18.11.15 Music / Arts / Lifestyle / Culture
Melbourne / Free / Incorporating
WHO WILL TAKE HOME THE
ARIA AWARDS Our Annual ARIAs Form Guide
INSIDE: THE MUSIC INDUSTRY REACTS TO THE PARIS ATTACK
Issue
115
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The Night Music Was Terrorised The mid-gig attack on the Bataclan theatre in Paris has shocked music fans around the world. We pay tribute to those who died, those who were injured and those who survived this most horrific event.
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s Australians woke up on Saturday morning and set about their usual weekend routines, information about terror attacks in Paris filtered through news reports, and information was shared/ commented on via social media. One of the series of coordinated shootings and explosions that were carried out across the French capital on Friday night took place inside the Bataclan theatre. Eagles Of Death Metal were mid-performance when four gunmen entered and opened fire around 9.40pm (Paris time). The Bataclan’s capacity is 1,500 and this concert was sold out. Given the usual volume and intensity of an Eagles Of Death Metal show, some fans initially believed the sounds they heard were part of the spectacle. A witness, identifying as one of the concertgoers, spoke to La Figaro (translation via Billboard): “It was chaos. I was on the right in the hall of Bataclan, a song by Eagles Of Death Metal was going to end, when I hear noises like exploding firecrackers, I see the singer removed his guitar, I turn I see a guy armed with an automatic weapon that shoots into the air. Everyone folds to the floor. From there, it is the instinct that takes over in each burst, we try to crawl as far as possible shooters.” As shots were fired randomly, fans panicked and tried to flee. Some climbed out of windows and gripped onto windowsills as hostages were taken. Of those trapped inside, one man implored police to act via Twitter: “I’m still in the Bataclan, 1st floor. I’m heavily wounded. Please police you have to launch an assault, there are still people alive here but they are killing them one by one.” Julian Pierce, a journalist at the Eagles Of Death Metal show, has described the chaos inside the concert hall (via ABC): “They didn’t shout anything. They didn’t say anything. They said nothing. They just shot. They just shoot. They were just shooting at people.” An Eagles Of Death Metal representative posted the following statement on the band’s Facebook page: “We are still currently trying to determine the safety and whereabouts of all our band and crew. Our thoughts are with all of the people involved in this tragic situation.” David Ian Hughes, brother of Eagles Of Death Metal frontman Jesse Hughes, posted a message on Facebook confirming his sibling was okay, “I spoke to him about an hour ago. The band is ok too. I hold out hope that as many people as possible make it out ok, as well.” Some members of Eagles Of Death Metal’s crew were still unaccounted for at this point. Patrick Smith, who lives near the Bataclan, told ABC News that the concert hall attackers held the “entire audience hostage for an hour”. He claimed that stun grenades were thrown inside the hall by police after one of the gunmen started shooting concertgoers after a stand-
off with officers. He added, “You saw the white flashes of the stun grenades and then there were a series of very big explosions.” He then speculated, “It may be that some of the hostage-takers... had suicide packs on and they blew themselves up.” Police confirmed that the Bataclan attackers blew themselves up with ‘suicide vests’ as police entered the venue. The Paris police prefect said the gunmen initially sprayed machine gunfire at a cafe outside the venue before entering the main hall. Three attackers died in the suicide blasts, the other was shot. Reuters reported that the death toll from the Bataclan attack was revised down to 87. The number of injured stood at 200. A brief statement released via Eagles Of Death Metal’s tour promoters Nous Productions stated that the band would return to the US immediately. Unsurprisingly, Eagles Of Death Metal have cancelled the rest of their European tour.
The Aftermath: •
French President Francois Hollande wants the ‘state of emergency’ he’s declared, during which public gatherings are banned until at least 19 Nov, extended to three months (although this requires parliamentary approval).
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Due to perform on the Bataclan theatre stage from 14 – 16 Nov, some members of Deftones were in attendance at the ill-fated Eagles Of Death Metal concert on 13 Nov, but left after a just couple of songs. Deftones have now cancelled the remaining dates on their European tour.
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Motörhead were scheduled to perform in the French capital on Sunday, but have now rescheduled and will return to play there in January instead.
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Although U2 were due to perform in Paris on 14 Nov, they instead spent the evening paying their respects by laying flowers near the Bataclan theatre.
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Due to perform in Paris on Monday, Foo Fighters have called off the remaining dates of their European tour, posting on Facebook that the decision was made “in light of this senseless violence”.
The Music Industry Responds “The latest terrorist attacks in Paris struck at the heart and soul of a free and open society. The targets were innocent people out cheering football teams, eating and drinking at restaurants and watching live music. These are the passions of our society, where we come to congregate, celebrate and share with our friends, family and community. At its best music inspires us. It is no wonder that a stirring rendition of the French National Anthem La Marseillaise rang out in the tunnels of Stade de France as a way for the French people to show their solidarity. Music touches our soul and helps bring us closer together. Music will continue to give solace to us all, giving voice to hope and to understanding. As we enter ARIA WEEK where we celebrate our own great artists and industry, ARIA and the entire Australian music industry stands united with our fallen colleagues in France. We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who passed. Amongst the many victims, our colleagues were senselessly killed doing their job. Their job was to bring great artists to the people, so for an hour or two at a live gig fans could have a dance, a drink and simply enjoy music together. In their memory we stand as one, united and steadfast. In the words of composer Leonard Bernstein, ‘This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, and more devotedly than ever before’.” Dan Rosen CEO, ARIA
“We are all shocked and saddened by the horrific attacks in Paris. We have been advised that our Universal family in France have sadly lost three of their own at the Bataclan Concert Hall. Our deepest sympathies go out to the victims, their families, their friends and everyone affected by these tragic events. The beautiful people of France are in our hearts.” George Ash President, Universal Music Asia Pacific
“The Australian Independent Record Labels Association extends its sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims of the attacks in Paris and Beirut. It hits particularly close to home for all music fans and industry for a rock concert to be the target of such a tragic event. This has always and will continue to be a domain that is synonymous with freedom and joy.” Dan Nevin CEO, Australian Independent Record Labels Association
Survivor Update: Emma Grace Parkinson ABC News reported that Emma Parkinson, a music fan from Tasmania, attended Eagles Of Death Metal’s concert at the Bataclan and was shot several times in the hip during the attack. Currently hospitalised in Paris, Parkinson is expected to make a full recovery. Isobel Bowdrey A young South African woman posted about her harrowing Bataclan experience on Facebook alongside a picture of the blood-stained shirt she wore to the concert. After pretending to be dead for over an hour inside the venue, Bowdrey survived although she admitted within her post, “The images of those men circling us like vultures will haunt me for the rest of my life”. John & Oscar Leader Australian man John Leader and his son Oscar hid next to the mixing desk before attempting their escape during a lull in the shooting. When the shooting restarted, the pair dropped to the ground again and waited for another opportunity to flee. Leader eventually pushed his son toward the exit, following a few seconds later. When he got outside, however, Mr Leader couldn’t find his son anywhere. Finally, he got through to Oscar on his mobile phone and they were reunited.
Identified Victims: Nick Alexander Eagles Of Death Metal’s merch seller, Nick Alexander from Colchester in the UK, was tragically killed during the Bataclan attack. In a statement, Alexander’s family said he died “doing the job he loved” and was “everyone’s best friend”. Thomas Ayad An international product manager for Mercury Records, Thomas Ayad, was among those killed at the concert. Universal Music Group CEO Lucian Grainge confirmed Ayad’s death with a moving note that described Friday night’s events as “an unspeakably appalling tragedy”. Marie Mosser Marie Mosser, who worked with band The Vamps, was killed alongside Ayad. The Vamps posted on Facebook: “We want to pass on our deepest condolences to the families and friends of Thomas and Marie who were a huge part of The Vamps team in France and who tragically passed away Friday night in Paris. They will be sorely missed by us and all that knew them. Brad, James, Connor and Tristan.” Manu Perez Before walking into the Bataclan on Friday night, Manu Perez posted a picture on Facebook of two tickets for the gig. “Merci Thomas!” he wrote, linking the post to Ayad’s Facebook profile. At 9.03pm, the Parisian, who also worked for Universal, posted a second picture showing the crowd and the band on stage. On Saturday, the president of Universal Music France, Pascal Negre, tweeted to confirm that Perez, Ayad and Mosser were among the dead. William B Decherf William B Decherf, a French music journalist, was also among those killed at the show on Friday night. THE MUSIC 18TH NOVEMBER 2015 • 7
Music / Music / Arts / Lifestyle / Culture
The Isaak Factor
After a 2015 spent solidly lodging himself back into the consciousness of Australian audiences, Californian crooner Chris Isaak has unveiled plans for an Australian tour in support of his thirteenth studio album First Comes The Night next April.
Chris Isaak
Epica Killswitch Engage
Wiley
In Full If you thought Soundwave had no more news to share following the release of their full line-up, you were wrong. Two bands will be playing albums in their entirety: Killswitch Engage with Alive Or Just Breathing, and Ill Nino with Revolution, Revolucion.
Screamfeeder
Wiley Bloke Prolific rapper Wiley has announced his debut headline tour of Australia for March 2016. The veteran artist, who co-founded seminal grime ensemble the Roll Deep crew with Dizzee Rascal, will be performing alongside crew mates DJ Target and Danny Weed.
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Crowd It Out In September Screamfeeder went into the studio for the first time since 2005. The result of that is their new single, Alone In A Crowd – the first new material from the band in ten years. It’ll be released through Poison City and the tour takes in east coast cities and Adelaide.
High On Fire
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Winnerrrrs
Trophy Eyes
Following the announcement they’ve joined 123 Agency’s roster, Trophy Eyes have revealed their Road To Unify tour dates. Along with Senses Fail, the punk five-piece will be visiting stages across the east coast and Adelaide.
Epica Sounds Dutch symphonic metal band Epica have announced four antipodean dates for 2016. In support of their fifth studio album The Quantum Enigma, the six-piece will tour the east coast and Auckland from 16 – 20 Mar.
19 High And Heavy Heavy metal hellraisers High On Fire are coming to our country in February next year for a national tour, off the back of their latest release, Luminiferous, their most bizarre and furious record to date.
The number of ARIAs to be handed out at this year’s Awards (20 if you include Tina Arena’s Hall Of Fame gong).
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Music / Music / Arts / Lifestyle / Culture
Groove’s Back
Groovin The Moo Maitland, 2015. Pic: Josh Groom
The dates and venues have been announced for next year’s Groovin The Moo. From 23 Apr, the festival travels to Maitland, Canberra, Oakbank, Bendigo, Townsville and Bunbury. Tix go on sale 2 Feb, after the line-up drops 28 Jan.
City Calm Down
Everybody Calm Down Favourite Melbourne sons City Calm Down are set to embark on a short south-east tour through Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide in support of their brand spankin’ new debut LP In A Restless House across next April.
The Cairos
Feels So Right The Cairos are back their self-released new single Love Don’t Feel Right, an accompanying video, and a national tour in January to boot. They’ll be playing a show in Melbourne and Sydney, and two in Brisbane.
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/ Arts / L Music / Arts / Lifestyle / Culture
Swan Takes Flight
Almost a decade since his last visit to Aussie shores, Swans bandleader Michael Gira has announced shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane next March, promising sets of stripped-back performances spanning his several musical ventures.
THURSDAY 19 NOVEMBER
YOUNG POETS THE BLACK HARRYS MAVERICK $2.50 POTS OF DRAUGHT $5 VODKA
FRIDAY 20 NOVEMBER EP LAUNCH
Nico & Vinz
THE LUNA DEAD HEIR GHOST TINY GIANTS GOING SWIMMING STELLA COLLAPSE
That’s How We Messed Up Norwegian Afropop duo Nico & Vinz have announced new dates for their debut Australian tour following the cancellation of their previous planned shows due to conflicting commitments, moving the dates forward to next April.
SATURDAY 21 NOVEMBER ALBUM LAUNCH
JACKSON FIREBIRD THE CHERRY DOLLS CROWBAIT
SUNDAY 22 NOVEMBER
CONCERT FOR EMMA FT. THE SUGARCANES CAT CANTERI L.A.A TELESCOPES + TONNES MORE
MONDAY 23 NOVEMBER RESIDENCY
JAZZ PARTY LIVE JAZZ + JAZZ DJS ALL NIGHT FREE ENTRY! $10 JUGS OF DRAUGHT
TUESDAY 24 NOVEMBER RESIDENCY — FINAL NIGHT
NAFASI
Eazy As Pie
MONDEGREEN LEVINGSTONE $10 JUGS OF DRAUGHT
Maxi Priest
East-coast US rapper G-Eazy has planned a return to Aussie shores as a part of his When It’s Dark Out world tour next March, hitting up the east coast and Perth off the strength of his latest full-length LP.
WEDNESDAY 25 NOVEMBER RESIDENCY – FINAL NIGHT
STELLAFAUNA TSAR LAMA
COMING UP TIX AVAILABLE THRU OZTIX:
Book Us A Maxi
G-Eazy
British-raised Jamaican Maxi Priest, widely regarded as an early pioneer of reggae fusion, will be bringing his R&B-influenced reggae jams all around Australia next February in support of his latest full-length Easy To Love.
TRINITY ROOTS – NZ (NOV 27) *SOLD OUT* THE SHABBAB – HOMECOMING SHOW (NOV 28) NEVER SHOUT NEVER – USA (DEC 5 + 6) *SELLING FAST* EVEN – ROOFTOP SHOW (DEC 20) STRAY FROM THE PATH – USA (JAN 14 + 17) *SELLING FAST* VOYAGER/LEPROUS – NORWAY (FEB 6) *SELLING FAST* HEEMS (EX DAS RACIST) – USA (FEB 20) *SELLING FAST*
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Music / Music / Arts / Lifestyle / Culture
Whether The Weather
Toronto’s The Weather Station have announced their first Australian tour. They’ll be appearing at Woodford Folk and Sydney Festivals, and have also announced headline shows in Melbourne and Brisbane in early January next year.
The Weather Station
Hip Hop High Tea
The Peninsula Picnic
Beats ‘N’ Bites Finally returning after a two-year hiatus, Rizky’s Hip Hop High Tea will bring some of the finest international teas and high tea cuisine to Belleville, 21 Nov, backed by hip hop beats from Melbourne’s DJ MzRizk.
Tex-Mex-Calex Tuscon Tex-Mex indie-rockers Calexico are set to play a show at Hamer Hall on 2 Mar next year, in what will be a unique event celebrating their latest album, Edge Of The Sun.
Calexico
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The Veil Of Maya
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Tough As An Ox
Ezekiel Ox is at it again, announcing an east coast tour of the nation, titled the Friends And Whanau Tour. Joining him will be New Zealand DJ Marze. The show will feature more than 300 samples from hundreds of artists, so you can bet it’ll be the ultimate mash-up party.
Ezekiel Oz
Picnic Party The Peninsula Picnic returns to the Mornington Racecourse for its second annual event next March with a focus on local produce and multicultural cuisine from local restaurants Montalto, Terminus At The Flinders Hotel and Dee’s Kitchen.
170.4 Behind The Veil The 2016 Boroondara Arts Program has been announced. The works will be shown at Boroondara’s three arts venues, and the program features highlights such as Melbourne Ballet Company’s The Veil Of Maya and micro-festival, The Weekend Of Beautiful Music.
The amount, in $US million, that Amedeo Modigliani’s Nu Couché sold for at auction, making the painting possibly the most expensive early Christmas present ever. THE MUSIC 18TH NOVEMBER 2015 • 13
Music / Music / Arts / Lifestyle / Culture
Kane Did It!
Time To Toss For Tom
For last week’s awesome cover of City Calm Down, we neglected to mention that the photos of the band in this issue were done by Kane Hibberd, in yet another sterling effort. Thanks again Kane - and sorry!
Tom Jones
International legend Sir Tom Jones has announced a series of four headline shows leading up to his coveted slot at Bluesfest. Jones will stop off in Hobart, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth on his way to the festival next March.
Going Off
The 24 Hour Experience
OFFtheGRID is a solarpowered festival taking place on 22 Dec at the ACCA forecourt. Cut Copy DJs, Banoffee, Sui Zhen, Tornado Wallace and more will be performing with the aim to celebrate renewable energy and raise awareness and funds for a solarpowered project.
