuracy to pull off. Music, Right Here, Right Now 5. Let’s be honest, the live music scene in Sydney is tough – that’s why I find myself travelling interstate regularly for my profession. Having said
What: African Rhythm & Roots Festival 2016 With: King Tide, Afro Moses, Chris Gudu and more Where: Addison Road Community Centre When: Saturday November 5
KEITH APES THE GREATS
Korean MC and viral star Keith Ape will arrive in Australia for the very first time next week. The Seoul-based recording artist shot to fame in 2015 with ‘It G Ma’, a ballsy track that’s racked up some 30 million views on YouTube. Ape might only be 22 years old, but he’s well on the way to revolutionising K-pop with his US-infl uenced style, which has even found fans across the Pacifi c thanks to his showcase at South By Southwest. It’s about time Australia got a taste, and Ape will be spitting fire at the Factory Theatre on Wednesday November 9.
STRAIGHT OUTTA SURRY
Straight outta Compton, straight into Surry Hills. N.W.A’s own DJ Yella and Lil Eazy-E, the son of the late Eazy-E himself, will headline a free party at The Soda Factory later this month. DJ Yella was a crucial cog in the N.W.A sound, and can lay claim to being the legendary rap group’s longest-lasting founding member. Meanwhile, Lil Eazy-E, AKA Eric Darnell Wright, is a musician in his own right, and the CEO of NWA Entertainment. Together, they’ll soundtrack a special edition of Jukebox Thursdays at Soda, playing a selection of classic beats. It all goes down on Thursday November 24.
this Saturday November 5, with Gold Coast producer and DJ Kronic making the trip south to fi ll our fl oors. He’s been tasked with official remixes for Lady Gaga and Havana Brown, and collaborated with the likes of Tyga, Lil Jon, Justin Bieber and more. That’ll give you an idea of his musical identity, but as for the live show… well, Pacha is calling him “Australia’s craziest entertainer”. But just how will Kronic outdo Jeff from The Wiggles? Find out at Ivy. Chance The Rapper
PROJECT BANTU PARTY
Project Bantu’s next event, the Afro-Brazilian Conference Fundraiser Party, will be bootyshaking par excellence. Sway your hips to the smooth Afrotropical rhythms of DJ collective Afrobrasiliana Soundsystem and stuff your face with Brazilian delicacies, all while supporting a good cause. Project Bantu uses Afro-Brazilian culture and the practice of Capoeira Angola as therapeutic intervention for refugees, making a positive impact in the lives of hundreds of young people. The 2016 fundraiser will be held on Saturday November 19 at The Red Rattler.
OM NOM NOM
Sydney dancers will be ready to snuffleupagus some hectic beats when Cookie Monsta hits Chinese Laundry this Friday November 4. The man born Tony Cook (see what he did there?) hails from Nottingham in the UK, where he’s built a reputation for exploring dubstep in all its varied forms. He’s joined at the top of the bill by Dirtcaps, the Amsterdam duo whose main room selections are as down and dirty as their headwear. Local supports include Chenzo, Snillum, Artinium, Infamous, Propaganda and Robustt.
KRONIC DANCE-ITIS
TAKE A CHANCE Chance The Rapper has locked in his debut headline Australian shows. Coming to Australia to play the likes of Beyond The Valley and Field Day, he’ll be armed with his new and acclaimed record, Coloring Book, landing as his most successful album to date and featuring contributions from Kanye West and Future. Experience it live, Tuesday January 3 at the Big Top Sydney, Luna Park.
