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Inside: Big Day Out Map & Timetable / Major Lazor / Warpaint ISSUE 1275 / JANUARY 30 - FEBRUARY 5 2014 / RIPITUP.COM.AU
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This Issue// Welcome//
The Mixtape//
Office Jukebox
Before you gear up for another inhumanely hot Big Day Out in Adelaide this Friday, take some time out of your hydration regime to read this bumper festival edition of Rip It Up. Before they took the stage for Melbourne’s Big Day Out, we spoke to Richard Reed Parry of headlining outfit Arcade Fire about who from the Big Day Out line-up he could see the band working with in the future, what it’s like to be Oscar-nominated for Best Original Score for Spike Jonze’s Her and whether David Bowie really did threaten to steal Reflektor for himself (p12). We also speak with fellow Big Day Out frontrunner Diplo on the evolution of Major Lazer and touch on his beef with MIA (p16). Looking ahead to Laneway, we have interviews with Warpaint speaking on their latest album (p14), Scots Frightened Rabbit on how the band is faring a decade on (p15), Run The Jewels on their friendship with Big Boi (p16) and Australia’s The Growl on how multitasking between The Growl, Tame Impala and Pond is worth the effort (p18). We also spoke with Israeli-born Aussie singersongwriter Lior on his collaboration with Nigel Westlake, Compassion, and the challenges of creating the project, sung in both Hebrew and Arabic, which was born out of tragic circumstances (p24). And if you’re heading along to the Big Day Out, be sure to tear out p17 to take along with you as it has the timetable and map of the Big Day Out’s new home in Bonython Park. Until next week, see you at barrier of the Orange Stage.
Rip It Up’s random weekly compilation.
Jimmy Byzantine
Mikhael Paskalev – What’s Life Without Losers (Pretty Boy Floyd/Dew Process)
ut 2014 Big Day O ntine by Jimmy Byza
“I never go in the studio with someone like Justin Bieber because there’s a bag of money there.”
Lachlan Aird
Autre Ne Veut – Anxiety (Mexican Summer)
Online//
Miranda Freeman Childish Gambino – Because The Internet (Glassnote/Island Records)
zer Major La Page 17
Lachlan Aird
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Festival season is officially upon us! This Friday we’ll be hanging out backstage with a handpicked group of Big Day Out headliners for Rip It Up TV interviews, so keep your eyes peeled for those episodes. We’ve got a pretty good bunch this year hailing from all over the world, from Brazil to California. As well as that we’ll be uploading a stack of photo galleries and live reviews over the next few days, so head to ripitup.com.au to keep up to date. Head to ripitup.com.au for full articles, reviews and more.
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Lovelace In 1972 — before the internet and the porn explosion — Deep Throat was a phenomenon: the first scripted pornographic theatrical feature film, featuring a story, some jokes and an unknown and unlikely star, Linda Lovelace. We’ve got five copies of Lovelace up for grabs so log onto ripitup.com.au and enter your details for your chance to win. Competition closes at midday on Thu Feb 6.
RoboCop In RoboCop, the year is 2028 and multinational conglomerate OmniCorp is at the centre of robot technology. When Alex Murphy (Joel Kinnaman) - a loving husband, father and good cop doing his best to stem the tide of crime and corruption in Detroit - is critically injured in the line of duty, OmniCorp sees their chance for a part-man, part-robot police officer. We’ve got 10 double in-season passes up for grabs to RoboCop so log onto ripitup.com.au and enter your details for your chance to win. Competition closes at midday on Thu Feb 6.
Last Vegas Billy, Paddy, Archie and Sam (Academy Award-winners Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline) have been best friends since childhood. So when Billy, the group’s sworn bachelor, finally proposes to his 30-something girlfriend, the four head to Las Vegas with a plan to stop acting their age and relive their glory days. However, upon arriving, the four quickly realize that the decades have transformed Sin City and tested their friendship in ways they never imagined. We’ve got 10 double in-season passes up for grabs to Last Vegas, in cinemas Thu Feb 6, up for grabs so log onto ripitup. com.au end enter your details for your chance to win. Competition closes at midday on Thu Feb 6.
FRI 31 JANUARY
FRI 7 FebRUARY
the timberS, the brouhaha + jenny biddle - label launch
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This Week //
Your fast guide to this week’s best entertainment
Big Day Out
The Bennies
Ludovico Einaudi
Pearl Jam, Arcade Fire, The Hives, Major Lazer and Deftones will head up the annual summer festival at its new home of Bonython Pk on Fri Jan 31. Gates at 11am.
Fresh from a tour jaunt in Asia, the Melbourne ‘stoner party jam’ kings will headline a show at Enigma Bar on Fri Jan 31 alongside grunge brothers Apart From This.
One of the most famous and stereotypebreaking composers of our time, Ludovico Einaudi — who scored the likes of 2002's Doctor Zhivago and 2011's The Intouchables — will perform at the Festival Theatre on Tue Feb 11.
Speeding along this week... Mr Ties Francesco de Nittis, otherwise known as Berlin DJ M rites, is among the newest figures in the electronic music scene. Catch him live at Sugar on Sat Feb 1 with Gorgeous George, Babicka and HVCK.
Danny Whitten’s Veins Cruise on down to the Hotel Metro this Thu Jan 30 to challenge someone to Theatre Of Magic pinball and hear live music from Danny Whitten’s Veins, Ashtray, Efficiency and Slave Duo.
Sarah McLeod & Jeff Martin With the first show on Sat Feb 1 selling out, the Superjesus frontwoman will again join forces with The Tea Party’s Jeff Martin for a second show at the Grace Emily on Sun Feb 2.
The National
Bronze Chariot
The Brooklyn outfit will return to Adelaide’s Thebarton Theatre on Thu Feb 6 in support of their most recent album Trouble Will Find Me.
Nearly two years since their penultimate live show, Bronze Chariot are finally getting on stage for a last hurrah this Sat Feb 1 at the Jade Monkey, joined by SXWZD and Animal Traps.
One Fell Short After a brief interim, One Fell Short are back, playing with Aidan ‘Jazzy’ Jones, Flash Fire and Escapism at the new Jade Monkey on Fri Jan 31.
pub grub is back!!! A super sized festival edition of rip it up’s pub grub is headed your way..
pick it up feb 13 & again Feb 27 8
RipITUPMAGAZINE//ripitup.com.au
NEEDLES AND OPIUM
zORN IN Oz EXCLUSIVE CONCERT SERIES (USA)
EX MACHINA (CAN)
“An essential composer.” THE GUARDIAN
“A super-visionary work.” NEW YORK TIMES
F I R S T A N D O N LY A U S T R A L I A N V I S I T
AUSTR ALIAN PREMIERE
Festival Theatre, 11-14 Mar
E XCLUSIVE TO ADEL AIDE
Featuring John Zorn, Mike Patton, Bill Laswell, Marc Ribot, Joey Baron, John Medeski, Dave Lombardo, Elision Ensemble, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and many more.
Dunstan Playhouse, 13-16 Mar Revered theatre maker Robert Lepage revisits this magically staged masterpiece.
RIME OF ThE ANCIENT MARINER
D IRT SO N g bLACK ARM bAND (AUS) with text by Alexis Wright
“Music to send shudders down your spine and bring tears to your eyes.” THE AGE
THE TIGER LILLIES (UK)
with visuals by Mark Holthusen
“A Haunting evening’s entertainment.” THE TELEGRAPH
AUSTR ALIAN PREMIERE
A N U N F O R g E T TA b L E E X P E R I E N C E
E XCLUSIVE TO ADEL AIDE
Festival Theatre, 16 Mar
Her Majesty’s Theatre, 12-14 Mar
Rich and resonant, a powerful musical journey through Australia’s cultural heartland.
Legendary balladeers The Tiger Lillies spin an epic tale into a hauntingly beautiful multimedia performance.
adelaidefestival.com.au or BASS 131 246
News//
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with Ilona Wallace
He started taking music lessons at age four and drew his greatest influence from Björk. A self-taught instrumentalist (guitar, contra bass, viola), Will Wiesenfeld experimented with sound, adding pen clicks and the noise of running water to his repertoire. Now performing as BATHS, Wiesenfeld will be coming to Adelaide’s Rocket Bar on Sat Mar 16, accompanied by his second album, 2013’s Obsidian. Tickets are available through dashtickets.com.au
Happy Pharrell Future The man of the moment, PHARRELL WILLIAMS, has been announced as a squeaky new headliner for Future Music Festival, hitting Adelaide on Mon Mar 10. Williams is the voice behind Despicable Me (soundtrack), Blurred Lines (though he’s probably trying to distance himself from that über-popular clusterfuck) and Daft Punk’s Get Lucky (Australia’s thirdfavourite song, cheers triple j). He even put a message on YouTube about how keen he is to get down under, how much he loves us all, and how thrilled he’s going to be when he plays Happy with us (and not “for” us). Aw, shucks. Don’t think too hard about how he’s going to perform any of his ‘feat. Pharrell Williams’ songs live – just enjoy the moment. Tickets to Future Music are still available for $155+bf from the festival website futuremusicfestival.com.au. Check ripitup.com.au for the full line-up and Future news.
It’s a match made in heaven: the 2011 and 2012 winners of Western Australia’s Limelite DJ Competition meet at the 2012 Perth Dance Music Awards and fall in musical love. Fletcher Ehlers (DJ/producer) and Morgan (classically-trained instrumentalist/ producer) joined sonic forces to become SLUMBERJACK. The bass-loaded, chillstep duo have stormed the electro-house scene and are coming to Adelaide’s Rocket Bar on Fri Feb 21 in support of Goldroom.
Tindley Loving Care Byron-based SAR AH TINDLEY was last here for the Semaphore Music Festival in 2011, having just finished her third studio album, Time. Recorded at The Yearlings’ Maslin Beach studio, My Sweet Mule, the album was excellently received and saw Tindley and The Yearlings invited to play at the International Folk Alliance in Memphis, USA. Returning now from a bout of serious illness, Tindley and The Yearlings will reunite at the Wheatsheaf this Sun Feb 2. For the first time ever, CASPIAN will make their mark on Australian soil this year. The post-rock outfit are tackling Mad March in support of their latest record, Waking Season. Supporting act will be Sydney’s instrumental group Mensicus, who have just wrapped up their own headline tours through Europe and Australia. The club tour will arrive in Adelaide on Sun Mar 23, missing the festival rush by days. Tickets to the Crown & Anchor gig are available through OzTix or at the door on the night.
Dance Jonny Dance Performing as a solo artist but coming with a full band, JONNY CR AIG (Emarosa, Dance Gavin Dance) is hitting Australia this May. He sold out his last Australian tour, so snap up tickets fast to see what all the fuss is about. The Canadian-American singer only just released Find What You Love & Let It Kill You in late 2013, and already has plans to release his second album midway through this year. Touring with Craig as national supports are acoustic duo This Wild Life, young American MC Kyle Lucas and Australian act Red Beard. Tickets to the licensed all ages show at Fowler’s Live on Fri May 16 are available through OzTix, VenueTix and MoshTix.
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JAN 31 THE BENNIES, THE HARD ACHES, APART FROM THIS, SHE’S THE BAND FEB 1 CLAIM THE THRONE, TRUTH CORRODED, ARCADIA, DYSSIDIA, HEADBORE FEB 6 HANDS LIKE HOUSES, DRAWING NORTH, ATLANTIS AWAITS, ALL YEAR ROUND FEB 7 DANIEL RAY PLUS GUESTS FEB 8 “SYNISTRY OFFICIAL LAUNCH PARTY” DARK-SEXY-MYSTERY FEB 12 MOTHERS CAKE (AUSTRIA) FEB 13 D AT SEA FEB 14 LOADED LEOPARD “VALENTINES DAY PARTY” FEB 21 A GHOST ORCHESTRA (CD LAUNCH) MAR 1 “SOUNDWAVE” AFTER PARTY MAR 7 GAY PARIS MAR 15 “HAIR METAL HEAVEN 5” MAR 19 ABSU (USA) MAR 29 DEAD IN A SECOND & JERICCO
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RE RD O FO D M M O . AN • T .. N RY BA D Y PER RA SU •
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Interviews//
Find more interviews online at ripitup.com.au
ire F e d a Arc n Aird by Lachla
Catching Fire With a Grammy for Album Of The Year, Oscar nomination for Best Original Score and four applauded albums to his name, Richard Reed Parry doesn’t feel pressured to continue Arcade Fire’s runaway success. As one of the Canadian outfit’s core members, he connects with Rip It Up the morning of the Melbourne Big Day Out, speaking humbly on how the tour is going so far: “Hopefully it’s feeling cohesive enough for the people watching.”
P
arry’s doubts are derived from the fact that the Big Day Out tour is the first where Arcade Fire have melded songs off their 2013 album Reflektor with the rest of their catalogue, inviting the “whole artistic world of the band and its music to the stage.” “From where we’re standing it’s sort of a jigsaw puzzle at this point and we only rehearse so much,” says Parry. “We like to let a lot of the music figure itself out as we play live. We’ve never been a band that is overprepared. We like to fly by the seat of our pants a little bit and let the live strength of the band be what fills in the gaps and connects the dots. Hopefully it takes care of itself.” With 10 musicians on stage, and flanked by the bobble-heads that feature in Reflektor’s music video, there seem to be a lot of new elements added to Arcade Fire’s already engorged core of six members. “We’ve got these two extra Haitian percussionists who add a flavour that we’ve never had in a live show before. We’ve basically got two of everything: two drummers, two singers, two strings, two guitarists... It’s great!” Each set the track list also changes, helping to keep the band on their toes. “We’re trying quite different set lists and combinations of old and new songs as we have a huge arsenal right now. It’s a new phase for the band where we don’t have this core of
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eight strong songs and then add three that are different every night. We have a much bigger core of strong songs, but we can’t play for three hours, so we just need to learn to structure what the main pillars are for the set. Those things are really in flux and that’s a nice way to be, to not have it feel like a routine at all.” The risks they’ve taken so far seem to have pulled off immensely, including choosing Major Lazer mastermind Diplo as support act for the Melbourne sideshow. While seemingly a random choice, Parry hints that it could indicate a new direction for Arcade
“We’ve never been a band that is over-prepared.”
