22.06.16 Music / Arts / Lifestyle / Culture
Sydney / Free / Incorporating
Issue
144
J ULY 2016
T HE1975
// A U S 2 0 1 6 //
AUSTRALIA 2016
S AT 23 JULY
SYDNE Y OLYMP IC PARK WITH SPECIAL GUESTS WITH SPECIAL GUESTS
TUE 26 JULY HORDERN PAVILION
T ICKE T S : T HE1975.C OM/L IVE T HE1975.C OM
DIRT Y HI T
BLOSSOMS (UK)
TUE 26 JULY STATE THEATRE JAKEBUGG.COM
AND
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS
FOOD COURT
WED 20/7 O X F O R D A RT FA C TORY WITH SPECIAL GUESTS
Wednesday 20 July Metro Theatre PETERBJORNANDJOHN.COM
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS
SATURDAY 23 JULY FACTORY THEATRE MARKLANEGAN.COM
TICKETS ON SALE NOW! 2 • THE MUSIC • 22ND JUNE 2016
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT SECRETSOUNDSTOURING.COM
1 Olympic Drive, Milsons Point
KYARY PAMYU KYARY PAMYU PAMYU
RUPAULS RUPAUL’S DRAG DRAG RACE RACE
MAGCON
FRI 24 JUN
SAT 2 JUL
THURS 7 JUL
GARETH EMERY
PIERCE THE VEIL
DAN & PHIL
SAT 9 JUL
WED 17 AUG
TUE 23 AUG
SEVENTEEN
90’S MANIA
BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE
SUN 28 AUG
SAT 10 SEP
THUR 27 OCT
THE DANDY WARHOLS
RUSSIAN BALLET SWAN LAKE
BASSHUNTER
FRI 4 NOV
WED 9 NOV
SAT 3 DEC
For more info and tickets visit bigtopsydney.com
or contact our Box Office - 1300 BIGTOP // Luna Park Sydney
facebook.com/bigtopsydney THE MUSIC 22ND JUNE 2016 • 3
It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.
And we know everyone. On sale now. Go to store.themusic.com.au to get your copy today. 4 • THE MUSI MUSIC • 22ND JUN JUNE E 201 2016 6
saturday 25th of June @ 7pm
bertie blackman Waves
Sunday 26th of June @ 4pm
WaveFM presents Jon Stevens + Ben Ransom Band
Friday 12th of August @ 8.00pm
Absolutely 80’s Waves
Waves
Friday 5th of August @ 9.30pm
WaveFM presents Angels + Mi Sex
Sat 10th septemner @ 7.30pm
1927 + Pseudo Echo Waves
Waves
Tix from www.moshtix.com.au www.towradgibeachhotel.com.au 170 Pioneer Road, Towradgi 2518 | 02 42833 588
www.thebasement.com.au
The Home of Live Music Since 1973 BASEMENT
THU 23RD 8PM
DJ CHRIS SPICER PRESENTS WORLD TOUR
FEAT: DJ SALVY, LUKEAS, CHRIS SPICER AND MANY MORE
BASEMENT
FRI 24TH 8PM
LEVEL ONE
FRI 24TH 9PM
TENSILE PRESENTS DUBSTEP/ GRIME/UK GARAGE NIGHT
BASEMENT
SAT 25TH 8PM
LEVEL ONE
SAT 25TH 9PM
-TENSILE 001-
FEAT: QUANTA, THIERRY D, LUPR, GRILLS, DRED JENSEN AND MANY MORE
FATHER SYDNEY PRESENTS:
FATHER PRIVATE LAUNCH PARTY
FEAT: FINEST SELECTION OF DJ TALENT, A BASS CLUBNIGHT NOT TO BE MISSED
BASEMENT
SUN 26TH 4PM
LEVEL ONE
SUN 26TH 4PM
COMING UP
“TRAGIC EARTH”
THURSDAY 8 30JUNE JUNE SATURDAY
PROG ROCK SHOW SUPPORTED BY “EIGHTBALL JUNKIES”, “SNOW LEOPARD”, “BLACK KNUCKLES”
DON’T MISS!