Banoffee
The Croc
Nattali Rize
Glamorama
Rocks NYE The Croxton is set to host a ripper NYE ska reggae roots rock party, featuring Melbourne Ska Orchestra, Nattali Rize (Blue King Brown) & Notis, and a late night DJ set from Mista Savona.
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Glammin’ It There’s a new venue in Fitzroy: Glamorama. It’s gonna offer the whole package: food (head chef Shaun Hansen was previously at Sweet Water Inn (RIP)), drinks and music – specifically focusing on electro music. ‘Til 3am weeknights, 5am weekends.
Arts / Li Music / Arts / Lifestyle / Culture
Rose Street Fundraiser
OrphFund
Local charity OrphFund are hosting an event of African food, music and auctions at the iconic Rose Street Artist Market on 19 Nov to raise much-needed funds for vulnerable children in Sierra Leone, Uganda and Kenya.
A Full Day Ballarat hosts The 24 Hour Experience, 21 & 22 Nov. That’s 24 hours, 24 shows, 21 venues and over 150 artists. The event focuses on lesserheard perspectives, including those of an Aboriginal elder, the deaf community, senior citizens, cancer researchers and refugees.
James Franco must be so sad that he’s been trying to reach this level of bizarre for years and Shia just owns it effortlessly #allmymovies @simonemoann on Shia LeBeouf’s latest art project: a live-stream of himself watching all his movies over a three-day marathon.
A Steal
Thievery Corporation
Thievery Corporation make a return to Australia in Feb – their first visit in more than four years with a full live band. They’ll be celebrating their latest album, Saudade, performing on stages in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
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Awards
Aria Form Guide Taking the ARIAs with the utmost seriousness (and an ocean’s worth of salt), here’s who Hannah Story and The Music editorial team think will and should take home ARIA Awards this year – from Coutney Barnett’s clean sweep, to Tame Impala potentially pocketing both the Rock and Pop categories, to the continuing charms of Paul Kelly. Cover pic by Cole Bennetts. ALBUM OF THE YEAR Courtney Barnett - Sometimes I Sit And Think, Sometimes I Just Sit, Flight Facilities - Down To Earth, Hermitude - Dark Night Sweet Light, Tame Impala - Currents, Vance Joy - Dream Your Life Away Who will win? Courtney Barnett - Sometimes I Sit And Think, Sometimes I Just Sit Who should win? Courtney Barnett - Sometimes I Sit And Think, Sometimes I Just Sit Why? The ARIA lords could give it to Vance Joy, who lost out to Chet Faker twice last year. They could give it Tame Impala, who cleaned up with second album Lonerism back in 2013, or they could make the correct choice and give it to the standout artist of the year, CB. BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OF THE YEAR Conrad Sewell - Start Again, Courtney Barnett - Sometimes I Sit And Think, Sometimes I Just Sit, Gang Of Youths - The Positions, Jarryd James - Do You Remember, Meg Mac - MEGMAC EP Who will win? Courtney Barnett - Sometimes I Sit And Think, Sometimes I Just Sit Who should win? Meg Mac - MEGMAC EP Why? CB has been selling out shows across the entire damn world this year - but arguably, she broke out with her double EP A Sea Of Split Peas last year. It’s Meg Mac who’s the real up-and-comer in this line-up with her beautiful self-titled debut EP and a lot of worthy buzz around her, although young’n Sewell made it to the top of the ARIA charts for the first time in June this year with single Start Again. BEST FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR Courtney Barnett - Sometimes I Sit And Think, Sometimes I Just Sit, Jessica Mauboy - Can I Get A Moment?, Meg Mac - MEGMAC EP, Megan Washington - There There, Sia Elastic Heart Who will win? Courtney Barnett - Sometimes I Sit And Think, Sometimes I Just Sit Who should win? Courtney Barnett - Sometimes I Sit And Think, Sometimes I Just Sit Why? Jessica Mauboy did not win this one last year for Beautiful, losing to Sia, and she probably won’t win this year either - which is a good thing too, this song coming up as a Spotify ad kept A sight probably to be repeated at this year’s ARIAs. Tame Impala interrupting my moping teenager at the 2013 ARIA Awards. Pic: Cole Bennetts. playlist. Sia won’t win this year 16 • THE MUSIC • 18TH NOVEMBER 2015
either, even if Elastic Heart is a CHOON. Neither will the two Megs, Washo and Mac, who, despite excellent records, just can’t match CB. Barnett is inimitable, however much the Yanks are now trying. BEST MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR #1 Dads - Nominal, Daniel Johns - Talk, Guy Sebastian - Tonight Again, Jarryd James Do You Remember, Vance Joy - Dream Your Life Away Who will win? Vance Joy - Dream Your Life Away Who should win? #1 Dads - Nominal Why? Would be nice to see #1 Dads out with an ARIA win, but we see this one going to Joy, who didn’t stand a chance against Chet Faker last year. Maybe Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker should be in this category, hey? BEST GROUP OF THE YEAR 5 Seconds Of Summer - LiveSOS, AC/DC - Rock Or Bust, Hermitude - Dark Night Sweet Light, Tame Impala - Currents, The Preatures - Blue Planet Eyes Who will win? Tame Impala - Currents Who should win? Tame Impala - Currents or Hermitude - Dark Night Sweet Light Why? At least if Kev Parker had been in Best Male there’d be a contest! Here it seems like he’s destined to take out the top title, even though fellow nominee Hermitude are a worthy adversary: their gigs just keep getting bigger and bigger, and they’ve got a heap of festival slots coming up. BEST INDEPENDENT RELEASE Courtney Barnett - Sometimes I Sit And Think, Sometimes I Just Sit, Hermitude - Dark Night Sweet Light, Jarryd James - Do You Remember, Paul Kelly - The Merri Soul Sessions, Vance Joy - Dream Your Life Away Who will win? Courtney Barnett - Sometimes I Sit And Think, Sometimes I Just Sit Who should win? Courtney Barnett Sometimes I Sit And Think, Sometimes I Just Sit Why? Behold the year of CB. She can’t take out Best Album and not take out this one sorry Vance Joy, Paul Kelly, Hermitude and Jarryd James. This contest was over before it even started. BEST ADULT CONTEMPORARY ALBUM John Farnham & Olivia Newton-John - Two Strong Hearts, Megan Washington - There There, Oh Mercy - When We Talk About Love, Paul Kelly - The Merri Soul Sessions, Szymon - Tigersapp Who will win? Szymon - Tigersapp Who should win? Oh Mercy - When We Talk About Love or Megan Washington There There Why? Oh Mercy and Megan Washington’s gut-wrenching records deserve some love, but are unlikely to get it. And Kelly took this one out last year with Neil Finn for Goin’ Your Way, he’s already a mainstay of the category. But a niggling part of us thinks that Szymon might
Some of this year’s ARIA Award nominees at the event launch. Pic: Peter Sharp
just have this one; there was a lot of buzz around this posthumous release from one of those tragic musical genius types... BEST BLUES & ROOTS ALBUM CW Stoneking - Gon’ Boogaloo, Marlon Williams - Marlon Williams, The Black Sorrows - Endless Sleep, The Waifs - Beautiful You, Tim Rogers & The Bamboos - The Rules Of Attraction Who will win? Marlon Williams Marlon Williams Who should win? CW Stoneking Gon’ Boogaloo Why? Marlon Williams was the talk of this year’s CMJ Music Marathon and he deserves a win, but boy would we love to see Stoneking nab the prize. Everyone loves Tim Rogers and The Bamboos, separately and together, but we don’t think they quite cut it in the blues category. BEST COUNTRY ALBUM Catherine Britt - Boneshaker, Lee Kernaghan - Spirit Of The ANZACs, Mustered Courage White Lies And Melodies, Shane Nicholson - Hell Breaks Loose, Troy Cassar-Daley Freedom Ride Who will win? Lee Kernaghan - Spirit Of The ANZACs Who should win? Shane Nicholson - Hell Breaks Loose Why? Nicholson’s record was joyous - a new beginning for the man post-split with last year’s Country Album winner Kasey Chambers (yes, for her own break-up record, what symmetry). Kernaghan meanwhile plays to country music’s sense of history and grandeur - what better way to honour the ANZAC Centenary than to hand Kernaghan an Award on a platter. BEST DANCE RELEASE Alison Wonderland - Run, Flight Facilities
- Down To Earth, Hayden James - Something About You, Peking Duk ft SAFIA - Take Me Over, RÜFÜS You Were Right Who will win? Peking Duk ft SAFIA - Take Me Over Who should win? Alison Wonderland - Run Why? Peking Duk took this one out last year (with a little help from Nicole Millar), pipping the much-loved RÜFÜS at the post. This year they’re likely to win again as Take Me Over is an earworm, but we kinda wish we’d see Alison Wonderland take the prize. She’s been wooing festival audiences all year and her first full-length is a super interesting dance epic. BEST HARD ROCK/HEAVY METAL ALBUM Born Lion - Final Words, In Hearts Wake - Skydancer, King Parrot - Dead Set, Northlane - Node, Thy Art Is Murder Holy War Who will win? Northlane - Node Who should win? King Parrot - Dead Set Why? It’s been a massive year for Northlane, with the release of Node, their first with new vocalist Marcus Bridge, promoted with a dripfeed marketing campaign hiding tensecond cuts of their songs across the web. Has anything so brutal as King Parrot’s Dead Set ever won an ARIA? The level of intensity reaches a whole new level and should be given the nod. Besides, we could only imagine what Youngy would say too if given a chance to head up to the podium. BEST POP RELEASE Conrad Sewell - Start Again, Jarryd James - Do You Remember, Sia - Elastic Heart, Tame Impala - Let It Happen, Vance Joy - Dream Your Life Away Who will win? Vance Joy - Dream Your Life Away Who should win? Vance Joy - Dream Your Life Away or Tame Impala - Let It Happen Why? Sewell’s single was an ARIA #1 and Elastic Heart would have best film clip in the bag, but Vance Joy deserves it more, and put in a more concerted campaign to win - his people committing to American-style voterattention marketing. Plus Riptide is still catchy as all heck. But Let It Happen is a pop-psych jam-out, and we wouldn’t even mind it if Tame took out the unlikely category.
BEST ROCK ALBUM Courtney Barnett - Sometimes I Sit And Think, Sometimes I Just Sit, Dead Letter Circus - Aesthesis, Gang Of Youths - The Positions, Tame Impala Currents, The Preatures - Blue Planet Eyes Who will win? Courtney Barnett - Sometimes I Sit And Think, Sometimes I Just Sit Who should win? Courtney Barnett - Sometimes I Sit And Think, Sometimes I Just Sit Why? Best Pop and Best Rock, Tame! Greedy. Everyone loved Currents, but they still can’t beat out CB - it’s the best album of all the genres, it’s gotta take out Best Rock. BEST URBAN ALBUM Citizen Kay - Demokracy, Hiatus Kaiyote - Choose Your Weapon, Seth Sentry - Strange New Past, The Meeting Tree - R U A Cop, Tuka - Life Death Time Eternal Who will win? Hiatus Kaiyote - Choose Your Weapon Who should win? Tuka Life Death Time Eternal Why? We’ve definitely got a big soft spot for Citizen Kay, but Tuka’s record was much more diverse than the other nominated releases just totally different to anything else we’ve heard all year. Hiatus Kaiyote on the other hand have been on the scene for a while releasing solid songs - but nothing that we see matching Tuka.
When & Where: 26 Nov, The Star Event Centre. Broadcast on Ten.
THE MUSIC 18TH NOVEMBER 2015 • 17
Music
Loyal Followings
Lashes Symbol Of Peace For Paris, Jean Jullien
18 • THE MUSIC • 18TH NOVEMBER 2015
At just 28 years old, Aussie hip hop artist Kerser is dropping his fifth studio album and tells Neil Griffiths he believes he is the country’s top artist.
“I
feel like I’ve accomplished everything I said I would.... I’m at the peak of my career,” he says. “Every year I drop an album and the buzz keeps getting bigger.” While he boasts that he is one of the biggest music acts to come out of Australia, Kerser, real name Scott Barrow, doesn’t like to compare himself with other national acts. “I put myself in a lane of my own. I don’t think my music sounds like other people’s music, unless they’re biting me. I feel like I’m bringing a new sound and subject matter to rap about. There’s been street rappers, but there hasn’t been any artist in Australia that can say they’ve come from Campbelltown and actually made it. I’ve done what no Australian artist has done in Australia before and I didn’t have radio play and I didn’t have a hand in it until now.” Not only have his lyrics — which are often criticised for being misogynistic or based heavily around drugs and crime — stirred controversy in the past, but his fans have also earned themselves a reputation. In recent times, music stores around the country have sold Kerser’s records over the counter only, due to high rates of theft, and while Barrow doesn’t condone his fans’ actions, he refuses to condemn them either. “I don’t condone it, but I’ve been in the
position where I really wanted something and couldn’t get it. I don’t advise kids to steal, but I can’t contradict myself because when I was that age, I was stealing CDs from shops. I’m not going to contradict myself, I’m just keeping it 100% real. If they can’t afford it, rack it.” Barrow labels his fanbase as they most loyal of any artist in Australia. “Everything I’ve done is supported. They buy anything I put out, my merchandise goes crazy. They really jump on and support what I choose to do and they just stay loyal to everything I do. They’re not hip hop fans, they’re Kerser fans.” Though he says he was always destined to rap, Kerser admits that some of his musical tastes outside of the genre would surprise even his biggest fan. “I listen to Powderfinger, I listen to Ed Sheeran, I listen to the Nirvana Nevermind CD — I listen to a lot of other stuff,” he laughs. “Their music has a certain vibe that attracts me and calms me down. Kind of gives me a coastal vibe. I also listen to Pete Murray, that style I really like.” As for what the future holds, Kerser plans to continue to tour and release new material each year. “Ten albums in ten years — that’s the guarantee,” he says firmly. “I honestly think I can’t stop rapping. I can’t see myself stopping but once the ten comes I’ll see what position I’m in. We’re going to go on tour in February in most of the major cities and then we’re going to back it up with a regional tour. Then after that, it’s onto album six.”
What: Next Step (ABK/ADA)
THE MUSIC 18TH NOVEMBER 2015 • 19
John Farnham
Music Victoria Awards
Hall
f Fame
One of 2015’s The Age Music Victoria Hall Of Fame inductees Archie Roach chats with Bryget Chrisfield about the healing power of music and why he loves Victoria. John Farnham
Healing Is Here How many Aussies don’t know John Farnham and his legendary track You’re The Voice? He’s one of Australia’s adopted sons, as Farnham and his family initially landed from the UK in Yarraman Park and attended Yarraman State School and Lyndale Primary School. During his time at Lyndale High School, Farnham undertook a plumber’s apprentice during school holiday. However, not satisfied with a career in water piping, he went and took on pipes of a more vocal kind. Farnham maintains that he is a proud Victorian. In 1972, he was crowned King Of Moomba
T
he Age Music Victoria Awards (formerly The Age EG Awards) turn ten this year. A special concert has been scheduled to mark the occasion and also celebrate the induction of ten representatives from Victoria’s illustrious musical heritage into The Age Music Victoria Awards Tenth Anniversary Hall Of Fame. A voting panel comprising former inductees, musicians and music professionals selected the following legends who will be honoured in this way: AC/DC, Bill Armstrong, John Farnham, Olivia Newton-John, Stan Rofe, The Seekers, Sunbury Festival, Palais Theatre, The Thunderbirds and Archie Roach. Roach and Farnham are the two representatives from this year’s inductees list who will also be performing on the night alongside artists such as Brian Cadd, Mark Seymour, Colleen Hewitt and Vika Bull. Roach says he’s shared the stage with Farnham before, but while
While jokes are often spun about the numerous times we’ve seen a ‘Farewell Tour’ for him, it’s hard to crack wise when regarding the career of Farnham as an icon. He is, after all, the only Australian artist to have a number one record over five consecutive decades. You’re The Voice will continue to inspire drunken singalongs in pubs and bars all over Australia for many weekends to come and John Farnham will continue to be remembered as a legend.