Fire’s future sound, admitting that the “big beat, dance energy is fun to be around.” When questioned on any potential collaborations in the future, he doesn’t rule out Major Lazer. “For example, [Major Lazer] would be great. Dance music is not a culture that any of us come from but it’s one that interests all of us. We can all get into it; it feels like exciting territory.” Since their 2004 debut Funeral, Arcade Fire have never been ones to play it safe. When recording Reflektor, the follow-up to their 2010 Grammy Award-winning The Suburbs (upsetting Lady Gaga, Eminem and Katy Perry to take the gong, no less), Arcade Fire
added another level of distraction by choosing to score Spike Jonze’s latest film, Her, and make Reflektor concurrently. “There was a month where it was pretty hairy,” Parry admits. “We were splitting into factions. Will, Tim, Jeremy and I would go to work on the soundtrack while Win and Régine would do vocal takes [for Reflektor]. It was really fun actually; we were firing on all cylinders at the same time. We didn’t have a solid plan going into the soundtrack creation so it really opened the floodgates creatively – just letting loose with ideas and recording tonnes and tonnes of music and throwing it out there.” The soundtrack allowed the band to “downshift into early phases of the creative process for something else and just let your brain go free and see what happens”. They didn’t, however, have free reign creatively, with Jonze having input on the tone for the score. “We kept pushing for it to be more sci-fi and fifth world. We would have it in that direction and Spike would go, ‘No, no, no! It has to play more intimately,’ or ‘more tenderly’, or ‘more quietly’, or ‘more simply’. He really knew what he wanted from the emotion of the scene and how he wanted things to play.” Working on Her also helped further the relationship between Arcade Fire and Spike Jonze, who has directed projects for the band including The Suburbs’ music video, Scenes From The Suburbs short film and the Afterlife live music video at the YouTube Music Awards. What makes these two creative forces gel? “I guess we’re just mutual fans; it’s as simple as that really. We’re interested in the ideas and things that he makes and they appeal to us and vice versa.” The visual aspect of their music has become a definable facet of Arcade Fire. Since the titular track on sophomore album Neon Bible’s interactive film clip online, the band have
Duke It Out When David Bowie appeared as a guest vocalist on Reflektor’s titular track, the band disclosed that the Thin White Duke himself had approached the band. Rumours then circulated that Bowie had tried to steal the song for himself as he liked it so much. Rip It Up ask Richard Reed Parry if that was the case. “I think it was a joke, but he did say so. He did threaten us.”
explored ways to make their music videos more engaging and personalised through the internet. “[Interactive music videos] appeal and are a way to push the envelope by using things that are modern and specific to this moment with things that are older and more traditional and less specific to this moment.” However, he knows there are parameters for how far the band want to extend into the infinite possibilities of the internet. “I would say we just try and act with as much of an eye to modernity as we can without being outside of our comfort zones and too far outside of the aesthetic zone that feels familiar and understandable, even if we’re trying to do new things. You don’t want to get out of your comfort zone just because it’s new or just because the technology provides it – it doesn’t mean it makes for something good,” he pauses and then laughs. “That’s why our next record is going to be delivered by drone robots to everybody’s houses!” WHO: Arcade Fire WHAT: Big Day Out WHERE: Bonython Pk WHEN: Fri Jan 31
Interviews//
Find more interviews online at ripitup.com.au
The Fool No More “We played this venue, Hollywood Forever Cemetery, which was pretty amazing. Lots of stars — movie stars and what not — have been buried there. I’m not sure how long it’s been a cemetery, but it’s privately owned — oh shit, that’s one way. Sorry, I’m driving right now —”...
W
hen Jenny Lee Lindberg, the bassist from smooth indie group Warpaint, calls, she’s trying to turn the wrong way down a street. Don’t interview and drive, kids. She’s talking about a show the band played with James Blake at a celebrity cemetery. “Playing music to the dead. It’s kind of funny. It’s kind of morbid, but it’s also not — it’s really, really beautiful. You’d think it would be kind of scary, but it wasn’t — it felt very pleasant.” Subconsciously, Lindberg sums up the foursome’s latest album: Warpaint. The self-titled record is a quiet vessel for moody, spooky atmosphere. They’ve been playing songs from their first record, The Fool, for nearly five years — Lindberg says the ladies are supremely pleased to be moving on to some new material. “There’s a track called Biggy that I really want people to hear,” she says. “We were really excited when we listened to it — we were very proud of ourselves and thought that it was one of the most mature things we’d ever, ever done as a band. “Another track is Disco // very, because it’s really different to anything we’ve ever done. It’s kind of dance-y, like a party song, but it’s also a little … off. It’s an acquired sound, maybe, but it’s also really dance-y, so even if you don’t really like the song, you can’t help but move to it.” It’s no surprise that Warpaint’s music is eclectic and varied — this week Lindberg has been listening to Kraftwerk and Kurt Vile and reading Chelsea Handler’s bestseller about a year’s
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RIPITUPMAGAZINE//RIPITUP.COM.AU
Warpaint ce by Ilona Walla
worth of one-night stands. Lindberg’s tastes are diverse and reflect the heart of her band’s music: she’s human. One of the most understated, haunting songs on the new record revolves around the most human experiences and emotions. It’s one of the only songs they’ve written that is “based purely on fact” instead of ambiguous, universal, composite feelings. Lindberg explains: “There was a fan, a fan of ours. She was 16 and she had leukaemia, and her friend reached out to us and asked if we would go to the hospital and sing her a song, so we did … we went there. “It was a really beautiful experience but really intense. Her family was there in the room with us as well, in this really intimate space. It felt like, one, we were walking into this world that we didn’t know, and two, it was tragic because she was dying and it felt like we didn’t belong there. It felt like we were intruding upon the family’s really personal, last moments with their daughter, and we were all really awkward, but then we had been asked to be there, and we were her favourite band, so we went and sung her a song.”
Lindberg’s usually perky voice is leaden with supressed feeling, and she speaks faster and faster, the story stuttering as she fails to find the words. “She was kind of in a coma and she wasn’t awake, but she woke up while we were there and I remember sitting on the bed with her and she didn’t really have … her central nervous system was shutting down and she didn’t really have the motor skills … but she was definitely moving around like she knew that we were there, and she was excited — or as excited as she could be in that state — and we just kept waving to her, saying ‘Hi, hi!’ “Her name was Haley, Haley Butcher, and we were waving to her, trying to get her to notice that we were there. Teresa went home that day and wrote a song about that experience and it’s called Hi.” WHO: Warpaint WHAT: Warpaint (Rough Trade/Remote Control) WHERE: St Jerome’s Laneway Festival WHEN: Fri Feb 7
Interviews //
Find Them Now When Andy Monaghan rings, he’s sitting in the empty venue, surrounded by post-gig debris. They’ve kicked off their UK tour after returning from a mega tour of the US. Monaghan, the guitar/keys player in Frightened Rabbit, tells me their gear has all been packed up and the other boys are across the road, having cocktails at the bar.
I
t’s Frightened Rabbit’s 10th year, and they’re not running scared. 2013 saw the release of one of their biggest and best records, the commercially and critically successful Pedestrian Verse. “I’ve been in the band for about 7 years,” Monaghan says. “They’ve been the best seven years of my life so far.” His fingers are crossed for another seven years, then maybe seven more after that. “For the time being, all’s well.” The Woodpile was the lead single from the new record, and a beautiful, shining track it was. Effortless, however, is not how Monaghan would describe the writing process. “It’s a funny one. That was meant to be on the Scottish Winds EP which came out before Pedestrian Verse, and everyone thought, ‘This is a great track!’ So we pulled it out and we did three versions of it before we gave it to the label. “We gave it to them and they were like, ‘Great track, great track … but not quite there’ and it got put off and put off, and we ended up recording it five times before the version that’s on the record came out. “By the time it came around to the fifth round of recording, you’re kind of like, ‘What the hell was wrong with that last one?’ But I’m glad we were pushed into doing it, because the last one was definitely the best.” Since all the members of Frightened Rabbit are accomplished multi-instrumentalists, it lends them a
d Frightene Rabbit ce by Ilona Walla
particular flexibility in the way songs are written, recorded and performed. “It’s never one person coming up with the whole thing and then people put other things on, like, ‘He’s bass, there’s bass there, so he’s playing bass here,’” Monaghan explains. “If you’ve got an idea for a part, it doesn’t really matter if whoever is most proficient at the instrument plays it. Whoever has the idea on that instrument picks it up, and whoever can remember the part that was played in the studio, that’s what happens live.” Before Pedestrian Verse came A Frightened Rabbit EP, to which Monaghan only ever refers by its first track, Scottish Winds. Perhaps it’s the strong sense of place and home in that track that sticks with him so strongly. “There’s so many great bands that come from Glasgow and Scotland, and [the place] has such a rich heritage of songwriting, so Scots just try to do the best they can, which is a great job. It comes across — on Scottish Winds there are many references to the bleakness of a Scottish winter and the landscapes certainly come across a little bit.” They might be getting more sunshine sooner than they
bargained for, however, heading down under for Laneway. Monaghan’s calm and easy voice picks up with excitement at its mention. “Yeah, yeah, yeah! The Laneway Festivals; I’m really looking forward to that,” he enthuses. “Hopefully I’ll get to see Kurt Vile. Big fan of his; big fan of Warpaint and of Chvrches. Hopefully we’ll get to see those guys if we can, and play some pingpong with Chvrches. They had a pingpong table on tour this year, so maybe [we can] get in a few games. I’m not the best, but I play for the fun of it, not the glory.” There will be no pingpong tournament for Frightened Rabbit’s own tours, however. “Oh, no, no, no. No thanks!” Monaghan stresses. “I think tensions would be high.” WHO: Frightened Rabbit WHAT: St Jerome’s Laneway Festival WHERE: Hart’s Mill, Pt Adelaide WHEN: Fri Feb 7
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Beats// Pentz, amused at being addressed as "Mr Lazer" by a telephone conference administrator, is genuinely amped about hitting Oz. "This will be our third time as Major Lazer, but it's our first time with our new record," he says. "This is our biggest record — there's so many big songs on it. I'm excited to play the new songs for all of the fans out there to see what happens. It's going to be crazy, 'cause we have a whole new show — it'll be our biggest crew yet, we're bringing 10 people over." As Major Lazer, Pentz, who resides in Los Angeles with a young son, co-produced Snoop's reggae Reincarnated - and speculation is that they might perform together. "I would love to," he says. "I've gotta give him a text and see what he wants to do." Pentz is reputedly an occasionally moody interviewee. It's not surprising with his schedule (and famed partying) that he should find media duties an imposition. He can be picky, too. The 'countercultural' Pentz declined to talk to DJ Mag when he cracked 2013's Top 100 poll. But today he's ebullient, keen to talk up BDO. In fact, Pentz' inaugural Australian tour was with the festival in 2006 — he DJed for MIA, his then kindred spirit and lover. Though he and MIA later had a bitter falling out, exchanging public missives, Pentz is now gracious. "You guys loved MIA, man — she was just like the new voice that really represented what you guys were feeling in Australia at the time."Pentz has always led a nomadic lifestyle,
being born in Tupelo, Mississippi and raised modestly in Florida. He subsequently studied film at college in Philadelphia. It was in Philly that as Diplo (short for Diplodocus) Pentz started DJing seriously in the Hollertronix combo — while doing social work. He presented an album as early as 2004 on Ninja Tune's Big Dada offshoot. Florida was redolent of DJ Shadow. Pentz, a "post-DJ", emerged as an important champion of regional music, exposing Brazil's baile funk. In London he connected with an unknown MIA, shaping her debut, Arular. Its success culminated in his producing everyone from Santigold to Beyoncé and Usher. And he developed a label, Mad Decent, which enjoyed its biggest commercial triumph last year with Baauer's US number one Harlem Shake. Pentz produced MIA's breakthrough second album Kala (home to Paper Planes) with UK DJ/producer Dave "Switch" Taylor and the pair formed the eccentric, Gorillazlike Major Lazer. In 2009 they released Guns Don't Kill People… Lazers Do, partly recorded in Jamaica. Beyoncé's Run The World (Girls) is based on their Pon De Floor. Pentz' musical colleagues commend his studio skills — and his commitment to networking. He's inherently genial. Even in his days sparring with MIA, he seemed the more reluctant to lash out. Sure, he's been dissed by Azealia Banks but, then, so has everyone. This makes his split with Taylor prior to Free… all the more mysterious, Pentz recruiting Jillionaire and Walshy Fire as new cohorts. Reportedly, they had "creative differences". However, Pentz denies that — and, indeed, Taylor didn't "quit". They each merely did their own thing. "There were no real differences," he stresses. Taylor was initially "excited" about Major Lazer but saw it as a one-off. "I really had a vision for this project to be something big," Pentz says. Taylor wasn't prepared to devote time to it. "I was going hardcore on the touring — he was
e Run Thls Jewe e By Cyclon
Killer Mike (AKA Michael Render) is one of the smartest men in hip hop, if not America. The Atlanta MC has invested his earnings into a cool urban barbershop, Graffitis SWAG, the flagship of what he envisions as a community-based franchise. Now all he needs is to find the time to get his barber’s licence.
In 2013 Render teamed with his MC/ producer buddy El-P ( Jaime Meline) to form Run The Jewels, their eponymous album, entailing the single Get It, making ‘best of the year’ lists - including Q’s.
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The mag summarised it as “Watch The Throne for those who liked their selfaggrandisement with a dash of selfawareness.” Run The Jewels is just now coming out locally as the pair hit Laneway Festival. It’ll be Render’s first Australian trek, with Meline, then promoting Cancer 4 Cure, rocking Laneway last summer. And he’s heard good things from Meline and homies like OutKast’s Big Boi. “They’ve all told me how beautiful and wondrous it was and how it was actually just life-changing, the amount of beauty in the country - so I can’t wait to see it.” Render is down with Atlanta’s Dungeon Family alongside OutKast - he befriended
Interviews
He is a superstar DJ/producer, a music trendsetter and pop hitmaker but, in Major Lazer, Diplo (real name Wesley Pentz) has created a dancehall EDM Godzilla. This summer Major Lazer will tour their latest album Free The Universe, which reached the ARIA Top 5, at the 2014 Big Day Out alongside ally Snoop Lion AKA Dogg.
Major Lazer e by Cyclon
not really into that." Ultimately Taylor, Pentz says, is a studio guy — and in 2011 he was focussed on chasing pop projects. "It's just no big deal." As it happens, the two just crossed paths in Jamaica. Taylor, recording nearby, dropped into Major Lazer's Kingston show. They intend to collaborate again — and on Major Lazer: "We're still huge friends." Ironically, Pentz himself is now recognised as a super-producer. While he sprang from an urban dance underground, he's no pop snob. Free… boasts such implausible guests as Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig, Bruno Mars and Shaggy. And, not only has Pentz liaised with Justin Bieber, but he also recently contributed Passenger to Britney Spears'
Britney Jean. "I'm just here to make music — that's what I do, I'm good at it. When I work with an artist like, say, even a Britney or [Passenger cowriter] Katy Perry or whatever, I'm working with them as people… If they have some chemistry, that's all I want." It's about having "fun" — and creative freedom. "I never go in the studio with someone like Justin Bieber because there's a bag of money there."