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xxx
Pacha Sydney has a star billing
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FEATURE
Royalston From The Ground Up By Joseph Earp
I
t’s not always immediately apparent what your life’s work is meant to be. For some, the path to creative fulfilment is a twisted one, and many of us walk about in circles for decades before we discover what we truly want to do with ourselves. Such is the case with Sydney’s Dylan Martin, a DJ and beatsmith who records under the name Royalston. Martin says he didn’t grow up in a particularly musical household, and though he did always “listen to plenty of music”, it wasn’t until high school was done and dusted that actually producing songs occurred to him. “I was 19 or 20 and very much into electronic music,” Martin explains. “But I never knew how it was made. I needed to make a soundtrack for an animation I’d made and a friend gave me a copy of [audio software] Acid. I just got really hooked on that and slowly it took over my life. I knew then that that was what I wanted to do, but it took a long time to realise it.” That said, even when making music began to fill up more and more of Martin’s time, it was never smooth sailing. He freely admits that performing live was something he struggled with – even to this day he says it only feels natural on “some nights”,
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and his beginnings as a performer were full of screw-ups. “The first DJ gig I played was in maybe 2000,” he says. “I’m pretty sure it sucked, but I know I was having fun.” Nonetheless, Martin did have a trick up his sleeve: his classical training. He embarked upon musical education in earnest after high school, and has found his knowledge now imbues him with strong reserves of
there is always a very obvious sense of control to them – they never tip over into chaos, no matter how often they threaten to, and to listen to a song like ‘Scalps’ is to find oneself in the hands of a singularly talented musician. Indeed, the record ‘Scalps’ comes from, People On The Ground, is so free from blemish as to appear almost bleached clean. Described by its creator as “forward-thinking drum and bass”, the work touches
take unexpected left turns, and for him, writing a record is much more a process of discovery than it is a strict case of following a formula or drawing up a blueprint. “Songs change completely,” he says. “Most don’t end up at all how they start. Many go down huge long stupid diversions and then I realise version one was the best, months later. Some tracks even become two or three separate tunes by the time they are done.”
“MUSICAL THEORY GIVES YOU A GOOD SET OF TOOLS TO FIGURE OUT WHY SOMETHING WORKS OR EVEN WHY A MIX MIGHT HAVE A PROBLEM.” both confi dence and creativity. “Musical theory gives you a good set of tools to fi gure out why something works or even why a mix might have a problem,” he says. “It definitely affects the way I write harmonies and melodies. My classical training is very scattered – I got it from lots of different people and places, so I always wish I had more. I still try and study theory when I can.” That deliberate, academic element of Martin’s music is often its defining quality. Though the tunes he makes are never cold,
on a number of electro subgenres, mixing up a strong trap influence with soulful vocals and samples and sometimes disturbing, dark noise work. “People On The Ground took about a year and a half to write,” Martin explains. “There were a few tunes on it left over from [EP] OCD. Some tunes took three months and others were done in a day or two.” Admittedly, three months is an agonisingly long time to write a track, but for Martin, songs often need a while to stew. He frequently finds that his work can
Ultimately, a record isn’t really completed for Martin until he has released it out into the world. He relishes playing live, even if doing so causes him no small degree of nerves. That said, it’s not always easy to gauge the audience’s response, and when asked how he keeps his sets fluid and the crowd engaged, he speaks with the thoughtful determination of someone trying very hard to master the fine art of the live performance. “I try and pay attention to how the audience is going and try not to
go into my own zone too much if possible. I play a lot of tunes quite quickly, so moods can shift fast. The set-up for the gig can really make a real difference in this regard: if you’re down next to the crowd you can feel how each track goes down, but sometimes on a stage you can feel a bit separated – especially if the lights are right on you and you can’t see the audience properly.” But even if it’s not always clear to Martin whether his beats are going down well, it is more apparent to outsiders – people who can watch in wonder as his committed fans lap up each and every track he dishes out. After all, some of his followers are so dedicated, they’ve even taken to distributing his music themselves. “My dad, who lives and works in Indonesia, buys lots of copies of my album,” Martin says. “Whenever he catches a taxi he always gives a copy to the driver.” What: Surveillance Party Lockout With: No Illuminati, La Vif, Dotmicro, Michael Rein, Haptic and more Where: Oxford Art Factory When: Saturday November 12 And: People On The Ground out now through Med School/ Hospital
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Client Liaison
FEATURE
Developing Immunity By Joseph Earp to the Client Liaison brand, and particularly their new record. Though it’s unfair to dismiss the Melburnians as a mere novelty group, a very deadpan sense of comedy is integral to everything they do. After all, this is a band with a fondness for white pants so ingrained that it almost seems at the very core of their character, and their music videos are all kitsch, throwback wonder. But despite that outwardly projected frivolity, Morgan and Miller are obviously two very committed men, and they speak at great lengths about their creative process. One might expect to go into a Client Liaison interview and end up discussing pagers, Walkmen and champagne. One would be wrong. “Our mixer, Eric Dubowsky, would say you get diminishing returns when you record,” says Miller. “The more you work on a song, sure, it might be getting better, but you have to work more on it to get that extra one per cent.”