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20 • THE MUSIC • 18TH NOVEMBER 2015
Farnham is scheduled to play a 30-minute set, Roach reveals, “I think I’ll be doing probably one or two songs, three even if I can squeeze in another one.” When asked what he particularly rates about Victoria, Roach says with a chuckle, “I was born here!” He was born in 1956 at Framlingham Aboriginal mission and continues, “I think [Victoria’s] a beautiful state. It’s got a lotta great places, but it’s a great place to live.” Roach’s music always conjures a distinct sense of place. One of his songs, Old Mission Road from his latest, 11th album Into The Bloodstream (2012) - is particularly close to home and he confirms it’s “about south western Victoria, the mission where my mother comes from just near Warrnambool”. He grew up in Melbourne, and Roach often includes local references within his lyrical content: “I grew up in Fitzroy, so I mention Fitzroy, Gertrude Street, Smith Street - places like that.” Reflecting back on performance highlights from a musical career that boasts impressive longevity, Roach pauses to contemplate before singling out A Day On The Green at The Hill Winery, Geelong in 2013 when he supported Leonard Cohen: “I think performing with a lot of the great artists that I’ve looked up to through the years,” Roach offers by way of conclusion. He’s also shared stages
with Bob Dylan and Joan Armatrading, but Roach quickly adds, qu “And probably the great Australian artists too, you know, Paul Kelly and others like Jimmy Little, Slim Dusty, Jimmy Barnes - I’ve loved their music through the years.” This year marks 25 years since the release of Roach’s ARIA and Human Rights Award winning debut solo album, Charcoal Lane, which features Took The Children Away - a song that is now included in the National Film & Sound Archive’s Sounds Of Australia registry of historically and culturally important recordings. Roach shared his experiences as part of the Stolen Generation of Aboriginal children (he was removed from his family at the age of three) and educated us on a part of Australia’s history many choose to ignore through his harrowing song: “They took us away/ Snatched from our mother’s breast/ Said this was for the best/Took us away.” Also in 2015 Roach, a Gunditjmara Bundjalung man, was made a Member Of The Order Of Australia (AM) for his outstanding contribution not only to the performing arts, but also for his significant contribution to the community as a spokesman for social justice. He describes music as “the better way to express myself”. “It affects people on so many levels, you know,” he praises, “and so I find that music is a good way to communicate.” Many people have reached out to Roach to share their personal stories and to tell him how much his music has moved them over the years. When asked to recall just one of these occasions, Roach offers, “I suppose one that really stands out was a young Xx
[Music] affects you in so many ways... it can pick you up and it can also help when you’re down, and when you’re going through tough times.
brother boy, a young Aboriginal guy, in Western Australia in Perth. He came up to me and he said, ‘I’d like to thank you for your song, Walking Into Doors,’ that’s a song about domestic violence, and he said, ‘I really sat down and had a long, hard think about my life, and about things, and it’s really helped me a lot,’ you know? And so, I think things like that they really, really stay with you.” He’s often found comfort in music over the years and Roach points out, “It’s a healing, isn’t it, music? It affects you in so many ways, you know: it can lift you up, it can pick you up and it can also help when you’re down, and when you’re going through tough times. It helps you through, yeah.”
What: Charcoal Lane (Festival/Warner) When & Where: 20 Nov, Music Victoria Hall Of Fame Concert, Palais Theatre; 3 Dec, Theatre Royal, Castlemaine; 4 & 5 Dec, Thornbury Theatre
Olivia NewtonJohn
Olivia Newton-John
Australia’s favourite adopted daughter, singer/actress Olivia Newton-John has spent much of her career at great heights, while taking personal battles in her stride. Newton-John moved to Melbourne with her family when she was five. Her first big break was winning a talent contest on tTV show Sing, Sing, Sing, which won her a trip to London. When she took that trip, with a Melbourne friend Pat Carroll, they created a double act Pat & Olivia, touring throughout the UK and Europe. This began a career that moved from country to pop and movies, with titles such as Grease, Xanadu and Physical now synonymous with her and bringing her major international success. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992, Newton-John became a figure-head for cancer awareness, research and charity. After a partial mastectomy and chemo, the singer began her support in development of Heidelberg’s Austin Hospital and the creation of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer & Wellness Clinic. The centre was built in two stages over 2012 and 2013 and has become a staple for Victorian and national cancer treatment.
THE MUSIC 18TH NOVEMBER 2015 • 21
Credits Publisher Street Press Australia Pty Ltd Group Managing Editor Andrew Mast National Editor – Magazines Mark Neilsen
Arts
Seeking Asylum
Editor Bryget Chrisfield Arts Editor Hannah Story Eat/Drink Editor Stephanie Liew Gig Guide Justine Lynch gigs@themusic.com.au Senior Contributor Jeff Jenkins Contributors Annelise Ball, Sarah Barratt, Sophie Blackhall-Cain, Emma Breheny, Sean Capel, Luke Carter, Anthony Carew, Uppy Chatterjee, Oliver Coleman, Darren Collins, Daniel Cribb, Cyclone, Guy Davis, Dave Drayton, Simon Eales, Guido Farnell, Tim Finney, Bob Baker Fish, Cameron Grace, Neil Griffiths, Brendan Hitchens, Kate Kingsmill, Pete Laurie, Chris Maric, Baz McAlister, Samson McDougall, Ben Meyer, Fred Negro, Danielle O’Donohue, Obliveus, Sarah Petchell, Michael Prebeg, Paul Ransom, Ali Schnabel, Dylan Stewart, Simone Ubaldi, Genevieve Wood, Evan Young, Matthew Ziccone Interns Dylan Van Der Riet, Hannah Blackburn, Lillie Siegenthaler, Brad Summers, Samuel Wall, Xavier Fennell Senior Photographer Kane Hibberd Photographers Andrew Briscoe, Dina El-Hakim, Holly Engelhardt, Jay Hynes Advertising Dept Leigh Treweek, Tim Wessling, Zoë Ryan sales@themusic.com.au Art Dept Ben Nicol Felicity Case-Mejia vic.art@themusic.com.au Admin & Accounts Loretta Zoppos, Niall McCabe, Bella Bi, Ajaz Durrani accounts@themusic.com.au Distro distro@themusic.com.au Subscriptions store.themusic.com.au Contact Us Tel 03 9421 4499 Fax 03 9421 1011 info@themusic.com.au www.themusic.com.au Level 1, 221 Kerr St, Fitzroy VIC 3065 Locked Bag 2001, Clifton Hill VIC 3068
— Melbourne
22 • THE MUSIC • 18TH NOVEMBER 2015
Co-creator Tanya Ngerengere and Assistant Creative Director Yomal Rajasinghe tell Anthony Carew about their Big West Festival performance piece, This Is Not A Protest.
B
ig West is a multicultural, multiartform festival located at the centre of Melbourne’s most multicultural suburb, Footscray. This Is Not A Protest, a performance piece staged by members and volunteers of the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre, begins right in Footscray’s heart. “Fifteen minutes before the performance starts, everyone will gather in the Nicholson Street mall and it will become a procession,” explains co-creator Tanya Ngerengere, this procession leading to the festival’s pop-up HOUSE built on Paisley Street. “The audience will become part of the performance,” Ngerengere continues. “They’ll be taken in by the performers and put through an initiation. The asylum seeker members become the interviewers and the audience members become the interviewees. Then it becomes a lottery system where people are selected to go into the house, in this Wheel Of Fortune/Sale Of The Century type situation.” This Is Not A Protest is a performance work that’s “improvised, interactive, immersive”, and is inspired by the stories of those who’ve come through the ASRC, including those still seeking asylum. “People are very generous talking about
their experiences, what they’ve gone through,” says Ngerengere. “There’s lots of memories, joyful things, sad things, really overpowering emotions. A lot of their feelings are about that situation of just sitting and waiting, not knowing what’s going to happen.” One of the contributors to This Is Not A Protest is Yomal Rajasinghe, who serves as an Assistant Creative Director. Rajasinghe first arrived in Australia in 2006, at 14, as refugee from Sri Lanka, and first came to the ASRC in search of help. “It’s really hard to be an asylum seeker,” he says. “Imagine, after you’ve been through all these terrible things back home, coming from war or hardship, and you come to a United Nations country, but when you get here you’re in limbo. You’re in a detention centre, or you don’t have work rights, study rights, Medicare. It’s a very frustrating situation, a real struggle.” Rajasinghe has been involved in ASRC performances since 2008, and volunteers at the centre. Even though he’s now a permanent resident, he’s stayed involved. “I could’ve forgotten all about being a refugee,” Rajasinghe offers, “but I knew how much work there was still to be done with asylum seekers... we can do so much better.” “The major idea behind [This Is Not A Protest],” he continues, “is to help Australians understand what asylum seekers are going through... Why are asylum seekers coming to Australia, and not another United Nations country? We want to combat all those stereotypes: ‘queue-jumpers’, ‘They’re coming to take our jobs’, ‘Australia belongs to us’. We want to give [people] new ideas, new knowledge about asylum seekers.”
What: This Is Not A Protest When & Where: 21 Nov, Big West Festival, Meet At Nicholson Street Mall
THE MUSIC 18TH NOVEMBER 2015 • 23
24 • THE MUSIC • 18TH NOVEMBER 2015
THE MUSIC 18TH NOVEMBER 2015 • 25
Award Show Performances Are Super Awkward Just super duper awkward. So you should get some friends around and drink when these things inevitably happen: Ed Sheeran will make mums’ hearts flutter everywhere.
Music
From Person To Page
Conrad Sewell will sing [insert hit generic song here]. Flight Facilities will make you feel like your home is a festival parkland at 11.30pm, minus the muddy gumboots. No, all you have is carpet and PJs and whatever cheap brand of wine you could afford today. Well done, you. Hermitude will do something incredible – 90% of the audience will talk through it. You will use the Jarryd James set to go to the bathroom. Jessica Mauboy may or may not turn up – there may be another wardrobe dispute, this time with David Jones. Your buddy says ‘Who is Nathaniel?’ and then you spend ten minutes thinking of other names for baby boys you’d use for your first son. Peking Duk will bring the club vibes up to 11 and you’ll seriously consider getting on a bus to the Cross/Melbourne CBD/wherever people hang out in Brisbane. You wont make it. The Veronicas won’t sing that hit song from the ‘00s: cue outrage. Vance Joy may or may not sing Riptide, complete with choir, your BFF will shout out “I fucking love this song!”, then pass out. Tina Arena is actually immortal. Flick back a few pages to read our ARIA Form Guide.
26 • THE MUSIC • 18TH NOVEMBER 2015
Michaela McGuire has a chat to Sarah Barratt about Women Of Letters’ latest book, From The Heart, and the letters that resonate.
W
hat do you get when you throw some writers, comedians, politicians, musicians or artists into a room together to write letters? Michaela McGuire and Marieke Hardy decided to do that five-and-a-half years ago for the first time, and they’re still going. Thanks to volcanic activity, McGuire is stuck in Seminyak for the interview after Ubud Writer’s Festival, the third year Women Of Letters have been invited. They bring letter-writing into the here and now. They don’t record, tweet or podcast anything. “We still don’t feel right about ever podcasting or filming our shows, but the idea of giving people a couple of years to consider if they’re happy for their letter to appear on the page, it’s something that sits really well with us,” McGuire says. The only format outside of live performance these two honour for the letters is books, and the old-school approach seems to be working in their favour. “There’s no selection process, like once they’ve done a show, we’re really happy for them to put their letter into a book. And it’s sort of just about how quickly Penguin can get the books out now.” The latest installment, From The Heart, shifts gears away from international talents back to Australian stories, coming from The Monthly regular Karen Hitchcock,
radio veteran Derryn Hinch, politician Penny Wong, playwright David Williamson and restaurateur Stephanie Alexander just to name a few. McGuire is the first to admit that they’re not a conventional literary event or publication, which is why they’re so appealing. “We invite men and women to contribute and they write a letter to ‘the thing I wish I’d written’. And it’s such a strange, funny topic, and people have interpreted it so wildly. I mean we’ve had people write letters to the American national anthem.” The success of these collections lies in their depth and scope. Each text is curated out of two years’ worth of letters, written by diverse individuals whose ability to draw out the most deeply personal moments is truly a testament to the power of these events and to the form of letters. “There’s this incredible one of them with Kristin Williamson, who was paired up with her husband [playwright] David Williamson... and she wrote this incredible letter about the night he had a stroke at a restaurant and all the thoughts that went through her head when she thought that he was going to die. “He [David] stood up at the end of it and said, ‘I didn’t know what you were going to speak about and how can anything that I say now compare to this?’ He was just weeping and saying, ‘I’m sorry, Kristin, I love you’ and he just sort of brandished this letter that he would never read. But, he has allowed us to publish it, so, reading it in the book was actually the first time I got to see what the second half of that letter was.”
What: From The Heart: Women Of Letters (Penguin)
THE MUSIC 18TH NOVEMBER 2015 • 27
Music
Break On Through Allen Stone is a neo-soul singer intent on leaving a legacy. However, he opens up to Rip Nicholson about going down the commercial route and having the weight taken out of his music.
“T
his isn’t necessarily public knowledge,” Stone lets slip. “I’m not sure if my publicist will be excited about me saying this, but that’s exactly what happened!” After his first two self-released records, Last To Speak (2010) and Allen Stone (2011) - the latter of which reached Billboard’s Top 10 on the Heatseekers chart, and the Top 5 on iTunes’ R&B/Soul chart - this past May Stone dropped his third, Radius, built with Swedish singersongwriter Magnus Tingsek and produced by Benny Cassette. It’s his first time on major label Capitol Records. “I did the full record in Sweden - a bunch of songs that really meant something, like Fake Future, American
I would much rather have respect for myself than to have money.
Privilege and Circle and Capitol came back and said, ‘We don’t hear any hits; we need you to go back in and write with this person and this person.’ So, I went back but once again the songs weren’t poppy enough. They’d finally decided on one song, a song called Freedom that was probably the worst song I’ve ever written in my life. And that was the one they went to radio with. It flopped. I went into Capitol about a month ago and said, ‘Please, please, please drop me! You’re ruining all the work I’d done over the years with your corporate-mandated recording label. Please drop me.’ And they complied; they dropped me, which was a huge blessing.” Stone has since done a 180 with Radius, returning to Dave Matthews’ ATO Records, who released his second 28 • THE MUSIC • 18TH NOVEMBER 2015
record and who are set to re-release his new album worldwide with new songs and bonus material. “It was a big win for me. I would much rather have respect for myself than to have money,” he states. “I don’t ever see artists who take that path cultivating a legacy. They may sell millions and millions of dollars worth of product but nobody gives a shit about them after they leave. Their music doesn’t stick around. I’d much rather have music that impacted generations to come - my grandkids’ grandkids - than to have extra money in my bank account when I die.” Tracks such as American Privilege, which paints a glaring dichotomy the first world faces in regards to a dependency grown from the misery of others less fortunate in the world, also illustrate the socially conscious landscape provided in Stone’s catalogue. “I really only write stuff that means something to me personally. The music that really turned me on was that like, the ‘70s protest and civil rights movement when young people were really shaping my country. Nowadays, they’re just blatantly in debt and working their lives away. They used to be able to go and picket and have discussions to change the perspective of our leadership, but nowadays it seems like there is so much white noise that is pervading the minds of young adults, it’s really hard for us to unite for a purpose. “There’s so much just cotton candy, cookie-cutter, in my opinion, just weightless music,” adds Stone. “Maybe it was the way I was raised or just sorta like a juxtaposition I have, but I feel like if I have a microphone I should be using it more impactful.” Through the journey of his uncompromising souldriven music of protest, Stone has found challenges along the way. His jamming with Miles Davis’ keyboardist and Raphael Saadiq’s rhythm section for his second LP seemingly appeared to the marketplace all too black for the image of the self-proclaimed strung-out, hippie white kid out of Chewelah, Washington State. “It’s been a relatively uphill battle for me because of the way I look,” he continues. “I’m making a living doing music and that exceeds any expectations that I ever had when I picked up a guitar and started writing songs. I’m makin making music that I believe is different and not the same as eve everyone else and I’m proud of that. Pl Playing at this year’s Bluesfest, Stone confides that he see sees his music as therapeutic; he taps into the soul of his au audience and provides solace any way he can. “T “That’s what my shows are really all about: taking a group of people and attempting to help them forget anything that would be weighing them down through the week. So I hope people would come and find that. The music is just a platform to cultivate a community of energy. So hopefully people can expect to find that safety, that freedom.”