Big Boi in college. In fact, the MC debuted on OutKast’s classic Stankonia of 2000, becoming a frequent collaborator. He himself put out the album Monster in 2003, with Big Boi rapping on its crossover hit ADIDAS (‘all day I dream about sex’). However, Render, an occasional voice actor, struggled to identify his niche - until lately. At one stage he was part of Big Boi’s Purple Ribbon, then TI’s Grand Hustle, before going indie. Render worked with Meline, the Company Flow member who started Definitive Jux, on his acclaimed 2012 LP RAP (Rebellious African People) Music. They bonded and so Run The Jewels ensued, an album surfacing on A-Trak’s Fool’s Gold and Ninja Tune’s Big Dada offshoot. That the duo enjoy a rapport is fascinating since they each hail from, not only different cities, but also different hip hop scenes, Meline being a Brooklynite backpack-type and Render street. But Render stresses their common ground. The combo, both 30-somethings, “grew up in the same era of hip hop.” As such, they share “the same values” when it comes to the music. Beyond that? “I don’t know totally why we click so well,” Render ponders. “Then again, I can’t tell you all the reasons I love my wife more than any other woman I’ve ever known. But I know when a good relationship works, it works - and El and I have an amazing musical relationship.” In 2014 hip hop is no longer embroiled in regional politics. The South has never been as influential with even Harlem’s A$AP Rocky heavily indebted to it. Render digs that. “I just think that hip hop is in a good
place because now you have so many different styles and so many different places and so many different people. Hip hop is great. I think when hip hop doesn’t have as many styles as that, that’s when I worry.” Back home, Render is active as an entrepreneur (and advocate for small black business) as well as an MC. In 2011 he opened a barbershop, buying a run-down outlet and renaming it Graffitis SWAG, which he operates with his wife, Shana. Render loves his acronyms: the SWAG stands for “shave, wash and groom”. Render himself is working towards acquiring his barber’s license - he must clock up 3,000 hours, tricky when simultaneously pursuing an international hip hop career. Render is still apprenticing - which means sweeping the floor, cleaning the bathroom, watching and learning. On his return from Australia, he’ll begin cutting hair.Not that Render is abandoning music. He and Meline are on a creative roll. “Run The Jewels 2 is coming this year we are working on it right now,” he says. And he may yet be involved in the OutKast reunion. “Let me say I absolutely would love to be - I can’t imagine me not popping up somewhere! Where that is, I don’t know. But I’m as ecstatic and excited about OutKast performing again for young people so I can take my kids to see this show and my Mom can see it as everyone else.”
WHO: Major Lazer WHAT: Big Day Out WHERE: Bonython Pk WHEN: Fri Jan 31
WHO: Run The Jewels WHAT: Run The Jewels (Inertia) and Laneway Festival WHEN: Fri Feb 7 WHERE: Harts Mill, Port Adelaide
Big Day Out//
Find more online at ripitup.com.au
BONYTHON PARK
ADELAIDE FRIDAY 31 JANUARY ORANGE STAGE
RED STAGE
BLUE STAGE
JBL ESSENTIAL STAGE
HEADSPACE STAGE
BOILER ROOM
REDBULL NO NOISE NIGHTCLUB
11:00 10:30
PEARL JAM
10:00
8.00 – 10.30
09:30
MAJOR LAZER 9.30 – 10.45
DEFTONES 9.15 – 10.15
STEVE ANGELLO
09:00
8.45 – 9.45
SNOOP DOGG
08:30
AKA SNOOP LION 8.00 – 9.00
08:00 07:30 07:00
7.30 – 8.30
6.30 – 8.00
360 BEADY EYE 5.30 – 6.30
05:30 4.30 – 5.30
THE LUMINEERS 5.30 – 6.30
PRIMUS
3.30 – 4.30
03:30
DILLON FRANCIS 6.00 – 7.00
FLOSSTRADAMUS
MUDHONEY
4.15 – 5.00
GROUPLOVE
2.30 – 3.30
THE DRONES
02:30
THE NAKED & FAMOUS
02:00
1.45 – 2.30
PORTUGAL. THE MAN
COSMIC PSYCHOS 3.30 – 4.15
1.15 – 2.00
1.00 – 1.45
BLUEJUICE
12:30
12.15 – 1.00
DZ DEATHRAYS
VIOLENT SOHO 12.15 – 1.00
ALL THE COLOURS
11:30 11.30 – 12.15
THE 1975
11.15 – 12.00
6.00 – 7.00
2.30 – 3.15
1.30 – 2.15
LOON LAKE
BO NINGEN
RÜFÜS
THE ALGORITHM
3.45 – 4.30
4.00 – 5.00
3.45 – 4.30
OISIMA
2.45 – 3.30
(DJ SET) 3.00 – 4.00
CATS DJS 2.00 – 3.00
PEKING DUK
AUDIO REIGN
11.45 – 12.30
11.30 – 12.15
PURPLE SNEAKERS DJS
1.45 – 2.30
BEN MORRIS
JUNGLE GIANTS
5.00 – 6.00
4.45 – 5.30
HESTON DROP
12.45 – 1.30
12.30 – 1.15
(RÜFÜS DJ SET)
PEZ
BIG GIGANTIC
KINGSWOOD
SUFUR KERSER
2.45 – 3.30
2.15 – 3.00
TORO Y MOI
LUKE MILLION
6.00 – 7.00
4.45 – 5.45
4.30 – 5.15
3.15 – 4.00
03:00 TAME IMPALA
CSS
NORTHLANE 5.30 – 6.15
MAC MILLER
04:00
12:00
6.45 – 7.30
THE HIVES
04:30
01:00
VISTA CHINO
6.45 – 7.30
06:00
01:30
FLUME
8.00 – 8.45
ARCADE FIRE
06:30
05:00
GHOST
1.45 – 2.15
BAMBII
1.00 – 2.00
1.00 – 1.30
FAINT ONE
SKYTHIEF
12.00 – 1.00
12.15 – 12.45
SWEET ANARCHY 11.30 – 12.00
BONYTHON PARK
ESSENTIAL STAGE
ADELAIDE
RED STAGE STAGE
BOILER ROOM
ATM
ORANGE STAGE
BLUE STAGE
RIVER TORRENS
11:00
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On Tour //
Check out The Guide at ripitup.com.au
Tour Guide/
Fri Jan 31
BIG DAY OUT: PEARL JAM, ARCADE FIRE, SNOOP DOGG, MAJOR LAZER & more @ Bonython Park THE BENNIES @ Enigma Bar
Sat Feb 1
SARAH MCLEOD & JEFF MARTIN @ Grace Emily Hotel TRAVELLER & FORTUNE @ Jive
Sun Feb 2
SARAH MCLEOD & JEFF MARTIN @ Grace Emily Hotel SARAH TINDLEY & THE YEARLINGS @ Wheatsheaf Hotel Thu Feb 6 THE NATIONAL @ Thebarton Theatre Fri Feb 7 ED KOWALCZYK @ Her Majesty’s Theatre LEMURIA @ Crown & Anchor LANEWAY FESTIVAL: LORDE, HAIM, JAGWAR MA, CHVCHES, WARPAINT & more @ Hart’s Mill, Port Adelaide LIOR & NIGEL WESTLAKE @ Festival Theatre YOUNG FRANCO @ Rocket Bar Sat Feb 8 THE LOCUST @ Enigma Bar DIANA KRALL @ Festival Theatre BABYLON BURNING @ Jive Sun Feb 9 THE NECKS @ Governor Hindmarsh Tue Feb 11 BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E-STREET BAND @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre Wed Feb 12 BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E-STREET BAND @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre MOTHER’S CAKE @ Enigma Bar Thu Feb 13 AUSTRA @ UniBar DOLLY PARTON @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Fri Feb 14
PETE MURRAY @ Bird In Hand Winery Sat Feb 15 PETE MURRAY @ Bird In Hand Winery CASH SAVAGE & THE LAST DRINKS @ Garden Of Unearthly Delights THE JAMMIN’ DIVAS @ The Church Of Trinity, Clarence Pk
Sun Feb 16
GURRUMUL @ Prince Alfred College Oval Thu Feb 20 THE FUNKOARS @ Governor Hindmarsh Fri Feb 21 THE ASTON SHUFFLE & THIEF @ Royal Croquet Club MIGUEL MIGS @ Mr Kim’s SLUMBERJACK @ Rocket Bar Sat Feb 22 A DAY ON THE GREEN: HUNTERS & COLLECTORS, YOU AM I, SOMETHING FOR KATE & BRITISH INDIA @ Leconfield Wines, McLaren Vale WIRE @ Jive DAVE CHAPPELLE @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre Sun Feb 23 MARCEL DETTMANN @ Sugar
THE GIN CLUB @ Garden Of Unearthly Delights Tue Feb 25 PHIL JAMIESON @ Ramsgate Hotel TKAY MAIDZA @ Bar Smith Lawns, Adelaide Uni Thu Feb 27 NINA LAS VEGAS, MOETZ, COSMO’S MIDNIGHT, SABLE & TKAY MAISZA @ Rocket Bar
Fri Feb 28
BLISS N ESO & HORRORSHOW @ Clipsal 500 URBAN DECAY @ Hotel Metropolitan PIGEON @ Rocket Bar Sat Mar 1 SOUNDWAVE: GREEN DAY, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS, ALICE IN CHAINS, A DAY TO REMEMBER & more @ Bonython Park EMPIRE OF THE SUN & KIMBRA @ Clipsal 500 Sun Mar 2 BRUNO MARS @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre DANIEL O’DONNELL & MARY DUFF @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre Theatre KEITH URBAN, GUY SEBASTIAN & BOOM CRASH OPERA @Clipsal 500 PUBLIC ENEMY @ HQ EVERLAST @ Governor Hindmarsh Tue Mar 4 MANGO GROOVE @ Norwood Concert Hall Wed Mar 5 LIONEL RICHIE & JOHN FARNHAM @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre DAN SULTAN @ Garden Of Unearthly Delights
Fri Mar 7 Mon Mar 10
WOMADELAIDE: ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, BILLY BRAGG, NEKO CASE, WASHINGTON, MIKHAEL PASKALEV @ Botanic Park Mon Mar 10 FUTURE MUSIC FESTIVAL: PHARRELL WILLIAMS, DEADMAU5, MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS, ERIC PRYDZ, PHOENIX & more @ Adelaide Showground
Byzantine by Jimmy
Cameron Avery may well be the busiest man in Australian music. As well as fronting his own band The Growl, the multi-talented Perth native also drums in Pond and, since Nick Allbrook (who fronts Pond) left Tame Impala last year, plays bass in that band as well. While those more famous bands take a well-earned break, Avery is happy to have some time to spend on The Growl. Although he doesn’t have much of it.
Thu Mar 13
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE & NINE INCH NAILS @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre SUICIDE GIRLS @ HQ
Fri Mar 14 Sun Mar 16
KUSTOM KULTURE WEEKENDER: DEKE DICKERSON, BACKY SHANK, THE SAUCERMEN & more @ Highway Hotel Fri Mar 14 KATE MILLER-HEIDKE @ Garden Of Unearthly Delights Sat Mar 15 KATE MILLER-HEIDKE @ Garden Of Unearthly Delights NEIL FINN @ Thebarton Theatre
Sun Mar 16
BATHS @ Rocket Bar Tue Mar 18 MICHAEL JACKSON HISTORY II SHOW @ Her Majesty’s Theatre Wed Mar 19 ALAN DAVIES @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre
For the complete Tour Guide including dates and venues please check out ripitup.com.au
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RipITUPMAGAZINE//ripitup.com.au
“I think I had about four days off the last time I was back home, and I had four days off in Los Angeles just now, and I’ve got three days off now,” Avery says of all the free time he has had in the past year. “I’m in Perth now and not on the road but I’ve still got to do pre-production and rehearsals and stuff like that.” Following the release of The Growl’s debut album What Would Christ Do?? in early 2013, Avery managed to squeeze in a couple of quick-fire national tours but spent most of his time overseas opening for and playing with Tame Impala. Getting his band on such a high profile tour seems to already be opening doors for Avery in America, even if things have been a bit quiet back home. “I guess there’s been a few more people in the States asking about The Growl,” he shrugs. “But we never really broke in Australia. I mean, I don’t even really know what breaking is. But I have been over in the States a lot and I do really like touring in America a lot, because in America you can get in a bus with buddies and drive around. If you want to do a little tour there’s no $10,000 outlay of cash every time.
“I don’t know if it’s going good in Australia or if it’s not going good; I haven’t really been paying much attention. It’s hard [in Australia], especially when you get some of the super alternative people going, ‘Why would you want to play with Kings Of Leon?’ And I was like, ‘How many times do you get to play to a packed Enmore crowd?’ I loved that show and they’re a great band.” The Growl are obviously impressing the right people in Australia, having landed a slot on this year’s Laneway Festival. Before they set off on that tour however, Avery is making things especially difficult for himself by rushing into the studio to record The Growl’s second album. He is promising a different sounding album to the dark and dirty sounds of his debut.
"I love Kevin [Parker, Tame Impala frontman]’s music so much. I think he’s an incredible artist who could possibly change the way people listen to music, so I want nothing more than to help him do the best he can do it." “From the sound of [What Would Christ Do??], I wasn’t Captain Happiness at the time,” he laughs. “It was definitely a pretty introverted, very self-indulgent time. They would be only two words I can think of, and frustration. Musically, emotionally, everything – I’m feeling a lot better about trying to get a point across.
“I’ve got six-and-a-half songs done [on the new album], and it’s a lot different. It’s a lot more song-based with choruses and verses. I’ve tried to keep some of those idiosyncrasies that I did on the first record there, like some of the percussion ideas and some of the production ideas, and in this album the vocals are the loudest thing in the mix as opposed to the drums, I suppose.” Shifting roles between The Growl, Pond and Tame Impala may seem like a tall order, but Avery has honed his ability to wear different musical hats. “I was talking about this with one of my good buddies last week, who drums for Ariel Pink and Father John Misty. He was saying there’s something amazing about being the best sideman you can be. I love Kevin [Parker, Tame Impala frontman]’s music so much. I think he’s an incredible artist who could possibly change the way people listen to music, so I want nothing more than to help him do the best he can do it. “But as soon as it switches over to The Growl it’s completely different. I have to think about what I’m doing and how I want to emotionally relate to the song and how I want other people to relate to my songs.” He’s also happy to be compared with his other two bands, just be careful how you choose your words: “It’s cool with me as long as no one gives you the coattail-riding fucking pigeonhole!”