“THE FIRST PART OF WRITING THE SONG IS FUN, BUT EVERYTHING THAT YOU ADD THEREAFTER HAS TO BE BETTER THAN WHAT’S ALREADY IN THE SONG.” “You do just lose the initial zazz,” agrees Morgan. “The initial spark fades as you continue to work on a song, to the point where it just becomes laborious. It’s important as we’re developing our craft as writers to take ideas and be able to flip songs quickly or easily pivot onto another song, or just remain open.” The writing process the pair have developed over the years relies on a great deal of mutual trust, and they have unshakeable faith in the way the other works. “We talk about writing together,” says Miller. “We talk about music together. We’re constantly working on it. It’s an obvious process and we take the route that many musicians take – find something that we like and then slave away at it.” Nonetheless, they both throw off a keen sense off resistance when it comes to breaking down that ‘route’, and when pushed on their writing habits, they nearly give up on the English language altogether. “It’s almost impossible to describe,” says Miller. “I mean, we could sit here and pretend and use some adjective to describe the specific emotion that we were going for. But the reality is that we like the sounds we like, we like the topics we like, the lyrical subject matter we like, and we just throw everything we have at it and the result is just a combination of all these hours of work. So to try and pin it down to something or a single emotion would be a lie.”
H
ere’s a hot tip for all you wannabe music journalists out there: try not to kick off an interview with a pair of media-savvy musicians by asking them what questions they’re sick of hearing from the press. The problem is not so much that they’ll consider the query intrusive or annoying, but more that you’ll find yourself redfaced when they invariably rattle off a whole list of enquiries that you yourself were only minutes away from asking. “‘How did you get Tina Arena?’” says Client Liaison’s Harvey Miller, deadpanning his band’s FAQs. “‘How
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long did the album take to make?’ ‘What is it about the Australian themes on your album that you like?’”
load the question with enough varied intonation to make it sound like a different line of interrogation entirely.
“‘Why do you like the ’80s so much?’” pipes in Monte Morgan, the band’s other half.
“We wrote a bunch of songs,” says Miller, kindly not taking this journalist to task for his lack of imagination. “At one stage there were 20 or 50 songs and then it was just about narrowing them down to a deadline.”
“You answer the same answer because everyone asks the same questions,” Miller sighs. Ah, yes. About that… there’s a pause, and then your humble correspondent has to summon up the courage to ask how long exactly it did take them to make their new record, Diplomatic Immunity, trying to
One can imagine that such an intensive period of whittling down a prospective album would leave creative types feeling cut off from the real world, unsure of how their songs might be received by a general listening public. But as far as
Miller and Morgan are concerned, maintaining the intrigue of their audience is paramount, and they make pains to never get too caught up in their own creative process. “We’re always imagining putting it out there,” says Miller. “We already start thinking about the music videos even as we have the songs written. It’s a natural progression for us to release it out there. The hard thing for us is that the first part of writing the song is fun, but everything that you add thereafter has to be better than what’s already in the song.” That initial element of fun is central
At first glance, writing in such a way must be like fumbling around a room with the lights off, never sure if what you’re doing will work out properly. But again, the pair are eager to stress they do have a secret weapon up their sleeves: each other. “It’s more so that we just rely on each other and our collaborators to like the music,” says Miller. “If everyone likes what we put on the table, then that’s good. That’s great. That’s the trust you need.” What: Diplomatic Immunity out Friday November 4 through Dot Dash/Remote Control
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club picks p up all night out all week...