When & Where: 26 & 28 Mar, Bluesfest, Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm; 31 Mar, Corner Hotel
Please Steal Christmas
I
n the months before Christmas, when we don’t even care, Christmas decorations appear with a flair. Barely noticed, they creep into sight, with tinsel and bells and bows — what a fright! They’re in every store, adorn every aisle; the very sight of them raises Christmassy bile. On behalf of the sanity of Australia, we beg of you David Jones... The White Christmas theme that springs up in late August has to stop. And you there, 7-Eleven, those Christmas tree donuts are disgusting, and we’re still digesting the pumpkin ones from Halloween. And don’t think you can escape that easy, enthusiastic next-door neighbour. We see you with your $10,000 light installation trying to out-do last year’s street light extravaganza. Putting as many lights on the house as you can until it is discernable from space doesn’t make you a winner — it makes you light pollution. We’re saying “bah humbug!” We’ve gone full Ebenezer Scrooge. We are channelling the spirit of the Grinch to come down from Mount Crumpit and steal the bloody Christmas lights! There’s an overlap of plastic skeletons and Santa Clauses somewhere around 1 November (a display swap that would terrify small children in transit). Halloween has been marketed to us from the far US, and we’ve embraced it, we get that. We like dressing up and eating candy and it’s an excuse to get drunk in a skimpy mouse costume a la Mean Girls. But can we please deal with our hangovers in peace without the hammering, drilling and jingling of a million yuletide decorations being thrust up in
shopping malls around the country the following day? Seriously. Give us time to grieve the end of one holiday before ramming another down our throats. Speaking of ramming, since when is a car a viable Christmas gift? It can’t fit down the chimney, Ford. Believe it or not, we’re actually less likely to buy a brand new car if you’re singing, “I’m dreaming of a whiteeee Focusss” at us every commercial break. And you know what? We really do like Christmas and all the timings and trappings on offer, but by the time we actually get to the week before D-Day and start writing our letters to Santa (the new Mac lipstick, an endless supply of wine and Ryan Gosling naked in our Santa sack) we are sick of it entirely. Sick of the whole damn operation. And on a final note, why the fuck do you feel the need to put up Easter eggs the second the tinsel comes down?
all I want for
christmas is books Cats Postcards – Mesdemoiselles Three things we love: cats, postcards and colouring-in, all combined in a book. Never again pay to send loved ones a token from your living room. It’s also under $10 for you cheapskates. Hamlyn, $9.99 Natural Born Keller – Amanda Keller Amanda Keller injects comedy and nostalgia into her autobiography, allowing us a peek behind the screen and some seriously funny memories. Allen And Unwin, $29.99 Cross Justice – James Patterson Who doesn’t love a gripping thriller, and in the grisly murders and unseen plot twists of the Alex Cross library we trust. It’s also an excuse to pick up one (all) of the other 22 in the series. Random House, $32.99 Brynn Davies
THE MUSIC 18TH NOVEMBER 2015 • 29
What We’d Like To See At The ARIAs A wishlist if you will.
Music
Stay Young
Tim Rogers drunk on the ARIA stage, slagging off industry big wigs/tossers. Puppies on the red carpet, just loads of them. An all-puppy red carpet, plus Delta Goodrem dressed up as her character in Cats. Angela Bishop diving on Chris Isaak a la Amy Schumer on Kanye. Taylor Swift arriving as Ed Sheeran’s date – and Joel Creasey begging to be in her squad (along with Vance Joy). Chet Faker rolling up to the ceremony dressed in a towel. The Real Housewives Of Melbourne #FreeTheNipple. Tame Impala playing a very quiet secret set. A special appearance from Camilla and Charles – interviewed by Molly Meldrum. Daniel Johns jumping on stage in a fur coat and shouting, “Imma let you finish but Paul Mac had the best album of all time.” CW Stoneking actually showing up to the ceremony. Flick back a few pages to read our ARIA Form Guide.
30 • THE MUSIC • 18TH NOVEMBER 2015
Legendary singer-songwriter Robert Forster tells Steve Bell about the importance of “borrowing” ideas from his younger peers.
I
t’s been a fair while between drinks for inveterate Brisbane singer-songwriter Robert Forster, whose new solo album Songs To Play trails seven years behind his previous long-player, The Evangelist (2008). It’s a bright and breezy album, utilising the skills of young Brisbane musicians Scott Bromiley and Luke McDonald (of The John Steel Singers) in both band and production roles, which is all quite reminiscent of when Forster first returned to Brisbane in the early ‘90s after years spent living abroad and hooked up with the Custard cabal to work on 1993’s Calling From A Country Phone. “Yeah it is, it reminded me of that of course,” Forster smiles. “Both albums were done in Brisbane. I like working with younger musicians - they think they’re getting the experience and all the benefits of working with an older musician and they don’t see that I’m pinching ideas from them. I get as much of an exchange out of working with Dave McCormack, Glenn Thompson, Robert Moore those musicians I was working with on Calling From A Country Phone - I got as much from working with them as I did with Scott and Luke. “And I like being around them, I produced the first John Steel Singers album [Tangalooma (2010)] and I got as much out of working with them just seeing how young people work. Suddenly they’re in the practice
room and they’re starting to record things with their phones - I don’t even have a mobile phone! It’s all interesting, and you’ve got to keep yourself open to fresh ideas and fresh blood.” Songs To Play’s upbeat tone is almost the polar opposite of the sombre The Evangelist, which arrived in the aftermath of the sad passing of Forster’s long-term partner in The Go-Betweens, Grant McLennan. “It’s the songs and the feelings that bounced out of The Evangelist,” Forster tells. “I really came out of that record - which was a very intense and at times sad record with its own atmosphere, which I totally stand by and like - but as soon as we went on tour with that I found myself writing these songs and starting to work on these songs, and it was almost as if unconsciously they were a lot more upbeat and a lot more playful. I was really happy that these types of songs were coming to me, they really feel like the songs I needed after The Evangelist and after Grant’s passing; there was an initial sense of shock and grief, and then a couple of years went by and then I could feel that a new phase in my career - a whole new phase in my life - was coming along, and these songs were the product of it. “I really love the lightness of some of it, and they’re a group of Brisbane songs too. There’s a sort of lightness to Brisbane as well - we’re not living in Berlin, we’re not living in Warsaw, we’re not in Brooklyn. It’s not that type of music that inspires me here, it’s more of a melodic, poppy feel that I get here at times. It’s like driving through [inner-city Brisbane suburb] Bardon - that’s what the album’s like.”
What: Songs To Play (EMI) When & Where: 27 Nov, Queenscliff Music Festival; 28 Nov, Thornbury Theatre
THE MUSIC 18TH NOVEMBER 2015 • 31
Indie Indie
Mild Manic
Anti-Violet
Tom Dockray & The Dockadoodledoos
Northside Bowls Fiesta
EP Focus
EP Focus
Album Focus
For The Benefit Of:
Answered by: Sam Rees
Answered by: Ashlin Johnson
Answered by: Tom Dockray
Answered by: Manu Venn
EP title? Mild Manic
EP Title: Janus-Faced
Album title? One Finger Salute
How many releases do you have now? This is our second release. We released our debut single Mary Does Jane around this time last year.
How many releases do you have now? Prior to Janus-Faced we released a two track in 2012. Since then we’ve been defying the gods to put this together.
Was anything in particular inspiring you during the making? The EP explores a lot of different feelings and inspirations... moving away from comfort to follow dreams, mainly. A lot of life’s curve balls and how to deal with them knowing everything will be alright.
Was anything in particular inspiring you during the making? Conceptually, I was inspired by the doomed love in Poe’s Annabel Lee, my anxiety, questions of existence, Fight Club and dystopian societies. I became fascinated by Janus the two-faced god who could see through time.
Where did the title of your new album come from? The title track, One Finger Salute, which is a seething narrative about a corrupt, corporate-pandering politician lying on his deathbed, face-palming about his mistakes — which also nicely sums up the cheery sentiment of the record.
Who/what is the benefit for? All proceeds fund the work of: The Thin Green Line Foundation, Borneo Orangutang Survival Australia, Animals Fiji, The Wildlife Rescuers.
What’s your favourite song on it? Quasong. This track out of the lot has the most meaning and story. It shows us as a whole. We’ll like this EP if we like... It has been said we have sounds like Minus The Bear, The Kooks, Kings Of Leon. If you surf or skate and love a party this could be your dinner. When and where is your launch/ next gig? We are right in the middle of our east coast tour... next up is our Melbourne launch at The Workers Club on 22 Nov. Website link for more info? facebook.com/mildmanic
What’s your favourite song on it? I have a love-hate relationship with all of the songs, but I’d probably say I hate Spilling Plans the least. We’ll like this EP if we like: Excessively drinking coffee, long walks on gravel, hiding from humans, perpetual angst and wiping your tears with sandpaper while you cry yourself to sleep. When and where is your launch/ next gig? The EP launch will be held at The Bendigo on 26 Nov. We’re attempting to turn the venue into an art installation of sorts, come join us! Website link for more info? facebook.com/AntiViolet
How many releases do you have now? Three. The Take Care single, the Iron Suit EP, and my debut LP One Finger Salute. How long did it take to write/ record? Writing took a while, maybe six months. Recording was a breeze; we tracked and mixed the record in under 24 hours. Was anything in particular inspiring you during the making? The record owes something to both John Prine and Don Walker, and as for the production we really wanted to capture the feeling of a bunch of dudes playing live on the porch. What’s your favourite song on it? Venice, a song about a homeless guy I met busking at Venice Beach last year. Will you do anything differently next time? I’ll be disappointed if I’m making the same record over again, but no question I’d work with the same dudes. When and where is your launch/ next gig? The B.East on 5 Dec. Website link for more info? facebook.com/thomascharles
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Why do they need help? Each of these charities work towards helping, preserving and saving the lives of animals everyday. There is never enough money or hours in the day, but we endeavour to make a difference. What’s the current situation like? Borneo is burning, humans and animals are dying every day; the inspirational and selfless people of Borneo Orangutan Survival Australia are risking their health and working incredibly hard in order to save many lives. Who else is helping on the night? Northside Bowls Fiesta is proud to present: The Elliotts (pictured), Zac Slater, Kurt Gentle, Lasseter’s Reef and Bec Smith plus DJ sounds from Morning Maxwell, Julian Castles and Anna May. When and where can we help out? Sunday 22 Nov, 12-6pm, Princes Park Bowls Club. Website link for more info? facebook.com/ northsidebowlsfiesta
THE MUSIC 18TH NOVEMBER 2015 • 33
So You Didn’t Get A Ticket To The ARIAs? That’s ok! You can catch the ARIAs on Ten (and check out our live coverage on Twitter, Periscope and Instagram). Here’s the answers to some FAQ.
Music
Growing From Experience
Who’s hosting the ceremony? Andrew G and James Mathison Osher Günsberg Who’s hosting the red carpet? Joel Creasey, Angela Bishop, Scott Tweedie and Liv Phyland Oh God, what does that all mean? Who are these people? You know who these people are! Günsberg hosts The Bachelor/ette – which should mean a totally unexpected appearance from Sam Frost, and hopefully the throwing of shade to anyone who crosses her. It means Creasey, who you remember from I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! and his A+ comedy sets, will make wise cracks and be caught holding hands with BFF Chrissie Swan. It means Angela Bishop will continue to be Angela Bishop, effectively squashing the hopes and dreams of any wannabe Entertainment Reporter who dares to come within a kilometre radius (except you Richard Wilkins, you can be old hat together). I love it when middle-aged ladies try to flirt with One Direction. I just love it. This year she’ll have Ed Sheeran in her sights. And finally it means The Loop co-hosts Tweedie and Phyland will experience high ratings for the first time ever (SICK BURN). Flick back a few pages to read our ARIA Form Guide.
34 • THE MUSIC • 18TH NOVEMBER 2015
Following a triumphant return from Europe, The Rumjacks’ frontman Frankie McLaughlin tells Dylan Stewart about sleeping in, spelling mistakes and his growing connection with his audience.
F
rankie McLaughlin is awake at ten in the morning, but one gets the sense he’d prefer to still be under the covers of his Sydney bed. “It’s a wet one here today so I haven’t gotten too far. I’m certainly not about to debunk the myth that we musicians do anything before midday!” Given the year that McLaughlin’s band The Rumjacks have had - not to mention a rather large rehearsal last night - a sleep-in is probably due. 2015 saw the band’s first major European tour: close to 40 shows crammed in with barely a night off. “It really let us know what we could and couldn’t do. It also happened to be the hottest summer on recent record, so it was a nightly assault on the system.” The band combined a few festival slots with a swag of sweaty pub gigs, playing to packed rooms that helped validate the band’s trajectory. “When you get dropped in a place that you didn’t even know existed until you got there, it’s hard to know what to expect. We were received incredibly, and what’s more, the fans were singing along to every word of every song. They were wearing our t-shirts that they’d had for three years that aren’t even in stock any more, and we were thinking, ‘Gee, they’ve been following us for quite a while.’” Now, armed to the teeth with their latest record Sober & Godless and with a European summer’s worth of gigs under their collective belt, The Rumjacks are ready to hit some of
their more familiar Australian stages - and one not-sofamiliar one. “I discovered after doing the poster artwork for our Victorian shows that Warrnambool, in south-west Victoria, has two Rs in it, and not one. I suspect the good folk of Warrnambool will let us know all about it, so let’s hope there’s not too much backlash when they see the tour poster.” Spelling errors aside, things are certainly looking up for The Rumjacks, which is an achievement in itself considering their ascension was suddenly halted when, in 2012, McLaughlin was sent to prison on a domestic violence-related charge. But after recently aligning themselves with anti-domestic violence campaign #notON at BIGSOUND, it’s clear McLaughlin and his band are on a path of redemption. “We had some good discussions with [the promoters of #notON] ahead of our BIGSOUND show, and we’ll continue to discuss back and forth with them opportunities to help out in a tangible way. There are a lot of things that we wouldn’t be too ready to align ourselves with, or race off to champion; we don’t think that’s our position. But there are some organisations like these guys who we have no problem at all involving ourselves with whatsoever.” So as they hit the road, playing shows across the width and breadth of the country, The Rumjacks will continue doing what they do best: putting on a hell of a show. It might involve an early morning or two, but McLaughlin says, “I think when you’ve got people who are that ready to be entertained, it’s easy to be an entertainer. For a while we would just get on stage, hammer through as many songs as possible, and walk off. Now we’re doing more than that; we’re connecting with our audience, and having a lot of fun in the process.”
When & Where: 19 Nov, The Bendigo; 20 Nov, Barwon Club, Geelong; 21 Nov, The Loft, Warrnambool
In Focus Let ’s Nut It Out 2
Let’s Nut It Out returns tonight, seven years on, with Pete Helliar back in the organiser’s chair. The last event raised thousands for AnaphylaxiSTOP to fund medical research, and is set to raise even more for the charity this time around. It’s a cause close to Helliar’s heart, as his son Liam suffers from anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction to
food, medicines and insect stings, whose incidences only continue to rise. The line-up this time around is chockers with comedy royalty: host Helliar will be joined by Dave Hughes, Arj Barker, Lawrence Mooney, Dave Thorton, Celia Pacquola, Joel Creasey, Nazeem Hussain, Anne Edmonds and Adam Rozenbachs.
Let’s Nut It Out 2 is on 18 Nov at Athenaeum Theatre.
Music
Keeping A Distance My Disco guitarist Ben Andrews talks reinvention and the benefits of distance with Matthew Tomich.