WHO: The Growl WHAT: St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival WHERE: Hart’s Mill, Port Adelaide WHEN: Fri Feb 7
The Guide// THURSDAY 30TH BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB – Quizmeisters Trivia (7.30pm) BOTANIC BAR – Big Bubba & Betty BRECKNOCK HOTEL – Breakaway Sing-A-Long Session (8.30pm) CAMEO BAR – Cameoke with Andy CROWN & ANCHOR – Band Room: Stefan Hauk Band and Jon Marco. Front Bar: DJ Antface DANIEL O’CONNELL HOTEL – Trivia Night (7.30pm) DUBLIN HOTEL – Quizmeisters Trivia (7.30pm) DUKE OF YORK – Downstairs: DJ Jon E (9pm) DJ Skinny B (1am) Beer Garden: band of the week plus DJ Dave Parry (9pm) ED CASTLE – Band Room: live bands (9pm) ELECTRIC CIRCUS – The Proj3cts (9pm) EMU HOTEL – karaoke (9pm) EXETER ON RUNDLE – Lost Woods and It’s A Hoax GRACE EMILY HOTEL – Kelly Menhennett and Jenny Biddle
Check out The Guide at ripitup.com.au
GRAND BAR – OMG HIGHWAY – DJ Alli (8pm) HOTEL RICHMOND – All Vinyl DJ (6pm) HQ – Riot Society hosted by Uberjak’d JADE MONKEY – Dan White & The Forebears plus Tom Lawson (8pm) JETTY BAR GLENELG – Verse Herd DJs (8.30pm) LIGHT HOTEL – SCALA Live (8pm) MARION HOTEL – 888 Poker (6.30pm) PJ O’BRIENS – DJ G-Rillz PRINCE ALBERT HOTEL – Thirsty Thursday with DJ Tango ROCKET BAR – Wild Things (9pm) SAILMASTER TAVERN – Victor Oria (6pm) SUGAR – Jazz Pancake with locals and guests THE LION HOTEL – Clearway (9pm) WHITMORE HOTEL – Rainbow Jam Sessions (7.30pm)
FRIDAY 31ST ALMA TAVERN – Fresh Fridays with DJs ARCHER HOTEL – Upstairs: DJ Jaki J (9.30pm) AUSTRAL – The Austral House Band (7pm) BACCHUS BAR – Chinese New Year Theme Night featuring Acoustic Blonde Duo BAROSSA WEINTAL HOTEL – Justin Parker (7.30pm) BARTLEY TAVERN – The Rustlers (8pm) BLUE GUMS HOTEL – Hart Burn (8pm) BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB – Dave Hunt (7pm) BOTANIC BAR – Troy J Been, Prince Aaronak and Suckerpunch BRAHMA LODGE HOTEL – Eleven (8pm) BUSHMAN HOTEL: GAWLER – DJ CAMEO BAR – DJs Lars, Lenny and guests CROWN & ANCHOR – Angels Of Gung Ho, Riot Runners, Shadowqueen and Encarta plus DJ Adam DUKE OF YORK – Tom & Rose (7pm) ED CASTLE – Full Tilt live bands and party DJs ELECTRIC CIRCUS – Trashbags with resident DJs Capt N Cook, Mangie and Terror Terror plus guests ELYSIUM LOUNGE – DJs EMU HOTEL – Stonecrow (8.30pm) ENCORE NIGHTCLUB – Get Lucky Fridays with resident DJs (9pm) ENFIELD HOTEL – Jonny Star Family Entertainment (6pm) ENIGMA – The Bennies, The Hard Aches and Apart From This ESPLANADE HOTEL – Time Machine (8pm) EXETER HOTEL – karaoke EXETER ON RUNDLE – Postwar and Dogs Are Better Than Cats FINDON HOTEL – karaoke GOVERNOR HINDMARSH – Main Room: Ronnie Taheny and Avenue GRACE EMILY HOTEL – Swimsuit with Blood Plastic GRAND JUNCTION TAVERN – Steve Simon (6pm) HAMPSTEAD HOTEL – Fast Fuse (8pm) HIGHLANDER HOTEL – Kopy Catz (9.30pm) HILTON HOTEL: MYBAR – DJ Chaps and DJ Lumeire HOTEL METRO – The Songs of Tom Smith with The Monies and Home For The Def HOTEL TIVOLI – Honey with DJs IRISH CLUB – Shamrocks ‘n’ Shenanigans Live Acoustic Sessions (7pm)
JETTY BAR GLENELG – Ciaram Granger & Shannon Simpson (9pm) LIGHT HOTEL – Black Market (9pm) LIMBO – DJs LONDON TAVERN – Live Acoustic Weekly (5pm) Rewind Fridays with DJ Wolfman LORD MELBOURNE – karaoke with Laura Lee MARINA SUNSET BAR – live acoustic music MARION HOTEL – Graham Lawrence (6.30pm) MARS BAR – guests DJs plus drag shows MICK O’SHEA’S – E’nuf Said OFFICE ON PIRIE – DJ Jess (4.30pm) PARA HILLS COMMUNITY CLUB – Gerry O (7.30pm) PLAYFORD TAVERN – JR Acoustic (8pm) PRINCE ALBERT HOTEL – Acoustic Session (6pm) DJ (9pm) PRODUCERS HOTEL – After Four Fridays Garden Grooves with DJs Justice and DrDamage plus special guests (4pm) RACQUETS SA – 60/40 with DJ Lee (8pm)
RAMSGATE HOTEL – DJ SNAKE & DJ RUPHEO (9PM) RED SQUARE – DJs REX HOTEL – karaoke ROB ROY HOTEL – Angel & The Badman (6pm) DJ Smiley (8pm) ROCKET BAR – Cats at Rocket (9pm) ROYAL OAK HOTEL: NTH ADELAIDE – Acoustic Sessions featuring Robin George (7.30pm) SAILMASTER TAVERN – Mitch (7pm) SEACLIFF BEACH HOTEL – DJ (8pm) SEMAPHORE WORKERS CLUB – Blues Katz (8pm) SOMERSET HOTEL – Flight 69 (8pm) STAG – Upstairs: DJs play urban and dance. Downstairs: DJs play retro STAMFORD PLAZA: CASCADES – Jacqui Lim (5.30pm) SUGAR – SHGZ: Fridays at Sugar SWISH: STAMFORD PLAZA – Nothing But ‘90s with DJs TALBOT HOTEL – DJ playing requests TAPAS ON HINDLEY – flamenco shows by Studio Flamenco (7.30pm) TEA TREE GULLY HOTEL – Men In Black (9pm) THE ELEPHANT – Tube Steaks and DJ G-Rillz THE GOODY – Ch@t Room
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The Guide// THE LION HOTEL – live entertainment TONSLEY HOTEL – Tavern Bar: Johnny G (4.45pm) One Planet (9pm) Chrysler Bar: The Incredibles (9.30pm) VICTORIA HOTEL: O’HALLORAN HILL – DJs WHEATSHEAF HOTEL – Feel Good Folk Label Launch featuring The Timbers, The Brouhaha and Jenny Biddle (9pm) WHITMORE HOTEL – Tsunami Steve WOODCROFT TAVERN – Squeaker (8pm) ZHIVAGO – Hello DJs: Dialect, Bottle Rockets, Skot Holder and Faint One
SATURDAY 1ST ARCHER HOTEL – Downstairs: Jaki J plus Bongo Madness with Alex. Upstairs: DJ Ed Law (9.30pm) BACCHUS BAR – KT Buzz Duo BOTANIC BAR – Sanji, Brad Sawyer and Tom Wilson BRIDGEPORT HOTEL – karaoke BUSHMAN HOTEL: GAWLER – DJ
CAVAN HOTEL – Karnival with live bands (9pm) CHRISTIES BEACH HOTEL – Greg Hart’s Neil Diamond Tribute CROWN & ANCHOR – Hillside Productions & DiVision Presents: Truce, Cosmo Thundercat and Sean Kemp plus DJ Azz CUMBERLAND HOTEL: GLANVILLE – karaoke with Nicole (8pm) DUKE OF YORK – Front Room: DJ Mitchy B. Beer Garden: DJ Parry. Upstairs: DJ Skinny B, MC Scotty and guest DJs ELECTRIC CIRCUS – Arcade Disco with resident DJs Junior, Dancespace and friends EMU HOTEL – Dawn Raider (9pm) ENCORE NIGHTCLUB – resident DJs and guests (9pm) ENIGMA – Claim The Throne, Truth Corroded, Arcadia, Dyssidia and Headbore EXETER HOTEL – Jonny Star Family Entertainment (7pm) EXETER ON RUNDLE – Keep On Dancin’, Summer Flake and Sulfur GARAGE BAR – DJs (10pm)
AM I – ADELAIDE FESTIVAL
Shaun Parker’s stunning new collision of dance and live music - “Am I” - is just one of the many shows in this year’s Adelaide Festival offering incredible discounts to Fringe Benefits members. If you’re 18-30 don’t be a wally – get out, make the most of our festival season, and save a few bucks in the process!
@fringe_benefits
See fringebenefits.com.au for details.
Not a Fringe Benefits member?
If you’re aged 18 – 30 visit fringebenefits.com.au to join.
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Check out The Guide at ripitup.com.au
GASLIGHT TAVERN – Rockabilly Riot featuring East Texas and Mystery Train (8pm) GILBERT STREET HOTEL – DJ Marky Polo (8pm) GOVERNOR HINDMARSH – Main Room: Red Emmett and The Katz GRACE EMILY HOTEL – Jeff Martin and Sarah McLeod (4pm) Green Circles with The Saucermen (10pm) GRAND BAR – Destination Saturdays with DJs and MCs HIGHLANDER HOTEL – The Buzz (9pm) HIGHWAY – DJ Griff (9pm) HOPE INN – karaoke (7pm) HOTEL RICHMOND – DJ Sly HOTEL ROYAL: TORRENSVILLE – Jest (8.30pm) HOTEL TIVOLI – Exotica with DJs Sleepy Hips and guests (8pm) JACK RUBY – Soul Social – live band and vinyl DJs (8pm) JETTY BAR GLENELG – JC Duo (3pm) DJ Sam (9pm) JIVE – Traveller & Fortune EP Launch, Emma Davis, The Bon Scotts and Firs KINGSFORD HOTEL: GAWLER – karaoke (10pm) LAKES RESORT HOTEL – The Hitmen (9pm) LONDON TAVERN – DJs Captiv8, Justice, Soundflex, AJ and MC Renard (10pm) LORD MELBOURNE – DJ Steve Murphy (8pm) MARINA SUNSET BAR – DJs playing the best in house and electro MARION HOTEL – Franky F (5.30pm) Flaming Sambucas (8.30pm) MARS BAR – guest DJs plus a drag show OLD SPOT HOTEL – Stiff William (9.30pm) PARAFIELD GARDENS COMMUNITY CLUB – Wild Ones (8.45pm) PARA HILLS COMMUNITY CLUB – Show Us Ya Hits (8pm) PJ O’BRIENS – Kinetik (10.30pm) PRETORIA HOTEL – Barking Ants (9pm)
RAMSGATE HOTEL – ADELAIDE’S BEST COVER BANDS RED SQUARE – DJs Marek, Law, Dub Drop DJs, Decker, Bollocks, Krispy, Shawty, Capital D, DV8 and Jazz plus MCs Skippy and Dylan ROCKET BAR – Rocket Saturdays (9pm) SAILMASTER TAVERN – Andy Mac (7pm) SANDBAR – requests with DJs
SEACLIFF BEACH HOTEL – acoustic sessions SLUG ‘N LETTUCE BRITISH PUB – Triple X (9pm) SUGAR – ITDE DJs and interstate & international guests SWISH: STAMFORD PLAZA – Shuffle TALBOT HOTEL – DJ playing retro and requests TAP INN HOTEL: KENT TOWN – Gerry O (7.30pm) TEQUILA REA – Bongo Madness with guest DJs THE ELEPHANT – Frenzy and DJ G-Rillz (9pm) THE GASLIGHT TAVERN – East Texas and The Mystery Train Rockabilly Riot (8pm) THE LION HOTEL – Absolut Saturdays: Wasabi (9pm) TONSLEY HOTEL – The A-Team (9.30pm) VALLEY INN – karaoke VICTORIA HOTEL: O’HALLORAN HILL – Rumours WALKERS ARMS HOTEL – DJ Sessions (9pm) WHEATSHEAF HOTEL – Glenn Skuthorpe & Band (9pm) WINDSOR HOTEL – Rave On (8.45pm) WOODCROFT TAVERN – karaoke (8pm) ZHIVAGO – High Heels DJs: Gumshoe, Ryley, Osyris and Hemilove
SUNDAY 2ND ALMA TAVERN – Sunday School BACCHUS BAR – Daniel Johns Solo BENJAMIN ON FRANKLIN – Souled Out Sessions with DJs Dave Collins and Jason Lee BLUE GUMS HOTEL – Steve Simon (3pm) BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB – Dave Hunt BOTANIC BAR – Eric The Falcon BRAHMA LODGE HOTEL – Superheroes (4pm) CHRISTIES SAILING CLUB – Nanny State (4pm) CLOVERCREST HOTEL – Russell Stuart (2pm) COVE TAVERN – Louise & Andrea (4pm) CROWN & ANCHOR – Sunday Rubdown DOCKSIDE TAVERN – Fast Fuse Duo (1pm) DOG & DUCK – Sneaky Sundays with Jak Morris DUCK INN: COROMANDEL VALLEY – KT Buzz (3pm) ED CASTLE – Beer Garden: Acoustic Sundays (2pm) EMU HOTEL – Area 51 (2pm) EXETER ON RUNDLE – The Faction FED ON SEMAPHORE – Acoustic Highway (4pm) GLENELG SURF CLUB – La Mar Sundays (3pm) GOVERNOR HINDMARSH – DSSA Fundraiser Quiz
The Guide // GRAND BAR – bands, DJs and MCs HALFWAY HOTEL – Rockabilly Charity Day for Ronald McDonald House featuring Silverados and Bluescasters (1pm) HOLDFAST BAY BOWLING & CROQUET CLUB – Barefoot At The Bay with DJs presented by The House Cats (2pm) HOTEL ROYAL: TORRENSVILLE – 888 Poker (6.30pm) JETTY BAR GLENELG – The Weather Ladies (3pm) DJ Dizzy (8pm) JOINERS ARMS HOTEL – UK Blitz (3pm) LIGHT HOTEL – Vonni’s Big Arvo MARINA SUNSET BAR – Sunset Sessions featuring live acoustic music MARS BAR – VJK classic video hits MICK O’SHEA’S – Viotar (2pm) PARAFIELD GARDENS COMMUNITY CLUB – Paul Stubbings (2.30pm) PARA HILLS COMMUNITY CLUB – One Planet (4pm) PRETORIA HOTEL – Thom Lion (2pm)
RAMSGATE HOTEL – ACOUSTIC SESSION (4PM) TOM KURZEL & ED TRAINOR FORTNIGHTLY ROTATION (7.30PM) ROYAL OAK HOTEL: NTH ADELAIDE – Funk & Soul Sessions featuring Proton Pill (7.30pm) SAILMASTER TAVERN – Bonz (2pm) SEACLIFF BEACH HOTEL – acoustic soloists SEMAPHORE PALAIS – Frenzy (4.30pm) SEMAPHORE WORKERS CLUB – Duo Of Duos featuring Sweet Baby James & Rob Eyers and Dave Blight & Mick Kidd (4pm) SHIVERS CAFÉ: ALDINGA – Rob McDade (1pm) SUGAR – Mods, Driller and Nu Jeans TAP INN HOTEL: KENT TOWN – Acoustic Sessions THE LION HOTEL – Andrew Hayes (2.30pm) Quinny, Parko & Friends (6pm) TONSLEY HOTEL – Ash Gale TRINITY SESSIONS – Andy Irvine (6pm) WELLINGTON HOTEL: WELLINGTON – Sunday Sessions: live music on the banks of the Murray (3pm) WEST THEBBY HOTEL – karaoke with Margi & Shaggy (8.30pm) WHEATSHEAF HOTEL – Sara Tindley Time album launch and The Yearlings (4pm)
ZHIVAGO – Black Cherry DJs: Anthony, Gumshoe and Skot Holder
MONDAY 3RD CROWN & ANCHOR – Ben David EXETER ON RUNDLE – Todd Sibbin & Band GRACE EMILY HOTEL – Billy Bob’s BBQ Jam HOTEL ROYAL: TORRENSVILLE – Ultimate Quiz with Graham Lawrence (7pm) JETTY BAR GLENELG – Ciaram Granger (7pm) PARAFIELD GARDENS COMMUNITY CLUB – Complete Trivia (7pm) RHINO ROOM – One Mic Stand open mic comedy SUGAR – Big Bubba and Eric The Falcon THE LION HOTEL – Brian Ruiz with Troy Loakes and Paul Vallen (8pm) WHEATSHEAF HOTEL – COMA Summer Sessions featuring St Priux Art Ensemble and Bottleneck (8pm)