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club pick of the week ScHoolboy Q
feat: Julietta Burdekin Hotel, Darlinghurst. 10pm. $15. The Sweet Escape - feat: Stereogamous Imperial Hotel, Erskineville. 9pm. Free. Xerstorkitte Presents Blank Generation Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 10pm. $10.
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 6 HIP HOP & R&B
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4
Rooftop Sundays Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach. 8pm. Free.
CLUB NIGHTS
Hordern Pavilion
ScHoolboy Q 7:15pm. $79.90. WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2 CLUB NIGHTS SBW Side Bar, Sydney. 8pm. Free. Wet Wednesdays Scary Canary, Sydney. 9:30pm. Free.
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 3 HIP HOP & R&B
Kudos + DJ Lickweed Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $11.60.
CLUB NIGHTS Femme Fetale The Argyle, The Rocks. 6pm. Free. House Keeping Side Bar, Sydney. 8pm. Free. Yo/Da Fu/Nk - feat: Resident Funk DJs The World Bar, Kings Cross. 9pm. Free.
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4 HIP HOP & R&B
End Of The Year Jam - feat: NJE + Untaymable + Script Breaker + Jae Druitt + 2nd Opinion + Next Calibre Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 10pm. $15. Fridays Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach. 8pm. Free. Role Modelz Beach Road Hotel, thebrag.com
Bondi Beach. 8pm. Free. ScHoolboy Q Hordern Pavilion, Moore Park. 7:15pm. $79.90.
CLUB NIGHTS Argyle Fridays The Argyle, The Rocks. 6pm. Free. Bassic Xl - feat: Cookie Monsta + Dirt Caps Chinese Laundry, Sydney. 9pm. $17.70. Brenny B-Sides Manly Wharf Hotel, Manly. 11am. Free. Canvas - feat: Shacklo + Mitch Fowler + Lawrence Daffurn + Tom Perrin + Potts Civic Underground, Sydney. 9pm. $11. Friday Frothers Side Bar, Sydney. 8pm. Free. Friendships + Null + Habits + Marcus Whale + Phondupe + Low Ton Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 9pm. $17.90. Old Skool Fridays - feat: DJs On Rotation St Johns Park Bowling Club, St Johns Park. 8pm. Free. Peoples Club Weekly - feat: Purple Sneakers DJs + Pilot Co DJs + Comfort Club DJs + Katia + David Bangma Goodbar, Paddington. 8pm. Free. Rezonate Home Nightclub, Darling Harbour. 8pm. $15. The Island Live - feat: Late Nite Tuff Guy + Simon Caldwell + Adi Toohey + Ariane Sydney Harbour, Sydney. 5pm. $59.50.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 5 HIP HOP & R&B
Halfway Crooks - feat: Franco + Levins + Yemisul + Ebony Hudson Ballroom, Sydney. 9pm. $11. This That 2016 feat: ScHoolboy Q + Hermitude + LDRU + Peking Duk + Safi a + Moonbase Commander + Elliphant + Sampa The Great + Jess Kent + Drapht + Koi Child + Ball Park Music + Luen + Shantan Wantan Ichiban + Ookay + Enschway + Running Touch + Feki + Benson + Stephane 1993 + Made In Paris + Planéte + Monday Morning The Foreshore, Newcastle East. 1:30pm. $109.90.