“U
sually our whole idea is to do something really as different as we can from previous stuff,” says My Disco guitarist Ben Andrews. And if their recently released fourth album Severe is anything, it’s different. While Little Joy maintained the off-kilter discomfort of the band’s prior records, it was also bursting with a sun-soaked warmth driven by the endless groove of Andrews’ guitar strums. Severe feels like a massive departure. My Disco’s music was always jarring and demanding, but never this dark. Andrews’ guitar takes a step back, whirring in the background like a piece of machinery in the distance. The
I think that’s better for us — to try and write in a quick period, record in a quick period.
groove is still there, but it’s cold and more dissonant than before. Bassist/vocalist Liam Andrews and drummer Rohan Rebeiro wield their instruments like power tools, pummelling harsh and urgent rhythms like something out of a tech-noir dystopia. Any of these tracks would fit perfectly on the first Terminator soundtrack. “We wanted to make a cold, harsh and bleak-sounding record, something that sounded really alien,” says Andrews. “Even though we’re essentially a rock band, that term doesn’t really describe our music much.” 36 • THE MUSIC • 18TH NOVEMBER 2015
Indeed, My Disco have been classed as punk, minimalist, noise-rock, dance music. Severe incorporates all of those things and more, but it’s not the record My Disco thought they were going to make when they started writing the follow-up to Little Joy. “We tried to record a bunch of really different stuff: really wild sort of ambient stuff, electronic drums, a lot of digitally processed vocals stuff that we were thinking was going to be a bit of a cool direction,” says Andrews. “It sounded cool but it wasn’t really My Disco at all. It was something else.” One song did emerge from those sessions in the form of Guided, an ethereal and beat-driven track that appeared on a compilation LP put out through Sub Pop. Part of the directional change is thanks to Cornel Wilczek, a film composer, producer and engineer who worked with the band on their 2012 single Wrapped Coast, the scrapped sessions and Severe. “I think with the way that we write these days, [the songs are] very loose structures. We no longer have a song with a beginning, middle and end when we record it; we just have an idea. Cornel’s so good at nurturing that idea — coming up with post-production, structural ideas, looping, and gadget and wizardry — that it kind of made sense for him. It’s like he was the only person that could record it the way that we’d sort of half-assedly written it, if you will. So he’s as much to credit for the overall structure and ideas as we are.” The other factor driving My Disco’s creativity is separation. With the three members spread across the world — between Melbourne, Europe and Southeast Asia — the band now operate in concentrated bursts, making their time together all the more urgent and productive. “It’s kind of exciting that because we’ve been living apart, we’re not just rehearsing once a week in Melbourne, which gets pretty boring. We meet up once every six months and do some stuff. And when music flows out of that, you’re really excited and it sort of snowballs. I find we’ve become quite creative quite quickly. I think that’s better for us — to try and write in a quick period, record in a quick period. Because otherwise we’ll get bored and want to move on and do other stuff.”
What: Severe (Temporary Residence) When & Where: 21 Nov, Shadow Electric; 28 Nov, Paradise Music Festival, Lake Mountain
Music
Love, Drugs And Therapy
When traditional therapy isn’t enough, take MDMA. Simon Eales talks to David Woods about Give Me Your Love, exploring the unconventional treatment for PTSD.
A
sense for radical discontinuity is behind David Woods’ new theatrical work, Give Me Your Love. “We always like to surprise ourselves with what our show will be, and often try and get as far away from the previous work as possible,” he says of his and artistic partner Jon Haynes’ process, “just to keep ourselves interested and our audiences guessing, as much as anything.” The previous work in question is their company Ridiculusmus’s much acclaimed The Eradication Of Schizophrenia In Western Lapland. While both shows look at a subject close to the company’s heart - mental illness and its social effects - the latest takes a brilliantly unconventional perspective. Give Me Your Love is about the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder - but not your conventional ‘talk it out’ method. “We sort of reference the history of post-traumatic stress; the shell shock of the Vietnam War et cetera. The sort of methods used then are addressed and dismissed quite quickly. ‘I’ve done prolonged exposure,’ - one of the methods that the American army used - ‘and it doesn’t work,’ says my character, ‘I don’t want to do that.’” What Woods found in his research is that the party drug MDMA works emphatically well for the treatment of “chronic, resistant post-traumatic stress”. “It was very hard to
find someone to commit,” he says of his search for willing psychiatrists to aid in that research, “because we were clearly strongly advocating for the talking treatment in Lapland. But, one very progressive and enlightened psychiatrist from South West England called Dr Ben Sessa offered to share his experience with us.” Sessa’s clinical trials proved use of the drug in its pure form to be dazzlingly effective. “The participants describe it as being as effective as 20 years of therapy,” Woods says. “It facilitates very quick feelings of trust and comfort.” So undeniable is the success of this approach that Woods had to search for the show’s theatrical hook elsewhere. “We came across, in a documentary, an American war vet who was too far away to attend the trials... so he decided to enact his own trials by sourcing the best MDMA he could get through street drug selling... and booked himself in with a therapist.” Happy with the results, the veteran then tries to rope in his friends. This became the play’s premise. Drama ensues as Woods’ character goes through “a corrupted, partial version of what happens at these trials”. Ridiculusmus’s creation of the show began with an improvisation at a workshop with the Welsh theatre company, Hijinx. There happened to be a woman involved who, prone to bouts of narcolepsy, recorded the experiences. Woods and Haynes borrowed her tape and Give Me Your Love’s dialogue was meticulously crafted from there. “We will probably get to a stage where we become so familiar with the script we might actually riff off from that,” Woods says. “It keeps it very much alive in front of an audience.”
What: Give Me Your Love When & Where: 18 - 22 Nov, North Melbourne Town Hall, Arts House
Cashing In For
Chrissie
With the holiday season coming up, we’ve noticed that some rock stars’ close ones are trying to scrape in some extra moolah – in need of funds just like us regular folk, eh? Pulling in a meagre $2.4m for the Christmas fund, an early ‘60s Gibson acoustic guitar previously owned by John Lennon was sold at auction this past fortnight by a private seller. The guitar had been stolen from Lennon on Christmas 1963 and was unknowingly purchased by a London musician weeks later. One act of petty crime has given this lucky Londoner a very lavish Christmas. At the same auction, the dirty olive green cardigan worn by Kurt Cobain during Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged performance sold for loose change somewhere to the tune of $137,500, a bargain by comparison. I plan to pay for all my Christmas presents by selling my unwashed clothing too, much to the dismay of my friends and family. As any Elvis memorabilia that escapes the clutches of the mansionturned-museum that is Graceland will always fetch a high price, what better way would there be to expand the holiday budget than to sell off The King’s 24-carat gold leaf grand piano? Acquired by Hard Rock Café for $600,000, the instrument will be displayed in one of the chain’s landmark stores. Christmas Lunch at Hard Rock, anyone? Another Beatles clan in need of some extra eggnog cash, Ringo Starr will be auctioning off some of his most valuable Beatles artefacts this December, including the drum-kit he used on The Ed Sullivan Show (expected to fetch somewhere between $300,000-$500,000) and over 150 of the band’s recordings. Dylan Van Der Riet THE MUSIC 18TH NOVEMBER 2015 • 37
Music
Blood Brothers
“Fourteen
Nights At Sea might not be redefining their genre, but they’re breathing new life into a style mired by repetitive tropes and imitators.
“
Album Of The Week Page 44
Frontman Howard Jones is kicking ass in his new band Devil You Know, but he tells Steve Bell that his thoughts still turn to past flames.
I
n 2012, after nine years as their vocalist, singer Howard Jones was summarily dismissed from the ranks of metalcore legends Killswitch Engage. It seemed that he wasted little time getting over it, soon joining Aussie drummer John Sankey (Devolved, Fear Factory) and ex-All Shall Perish guitarist Francesco Artusato to form new LA outfit Devil You Know. They quickly dropped their debut The Beauty Of Destruction in 2014 to great acclaim, and have quickly followed that up with the even more accomplished They Bleed Red. “The first album we didn’t know each other, we just said, ‘Ok, let’s write an album and see if it works,’” recalls Jones. “And it worked out fine - we were very happy with it - but then getting to tour together we thought [for the follow-up], ‘Let’s make it more heavy, let’s make the melodies more pronounced and let’s just do what we want, and hopefully people still dig it.’ “I always try to write personal lyrics, but at the same time I try to stretch out and that’s where the title came from: a friend of mine, Eddie, who’s a fighter and trains fighters, I said to him, ‘Man, I’m writing about myself but at the same time I’m writing about people I know who’ve been through the things I’ve been through,’ and he said, ‘You know what, people hurt just like you do,’ and I was, like, ‘Wow, I’ve been hurting for a
long time and it’s easy to write about myself, but now I’m gonna write things about myself and others because they hurt like I do and bleed like I do - they bleed red.’” In the intervening years Jones was also diagnosed as being manic depressive with bipolar issues, and this revelation put his wayward behaviour in his final months with Killswitch Engage into clear context. “Man, with Killswitch, those guys are friends and it sucks really badly that I went through everything I did and that I hurt them,” Jones offers forlornly. “How can I describe this? I was in the worst way, and they didn’t know what was happening with me and I wasn’t in a place that I was ready to say, ‘Hey, you know what? I’m depressed, I’m screwed up, I don’t even know what’s wrong with me.’ The thing is that they were there for me, but I wasn’t ready to say, ‘This is what’s wrong with me’ - I never knew. I kinda punched some of my best friends in my face, and it sucks. “I’m very happy that things are going well [for me], and at the same time I’m very happy that they are doing even better. I hurt my friends. I wasn’t able to say, ‘This isn’t from my heart, this is just this screwiness that I’m going through and I’m so sorry.’ I wish I could have said that, but I had no clue! I had no idea, I was a screwed up guy. So now I’m very happy with the guys I’m with, but man I miss those [Killswitch] guys.’”
What: They Bleed Red (Nuclear Blast) When & Where: 26 Jan, Soundwave, Melbourne
Music
Brendan Harvey describes Jackson Firebird as “this four-armed, four-legged, onebrain machine”, which Bryget Chrisfield thinks is awesome until she remembers the frontman’s bandmate is also his brother-in-law.
W
e find one half of Jackson Firebird, Brendan Harvey, in Williamstown. “I’m going for a bit of a fish, don’t tell anyone,” he chuckles. But we can’t help ourselves. He’s from Mildura, so it kinda makes sense. “I grew up on a river so I don’t mind a bit of a fish just to chill out and [have] a quiet beer,” he confirms. “I’m actually a boat builder by trade, so if I’m just out muckin’ around on a boat I’m happy.” The boys have been playing together for nine years, which Harvey admits is “pretty scary”. “So we’re either sucking at it or it’s just gone really quickly,” he laughs. Even scarier for the frontman is the amount of years the duo has spent “jamming instruments together”. “I think it’s nearly 20 years!” he estimates. “We were kids, I think I was, like, 13 when I contacted Dale [Hudak] to see if he could drum in a band and we were sort of the only two rockin’ up to band practice.” The pair’s intuitive playing is pretty much why Jackson Firebird wound up as a two-piece. “We tried to get the bass player and the singer and the lead guitarist, and it just never gelled,” Harvey reveals. “And the two of us have been bashing our heads together for that long that we just
know when we’re gonna change, like, in a riff... We sorta just turn into one brain. Even on the road we start eatin’ the same food, which really scares me. It’s just really weird: you turn into this four-armed, fourlegged, one-brain machine.” He had The Master’s Apprentices on high rotation in high school and Harvey admits to being “massively into The Easybeats” as well. “I had one tape - I think it was in Year 11 - and I used to sorta freak people out ‘cause they’d be, ‘Oh, what’re you listening to?’ and, you know, I’d [have] The Easybeats on one side of my tape and then I’d have Pantera Vulgar Display Of Power on the other side. And even still today I freak Dale out because I always just put The Easybeats on in the ute while we’re drivin’ and I just sing the back-ups. All the, ‘Bo-bo-bo-bobo-bo-bo-bo-bop,’ but it’s awesome fun.” His bandmate is also his brother-in-law so we’ve just gotta know when Hudak started dating Harvey’s sister. “Oh, I don’t wanna know,” he cringes. “I think they’d hooked up pre-band just for a, you know, a bit of the old...” When Harvey took over the lease for a house his parents had rented for years (“which I got thrown out of through excessive partying”) he reckons Hudak and his sister “really hooked up and got very serious”. “And I think not that long after that, I was standing there as one of the best men in the wedding party thinkin’, ‘This is too weird.’” So did he try to turn a blind eye and hope that it wouldn’t work at first? “Ah, no, I just thought it was cool ‘cause, you know, he wasn’t a dick,” he laughs, “and we got along pretty well... And he’s got a coupla kids now so I’m the crazy uncle and, yeah! It’s good fun.”
What: Shake The Breakdown (Warner) When & Where: 19 Nov, The Workers Club, Geelong; 20 Nov, Sandbar, Mildura; 21 Nov, Evelyn Hotel; 28 Nov, Pelly Bar
This Week’s Releases
Releases
Joining Forces
Adele 25 XL/ Remote Control
Jaala Hard Hold Wondercore Island/ Warner
The Tongue Hard Feelings Elefant Traks/Inertia
Fourteen Nights At Sea Minor Light Hobbledehoy
THE MUSIC 18TH NOVEMBER 2015 • 39
Eat / Eat/Drink
Liz Matthews,
Rochford Wines
Liz Matthews, National Wine Sales Manager at Rochford Wines, talks wine at A Day On The Green.
A Day On The Green is as much about the wining and dining as it is about the music, so here we check out the food and drink sid de off thin ngs s. Michael Newton Michael Newton of Roundhouse Entertainment, promoter of A Day On The Green, talks food and drink at the festival. A Day On The Green is all about good food, fine wine and great music — what do these things look like to you? I would like to think it looks like any A Day On The Green show but those three things definitely make people happy wherever they are! Are you a red or white wine man? Either, but partial to a big Pinot. A Day On The Green champions BYO food to its concerts — in fact, you even have a ‘picnic of the day prize’! How do you decide who wins? Does it come down to choice of cheeses or is it more about imaginative ideas? We actually look around through the crowd to find a great picnic. People spend a lot of time making sure they eat well! We’ve seen some amazing spreads over the years.
40 • THE MUSIC • 18TH NOVEMBER 2015
There is a selection of food available for purchase if people forget to pack the picnic basket — what sort of grub can we expect to find? It depends on the winery (we play at 14 different locations) but there is loads of variety. Everything from salt and pepper squid, to tacos, gourmet pizza and decent coffee. The vendors are all quality outlets from the local areas. We also have the Garden Bar option, which is an upgrade from your concert ticket to have an all-day barbie, private bar, toilets and a place to hang with your friends. What has been the weirdest foodstuff you’ve seen brought into A Day On The Green? A bottle of vodka up a roast chicken... Honest! What will be in your esky at this year’s A Day On The Green? I think I’ll eat at the food outlets — or ask my wife.
What’s the secret to a good drop of vino? Choose wines from a known region and always try the styles that that region is recognised for, like Yarra Valley and their Chardonnay or Pinot Noir. How long have you been doing brilliant things with the grape? Rochford has been producing fine wines in both Macedon and the Yarra Valley since 1998. You are hosting A Day On The Green this year - have you got anything special planned for it? Sure - we are about to release the new vintages of some of our 2015 wines. 2015 was a stunning year and so watch out for our Yarra Valley Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir on the day.
/ Drink Eat/Drink
Besides the wine, of course, what else does your winery offer? New Head Chef Raki Andriana is bringing a fresh, contemporary style to our food offerings this season and wait until you see our gorgeous new interior of the restaurant after three months of renovations!
Any wine recommendations for concert-goers? Always start with a glass of our 2011 Isabella’s Vineyard Blanc de Blanc sparkling wine - the perfect aperitif and start to the day - and then move through to your favourite wine style using the weather and your lunch as a guide to the best match.
What’s the perfect food partner for your best-loved wine? So hard to choose... Duck and our Pinot Noir, 2011 Isabella’s Blanc de Blanc Sparkling and oysters, or could it be our Chardonnay with a fresh piece of fish.
If you could only drink one variety of wine for the rest of your life, what would it be? Oh no, I don’t know that I can answer this one! Life is too short to only drink one style of wine... As long as it comes from the Yarra Valley I will always be happy.