TUESDAY 4TH AUSSIE INN HOTEL – Complete Trivia (7pm) BOTANIC BAR – Ash Wilson CROWN & ANCHOR – Front Bar: DJs Stevie & Duncan. Band Room: Cranker Comedy DANIEL O’CONNELL HOTEL – Irish Sessions (8pm) EXETER ON RUNDLE – Bitches Of Zeus DJs GASLIGHT TAVERN – The Blues Lounge hosted by Ron Davidson & Trevor Graham (8pm) GOODWOOD PARK HOTEL – Complete Trivia (7.30pm) HILTON HOTEL: MYBAR – KG’s Complete Trivia (7pm) MARION HOTEL – 888 Poker (6.30pm) PJ O’BRIENS – Davy T’s Music Trivia (7.30pm) PORT NOARLUNGA/CHRISTIES BEACH RSL – Acoustic Rendezvous Live Music Open Mic (7.30pm) ROYAL OAK HOTEL: NTH ADELAIDE – Muddy Road (8.30pm) SUGAR – CU Next Tuesday with Sonny Side-Up and Driller THE LION HOTEL – Zkye and Damo (7.30pm) TORRENS ARMS HOTEL – DJs Ryley & Apex (8pm) WHITMORE HOTEL – Acoustic Raw Jam WINDSOR HOTEL – Complete Trivia (7.30pm)
WEDNESDAY 5TH BOTANIC BAR – Gemma CENTRAL DISTRICTS FOOTBALL CLUB – Quiz Wiz (7.45pm) CHALLA GARDENS HOTEL – Complete Trivia (7pm) CHRISTIES BEACH HOTEL – Complete Trivia (7.30pm) CROWN & ANCHOR – Geek with DJ Tr!p DANIEL O’CONNELL HOTEL – Dan’s Open Mic Night (7.30pm) EMU HOTEL – DJ night (8pm) EXCHANGE HOTEL: GAWLER – Live Music Exchange (7.30pm) EXETER ON RUNDLE – DJ Curtis FINDON HOTEL – Muso’s Jam hosted by Streaker FINSBURY HOTEL – karaoke (8pm) FIRST COMMERCIAL HOTEL – karaoke (7pm) HIGHWAY – The Combi Room HQ –NeverLand JETTY BAR GLENELG – Curly Temple DJ (8.30pm) LIGHT HOTEL – Open Mic Night (8pm) MARION HOTEL – Adelaide Comedy Fringe Preview (8pm) MICK O’SHEA’S – Celtic Connection PORTLAND HOTEL – karaoke with Shaggy (9pm) ROYAL OAK HOTEL: NTH ADELAIDE – Jazz Sessions featuring Louise Messenger (7.30pm) SEAFORD HOTEL – karaoke with Suzanne (8.30pm) SLUG ‘N LETTUCE BRITISH PUB – karaoke with Margi (7.30pm) SUGAR – Mixed Tape with Lauren Rose, Ferris Mular and Mr Whiskas THE LION HOTEL – Proton Pill (9pm) TONSLEY HOTEL – Tonsley Trivia (7pm) TORRENS ARMS HOTEL – Trivia Wednesday (7pm) WORLDSEND HOTEL – live music
Rip It Up endeavours to provide an accurate guide, however, takes no responsibility for out-of-date listings. Gig Guide submissions and any changes can be gigguide@ripitup.com.au, Gig Guide deadline is Thursdays at 5pm. Please contact venues for any further information regarding the booked acts.
Follow us on Instagram. @ripitupmag GiG Gi G iG G GUidE
thursday JaNuary 30 FroNt bar: GUmBo room BlUEs Jam
RONNIE TAHENY + AVENuE (DuO) Friday JaNuary 31
friday jan 31
RONNIE TAHENY
bEEr GardEN: thE GoV’s BiG BrEaKFast From 9am
FroNt bar: FridaY niGht acoUstic
sEssions – strinG Band appalachian FiddlE sEssions & irish sEssions
RED EMMETT & THE kATZ saturday FEbruary 1
thursday feb 6
THE DEAD DAsIEs
FroNt bar: littlE miss
suNday FEbruary 2
DssA FuNDRAIsER QuIZ MoNday FEbruary 3 FroNt bar:
rEar admiral stand Up comEdY
FroNt bar:
lord stompY’s tin sandwich
saturdaY FEB 8
LuckY 7
tuEsday FEbruary 4 FroNt bar:
thurs FEb 6 thE dEad daisiEs + KinG oF thE north Fri FEb 7 dirt plaYGroUnd sat FEb 8 lUcKY 7s tEnth BirthdaY Bash suN FEb 9 thE nEcKs wEd FEb 12 FEndEr roadshow w/ GrEG Koch thurs FEb 13 dEVin thE dUdE (Us) Fri FEb 14 • adElaidE FrinGE: BEst oF thE EdinBUrGh FEst • latE EVEninG: adElaidE FrinGE: BEst oF thE FEst last show sat FEb 15 • daYtimE show: wEEKEnd warriors showcasE • adElaidE FrinGE: BEst oF thE EdinBUrGh FEst • latE EVEninG: adElaidE FrinGE: BEst oF thE FEst last show MoN FEb 17 • adElaidE FrinGE: rEar admiral stand Up comEdY (Front Bar) tuEs FEb 18 • adElaidE FrinGE: BEst oF thE EdinBUrGh FEst wEd FEb 19 • adElaidE FrinGE: BEst oF thE EdinBUrGh FEst thurs FEb 20 • adElaidE FrinGE: BEst oF thE EdinBUrGh FEst • latE EVEninG: FUnKoars + mr hill + rahJconKas Fri FEb 21 • adElaidE FrinGE: BEst oF thE EdinBUrGh FEst • latE EVEninG: adElaidE FrinGE: BEst oF thE FEst last show
UKE niGht – adElaidE UKUlElE apprEciation sociEtY
wEdNEsday FEbruary 5 FroNt bar: opEn mic niGht
The Gov is now a NATIONAL OZTIx OuTLET
GOVERNOR hiNdmaRsh hOtEl 59 port road hindmarsh T 8340 0744 www.thegov.com.au RIPITUPMAGAZINE//RIPITUP.COM.AU
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Snapped//
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PilotFeset atre Th at Space photos by Kristy DeLaine
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Snapped //
sko Sarah Belars St at Flind hurch Baptist C photos by Kristy DeLaine
tel more Ho h t a r t S e Th photos by o Jennifer Sand
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Culture//
Lior
n Aird by Lachla
Compassion When Lior answers Rip It Up’s call, we’re excited to hear about how busy he has been. Not only can he confirm that his fourth studio album, Scattered Reflections, is due for release on Fri Mar 7, but he provides us details on his unique collaboration with leading Australian composer Nigel Westlake, Compassion.
C
ompassion is a very different project from anything Lior has done before as a singer-songwriter as it is based on poetry from Hebrew and Arabic texts that Lior sings with Westlake’s orchestral accompaniments. It’s an ambitious and unique project for both counterparts, and one that holds an extremely poignant sentiment. “The project arose from very tragic circumstances,” Lior says. “Nigel lost his son about five years and Nigel just happened to tell a mutual friend of ours about how Autumn Flow [Lior’s 2005 debut album] was a much-loved album by his late son Eli. This mutual friend said that they [knew me] and it came about that I was invited by Nigel and his wife Jan to perform at a memorial concert for his son, which was also timed with the launch of a memorial that they were starting in his memory called Smugglers Of Light Foundation, which is a charity to help Indigenous artists. “When I performed at the concert I finished with an a capella Hebrew hymn of compassion that I occasionally close shows with and it seemed to really resonate with the audience,” Lior continues. “That led to Nigel and I entertaining the idea of a full orchestral arrangement to it in contrast to the way that I delivered it a capella.” The work was commissioned by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and involves Lior
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singing in both Hebrew and Arabic, drawing from ancient writings in both languages around the idea of compassion. “It was never meant to be a religious presentation, rather a way of taking writings from these ancient cultures, which have had such a tumultuous history, and write original music and orchestrations around texts about
“It’s definitely intimidating to start working with a composer of Nigel’s calibre – he’s one of the best composers from anywhere. There was a sense of, ‘Am I really bringing something that’s worthy of working with him?’”
compassion,” says Lior, who is Israeli-born and speaks Hebrew and chose to draw from Islam as well to display a humanitarian and poetic way of illustrating the tension between the two cultures. “I’ve always been very passionate about the Israeli-Palestinean peace process, so I guess it’s a way of making a statement without being political. I’m not interested in mixing my art with politics, but there’s a universality to [the work] and I was very careful to use texts that were truly universal and not drawing from
religious aspects,” he affirms. Learning Arabic was no mean feat, however, with Lior consulting linguists, religious leaders and artists – including ABC presenter Waleed Aly – for assistance with how to research and select the Islamic texts and then speak and sing the words. Apart from immersing himself in a foreign culture and language, Lior also had to adapt to a different way of making music by teaming his voice to Westlake’s orchestration. “We do have very different backgrounds and skill sets,” Lior says of he and Westlake. “We’re really proud of the piece. I don’t feel like it’s something we could ever have done by ourselves. I brought the lyric and the melody experience and focus that I have and Nigel brought his masterful orchestrations. We had to find a process, as neither of us has collaborated in such a way. But, I think it’s ended up a really powerful piece that’s farreached and beautiful as well.” Besides creating Compassion, Lior feels humbled to have worked with, and befriended, such an influential composer as Westlake. “It’s definitely intimidating to start working with a composer of Nigel’s calibre – he’s one of the best composers from anywhere. There was a sense of, ‘Am I really bringing something that’s worthy of working with him?’” Lior is, however, moved at being able to assist Westlake through his family tragedy. “I guess being a part of his journey, this piece in many ways represented regeneration through growth in such tragedy. That added a whole new kind of dimension to the piece. When we premiered it in Sydney and it was received so well it was an incredible feeling of triumph.” With the odd couple pairing from opposite ends of the music spectrum, Lior feels that the Compassion show can draw new crowds to both classical and popular music. “I know that with the two nights in Sydney
Compassionate Flow When attending the Compassion show Lior fans will be excited to see that there will be something they wouldn’t have experienced before – a Lior show backed by a symphony. “We’re performing the concert in two halves,” Lior says of Compassion. “The first half is a collection of my own songs with orchestral arrangements. That’s pretty traditional, I’m with a guitar and band and then an orchestra accompanies us. The second half is Compassion and that’s just really voice and orchestra. I stand down the front and sing and that’s my instrument. I use my voice in the fullest way that I can and all the richness of the accompaniment comes purely from the
there was a large chunk of the audience who perhaps were my fans who wouldn’t go see orchestras regularly, and vice versa there were Nigel’s people who were regular orchestra goers who were exposed to a collaboration with an artist that they otherwise wouldn’t see.” Lior then emphasises that just because it features classical music in foreign languages, Compassion is far from boring for Lior fans. “I have to say what is great about Nigel is that he’s orchestrating very colourful and hip orchestral arrangements. Even if people wouldn’t consider themselves classical music buffs, it doesn’t mean that they won’t enjoy it and there’s something undeniably rich in an orchestra and Nigel’s orchestrations that stand across different musical genres.”
WHO: Lior & Nigel Westlake WHAT: Compassion WHERE: Festival Theatre WHEN: Fri Feb 7
THE WORLD’S FESTIVAL
Billy Bragg
Arrested Development Muro
Femi Kuti Ngaiire
Washington
Mikhael Paskalev
SEE WEB SITE FOR FULL L I N E -U P
LUDOVICO EINAUDI With his 6-piece band
Pianist with rock god tendencies Daily Telegraph
In A Time Lapse
Film // The Wolf Of Wall Street (R) AAAA Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese team up for the fifth time in the glitzy, licentious tale of Jordan Belfort, a real life Gordon Gekko who built a multi-million dollar empire as a corrupt stock broker, pouring his money into drugs and hookers, before losing it all and going to rich man’s prison. Scorsese’s subtle directing tricks make for a landscape that is as affected by the drugs and dollars as its inhabitants, blending hazy drug scenes and crisp business scenes that are brightened by money and blurred by explicit sex in a way that is hardly redemptive, but entertaining as hell. Although Belfort himself insists it should be a
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Quick Flicks
cautionary tale, Terrence Winter’s well crafted, but exaggerated script largely glorifies Belfort’s drug-fuelled antics and sexcapades, celebrating a life of excess bordering on surreal, while the downsides are revealed with a resigned shrug and a distinct smirk. There are many who want this to be Leo’s year for an Oscar, and he faultlessly captures Belfort’s presence (if not his appearance), but he has delivered performances this good and better in the past without recognition, and Scorsese’s track record is even shakier. Their latest collaboration is a glorious salute to greed and debauchery, but it may not be enough to shake their collective curse. One thing is certain; if you want to learn how to sell a pen, Belfort’s your guy.
Moonlight Cinema Botanic Park Moonlight Cinema continues, from the original The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Thu Jan 30) to last year’s Captain Phillips (Wed Feb 5), so check out all you need to know at moonlight.com.au.