CLUB NIGHTS Argyle Saturdays - feat: Tass + TapTap + Minx + Crazy Caz The Argyle, The Rocks. 6pm. Free. Bare Essentials Laneway Party feat: Rich Nxt + Hanfry Martinez + Julietta + Zarate_fi x + Magda Bytnerowicz + Jake Hough + Robbie Cordukes + James Fazzolari + Mantra Collective + Marc Jarvin + Tyson Bruun + Jimmi Walker + Persian Rug + Cd Inc. + Sam Roberts UTS Underground, Ultimo. 2pm. $45. DJ Ralf Zoo Project, Potts Point. 10pm. $30. Eagles &
Butterfl ies Bridge Hotel, Rozelle. 9pm. $40. E^st Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 8pm. $15. Frat Saturdays Side Bar, Sydney. 8pm. Free. Husky And Raye Antonelli Manly Wharf Hotel, Manly. 6pm. Free. Mad Racket’s 18th Birthday Marrickville Bowling Club, Marrickville. 10pm. $40. Moonshine Saturdays - feat: DJs Moonshine Cider & Rum Bar, Manly. 8pm. Free. Pacha Sydney feat: Kronic Ivy Bar/Lounge, Sydney. 8:30pm. $27.70. Sangria Latin Saturdays St Johns Park Bowling Club, St Johns Park. 9pm. Free. Set Mo + Charlie Chux Civic Underground, Sydney. 9pm. $17.33. Something Else -
Big Fun - feat: Andy Donaldson + Jim Poe Lord Gladstone Hotel, Chippendale. 2pm. Free. Oh? And Graham M Manly Wharf Hotel, Manly. 6pm. Free. Shady Sunday feat: Retro DJs Imperial Hotel, Erskineville. 4pm. Free. Sin Sundays The Argyle, The Rocks. 7pm. Free. Tropical Sundae The World Bar, Kings Cross. 5pm. Free.
MONDAY NOVEMBER 7 CLUB NIGHTS I Love Mondays Side Bar, Sydney. 9pm. Free.
Simon Caldwell
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4
Rug + Cd Inc. + Sam Roberts UTS Underground, Ultimo. 2pm. $45.
End Of The Year Jam - Feat: NJE + Untaymable + Script Breaker + Jae Druitt + 2nd Opinion + Next Calibre Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 10pm. $15.
Halfway Crooks - Feat: Franco + Levins + Yemisul + Ebony Hudson Ballroom, Sydney. 9pm. $11.
Friendships + Null + Habits + Marcus Whale + Phondupe + Low Ton Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 9pm. $17.90. The Island Live - Feat: Late Nite Tuff Guy + Simon Caldwell + Adi Toohey + Ariane Sydney Harbour, Sydney. 5pm. $59.50.
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 5 Bare Essentials Laneway Party - Feat: Rich Nxt + Hanfry Martinez + Julietta + Zarate_Fix + Magda Bytnerowicz + Jake Hough + Robbie Cordukes + James Fazzolari + Mantra Collective + Marc Jarvin + Tyson Bruun + Jimmi Walker + Persian
Mad Racket’s 18th Birthday Marrickville Bowling Club, Marrickville. 10pm. $40. Pacha Sydney - Feat: Kronic Ivy Bar/Lounge, Sydney. 8:30pm. $27.70. Set Mo + Charlie Chux Civic Underground, Sydney. 9pm. $17.33. This That 2016 - Feat: ScHoolboy Q + Hermitude + Ldru + Peking Duk + Safia + Moonbase Commander + Elliphant + Sampa The Great + Jess Kent + Drapht + Koi Child + Ball Park Music + Luen + Shantan Wantan Ichiban + Ookay + Enschway + Running Touch + Feki + Benson + Stephane 1993 + Made In Paris + Planéte + Monday Morning The Foreshore, Newcastle East. 1:30pm. $109.90. Kronic
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8 CLUB NIGHTS Coyote Tuesdays The World Bar, Kings Cross. 8pm. Free. Propaganda Tuesday Scary Canary, Sydney. 9:30pm. Free. Side Bar Tuesdays Side Bar, Sydney. 9pm. Free.
Set Mo
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