Vendors
Didn’t pack enough food in your picnic basket? Don’t fret – there’ll be other food options at the venue. At Rochford Wines, there’ll be the following truck and stalls set up for your snacking pleasure:
• • • • •
Hammer & Tong Cajun Kitchen Mr Calamaro Spanish Gourmet Ministry of Chocolate • The Kaiser’s Sausages • Rox Pizza • Crepes ‘n Coffee • Boss Man Food • Dos Diablos Mobile — Cantina Bon appetit!
Paul Kelly presents The Merri Soul Sessions will be playing at Rochford Wines, 6 Dec. Picnic Suggestions A Day On The Green awards a prize for the best picnic of the day. Here are a few things to pack with your rug, guaranteed to make your picnic game strong.
Short and sweet Satisfy your sweet tooth with bite-sized beauties that are easy to sneak when no one is looking. Anything like rocky road, candied fruits, mini doughnuts, brownies or macarons is a must.
Share your cultures Keep your picnic cultured by considering something other than sambos - think snacks like sushi, dolmades, baklava, soba noodle salad, antipasto, homemade hummus, edamame... If you can introduce someone in your group to a cuisine they haven’t tried before, consider that a bonus.
A spin on a classic Grab your favourite picnic staple and give it a little twist! People will froth over anything unique, like pumpkin scones, blue cheese potato salad, quiche muffins, tandoori chicken or salad skewers. Just think outside the basket!
THE MUSIC 18TH NOVEMBER 2015 • 41
OPINION Opinion
Gary Miller
Wa ke The Dead Punk And
he recent news that Gary “Dr Know” Miller of Bad Brains had been hospitalised and was in intensive Hardcore care shook up hardcore fans across the world. Me included. In fact, it has got me thinking a lot about With Sarah the influence Dr Know and his band has had on both myself and hardcore-punk as a whole. I heard my first Petchell Bad Brains song in a skate video. It was Don’t Bother Me and from that moment I was hooked. Not just on the fast-paced, sub two-minute songs, but the great guitar work (thanks to Dr Know), HR’s crazy dance moves on stage and the eternal message of positive vibes and PMA (that’s Positive Mental Attitude). They’re the pioneers that have shaped not just hardcore and punk bands, but musicians across all genres. The Beastie Boys started out as a hardcore band that wanted to be Bad Brains, right down to the alliterative BB of the band name. Bands as recent as Cerebral Ballzy are citing them as influences. But the influence even stretches beyond hardcore to bands like Deftones or Rage Against The Machine. At the time of writing, Bad Brains had posted a statement on their Facebook page saying that Miller was no longer considered to be in a critical condition. Looks like the PMA the band called for in their original statement appears to be working. May their influence continue to be felt for generations to come.
T
The Get Down Funky Shit With Obliveus
S
The Fatback Band
tarting with the big guns this month, there’s nothing bigger than the upcoming show from the legendary Fatback Band at the Corner Hotel on Friday 11 December. I had a chat with Bill Curtis (founding drummer): with so many hip hop tracks laying claim to samples from his band, is the band’s legacy cemented within urban music? Humbly speaking, Curtis says, “I make music because it is in my blood. I never
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Trailer Trash
Ash Vs The Evil Dead
looked at my music as legendary. I just did it because that’s what I do and people like what I create and have created. If anyone would have told me 30 years ago that the music I created would have still been around today, I would’ve told them they were lying.” When asked about what particular moment best captures Fatback, he could have mentioned any of more than 35 albums released, having recorded the first commercially released hip hop song (King Tim III) or being the foundation of disco and go-go funk. But he says he’s most “proud of his latest project” (his latest record). “I consider this as my most prideful moment because it’s so new and different from what I have created before it. It is the feeling of accomplishing something new.” When asked about the Corner Hotel gig and what to expect, Curtis finishes with, “You can expect to hear all of your favorite tunes that we’ve given you; we put the funk in your face and let you party!” With that, I’m outta’ here.
OPINION Opinion
Dives Into
F
or many people who Your Screens grew up in the 1980s, it was And Idiot Boxes a rite of passage. You and a pack of With Guy Davis like-minded mates would commandeer someone’s lounge room, stock up on salty snacks and soft drinks, fire up the VCR (kids, ask your parents), kill the lights and settle in for a movie that modestly dubbed itself “the ultimate experience in gruelling horror”, Sam Raimi’s 1981 classic The Evil Dead. It was pretty gnarly stuff, and probably highly unsuitable for youngsters, but this story of five friends whose weekend getaway at a remote cabin is rudely crashed by bloodthirsty demonic spirits was so stylishly made and gleefully gross that watching it was fun and frightening in equal measure. Both Raimi and his Evil Dead leading man Bruce Campbell have gained some degree of respectability in the decades since the film’s release — Raimi as the director of the original Spider-Man trilogy, Campbell as the self-mocking star of cult favourite movies and TV series. But the legacy of Evil Dead continued to loom large, with fans of the film, which spawned two sequels, eager for director and star to reunite for another round of crimson carnage. Well, dreams — or nightmares — do come true, because 30 or so years after Campbell’s Ash strapped on his trademark chainsaw and shotgun to do battle against legions of dastardly ‘Deadites’, the fight between good and evil (dead) has r esumed. This time on TV. Who the hell saw that coming? Ash Vs Evil Dead, now airing on streaming service Stan, won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. It’s pretty gruesome, with Ash’s favourite tools of the trade getting regular use, although the gore is often more cartoonish than not. (The pilot episode, directed by Raimi, showcases his full-throttle approach to bloodletting, but also displays some elegant flourishes, such as a scene beautifully lit by flashlight.) And its hero is, let’s face it, an absolute asshole... as opposed to an absolute arsehole — there’s a difference. But that’s ok, because Campbell has playing jerks down to a fine art. And even though Ash is the straight-shooting, saw-wielding man for the job when the Deadites raise their ugly heads — which only happened because a weed-addled Ash
recited passages from a book of spells to impress a goth girl he’d picked up — he’s also a selfish, chauvinist blowhard with an unjustifiably high opinion of himself. Still, he’s kind of fun to be around, mainly because Campbell is utterly committed to Ash’s buffoonery — he’s been ramping Ash’s douche tendencies since Evil Dead 2, but here he entertainingly lets his jerk flag fly. And because the show is happy to regularly take him down a peg or two as he and his comrades, hero-worshipping Pablo (Ray Santiago) and sceptical Kelly (Dana DeLorenzo), take on the forces of darkness. (And it certainly doesn’t hurt that the always-welcome Lucy Lawless, Xena Warrior Princess herself, is on hand to provide a bit of backup as the mysterious Ruby.) Ash Vs Evil Dead frequently finds the sweet spot between horror and humour, making the series good, disruptable fun that’ll take fans of the saga — or anyone with an appreciation for the wonderfully warped — back to the darkened lounge room of their youth.
THE MUSIC 18TH NOVEMBER 2015 • 43
Album / E Album/EP Reviews
Fourteen Nights At Sea
Album OF THE Week
Minor Light Hobbledehoy
★★★★
Fourteen Nights At Sea don’t screw around. Where most post-rock bands get bogged down with lengthy build-ups, the Melbourne outfit open their third full-length with one of their strongest offerings to date in Teeth Marks. It begins with a thunderclap of exultant noise — all fiery guitars and tectonic shifts of doomy rhythmic progressions, at once beautiful and foreboding. The storm recedes so slowly that the fade into the more subdued second track Them Colonies is hardly noticeable, but the overarching theme is clear: these songs are epic, imbued with such emotional weight that the only words that do justice come from the language of landscape and natural disaster. The finest moment on the album is the nine-and-a-half minute closing track, Chiltern Justice. It’s a classic, cinematic post-rock number, built on the usual standards — the slow beat, the tense build, the waves of cascading tremolo guitars and a rousing crescendo — but it’s executed to perfection, every element perfectly placed for the most poignant emotional impact. The band might not be redefining their genre, but they’re breathing new life into a style mired by repetitive tropes and imitators. With Minor Light, Fourteen Nights At Sea put themselves in the same conversation as international heavyweights like This Will Destroy You and Explosions In The Sky. It’s one of the finest postrock records in recent memory. Matthew Tomich
Beat Happening
The Tongue
Look Around
Hard Feelings
Domino/EMI
Elefant Traks/Inertia
★★★★
★★★
Although far from a household name, it’s probably impossible to overstate the importance of Olympia, Washington trio Beat Happening on future generations of underground musicians. Citing everyone from The Cramps to The Modern Lovers as inspiration for their ramshackle, lo-fi indie pop, they were steadfastly anti-corporate from the get-go, peddling a sweet naivete aimed to confront and offend the rigid ideals of the then in vogue Pacific Northwest post-punk scene. The band favoured guitar and drums (sans bass) for their distinct sound, minimalist in nature but rife with primitive hooks and enticing repetitive melodies. They had no hits to speak of, but career retrospective Look Around shows that whether sung by Calvin Johnson (Bad Seeds,
2006 was The Tongue’s annus mirabilis, propelled by his debut EP Bad Education. Listening to a banging Bag Raiders beat delivered with a heavy dose of political consciousness we heard the last of the old school, and the first of the new. Teezy’s been with us for more than a decade now. But familiarity brings its own problems: ten years, three mixtapes, four albums in — are there any tricks The Tongue can show us that we haven’t seen already? Perhaps. Our hero is at his best walking the tightrope between contemporary relevance and respect for the past. “I’m the last one alive who can kick it like Q-Tip, like Gang Starr.” Our host is winking at us: he knows as well as we do that these artists peaked before The Tongue’s new fans were even born. Viewed in this light our
44 • THE MUSIC • 18TH NOVEMBER 2015
Red Head Walking, Bewitched, Indian Summer) or Heather Lewis (Foggy Eyes, Fortune Cookie Prize, Godsend, Noise) their songs were remarkably consistent over their career. In their lifetime (and beyond) Beat Happening would tour with Fugazi, release splits with The Vaselines and The Screaming Trees, be produced by everyone from The Wipers’ Greg Sage to The Microphones’ Phil Elverum, and influence a river of bands including Nirvana, Sleater-Kinney, Modest Mouse and Built To Spill. Rough, raw and incredibly influential. Steve Bell
host’s vision becomes clear. He is a rap custodian; an elder statesman here to educate and inspire. The album’s peak is the woozy swoon Mercy, where our host capitalises on Thundamentals MC Jeswon’s talent for hypnosis. The Rule closes proceedings and give us another clue about where The Tongue’s head is at: we hear “self preservation is the rule” repeated again and again. Perhaps that’s the lesson The Tongue has for us: keep ears and eyes open, learn what you can, teach what you’ve learned — but longevity is about being true to yourself. James d’Apice
EP Reviews Album/EP Reviews
NOTS
Newton Faulkner Arca
MofoIsDead
We Are NOTS
Human Love
Mutant
Brisneyland
Heavenly Recordings/ [PIAS] Australia
Liberator
Mute
MGM
★★★½
★★★
★★★★
★★★½
The debut from Memphis fourpiece NOTS is a chic, modern and synth-y approximation of old school Black Flag-esque punk that still gets messy when it should. Crammed into every opening of the record’s hasty 27-minute run, the dulcet tones of vocalist Natalie Hoffman snarling out every line hammers hard, even as the poppy synths cut some of the edge from the obliterating rhythm section. With lyrics and structure that preserve the spirit and traditions that the instrumentation does not, this is not the punk that their parents knew, but it is not far off.
Newtown Faulkner’s fifth studio album brings with it both the disbelief that he’s already at number five and the affirmation of his style. It’s a record that solidly states that he plays, writes and performs in certain way that is truly his. Somewhere halfway between percussive acoustic roots and electronic dance, Faulkner leads with one and follows with the other as if it is second nature to him. Opening track Get Free, Step In The Right Direction and the closing title track are highlights of the album.
Arca’s second long-player is yet another step into the hauntingly eerie but strangely beautiful corner of the electronic music universe he inhabits. Deep, heavy bass frequencies evoke a cavernous sense of space, but the industrial scale on which they are presented is intended to completely overwhelm. An underlying aggression is designed to instill a sense of fear and foreboding. In this future, the machines are definitely winning. Yet even in the most abrasive of aural environments, Arca allows voluptuous sound textures and melodies that drift and blossom to sensuous effect. A musical auteur of sorts, Arca is an important new voice in electronica.
Brisbane’s MofoIsDead have followed up their 2012 debut with six new cuts that pull back on their previous soaring hard rock style for a sharper experimentation in band dynamics with scattered instrumentation and grittier breakdowns. Led by the incredible style vocal of Paul Galagher, each track has a quirky sense of separation from the rest, be it the distorted riff and dirty bass lines of Semidrop, the frantic drum patterns of The Altruist, or the fantastic, dreamily subdued melody in Mournography. Brisneyland is a gleaming beacon of a band that appears to be on cusp of something spectacular.
Lukas Murphy
Dylan Van Der Riet
Mark Beresford
Guido Farnell
More Reviews Online Archie Roach Charcoal Lane 25th Anniversary Edition
theMusic.com.au
Grimes Art Angels
Kev Carmody Recollections… Reflections… (A Journey)
THE MUSIC 18TH NOVEMBER 2015 • 45
Album / E Album/EP Reviews
Boston Manor
Koncept
Paradise Lost
Tinariwen
Saudade
The Fuel Kon57 Records
Symphony For The Lost
Live In Paris (2014)
Pure Noise/Sony
[PIAS] Australia
Century Media
★★★
★★★
★★★½
★★★★
Pop punk dudes Boston Manor bust out good, clean tunes on this four-track EP and tease fans in the process. The UK five-piece have been kept busy since their 2013 debut and a more mature, confident sound has crept in as a result. Opener Gone launches listeners straight into the furious, upbeat kinda stuff these guys nail, with guitar noodles and rounded, shouted vocals. Asleep At The Wheel breaks things down with a more standard rock beat, and Shade follows a likeable if familiar chug-and-wail path. There’s just a jarring mix on Trapped Nerve with a cymbal that sounds completely out of whack on an otherwise decent offering.
On his latest project with producer J57, Koncept continues to dazzle on the mic. His flow switches up so many times in a single song it’s often hard to keep up. However, despite his technical ability, the songs unfortunately repeat themselves too much in other ways: straightforward, mid-tempo beats as a vehicle for his rapid, spitfire delivery, piano or synth accompaniment, and positive lyrics about determination in the face of adversity. This is an only EP, so as a platform for Koncept alone it works well enough, but an album would have to do more to generate interest — let the tracks breathe more, for instance.
Paradise Lost’s longevity is ample evidence that misery loves company. Following their new album, the death/doom pioneers turned gothic metallers by way of electro-rock unleash this double live set/DVD. The perennially gloomy Brits cover most career bases, performing at Bulgaria’s ancient Roman Theatre of Philippopolis while flanked by the Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra. Having previously recorded elements of orchestration in the studio, the live accompaniment often accentuates their melancholic atmospherics, although the collection’s really for completists only. Additional early favourites would’ve been welcomed, but airing recent material underlines a knack of harnessing their past without being slaves to it.
It is difficult to describe to new listeners the sinuous, transformative grooves that Tuareg psych-blues travellers Tinariwen effortlessly embody. And while Live In Paris 2014 doesn’t quite get there (what live album ever does?), the recording goes some way to highlighting the hypnotic yet euphoric power the band wields. There are some spellbinding moments such as the three-part collaboration with the queen of the tinde drum, Lalla Badi, while here is a three dimensionality in the live recordings of Tamiditan Tan Ufrawan and Imidiwan Ahi Sigidam that is imbued with pure sonic rapture.
John Papadopoulos
Carley Hall
Brendan Telford
Brendan Crabb
More Reviews Online The Chills Silver Bullets
46 • THE MUSIC • 18TH NOVEMBER 2015
theMusic.com.au
The Wainwright Sisters Songs In The Dark
Listen to our This Week’s Releases playlist on
OPINION Opinion
Howzat!