Kat McCarthy
Opening But Unrated
The Spirit Of ‘45 (PG) Paranormal Activity: The Great Beauty AAAA The Marked Ones (MA) AAa Old leftie writer/director Ken Loach (78 this (MA)
year), best-known for low-budget UK dramas like The Angels’ Share, switches to documentary of a personal and inspiring kind with this richlydetailed study of post-World War II Britain – and where it all went wrong thereafter. Offering the necessary historical background and then demonstrating how the surviving soldiers and their families believed in compassion, a sense of community and held to the belief that anything was possible. After all, that was what got them through the war years. Loach then uses archival footage and mostly modern interviews (pleasingly filmed in black and white) to depict how everything seemed rosy after the victory of Clem Atlee’s Labour Government in 1945. Loach’s cast of mostly-retired miners, union officials, railwaymen, nurses and MPs (plus no less than Tony Benn) speak of how all this optimism looked like it was going to lead to the end of the English class system and the emergence of a genuinely democratic, or even (gasp!) socialist government, until the conservatives began to get their way, and that cursed word was introduced: Thatcher. Loach’s maintain-the-rage cry for the return of this lost Britain (which could also be read as a cry for a lost Australia too) might offend some out there but, then again, why are they watching a Ken Loach movie anyway? And here’s hoping they choke on their gold-plated cornflakes! (A Mercury Cinema Summer Scoop. Details: mercurycinema.org.au) Mad Dog Bradley
AAA The fifth in the PA series (although the title tries to disguise that fact), this offering from Christopher Landon attempts to take the franchise in fresh directions, and offers new characters, a few scares and an eventful plot that falls all over itself trying to justify why our heroes would be filming everything – and, indeed, why they’d be filming everything so badly at crucial moments. In the LA summer of 2012, after they graduate from High School, likeable Latino Jesse (Andrew Jacobs) and bestie Hector ( Jorge Diaz) observe strange events going on in the downstairs flat of Jesse’s apartment block which involve a feared neighbour widely believed to be a witch or ‘bruja’ (and in and out of whose apartment everyone waltzes with ease, even when it becomes a crime scene). When Jesse realises that he’s ‘marked’ after mysterious advice from a lo-fi ‘80s-technology toy (a nice touch after all the fancy cameras and snazzy computers in these films), he begins to lose it while developing weird superpowers, and everything leads to a coven where, um, awfully coven-ish things happen. With false frights, enjoyable clichés (superstitious grandmas, dogs that growl at nothing), almost ‘in-camera’ FX and a cast more appealing than the spineless rich sorts that populate the earlier films, this remains creepily entertaining even when the final act goes to Hell. Mad Dog Bradley
While co-writer/director Paolo Sorrentino’s English-language This Must Be The Place was a curiously touching and compellingly odd character piece, with a fine performance by Sean Penn, this full-boar Italian follow-up is a preposterously overwrought drama that endlessly ties itself in knots as it desperately tries to get seriously ‘Felliniesque’ or even ‘Antonioniesque’ (sorry about that!). Sorrentino regular Toni Servillo is the rich and oh-so-disaffected writer Jep Gambardella, a Roman high-flier who’s been living la dolce vita (to coin a phrase) for decades, seducing legions of vacuous beauties and quietly agonising about a lost love, and after his 65th birthday party (which opens the film and seems to go on forever) he learns that this longtime obscure object of desire (to coin another phrase) has died. And this induces feelings of mortality and even dampens his libido, and the rest of the excruciating 142 minutes is pretty much entirely devoted to him having unenlightening, over-the-top flashbacks: treating women with a misogynist contempt and generally behaving like Fellini’s great muse Marcello Mastroianni – only with about a tenth of the charisma. Many have bizarrely praised this one’s lushly over-baked cinematography and jadedly lovely scenery, and yet none of it has any real power at all as the ‘hero’ at the epicentre is such a tedious, passive aggressive, self-pitying old dickhead.
22 Years A Slave (MA), recently-Oscarnominated English director Steve McQueen’s first American production (after Hunger and Shame), is a harsh true story set in the mid-19th Century and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Paul Giamatti, Sarah Paulson, Paul Dano, Michael K Williams, Scoot McNairy, Garret Dillahunt, Quvenzhané Wallis (from Beasts Of The Southern Wild), McQueen’s muse Michael Fassbender and Benedict ‘I’m In Absolutely Everything’ Cumberbatch. The improbable-sounding boxing drama/comedy (?) Grudge Match (M), directed by Peter Segal, offers Robert De Niro, Sylvester Stallone, Alan Arkin, Kim Basinger, Jon Bernthal, Kevin Hart, Barry Primus and Anthony Anderson.
Summer Scoops Mercury Cinema Summer Scoops continue at the Mercury Cinema until Sun Feb 16, so check out all you need to know at mercurycinema.org.au.
Mad Dog Bradley
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Food//
with Miranda Freeman
Email miranda@ripitup.com.au
The Cocktail Exchange at The Mill This Fringe season The Mill will be joining forces with The Cocktail Exchange in an event to juxtapose Adelaide’s vibrant art scene with its growing bar shenanigans. Over three themed nights – Fri Feb 21, Fri Feb 28 and Fri Mar 14 – patrons will be able to explore the 1920s Prohibition Era, the Golden 1950s and the 1980s Revival. Each night will feature a blend of bespoke cocktails and live art performance from
local masterminds The Analogue Library, Kaspar Schmidt-Mumm, Zoe Kirkwood, Lana Adams, Andrew Dearman and Fascination Street, as well as live art and body painting. If you like your art ‘on the rocks’, there will also be three exclusive pop-up performances by SA dancers Daniel Jaber and Kialea-Nadine Williams. WHAT: The Cocktail Exchange WHERE: The Mill, 154 Angas St, Adelaide WHEN: Fri Feb 21, Fri Feb 28 & Fri Mar 14 INFO: facebook.com/ cocktailexchange
y Grasb n o i r a M by rs er Sande h p to is Chr
Marion’s Festival Food identity Marion Grasby is returning to Adelaide for the Cellar Door Wine Festival, where the MasterChef alumnus, cook, food columnist and author will host a series of master classes as well as a long lunch. Grasby, who worked as an ABC journalist in Adelaide before studying gastronomy, recently moved to Bangkok due to her Marion’s Kitchen range of products. In Thailand, the MasterChef Magazine and Taste columnist can be close to her suppliers as well as travel around Asia for inspiration, ingredients and recipes. “Marion’s Kitchen has become the main focus of what I do now,” Grasby explains about the ingredient kits, which include Thai Green Curry, Pad Thai and San Choy Bow. “I love it because I can travel around Asia looking for cool dishes and flavours, spices and ingredients and turn them into packs that everyone back home in Australia can use everyday. It really
made more sense to be in Thailand where my producers and suppliers are based. It means I can be out there and making sure everything is happening the way I want. If I want to design new products I can head out and chat to the guys about it. “It was a Marion’s Kitchen-focused move but at the same time, Bangkok’s pretty awesome. The city is famous for its fried chicken. There are street vendors on every corner selling fried chicken. Who doesn’t want to move to a city with fried chicken on every corner? Every time I walk to the office I walk past the grilled pork lady, the papaya salad lady and the fried chicken man – it’s such a delicious city.” The master classes Grasby will host at the Cellar Door Wine Festival are Summer Entertaining, Asian Favourites and the Decadent Valentine’s Day Extravaganza. “The cool thing about the master classes – because this doesn’t happen with every sort of food demo I do – is that you get to come along to taste the food and we run through the cooking of the dishes, so it’s really exciting.”
The Gov’s Big Breakfast With a certain big festival coming to Bonython Pk this Fri Jan 31, the Governor Hindmarsh is preparing to feed the masses looking to make the all-day event with their annual breakfast. The Gov’s Big Breakfast starts at 9am in the beer garden, presenting a line-up fit for any festivalgoer,
headlined by their big breakfast plate of bacon, eggs, sausage and tomato alongside egg and bacon rolls, mushroom and egg rolls, a sausage sizzle and plenty of cheap pints of beer. From 12pm, the usual schnitzels, wood-oven pizzas and burgers will also be available from the bar.
WHAT: The Gov’s Big Breakfast WHERE: Governor Hindmarsh WHEN: Fri Jan 31 from 9am
cellardoorfestival.com
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Stars//
Gemini 21.05/21.06
As the sun moves into Aquarius, your world lights up. Possibility is in the air. Those with fresh approaches are likely to both float them and defend them in the face of the inevitable voices of resistance. There are enough planets in air signs now to stir up the winds of change.
Libra 23.09/23.10
With the sun now in Aquarius, encouraging idealism and experiment – and with Mars in Libra fuelling your fire, life is bound to get interesting. Truth is your present focus. There is enough energy around for you to find some. Put wild ideas on the table to find appropriate solutions.
Scorpio 24.10/21.11
The airiness of the Aquarian sun fuels your fire. Aquarius, the water-bearing winds, are here to rejuvenate the world with fresh air, fresh ideas, fresh vision. You are a fan. Once you feel an idea resonate with your heart, it soon becomes your passion. Bind community with friendliness.
The sun has moved from Capricorn to Aquarius, taking the focus of attention away from you. Though this is supposed to be a time of relaxation and consolidation, that’s not what is happening. There’s way too much on your plate to ease off fully. Shift to ‘receiving’ mode.
Leo 23.07/22.08
Aquarius 20.01/18.02
28
Pisces 19.02/20.03
While others are cogitating about this and that, you are quietly attending to your foundations. Those foundations might be made of timber and steel, or they might be made of feelings of self-worth, grounded in spirit and creativity. Know well that you have strong resources to call on.
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WHAT: Zoe Brooks, Fruzsi Kenez, Anna Small, Cat Leonard & Sunshine March: The Collective WHERE: Urban Cow Studio, 11 Frome St, Adelaide WHEN: Wed Feb 5 – Wed Feb 26 OPENING: Wed Feb 5 from 6pm
Until Feb 20 the 24:7 window space at the AEAF will host artist Dana Lawrie, sent by Brisbane artist initiative Current Project in a special event curated by SA’s own Andre Lawrence. Dispatch 14 comprises a series of exchanges in which one space selects an artist to dispatch artwork to be exhibited in another space, and in return hosts an artist from another participating space. Dana Lawrie recently finished her Honours at the Queensland College of Art, and was recently a finalist in the Churchie National Emerging Art Prize.
The sun is with you, filling you up with juice and light. Mercury is with you, filling you up with curiosity, enthusiasm and an insatiable need to share and hear ideas that both break the mould and contain substance. To convince people, you will need to get their emotions humming.
Virgo 23.08/22.09
working mostly with portraits with a focus on texture and Sunshine March, who combines clay and printmaking techniques for functional art objects.
Dispatch 14
Capricorn 22.12/19.01
On the one hand life is encouraging you to tune into all the sweetness and softness you have there behind your shell. On the other hand there’s the inevitable question of safety and security. Life is presently favouring the brave. The courageous option is to trust movement not inflexibility.
This is a time of let-go for Virgo persons. Let life dance it’s crazy dance at a slight distance. If you can relax and not get engaged in anybody else’s dilemmas, you will be renewed. Turn all your curiosity inward. Focus on the great mysteries you harbour in your own psyche.
The Collective exhibition is a collection of five artists who each have a longstanding relationship with Urban Cow Studio. Each artist has been chosen for their outstanding contributions to Urban Cow over the years – Zoe Brooks, who blends the boundaries of paint, installation and sculpture; Fruzsi Kenez, best known for her lady portraits on wood; Anna Small, who works with hand-formed, laser cut metal sculptures for walls; Cat Leonard,
Sagittarius 22.11/21.12
Cancer 22.06/22.07
As the sun moves into wildly eccentric Aquarius, you have your work cut out for you. You like to burn as a fully-focussed flame. The winds of Aquarius flit around the known universe with no obvious plan than excitement and imagination. Open up as your fixation is challenged.
The Collective
Cat Leonard
The Scorpio moon reinforces your will and keeps you on track, though there is plenty of food for distraction on the table. When a Scorpio’s will is engaged, there’s not a lot that can throw them off course. You aren’t taken in by ideas that have no emotional resonance. Stick with it.
The Build Up Sundari Carmody’s The Build Up is a sculptural installation that began as inspiration from the Jeffrey Eugenides novel, The Virgin Suicides, and has since evolved into a body of work containing complex psychological narratives. Inspired by the novel, Carmody worked loosely with this story set in middle America while incorporating elements of her own
Sunddari Carmody, Nask #4, 2013
As the sun moves into Aquarius, so the world is likely to look a little strange for a month. Aquarius is about as far from grounded as it is possible to go – and you are very much a creature of the earth. The sky is foreign territory. Bulls are not for flying. Appreciate difference.
with Miranda Freeman
Fruzsi Kenez
Taurus 21.04/20.05
Email miranda@ripitup.com.au
Sunddari Carmody, The Build Up (Maquette), 2013
Though you would like to align yourself with the wild and wonderful possibilities dawning all around you, there are still unresolved issues from the past that are keeping you glued in their orbit. Just as communication set this up, so it is communication that will resolve it.
Art//
Dana Lawrie, Untitled, 2014
Aries 21.03/20.04
with Sudhir
Indonesian upbringing. The Build Up is a precise but delicately detailed circumscribing of the unknown, presenting fragments circling an absence and a loss of subjectivity.
WHAT: Sundari Carmody: The Build Up WHERE: CACSA, 14 Porter St, Parkside WHEN: Until Sun Feb 16
Chanel
with Lachlan Aird
Email lachlanaird@ripitup.com.au
Menswear: Back To The Future
Maison Martin Margiela
Fashion//
Paris Fashion Week
“Scientists are saying the future is going to be far more futuristic than they originally predicted.” This quote from Sarah Michelle Gellar’s character in Richard Kelly’s ill-fated Southland Tales can also help describe the current evolvement in men’s high fashion towards colours, textures and designs that are – arguably – ahead of our time. With leggings, skirts and ponchos appearing more regularly on catwalks in Couture and Ready To Wear collections around the world, it appears the androgynous men’s styles are becoming far more prevalent – and colourful – than many would have predicted.
The Paris Fashion Week shows have just passed, dictating the path that fashion will take in 2014. Here are some of the defining moments from the Haute Couture parades. Raf Simons
Chanel
Schiaparelli
Perhaps Uncle Karl took inspiration for his winter collection from Disney’s Frozen, or just took heed of his own icy disposition to present a winter wonderland Couture collection. Each look comprised of customised sneakers by Massaro using python, lace, pearls and tweed (rumoured to be priced around €3000 a pair), it gave sport luxe a presence in Couture – complete with knee and elbow pads. It seems a new breed of Chanel women are amongst us – and they wear their femsuits with kicks.
Maison Martin Margiela
Schiaparelli
Elsa Schiaparelli’s brand has always been famous for being ahead of its time, and for Marco Zanini’s debut collection at the label he looked to its roots to project its future. Taking inspiration from Elsa’s use of colour, humour and questionable elegance, Zanini presents a collection that is colourful, expertly draped and with just the right amount of weird without trying to recreate or overshoot Elsa’s own penchant for crustaceans and skeletons.
Givenchy
Whilst understated by Couture standards in its silhouettes, MMM’s collection is championed by its incredible use of art and print, perhaps symbolished by the Bane-type masks worn by the models to draw attention away from their faces (or maybe they are supposed to look like Gotham City’s most wanted?). While metallic blazers that look like you might need a tetanus shot after brushing up against its wearer gives a whole new understanding to ‘texture’, this collection appeals in how such a diverse use of materials, prints and aesthetics can tie together so well.
Here are just a few cases: Givenchy’s Spring ’14 collection introduced tribes to technology with Nerd Africa, resulting in hardly a skerrick of Givenchy’s signature colour black – instead favouring greys, blues, whites and orange. With the Paris Fall ’14 shows just completed, it looks like other designers followed Riccardo Tisci’s example and have opted for more colour, texture and graphics for the colder months. In collaboration with artist Sterling Ruby, Raf Simons presented a Fall ’14 collection that seemed unfinished, rushed and splattered with colour, oversized shoes and striking use of primary colours that give a non-conventional palette for men’s winter fashion. In a more restrained way, Issey Miyake’s Fall/Winter ’14 collection ramped up graphic prints and metallic neons to give a nod to traditional ideas of ‘futuristic’ sci-fi fashion. But perhaps it’s just to ensure you don’t get lost in the dark Is this the future of menswear? If so, the future looks bright. Very bright.
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Reviews //
Find more reviews online at ripitup.com.au
Culture
DVD Reviews
Blue Jasmine
Prince Avalanche
Riddick
Salinger
Hopscotch / M / 94 mins
Madman / M / 94 min
Roadshow / MA / 114 mins
Roadshow / M / 124 mins
AAAA
AAA
AAA
AAAa
Writer/director Woody Allen’s latest in his burst of 70-something creativity (see Midnight In Paris, To Rome With Love and so forth) is one of his best and darkest outings in years, with the award-winning Cate Blanchett outstanding as a character who owes a little to A Streetcar Named Desire and a lot to Woody’s longtime unease with the rich, overprivilleged and up-themselves. Jasmine (Cate) arrives in San Francisco to live with her sister Ginger (Sally Hawkins) and flashbacks show us what happened to her marriage to Manhattan high-flier Hal (Alec Baldwin), why she’s ‘lowered’ herself to Ginger’s level and the reasons for her delusional conversations with herself. Her presence disturbs Ginger’s kids, her ex-husband (Andrew Dice Clay) and her emotional boyfriend Chili (Bobby Cannavale), and so when Jasmine meets the upmarket Dwight (Peter Sarsgaard) everyone is keen to get rid of her, no matter what fate might have in store. While this has a cast to die for, it’s Blanchett’s film, and she’s very fine indeed, and makes you care for a woman some might label a snobby bitch.
David Gordon Green’s decidedly lowkey character piece (amazingly shot in only 16 days!) is actually a remake of the poorly-distributed Icelandic-language Either Way (Á Annan Veg) (2011) and a far quieter and less obviously comedic outing than his lovely Pineapple Express, dire Your Highness or negligible The Sitter. In the American summer of 1988 we find a pair of lowly road workers toiling endlessly on a long stretch of highway through the isolated wilderness. The older, perfectionist Alvin (Paul Rudd) and the younger, more hotheaded Lance (Emile Hirsch) are pretty much the whole show here, as they paint the tarmac, engage in jokey banter, pry into each other’s personal lives during breaks or in the long evenings at their campsite and increasingly get on each other’s nerves. While some might find this altogether too slow-paced, there’s no doubt that Rudd and Hirsch are fine, and Green’s careful, deceptively easy tone is also impressive, even if, like these poor guys’ work, this never really seems to quite go anywhere.
The third installment in the adventures of producer Vin Diesel’s über-badass yet misunderstood murderer Riddick begins like the original Pitch Black, turns into something like a slasher movie and then throws in a PB-ish finale, as if writer/ director David Twohy couldn’t think of another way to end it. Riddick’s introduced alone on an alien planet, narrating flashbacks that explain how he got there, prefacing half an hour of him fighting monsters and befriending a CGI hyena/ wolf thingie. When two ships of bounty hunters that include Johns (Matt Nable), Santana ( Jordi Mollà) and Dahl (Katee Sackhoff ) turn up, Riddick promises to do them all in, and they argue like idiots and seem surprised as he does just that, before rain starts, the ground outside splits and out crawl more FX creatures. Fans should be happier with this pulpy nonsense than they were with the dull The Chronicles Of Riddick, and there could even be another sequel which, given the way these titles shrink as we go along, might simply be called Dick.
MDB
MDB
Many hated this longtime labourof-love from director/producer Shane Salerno, mostly, it seems, as they loathed the whole idea of anyone daring to make any documentary about the legendary, ludicrously reclusive JD Salinger (19192010), author of the ultimate teenage angst classic The Catcher In The Rye. And yet there’s much here to enjoy and enlighten, including details concerning Salinger’s youth, his nervous breakdown after 299 days serving in World War II (where he fought during ‘D-Day’ and helped liberate a concentration camp), his penning of Catcher in the ‘50s and his absolute refusal to allow anyone to ever make a movie out of it (an iron-clad condition of his will too, despite attempts from Steven Spielberg, Billy Wilder and even Jerry Lewis!). And while there are reverent interviews here with his friends, colleagues and famous fans (Martin Sheen, Edward Norton, Philip Seymour Hoffman), plus amusing reminisces by journos and detectives who tried desperately to contact him, there’s also much about Catcher’s dark side – and the eventual and inescapable conclusion that Salinger was a bit of a bastard.
MDB
MDB
Bookshelf
The HBO Effect Dean J DeFino / Bloomsbury
DeFino’s study of Home Box Office (which calls itself ‘not TV’, rather oddly) is a little dull when he goes into detail about its early ‘70s development (and weirdly incorporates some of Carl Sagan’s existentialist ideas) but then turns pretty damn fascinating. Noting the change in American television signalled by ‘90s series like Twin Peaks, we’re soon into descriptions of what makes HBO's products so compelling and daring (Sex And The City’s feminism-of-sorts, The Wire’s corruption, Six Feet Under’s fatalism, True Blood’s and Game Of Thrones’ extreme violence and sexuality) and how this all influences Mad Men, The Walking Dead and all your other current faves. And, of course, proving conclusively that everything happened after The Sopranos. MDB
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Bitch Boxer
Stage
The UK production of Snuff Box Theatre’s Bitch Boxer picked up Holden Street Theatre’s award at the 2013 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, which means the work will be travelling to Adelaide Fringe 2014.
Bitch Boxer, which has also won numerous other awards, tells the tale of 21-year-old Chloe, who not only enjoys teasing her dad and singing karaoke to a mirror, but is also a boxer. It was penned in 2011 by Charlotte Josephine who had absolutely no interest in boxing when she began writing the play, but now competes in various boxing competitions across Europe. “The Chloe character came first but when I was working in a coffee shop, a guy made a comment about me not looking very ladylike,” Josephine says. “It really irritated me so I wrote a big rant about it on my mobile on the way home and when I re-read it, it seemed to be about a character who was really fighting for something. So I turned the telly on and there was something about women boxers being allowed to compete in the 2012 Olympic Games for the first time. And then it struck me – Chloe was a female boxer. “The response to the play has been overwhelmingly brilliant,” she happily continues. “I’ve also had it published
Charlottee Josephin tan by Robert Duns
which is fantastic because it means there’s something to show for it. Writing a play is not like making a coffee table where you have something in your hands at the end of the day, but if you get it published, you kind of have something to show for you work. “Some actors are now using bits of the monologue as their audition pieces for plays,” Josephine adds. “That’s something I never expected, so it’s been really lovely. And I think it’s because it’s such a strong female part.” Josephine originally played Chloe but, due to other theatre commitments in London, has had to hand over the gloves to Holly Augustine who recently graduated from the London Academy Of Music And Dramatic
Art (LAMDA) and performed Bitch Boxer as her professional debut. “Holly now has quite a few shows under her belt and has brought something really fresh and new to the play,” Josephine enthuses. “I auditioned lots of people, which was an interesting process as it was something I’d never done before, but Holly stood out a mile above the rest.”
WHO: Snuff Box Theatre WHAT: Bitch Boxer WHERE: Holden Street Theatres WHEN: Tue Feb 11 Sun Mar 16
Fast Times//
Your guide to the student experience
Taking Time Off
Your Guide I’m Claire Foord, an emerging artist and Visual Arts grad. I show and sell my artwork here in Adelaide and have travelled to Canada, USA and Germany exhibiting. Right now I’m studying, teaching, art-ing and writing. If you’ve got any hot tips, deals, campus activities or info you want to me share hit me up on Instagram #clairefoord_artist or Facebook.com/ ClaireFoordArtist.
Adelaide local Olivia Travers has been studying and working as a barista for entire length of her three-year Medical Science degree, which for her has worked well. Travers said that she always wanted to study at Flinders due to the renowned Medical School and upon completing her degree, says she has discovered a “passion for the human brain and nervous system”. Entering university straight from high school, Travers has decided to “have a much needed year off ” instead of doing medicine for eight years. Travers will defer until 2015 and re-enter as a postgraduate student in Neuroscience to “hopefully specialise in cognition and perhaps some pharmacology”. Having not travelled much further than Queensland, Travers hopes her studies will take her “interstate or even overseas” and is keen to follow the opportunities. Travers is looking forward to her year off, offering this advice to those not sure if they are ready to undertake a uni degree: “Have a break first! Even if it is six months or a year,” she says. “If you hope to not only succeed but do brilliantly at your study, you need time to live and refresh after school.” She offers three essential tips to those of you ready and roaring to go as a new Flinders University student: “One – leave at least 20 minutes to find a car park in the morning. Two – acquire a map of the university and learn it well. Three – expect to be walking at least one kilometre to your next class. Flinders is a beautiful campus but it is enormous.”
Street Chat Sammy D The current legislation to try and end ‘king-hit culture’ isn’t the only action being taken. The Sammy D Foundation has worked tirelessly to reach out to young people and encourage them to make safe and informed choices regarding their own safety and the safety of those around them. After Sam Davis lost his life at 17 after being ‘king-hit’ at a party, his parents set up the Sammy D Foundation to ensure that all young people have the opportunity to have a safe and positive life, helping stop youth violence and unnecessary deaths in the process. The Sammy D Foundation achieve this through positive reinforcement and educating the public on appropriate social behaviours and how to cope with difficult situations, such as their Great Night Out campaign, which educates people on how to enjoy a night out safely. Fast Times will be working with the Sammy D Foundation in the coming weeks to help deliver their message, so stay tuned for more details on how you can get involved and make sure that while you’re out you have fun – while still staying safe.
It only takes one punch. It’s appalling to think of the impact that one person’s cowardly act can have on the lives of so many. No doubt by now you would have heard about the new “one punch” laws being introduced in New South Wales. Mandatory eight-year jail sentences for fatal attacks caused by one hit are just part of the methods expected to control alcohol related violence on Sydney streets. With other states also looking to consider new regulations too, I asked people what they thought of the new introductory laws and noticed some similar opinions...
Celeste, 18, West Beach “When people are under the influence of anything I don’t think they’d think about the legal implications. However, I do think the punishment would make people think twice when sober. Having peers knowing the consequence may influence the actions of others too.”
Scott, 21, Glenelg “Those people wouldn’t think of the consequences of jail time or any punishments when they’re out and about, drunk, and looking for a fight.”
Molly, 18, Henley Beach “It’s obviously better because people will be more cautious. But, I feel like when they hit someone they are usually drunk, so aren’t going think it through and think that it [might] kill them. It will make people more aware, but I’m not sure that the laws will help to stop the violence.”
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Reviews //
Find more reviews online at ripitup.com.au
Culture
CD Reviews
CD Of The Week
s Single y with Jimm
Byzantine
Jhené Aiko feat. Childish Gambino
Warpaint
Bed Peace
Warpaint
(Universal)
(Rough Trade/Remote Control)
AAAa
Questions of ethnicity are bound to plague Jhené Aiko her entire career – her ancestry ranges from Japanese to Spanish and Native American heritage. Musically however, Aiko draws most prominently from the legacy of her African American roots. Bed Peace is a finely tuned balance of R&B and hip hop, with Aiko seamlessly shifting gears between soulful singing and rapping through an uncomplicated melange of gratifying minimalist production that reflects the song’s post-coital subject matter. Hotly tipped as one of the voices of 2014, Jhené Aiko plays a strong card with Bed Peace.
Damon Albarn Everyday Robots (Parlophone/Warner)
While we’re still smarting from Blur’s no-show at this year’s Big Day Out, Damon Albarn has been hard at work on a consolation prize of sorts. His second solo album Everyday Robots is due for release this April and has already dropped its title track. Everyday Robots moves into experimental territory for Albarn, featuring strange vocal samples, a haunting string loop and orchestral interludes in what is a genuine triumph for this man of many talents. If the rest of the album is this good, there may room in our hearts to forgive.
Against Me! Transgender Dysphoria Blues (Total Treble/Resist)
AAAA Imagine the bewilderment of any out-ofthe-loop Against Me! listener on perusing the liner notes to their latest album: “Tom Gabel’s been replaced?!? He’s the band’s only consistent member! And why does this Laura Jane Grace sing exactly like him?” Grace’s coming out as transgender, subsequent name change and medical
transition to living as a woman understandably permeate the Florida punk rock band’s entire new record, from the loping title track, through to the expansive True Trans Soul Rebel and the punchy Drinking With The Jocks. Despite the hormone therapy, Grace’s voice remains instantly recognisable, although her delivery on the acoustic Two Coffins is more tender. At the other end of the spectrum is Osama Bin Laden As The Crucified Christ, which verges on metal, while FUCKMYLIFE666 and Unconditional Love (both featuring NOFX’s Fat Mike on bass) are pop influenced. However, Grace’s production shies away from the sheen Butch Vig gave previous album White Crosses. The 10-song platter has the thematic unity of Searching For A Former Clarity, the conciseness of New Wave and a raw sound that recalls earlier releases such as Reinventing Axl Rose. In other words, despite the change in gender, there’s no change in agenda: Against Me! continue to deliver infectious, rebellious rock songs that draw on their past while upping the ante. Owen Heitmann
This record evokes curiosity just like roadkill does – what is it? What happened to it? Where was it going before it was flattened by a semi-trailer? What is it? Muted, delicate alt pop. It’s synths and keening vocals. There is a lot more texture underscoring the tunes, but you have to be quiet and just let yourself listen. What happened to it? Well, it carries the trademark signs of Flood (Sigur Rós, PJ Harvey, Radiohead) production. He reveals more in their music than Warpaint themselves were perhaps expecting, and encourages weirdness and exploration. The cleaner sound is unfamiliar, but intriguing. Where was it going before it was flattened by a semi? Well, nowhere really. The songs all tend to peak early then coast through the remaining minutes. The swooping plateaux give the record an ebbebb-ebb effect, never quite cresting into a flow. This isn’t a morning record – too mild and grooveless for a wake-up call – but the tunes are too creepy and strange to lull you into a restful slumber. It’s an in-between album, seeking eerie, still moments: clouds crossing a full moon, people lying awake at night, sitting by a hospital bed. Curiouser and curiouser. Ilona Wallace
Black Lips Sarah Blasko
Boys In The Wood (Vice/Warner)
Black Lips have never been afraid to explore the taboos of the male psyche – they even got chased out of India for onstage displays of nudity and homosexuality. The unassuming, downtempo blues aesthetic of Boys In The Wood is the perfect cover for the darker subject matter hidden beneath and totally belies its very NSFW music video, which seems to revisit several moments from that ill-fated 2009 gig in Chennai. Boys In The Wood is a lullaby for swamp people.