Local Music By Jeff Jenkins STILL BURNING “Some things are best left dead,” Davern White declared in Stormy World, the opening cut on The Bo-Weevils’ final album, Burn. But here we are, 20 years after that album and 15 years after the band’s last gigs, and The Bo-Weevils are back, to play at Northcote Social Club this Sunday afternoon. So what prompted the reunion? “We signed all of our material over to Rubber Records late last year,” explains bass player Neil Rogers. Their albums have been remastered for iTunes and Burn has been re-released with bonus tracks. So Rubber head honcho David Vodicka said, “Why don’t you play a show?” It’s been a long, strange trip for The Bo-Weevils. They toured New Zealand, Neil and Davern did a promo trip to Europe, Neil was hit by a beer bottle on stage in Geelong, and they recorded a live album at their favourite venue, The Punters Club, only to discover the tapes were blank after an “incendiary set”. The story started with a gig at St Kilda’s Grosvenor Hotel 30 years ago. “We played six songs supporting The Pizza Sluts [featuring Mia Stone and Ian McFarlane],” recalls Neil, who
was so nervous, he threw up pre-gig. The band got an encore, but only knew six songs, so they simply played them again. Neil fondly recites the advice of then singer, Ian Hill: “Make sure we all start and finish the songs at the same time — whatever happens in the middle, no one will care.” Ian left the band the following year, replaced by Davern, and The Bo-Weevils released their debut album in 1989, Where Particular People Congregate. The first track, a ten-minute wig-out called Past Lives, featured the line, “You say we’re at the end.” Sunday’s show is the band’s first since two gigs in 2000. “We thought they might be the last gigs,” Neil smiles, “but we left it open. We never officially broke up, we just stopped playing.”
LIVE AND LOCAL Four other great gigs this week: The Woodland Hunters (featuring
The Bo Weevils
Sand Pebbles singer Andrew Tanner) launch their debut EP, So Far To Travel, So Far To Go, at the Yarra Hotel on Saturday; Mike Brady plays songs from his brilliant Bloodlines album at the Celtic Club on Friday; Sal Kimber launches her beautiful single, Hell And Highwater, at The Toff In Town on Saturday; and Amphlett Lane hosts its first gig, with a 12-member choir, The Amphlett Lane Stirrers (including Mark Lang, Clare Moore and Jess Ribeiro), performing five Divinyls songs by candlelight on Friday.
HOT LINE “The thing about the future is it hasn’t happened yet” — The Woodland Hunters, The Future.
THE MUSIC 18TH NOVEMBER 2015 • 47
Live Re Live Reviews
Future Islands @ Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Pic: Kane Hibberd
Future Islands, Mumford & Sons, The Vaccines
Sidney Myer Music Bowl 12 Nov
The Vaccines @ Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Pic: Kane Hibberd
Mumford & Sons @ Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Pic: Kane Hibberd
Mumford & Sons @ Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Pic: Kane Hibberd
Mumford & Sons @ Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Pic: Kane Hibberd
Future Islands @ Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Pic: Kane Hibberd
48 • THE MUSIC • 18TH NOVEMBER 2015
Early punters settle on the Bowl’s grassy hill and spread out across their picnic rugs while they soak up the indie-rock sounds of The Vaccines. Their catchy melodies and summery vibes are refreshing and nostalgic. Everyone is up on their feet and dancing in no time to the non-stop energy of Future Islands. Frontman Samuel Herring mesmerises us with his showmanship, growling vocal rasps and uncontrollable dance moves, like a man possessed. He repeatedly pounds his chest as he expresses every word, working up an incredible sweat. Mumford & Sons grace us with their presence and immediately conjure up a highly energetic and powerful explosion of folk-rock. We’re overwhelmed by their rustic and organic sounds, that of eclectic instruments played with intense passion. The banjo, mandolin, cello and acoustic guitar intertwine with Marcus Mumford’s captivating vocal tones to take us on a euphoric musical journey. Fan favourite Little Lion Man strikes up as the band come to life. It’s compelling and deeply moving to witness such a visceral and inspiring force. There’s a strong focus on material from their latest release, Wilder Mind. The two-hour-long set has a mixed pace, peaking with soaring finger-plucked riffs and foot-stomping beats and then rocking us ever so gently with sensitive and warm melodies. The uplifting Believe sees the Bowl light up with phone torches, like hundreds of stars in the sky. As a cascade of sparklers fall from the stage backdrop we are confronted with the fact the
It’s compelling and deeply moving to witness such a visceral and inspiring force.
end of the epic show is upon us. We sing in unison to final track, The Wolf, howling far and wide across the venue to echo long into the night. Michael Prebeg
Henry Wagons & The Only Children, Cash Savage & The Last Drinks, Ruby Boots Max Watt’s 13 Nov The twang of alt-country music fills the air at Max Watt’s for this evening’s rather epic AWME showcase. Tonight Ruby Boots are in party mode, intent on dealing big, bright songs that balance country vibes with a little rock. At times frontwoman Bex Chilcott’s two pedal steel guitarists add a wistful melancholy twang to the mix but Chilcott confidently punches through with more uplifting notes. A little rough around the edges, Ruby Boots offer moments of collective country and western brilliance. The room fills to see the cracking Cash Savage & The Last Drinks. Savage lives up to her name and deals it rough, raw, loud and raucous, sucking us into a swirling vortex of emotion, drama and intoxication. Savage stalks the stage looking a little dangerous and, when she scowls and sneers at us, it’s clear you better not mess with her. “This is song about drinking, for all you fucking stupid dumb
eviews Live Reviews
the ‘70s, Wagons is a natural entertainer who is inclined to make punters smile with his jokes and banter in between songs. Together with his new band The Only Children, Wagons previews new material. Cold Burger, Cold Fries works urban myths about passing out in bed with junk food that greets you in the morning. It’s unlikely that
Guido Farnell
The Age Music Victoria Awards 170 Russell 11 Nov It’s still light at street level, but deep in the belly of 170 Russell it could be any time of day or night. The DJ is cranking some great local tunes and the booze is helping to lighten moods and loosen lips. Perhaps a little too much, because by the time the formalities get underway it’s next to impossible to achieve a respectful hush. You do have to feel for state Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley, who has some genuinely exciting initiatives to announce, including more than $700,000 of new investments to support local music. After stealing the show when he closed last month’s Carlton Dry Independent Music Awards, Melbourne funk-rocker Harts puts on a still more dazzling performance as tonight’s opening act. He effortlessly shreds his way through a set of three songs, beginning with the stomping title track from his debut EP Breakthrough and finishing with an epic guitar solo
FRI 20TH NOV
7.00PM
during which he slides onto his knees, plays behind his head. Tonight for the first time The Age Music Victoria Genre Awards and Public Awards have been merged into one event. The Genre Awards “help us appreciate diversity”, says Wilkinson; one person who’s grateful for the gesture is Fiona Boyes, winner of Best Blues Album (Box & Dice). The winner of Best Country Album is Raised By Eagles, for Diamonds In The Bloodstream. Barney McAll is in the US and has sent his elderly dad to collect his award for Best Jazz Album (Mooroolbark): “I asked him what I should say and he said, ‘You’ll think of something’. And that is what I’m doing right now,” he adlibs with a big grin. Keeping up the parental theme, Maundz, whose Nobody’s Business wins Best Hip Hop Album, thanks his parents for coming and promises to return the favour by not putting them in a home. In listing the nominees for Best Heavy Album, Gill says “Excuse my French” three times — for Cuntz, Fuck The Fitzroy Doom Scene and Ne Obliviscaris, which is actually Latin, but the joke still works. (The winner, though, is High Tension for Bully.) Marlon Williams performs a mini-set of four songs ranging from rapid-fire bluegrass to slow, moody country to big-throated balladry, which is heavy on harmonies and twang. The crowd seems particularly listless during his set; the longer he goes on, however, the more he opens up with his massive chest voice, and the more attention he
SAT 21ST NOV
7:00PM
GREASE
SING-A-LONG
Henry Wagons & The Only Children’s take on troubadourish Americana feels a little like cabaret.
a brawl is about to break but a song about being king hit or cold-cocked in a venue like Max Watt’s feels a little like a novelty song that’s a pain in the head. The playful pastiche of Willie Nelson has Wagons and his band showing the crowd what can only be described as a good time.
CASINO
cunts who drink too much,” she announces with all the nastiness she can muster. The band play it wild and furious. Kat Mear simply rips it up on her fiddle to mesmerising effect. They hit the sweet spot when dropping a little soul into the mix to provide more mellow moments. The power of Savage and her band’s performance comes from the passion and energy that drives them to play. After Cash Savage’s intense set, the charming Henry Wagons & The Only Children’s take on troubadour-ish Americana feels a little like cabaret. Prancing about the stage in a sparkly gold jacket and wearing aviators that Elvis could have worn in
demands. He manages to finish on a high note, both literally and figuratively. The Public Awards kick off with Golden Plains being named Best Festival; Theatre Royal in Castlemaine is Best Regional Venue and Corner Hotel is Best Venue. The Smith Street Band are anointed Best Live Band — appropriately, they are too busy touring the US to be here tonight. Raised By Eagles find it genuinely surreal to be dubbed Best Emerging Act — individual members including Luke Sinclair and Nick O’Mara have been stalwarts of the industry for over a decade. After cleaning up in absentia in all the major categories at the Carlton Dry Independent Music Awards, it’s a good thing Courtney Barnett is here tonight because, after performing an effortlessly excellent mini-set with her rocking band, she goes on to win all the remaining awards for which she is eligible (the exception being Best Male Artist, won by CW Stoneking). The Music’s own incomparable Bryget Chrisfield calls out Barnett’s name for Best Female Artist; receiving the award, Barnett thanks her mother, and the audience for listening to her play although “[it] felt like some people were talking and not really listening”. She persists with this gracious self-deprecation: “This song has two chords in it, so, sucked in,” she says when Depreston is named Best Song; she defers to her band members when she wins Best Band; and, “Here I am, awkwardly winning
7:00PM
SUN 22ND NOV
HAPPY FEET 1 & 2 THE MUSIC 18TH NOVEMBER 2015 • 49
Live/Arts Reviews Live/Arts Reviews
something else,” goes down as the understatement of the evening, when Barnett’s debut LP Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit is named Best Album.
More Reviews Online theMusic.com.au/ music/live-reviews Matt Corby @ Forum Theatre Florence & The Machine @ Sidney Myer Music Bowl
Barnett goes on to win all the awards for which she is eligible.
The musicians’ skill and versatility is on display as they slide from blues (Blue Eyes Cry’s Iseula Hingano) to soul (Emma Donovan) to alt-pop (Olympia) to Africana (Ajak Kwai) to hip hop (Briggs) to rock (Ben Salter) to punk (The Peep Tempel’s Blake Scott) with the ease of a needle in a groove. Kwai and Briggs go down a treat with the dancers front of stage but it is Scott who
gets the room jumping with a balls-out rendition of The Peep Tempel’s angry anthem Carol. Tim Kroenert
Courtney Barnett @ The Age Music Victoria Awards. Pic: Clinton Hatfield
The formalities out of the way, it’s over to The EG Allstars Band led by Ash Naylor on guitar, accommodating a diverse roster of guest vocalists.
The Darkness @ Forum Theatre
Piece For Person And Ghetto Blaster Pic: Sarah Walker
Piece For Person And Ghetto Blaster Theatre North Melbourne Town Hall, Arts House to 15 Nov
★★★½
50 • THE MUSIC • 18TH NOVEMBER 2015
In Nicola Gunn’s latest performance art piece, she explores the ethics of intervention. Against a white backdrop, she tells us the story of how she was going for a run in Belgium when she saw an Algerian man throwing stones at a duck in a lake, in front of his two small children. This one incident spirals into a lengthy soliloquy about moral superiority, what it means to be a ‘good’ person (or ‘bad’ person), hypocrisy, peace and conflict and the lengths we go to to resolve something, and the blurring of art and real life. While she is getting through this tale, with many asides and tangents included, she’s dancing - it looks a mixture of pilates, contemporary and interpretive dance. Some movements correspond to what she’s saying, some don’t, but it’s all either impressive or entertaining and she’s working up a sweat. Choreographer Jo Lloyd definitely makes her work that core. A boombox comes out part-way through the performance, a symbol of both freedom of speech and the lack of freedom to hear only what you choose to hear. Through it we hear composer Kelly Ryall’s layered
blips and beats, which build, along with Niklas Pajanti’s lighting projections, towards an unexpected climax, before the absurd kicks in. The audience even gets involved, somewhat passively. Is the real artist in this scenario the sitting duck? Extremely bizarre, particularly during its home stretch, Piece For Person And Ghetto Blaster asks some philosophical questions and levels the human experience, but it’s also just a long, weird anecdote. When Gunn’s the one telling it, dousing it in her deadpan humour, it’s never a bad thing. Stephanie Liew
Gigs / Live The Guide
Wed 18
Dream On, Dreamer
DJ Perplex + Flagrant + Mu-Gen + Tom Evans + more: 170 Russell, Melbourne Swamp + Lovejoy + A Basket Of Mammoths: Bar Open, Fitzroy
Father John Misty: 10 Dec Forum Theatre
Tom Showtime + Tim Wigg: Belleville, Melbourne Mellow-Dias-Thump with DJ Snug + DJ Keito: Boney, Melbourne
The Music Presents The Rumjacks: 19 Nov The Bendigo; 20 Nov Barwon Club Geelong The Preatures: 28 Nov The Deck Frankston & The Westernport Hotel Phillip Island; 29 Nov The College Lawn Prahran & Portsea Hotel
Muddy’s Blues Roulette with Paul Slattery: Catfish (Front Bar), Fitzroy Beginners’ Class with Melbourne Ukulele Kollective: Edinburgh Castle Hotel (6pm), Brunswick Stellafauna + Trick Dog Syndicate + Mondegreen: Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy
I’m A Dreamer
Mew: 3 Dec Max Watt’s
Iamsu! + Bobby Brackins + Nic Nac: Max Watt’s, Melbourne
A Day On The Green ft Paul Kelly & Merri Soul Sessions: 6 Dec Rochford Wines Yarra Valley
Dan Sultan: Northcote Social Club, Northcote
Lachlan Bryan & The Wildes: 5 & 7 Nov Caravan Music Club
The Beach Boys + Colleen Hewett: Palais Theatre, St Kilda
Bully: 10 Dec Howler
Def Leppard + Electric Mary: Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
Josh Cashman + Anna O + Axel Winter: The Workers Club, Fitzroy
Fourteen Nights At Sea + more: Shadow Electric, Abbotsford
Cotton Club feat. Paulie Bignell & The Thornbury Two: Spotted Mallard, Brunswick
Plum Green + Jennifer Kingwell: Wesley Anne (Band Room), Northcote
Salsa Party with Los Mysterioso + DJ Chocorama + DJ Chris Gill: Shebeen Bandroom, Melbourne
Thu 19
Chris Henry & The Hardcore Grass: Spotted Mallard, Brunswick
Father John Misty: 10 Dec Forum Theatre BØRNS: 5 Jan Corner Hotel Halsey: 6 Jan Forum Theatre Elliphant: 7 Jan Howler Oh Wonder: 7 Jan Northcote Social Club Django Django: 8 Jan 170 Russell
Long Knife + Bat Piss + Flour + The Kremlings: The Bendigo, Collingwood Wine, Whiskey, Women feat. Dana Hassall + Gretta Ziller: The Drunken Poet, West Melbourne Purity + Cordell + Shut Up Jackson + The
Hardcore rock legends Dream On, Dreamer are playing a gig this Saturday to launch their new record Songs Of Soulitude. Don’t miss their fearsome tunes when they play at Max Watt’s.
Jacky Winter + Vacuum + Karli White: Bar Open, Fitzroy Global Safari: Belleville, Melbourne
Richie 1250: Catfish (Front Bar), Fitzroy
Port Fairy Folk Festival: 11 – 14 Mar Port Fairy
Girl Friday: Charles Weston Hotel (Front Bar), Brunswick
A Day On The Green ft Hoodoo Gurus: 12 Mar Rochford Wines Yarra Valley
Kylie Auldist + Fulton Street + The Funkadelic Side: Cherry Bar, Melbourne
Steve Earle & The Dukes: 18 & 19 Mar Melbourne Recital Centre
MMW feat. My Echo: Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne
Rhiannon Giddens: 23 Mar Corner Hotel
Young Poets + Maverick + The Black Harrys: Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy
St Paul & The Broken Bones: 24 Mar Corner Hotel
All About The Soul
Live + Chocolate Starfish: Forum Theatre, Melbourne
Kylie Auldist has released new single Sensational along with announcing a few shows not to be missed. The soulful sweetheart will perform after Fulton Street and The Funkadelic Side this Thursday at Cherry Bar.
Grindr: A Love Story with Nath Valvo: Howler, Brunswick
Nahko & Medicine For The People: 27 Mar Corner Hotel Allen Stone: 31 Mar Corner Hotel The Selecter: 25 Mar Corner Hotel
The Rumjacks: The Bendigo, Collingwood
Wax’o Paradiso: Boney, Melbourne
Shamir: 4 Feb Howler
Bluesfest: 24 – 28 Mar Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm
Standards & Chill: The B.East, Brunswick East
Strangers in Town: The Old Bar, Fitzroy
Van Walker + Shane Reilly: Labour In Vain, Fitzroy MMW: Live Music Safari feat. Friendships + Alta + Wabz + Jonny Faith + Bevin Campbell + more: Loop, Melbourne Live Music Safari feat. Terrible Truths + Miss Destiny + Empat Lima + Major Leagues: Max Watt’s, Melbourne
Warmth Crashes In
Feel That Warmth With the recent release of their debut self-titled album, Warmth Crashes In have also announced a couple of huge launch parties. In Melbourne, it’ll be at Ding Dong Lounge on Saturday with supports Contrast, Breve, RVG with DJ Louis Degrasse.
Sarah McLeod + Skyscraper Stan + Leek & The Warwick Tragedy: Northcote Social Club, Northcote
Shigeto + Ocdantar: The Toff In Town, Melbourne
Cold Chisel + Grinspoon: Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
Shrimpwitch + BJ Morriszonkle + Jenifer Anistn: The Tote (Upstairs), Collingwood
Oddisee: Section 8, Melbourne
Busy Kingdom: The Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick Half/Cut + Sleep Decade + Wintercoats: The Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood
THE MUSIC 18TH NOVEMBER 2015 • 51
Comedy / G The Guide
Holy Moses Heartache
Oh Holy Night Catfish turns two and celebrates in style with a week’s worth of free gigs. On Saturday, Holy Moses Heartache take over the upstairs band room. Having just dropped their single, they’ll play two sets of tunes from their forthcoming album. Uncomfortable Sciences: The Gasometer Hotel (Upstairs), Collingwood The Dacios + Moon Ritual + Wet Meal: The Old Bar, Fitzroy MMW present: Live Music Safari feat. Mesa Cosa + The Mighty Boys +
Melbourne Music Week feat. Dorsal Fins + Foreign/National: The Toff In Town, Melbourne
Electric Mary + The Ugly Kings: Max Watt’s, Melbourne
The Slipdixies: Wesley Anne (Front Bar), Northcote
Full of Hell + Whitehorse: The Tote, Collingwood
The Belligerents + Jenny Broke the Window + Wesley Fuller: Northcote Social Club, Northcote
Sat 21
Humans As Animals + Dear Plastic + Willow Darling + Matt Kelly: The Workers Club, Fitzroy
Panacea feat. Animaux + Amistat + Bam Bam + Batpiss + The Bean Project + The Belligerents + more: Riverview, Tatong
Jackson Firebird: The Workers Club Geelong, Geelong
Pig & Dan + Oxia: Royal Melbourne Hotel, Melbourne
Rizky’s Hip Hop High Tea: Belleville (4pm), Melbourne
The Rubens + Saskwatch + Harts: Werribee Plaza Tavern, Hoppers Crossing
Jackson Firebird: Sandbar, Mildura
Ge-Ology: Boney, Melbourne
Jeremy Neale + Tiny Little Houses + Redspencer + Jody: Shebeen
Holy Moses Heartache: Catfish (Upstairs), Fitzroy
Alexandra Pye: Wesley Anne (Front Bar), Northcote
Fri 20
The Rumjacks: Barwon Club, South Geelong People Under The Stairs: Boney, Melbourne Better Than The Wizards: Catfish (Upstairs), Fitzroy The Rubens + Saskwatch + Harts: Chelsea Heights Hotel, Aspendale Gardens The Bennies + The Hard Aches + Wet Pensioner + Gladstone: Corner Hotel, Richmond
The Outdoor Type + Alex Lahey + Max
TEN DOLLAR MEALS
Something Beneficial Punk legends The Bennies have been busy playing around the country, and will touch down at Corner Hotel this Friday. Catch them rocking with guests The Hard Aches and Wet Pensioner.
Free Bar snacks 6pm week nights Rib Eye steak 300g with chips and salad or mash and veg with a sauce $25 all the time
442 Nicholson Street North Fitzroy royaloakhotelnorthfitzroy.com.au
52 • THE MUSIC • 18TH NOVEMBER 2015
The Superjesus frontwoman/super woman Sarah McLeod will perform at Northcote Social Club this Thursday alongside Skyscraper Stan and Leek & The War Wick Tragedy.
Howl At The Moon + Koral & The Goodbye Horses + Barcelos: Spotted Mallard, Brunswick
Beef Burger & Chips $10 Chicken Burger & Chips $10 Chilli Con Carne $10 Arancini Balls & Salad $10 Tuna Patties & Salad $10 Lambs Fry and Bacon $10 Hot Roast Roll of the day $10 Pie of the Day $10 Pizza of the Day $10 Curry of the day $10
Free Live Music Sundays 4-7pm This Week: The Large Number 12s
Super Sarah
Bandroom, Melbourne
Lunch and Dinner 7 Days
Friday Night Social Club Draw and Raffle
Sarah McLeod
Tulalah + Levingstone + Belle Bangard + Alyson Murray: Bar Open, Fitzroy
Cobblestone Jazz + Mathew Jonson: Former Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne
Happy Hour Thursday 6.30-7.30
The Meanies: Barwon Club, South Geelong
Pierce Brothers + Anna O + Jack Stirling: 170 Russell, Melbourne
The Dead Heir + Luna Ghost + Den + Stella Collapse: Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy
Pints of Guinness and Carlton $8.40 all the time
LatinFiesta feat. Sudamerican Rockers: Bar Open, Fitzroy
Warmth Crashes In: Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne
Jukebox Racket: The B.East, Brunswick East
Jackson Firebird + The Cherry Dolls + Crowbait: Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy
Dear Stalker + Mr Stitcher + Sub Rosa + Underground: The Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick
Eden Mulholland + Jennifer Kingwell + Ulysses Wulf : Grace Darling Hotel (Band Room), Collingwood
Miss Whiskey: The Drunken Poet, West Melbourne
Cold Chisel + The Living End + Mark Seymour & the Undertow + Stonefield: Hanging Rock Reserve, Woodend
Diploid + Camp Cope + Pagan + Jo Neugebauer: The Old Bar, Fitzroy Jericco + Sydonia + Villainy + Gatherer + Majora: The Prince, St Kilda Captain Cleanoff + Super Fun Happy Slide + Kromosom + Internal Rot + Christ Crusher: The Tote (Band Room), Collingwood
Quinn’s Onomatopenis: Grace Darling Hotel (Band Room), Collingwood
Dr Colossus + The Dukes of Deliciousness + Blackwood Jack + The Hunted Crows: The Workers Club, Fitzroy
Anderson + .Paak + Joyride: Howler, Brunswick
Jon Toogood: The Workers Club Geelong, Geelong
Sarah McLeod: Latrobe Valley Hotel, Morwell
Nile + Unearth + Feed Her To The Sharks + Whoretopsy: Corner Hotel, Richmond
Jungle City Bashment: Howler, Brunswick Dream On Dreamer: Max Watt’s, Melbourne She Fest feat. Shewolf + Savi Bomb + Long Holiday + MisSstA + Purroxide + Vivant: Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbotsford My Own Pet Radio + Lanks + Louis Spoils: Northcote Social Club, Northcote Bang feat. Boris The Blade + Athena’s Wake + Massacre Of Innocence: Royal Melbourne Hotel, Melbourne My Disco + Friendships + Regional Curse + A Colourful Storm: Shadow Electric, Abbotsford
Gigs / Live The Guide
Sui Zhen + Zone Out + Sanpo Disco: Shebeen Bandroom, Melbourne
Grand Wazoo: Spotted Mallard, Brunswick 1891 + Peter Rabbit: The B.East, Brunswick East
The Rumjacks + Them Bruins: The Loft, Warrnambool Johnston St Spanish Fiesta with Midnight Woolf + The Floors + Gonzo: The Old Bar, Fitzroy 15 Years of Trance: The Prince, St Kilda Sal Kimber & The Rollin’ Wheel + Al Parkinson: The Toff In Town, Melbourne Little Desert + Teuton + Mollusc + Half Mongrel: The Tote (Band Room), Collingwood
A Concert for Emma with The Sugarcanes + Cat Canteri + L.A.A. + Telescopes + Aluka + Shiver Canyon: Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy
Pierce Brothers
Mundane Mondays with Sewercide: The Old Bar, Fitzroy
Pleasure Avalanche + Arak + Dangerous Goods: The Public Bar, Melbourne
Ryan Downey + Lucy Roleff + Mallee Songs: Grace Darling Hotel (Band Room), Collingwood
Thando + Mayfield: The Toff In Town, Melbourne
Zig Zag + Dreamin’ Wild + Mosaicz + Hideous Towns: Grace Darling Hotel (Basement), Collingwood
Call It In with Instant Peterson + Dylan Michel + Infinity Blade: The Toff In Town, Melbourne
Catfish Voodoo: Labour In Vain, Fitzroy
Arbes + Uncle Bobby + Jarrow + The Hustle: The Workers Club, Fitzroy
The Bo-Weevils + Wild Meadows: Northcote Social Club (2pm), Northcote
Dirty Brothers
Sunday Bloody Sunday with DJ Top Heavy: The B.East, Brunswick East
Pierce Brothers will celebrate their homecoming and new EP Into The Dirt by playing both Friday and Sunday night at 170 Russell. Anna O and Jack Stirling will join the performance as supporting acts.
Lisa Salvo + Grand Salvo + Sugar Fed Leopards: The Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood
Sui Zhen
The Barklys + Kev Sullivan: Victoria Hotel, Brunswick Steve Hill: Wesley Anne (Front Bar), Northcote
Them Bruins + Fear Of Flying + Slowly Slowly: Cherry Bar, Melbourne NAFASI + Mondegreen + Levingstone: Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy UB40 + Charlie A’Court: Forum Theatre, Melbourne Hugh Jackman: Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Olympia: Shebeen Bandroom, Melbourne
Open Mic Night: Yah Yah’s (6.30pm), Fitzroy Normie Rowe & The Playboy Orchestra + The Wild Cherries: Yarraville Club, Yarraville
Krista Polvere: The Gasometer Hotel (Front Bar), Collingwood
Bohjass: 303, Northcote Quick Bites Comedy: Boney (6.30pm), Melbourne The Monday Bone Machine feat. T-Rek + Mickey Nox: Boney (10pm), Melbourne
Cool and quirky Sui Zhen is promoting new album Secretly Susan, and getting ready to fire up the Shebeen Bandroom this Saturday. Supporting acts will be Sampo Disco and Zone Out.
Make It Up Club: Bar Open, Fitzroy
Skychaser + Elemada + Crossbone Carnival + Moonshifter + Black Arrow: The Bendigo, Collingwood
Mon 23
Cooler Zhen You
Tue 24
Cherry Jam: Cherry Bar, Melbourne Jazz Party Players: Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy Monday Night Mass feat. Jacky Winter + Moon Ritual + Heart Beach + Golden Syrup: Northcote Social Club, Northcote
Twerkshop: The Gasometer Hotel (Band Room), Collingwood Bog + Old Love + Bodies: The Old Bar, Fitzroy Taste Of Indie Collective: The Prince (Public Bar), St Kilda The Conclusions + Electric Wallpaper + The Shakedown Shakes: The Public Bar, Melbourne BJ Morriszonkle + Seiuchi + Spider Goat Canyon: The Toff In Town, Melbourne Hills Hoist + Gangz + Rad Ish + Mosaicz: The Workers Club, Fitzroy
Pierce Brothers + Anna O + Jack Stirling: The Westernport Hotel, Phillip Island
Johnston St Spanish Fiesta with The Scouts: The Old Bar, Fitzroy
Paul Williamson’s Hammond Combo: Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy
Alexandra Pye: Wesley Anne (Front Bar), Northcote
Lilly Tunley + Astro & The Ages: The Workers Club, Fitzroy
Newport Ska & Reggae Festival feat. Stranger Cole + Nicky Bomba + more: The Substation, Newport
The Strain: Retreat Hotel, Brunswick
Ugly Kings + The Upstanding Members
Joelistics + Omar Musa + Birdz: The Workers Club, Fitzroy The Rubens + Saskwatch + Harts: Village Green Hotel, Mulgrave Elbow Room Concert: Wesley Anne (Band Room), Northcote Renee Geyer: Yarraville Club, Yarraville
Sun 22 Pierce Brothers + Anna O + Jack Stirling: 170 Russell, Melbourne Sarah McLeod: Baha Tacos, Rye Latin Fiesta feat. Amaru Tribe: Bar Open, Fitzroy Horns Of Leroy: Catfish (Front Bar), Fitzroy
The McQueens + Nakatomi + Feelds: The Toff In Town, Melbourne Down The Rabbit Hole with Nigel Last: The Toff In Town (Carriage Room), Melbourne Loose Tooth + Joe Neptune + Hills Hoist: The Tote, Collingwood 8 Ball Aitken: The Westernport Hotel, Phillip Island Ashleigh Southam: The Woodlands Hotel, Coburg Mild Manic + The Maze + Young Poets + Neon Queen + Colourblind: The Workers Club, Fitzroy Moreland City Soul Revue + Tess McKenna: Union Hotel, Brunswick
THE MUSIC 18TH NOVEMBER 2015 • 53
Comedy / G The Guide
The Belligerents
Jukebox Racket: The B.East, Brunswick East
The Slipdixies: Wesley Anne (Front Bar), Northcote
Mustang + Devils Pawn + The Vendettas + Muscle Car: The Bendigo, Collingwood
Seedy Jezus + Wicked City + Hotel Wrecking City Traders + A Basket Of Mammoths: Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy
Dear Stalker + Mr Stitcher + Sub Rosa + Underground: The Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick Automat + Shocking Pinks + Nun: The Curtin, Carlton Miss Whiskey: The Drunken Poet, West Melbourne
Diploid + Camp Cope + Pagan + Jo Neugebauer: The Old Bar, Fitzroy Jericco + Sydonia + Villainy + Gatherer + Majora: The Prince, St Kilda Drivetime Commute + Stone Grave + Eater of the Sky + The Maggot Men + Bleach: The Public Bar, Melbourne
Inside Inside Inside The Belligerents are flaunting their new EP Inside Outside on a tour that kicks off this Friday. Watch them share the stage with supporting act Jenny Broke The Window at Northcote Social Club. + The Wednesday Experiment + Tijuana Cartel + Yeo + more: Riverview, Tatong Pig & Dan + Oxia: Royal Melbourne Hotel, Melbourne Jackson Firebird: Sandbar, Mildura
54 • THE MUSIC • 18TH NOVEMBER 2015
Major Leagues
Jeremy Neale + Tiny Little Houses + Redspencer + Jody: Shebeen Bandroom, Melbourne Howl At The Moon + Koral & The Goodbye Horses + Barcelos: Spotted Mallard, Brunswick
Captain Cleanoff + Super Fun Happy Slide + Kromosom + Internal Rot + Christ Crusher: The Tote (Band Room), Collingwood Mcrobin: The Wilde, Fitzroy Dr Colossus + The Dukes of Deliciousness + Blackwood Jack + The Hunted Crows: The Workers Club, Fitzroy Jon Toogood: The Workers Club Geelong, Geelong
Safari Fieldtrip Max Watt’s is one of the venues hosting this year’s Live Music Safari! On Thursday arvo, the venue boasts a jam-packed line-up of Terrible Truths, Miss Destiny, Major Leagues and Empat Lima.
THE MUSIC 18TH NOVEMBER 2015 • 55
56 • THE MUSIC • 18TH NOVEMBER 2015