Buried In Verona Illuminate (UNFD)
Buried In Verona are soon to be veterans of four albums – remarkable considering both the length of time the band have been in existence and their continually rotating cast of contributors. Illuminate is the second taste of new album Faceless following the all-thrash affair Splintered. Illuminate takes a different tack to that song, contrasting the guttural verses with clean, melodic choruses and showing off the band in a different light. Pun intended.
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Live Review
Flinders St Baptist Church, Fri Jan 24 (Photos by Kristy DeLaine) (Review by Lachlan Aird)
AAAA The Sarah Blasko that graced the Flinders St Baptist Church for the Heavenly Sounds tour was a different creature from what I had experienced in the past. Confident. Witty. Talkative. Not traditionally three words that would grace a Sarah Blasko review. This performance seemed to surprise even her, commenting as she came back for her encore, “Sometimes I get criticised for not saying enough in between songs. I don’t think you’ll have that problem tonight. Spread the word – Blasko’s talking!” Flanked only by a guitarist and a pianist, the Heavenly Sounds show allowed Blasko to showcase her instrument, allowing each member of the audience to connect intimately with the sheer strength and beauty of her voice. Given I Awake’s heavy orchestral influence and recent symphony tours, it was a joy to see Blasko fearless in a stripped-back environment and for all the risks she took, she never once hit a sour note. Her bravado extended to asking three-quarters through the set if there
Reviews // Quick Ones
Elizabeth Rose
Of Mice And Men
Damien Jurado
XO
Restoring Force
Brothers And Sisters Of The Eternal Son
Heart
(Inertia)
(Rise/Warner)
(Secretly Canadian/Inertia)
(Rory/UNFD)
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Following their relatively successful 2011 album The Flood, which garnered generally positive reviews, a difficult challenge was presented to Austin Carlile and his troops. Two-and-a-half years in the making, Restoring Force adds no new chemical to the metalcore subgenre, however Of Mice And Men are beginning to stand up and announce themselves to the ever-growing army of heavy metal fanatics. The opening tracks are a breath of fresh air for the fans of the genre. The clean vocals and the addition of lyrics from the surprisingly versatile Aaron Pauley are a welcome change to the relentless vocal performance by Carlile. It seems Carlile has realised he cannot hold the band up by himself and this allows for a far more united effort from the rising group. ‘I will break free from you’, taken from Break Free, would have seemed like a cry for help on 2011’s The Flood, however Carlile has truly broken free from the shackles holding his brutality hostage. Drastically improved song writing and a far more unified band allow for a little leeway to the not-sogood pieces on the album, such as You Make Me Sick and Identity Disorder. Nick Grimm
The pretentiousness overwhelms on Damien Jurado’s 11th studio album, Brothers And Sisters Of The Eternal Son. Like a teenager’s stream-of-consciousness poetry, it’s hard for the ears to swallow. According to fellow indie-folk enthusiast Father John Misty, who has written an essay on the album, it even has its own liturgy. You get the impression Jurado thinks of himself as a lonely, underappreciated Kanye West figure, pushing the boundaries of atmospheric, self-reflective indie music. Nevertheless, if you think you could bite back your reflexive disdain, then the album has something to offer you. What exactly that is, you will need to peer deep into the hazy, ethereal depths of each song to pinpoint. Silver Timothy is catchy but derivative. Return to Maraqopa is typically hypnotic and Silver Joy is quietly powerful. Throughout the album Jurado drops abstract image bombs like ‘peeling back the sky in a blanket of shame’ on Magic Number and his voice sets a mood to match. Grand, drifting sounds, strumming guitars and groovy but outlying beats are aimed at an even grander theme, but Brothers And Sisters Of The Eternal Son is Coldplay-reminiscent in its simple pomposity. Mat Drogemuller
My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless album casts a long shadow over the music world, proven here by the fact that some 23 years after its release the epitomic shoegaze album has been rekindled, rehashed and reawakened by two of the unlikeliest sources imaginable. XO comprises the Turner brothers of Say Anything and their debut album Heart finds them a million miles away from the pop-punk leanings of that band. If the washed out white noise of the instrumental opener wasn’t a big enough clue, then the spritely guitar howls of Waste and percussive haze of Sweet give the game away: you’re in shoegaze territory. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but XO seem in such large tracts indebted to Loveless – right down to the iconic pinkish hue of its cover art – that it’s difficult to identify many original thoughts going on here at all. The upbeat indie punch of Coast is more akin to Doves, but it’s quickly nixed by the whitewashed loops of Death, which may as well have been lifted directly from To Here Knows When. It’s hard to criticise a band for loving a landmark album – particularly one as deified as Loveless – but perhaps what Heart highlights more than anything is the difference between influence and imitation. Jimmy Byzantine
Elizabeth Rose EP
Amidst the proliferation of bythe-numbers EDM on commercial airwaves, it’s getting harder and harder to pull off electronic pop music credibly. Elizabeth Rose succeeds in this regard on her second EP release, but seems so preoccupied with sounding cool that she forgets to sound good. The Good Life sizzles as her finest song to date, but tracks like Out Of Step, Is It Love? and even new single Sensibility drift into blander waters. Having established herself so quickly on the national music scene, Rose might have been tempted to stretch this out to a full-length release. It’s a good thing she didn’t. Jimmy Byzantine
Various Artists were “any questions at this point”, to which one brazen crowd member called out, “Play No Turning Back!” Blasko was a little taken aback, apologising that they weren’t planning to play that song, but went for it anyway with an impromptu performance – laughing off the fact she forgot the lyrics at the start of the second verse. Revisiting some of her past hits, All Coming Back, All I Want, Bird On A Wire and a more upbeat version of Explain, illustrated just how pertinent Blasko’s career has been over the last decade. Even without a symphony behind her, the tracks she performed off I Awake, including the title track, All Of Me and Not Yet, held their own. Her choice to return for an encore and finish with Showstopper off What The Sea Wants, The Sea Shall Have after I Awake’s Here showed that this wasn’t a performance to sell her latest album, but a celebration of all her music. If Blasko’s confidence wasn’t displayed in her voice, it certainly was in her interpretive dance moves. Her dancing could only be described as how Bridget Jones would dance to a Sarah Blasko album while alone in her room and halfway through her second bottle of red. Not to be intimidated by what is arguably a very intimidating setting, it was uplifting to see Blasko flourish on stage and truly enjoy herself. I like this SB. I hope she stays.
Spirit Of Akasha Soundtrack (Warner)
AAAA Ever get lost in a daydream? Picture yourself surfing in slow motion to the most beautifully crafted soundtrack: Spirit Of Askasha is two discs’ worth of these tunes. Every song, every artist, every lyric on this compilation has been so intricately constructed, all choreographed to the movements of the ocean. Each track has its place on the seabed; the turquoise waves curling like Matt Corby, Ben Howard and Angus Stone’s vocal lines, while the electric current beneath is reflected through the pulse of Grouplove, Atoms For Peace and Canyons. When the sea explodes into psychedelic froth, Pond is there and as the ocean calms, even if just for a moment, the legendary Tom Curren and Andrew Kidman are there to set the soundscape. Epic. Sharni Honor
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Local //
with Ilona Wallace
Email ilonawallace@ripitup.com.au
Local Picks
Musical Mystery
ler & Travelune Fort by Ilona
Traveller & Fortune had a cracker 2013 – Peats Ridge on New Year’s Eve, BIGSOUND in Brisbane and, particularly exciting, time in Canada, touring and making connections. They’re home now, however, and back to their normal lives.
T
om West, frontman of the band and an accomplished solo artist, has cherub’s hair and striking blue eyes – but seems a little out of place with no acoustic guitar in hand. Happier as a musician and working towards making the dream happen, he says he has learned a lot this year about the industry and how it works. Not all of it, however, is very nice. Attending conferences like BIGSOUND can be informative, but disheartening. “It’s mentally challenging. It’s so easy to be let down,” he says. With the negative side of things clearly so offputting, would he encourage others to attend these information sessions? “I’d say yes, if you go with an open mind and don’t have expectations, because they’re really good tools for learning how the industry works, but it’s really not a pretty thing, learning what happens behind the scenes.” Regardless, he says that the experiences and their time in Canada have taught Traveller & Fortune how to tour most effectively – and that seems to involve doing as many shows as humanly possible.
CD Review
Lost Woods Lost Woods EP (Independent)
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“Three shows in three days – Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide,” he lists. The EP tour will be short, sharp and shiny. “I’m not too worried about actually playing, even though you’re fucking tired – and we’re driving too, which is even worse – I find that everyone tends to perk up, and as soon as you’re finished playing, you fucking crash.” The time on the road is not really fazing West, either – the band are good enough friends that some intense quality time in a tin can full of instruments won’t get them down. “We’re crammed in,” he says, “so someone ends up getting stuck in the middle seat in the back, which must suck. I think that’s Ally, sorry, dude. I tend to drive, so sucked in everyone else.” New EP I Am Only Snow is an interesting beast, as it reflects a certain period in the band’s sound, but not necessarily who they would identify as today. “We lost Soph who played double bass, and picked up electric bass and drums, so that’s practically a whole new band. None of our songs sound the same from that period. I guess we could have changed the band name, but we just didn’t do it and no one seems to have cared,” West says with a laugh. Deciding which songs will be played solo and which will be Traveller’s is surprisingly organic. “Sometimes they just lend themselves to being played on my own, but mostly it’s just a time thing,” West explains.
Lost Woods have accomplished something extraordinary with this small, self-titled EP. All three tracks are beautifully realised, warm and deep. If Frightened Rabbit had a moody younger sister, it would be Lost Woods. Darker and with a howling edge, Lost Woods is a spectacular debut. The tight, tight playing hits your pop-rock funny bone right where it needs it. Overflow builds and soars, floating on the clear power of the vocals. Cooing and clapping on King Of Aberdeen are pleasing – and then it treats you with a sparse tease of vocal harmony – just enough to leave you asking to hear it one more time. Monegasque
Wallace
“If a song comes out and we start playing it with Traveller, it just moves into that field and stays there. Whereas, if we’re rehearsing for a tour – like what we’re doing now – I’ll tend to just work on them on my own and they’ll move over to that side. I sometimes wonder if that’s a very productive way of doing things. It’s probably not. I don’t even know why I have a solo thing really … But it is what it is!” Trying to organise a band and a solo project can be a little tricky, but the bonus of having solo artists in the crew is you can bring your own line-up. Although West says he’s not yet had to doubletime it on the bill, Traveller’s bassist Todd Sibbin has sometimes filled the supporting shoes. Now with Kaurna Cronin in tow on drums, they’ll hardly need to play with others again. Where to next? Well, they already have enough material for an EP and a half, so hopefully we’ll be hearing more fairly soon. The only clue West gives, however, is that the songs “are less – these are very vague words, 'pop', 'indie'; it’s sort of painful to say them – cutesy, let’s put it that way.” The plot thickens. Who: Traveller & Fortune (with The Bon Scots, Emma Davis and FIRS) What: I Am Only Snow EP Where: Jive When: Sat Feb 1
is a triumphant aural crashtackle. Even though there are only three tracks, there are no fleeting whims here: the EP lasts for a fulfilling 14 minutes. They’ve pared and polished these three tunes to near perfection, and it’s the restraint that is most striking about Lost Woods. The band hasn’t panicked and tossed in all their musical tricks – there are secrets in the sleeves of these gentlemen. It’s cohesive, it’s definitive and it’s an extremely well-played first move. Lost Woods are playing a free show with It’s A Hoax this Thu Jan 30 at the Exeter. Ilona Wallace
Come along to the Jade this Sat Feb 1 for an interesting evening of discovery and rediscovery. Bronze Chariot are returning from their long hiatus for a reunion and farewell show. Left with a “bitter taste” after their surprise final performance at Enigma Bar in 2011, they’re getting the band back together for one final thrash. SX WZD (SexWizard) have rejigged their line-up and will unveil all the new faces. And mystery band Animal Traps are making their debut. Boasting synths, bass, drums and guitar, Animal Traps consists of former members of My Sister The Cop, SWORDS, Mathematic and other local bands. How very curious … Pop down to the Jade from 8.30pm. $10 entry.
New York New York Collection Day – a six-piece indie crew featuring more instruments and atmosphere than you can handle – are releasing their new single, New York, with a launch party at The Promethean this Sat Feb 1. Their single Whispers Of When was recently acquired by the SA Tourism Commission for the Flinders Ranges and Outback ‘Wake Up’ ad campaign, to be shown on TV, online and in cinemas around the country. Clearly, there’s something very special about their sound – and something uniquely South Australian. Come and check out the Adelaide icons before being dazzled by their big-screen presence. Joining the sextet will be folk’s favourite flavour, Sam Brittain, and the charming and alarming The Wild Things. Entry is $10 with doors from 8pm.
You Do It I Can’t Be Bothered In what promises to be one of the most hilarious and bizarre evenings of entertainment on offer in this pre-Fringe season, You Do It I Can’t Be Bothered is a covers night to beat all covers nights. This is the brainchild of desperate musician/heckler, Tom Smith, who – after an unsuccessful run of busking, open mic nights and even performance poetry of his lyrics – implored the people of Facebook: ‘You do it, I can’t be bothered!’ With this cry for help came a gift: 20-plus songs that were “no use to him anymore” and the invitation for anyone to have a crack at the tunes. This Fri Jan 31, a huge list of guest vocalists (Nigel Koop, Sandy Cenin, Matt Harris, Jo Zealand, Sam Pearse, Suzy Hill, Karl Melvin, Mark Nichols, Frank Moylan, Stephen Atkinson, Paul Champion) will tackle the songs. Supporting bands will be The Monies and Home For The Def. Head to the Metropolitan Hotel at 8pm. FREE entry! Before you go, though, check out 20 recorded songs at soundcloud.com/ youdoiticantbebothered
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