NATIVE AUSTRALIA PRESENTS:
NATIVE SHOWCASE 001
TECH HOUSE PARTY WITH: DIMITRIS MICHAS, NICK REVERSE, AMANO, NUENDO, GONZO, JAMES PETROU, LITMUS
“LOWGAZER”
HEAVY ROCK SHOW SUPPORTED BY “THREE WISE MONKEYS”, “GENETICS”, “METANOIA”, “BASIL’S KITE”
52ND ANNIVERSARY PARTY FEAT MANY SPECIAL GUEST DJ’S
Wed 29 June: Indie Show with “Crooked Frames” supported “Cold Vulture”, “Bradley Ownes & The Florins”, “Just Breathe”, “The Spectrum”; Thu 30 June: 8pm Basement: “Vander” EP Release party with support from “Heart Of Mind”, “Running Over Rooftops”, “BJ and Joel Allen”, “Leah Wilkie”; Fri 1 July: 8pm Basement: Inna Ridim presents Trax Return, Drum’N’Bass/Jungle/Live Reggae/Dancehall/FullSpectrum Bass Music feat: Murda One, Chris White, Foreign Dub, Jah Tung, Akul, Micapam, Slice, DTech; 9pm Level One: Deaf To All But Metal presents: July Monthly Clubnight, with Metal Quiz, Balck Metal Twister and much more; Sat 2 July: 2pm Basement: Valve Bar Election Day Charity Extravaganza! Presented by Aussie Punk Scene, feat: “Chris Duke & The Royals”, “Wasters”, “Batfoot!”, “Ravellers”, “Ivan Drago”, “BDSM”, “51 Percent”, Josh Arentz, Tim Hampshire, Laura Mardon, Yvette Vials, Spencer Scott, Andy Mac, Angus And Julia Stoned, Antonia Susan, Nothing Rhymes With David; 9pm Level One: Father Sydney presents: Father weekly Grand Launch, Bass Music club night not to be missed; Sun 3 July: 4pm Basement: Spectrum Fest in support of Spectrum Autism Australia, feat: “Double Chamber”, “Vodvile”, “Dionysis”, “Breaking Point”, “Amortise”, “Grim Demise”, “Shatter The Crown”
THE BASEMENT BLUES SOCIETY PRESENTS:
ANNUAL “BLUES JAM” THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO GET UP AND JAM AT THE BASEMENT! KICKING OFF WITH AN ALL-STAR HOUSE BAND FEATURING MATT ROSS – GEORGE RIGATOS – DAVE FESTER – TAYA CHANI – FRAN LIDDLE AND MORE SPECIAL GUESTS. THEN IN AN ORDERLY FASHION, LET YOUR HAIR DOWN AND GET UP ON THE STAGE!
COMING UP... THU 18 AUG RENEE GEYER SAT 10 SEPT LOLO LOVINA – ALBUM LAUNCH SAT 12 NOV FRANCES MADDEN & BAND FOLLOW US: ON FACEBOOK @ THE BASEMENT & ON TWITTER @ #BASEMENTSYD RESTUARANT OPENS AT 11AM, SERVING FOOD ALL DAY
PRINCE: 1958 – FOREVER
FRI 24 JUN
AFRO MOSES: SPIRIT OF BOB MARLEY, PETER TOSH & LUCKY DUBE “LIVE” + BIG SURPRISE
SAT 25 JUN
THE MONDAY JAM
MON 27 JUN
A NIGHT WITH A FEW OF OUR FAVOURITE ARTISTS –
WED 29 JUN
THE BASEMENT BLUES SOCIETY PRESENTS:
ANNUAL “BLUES JAM”
THU 30 JUN
HANDLE WITH CARE INSPIRED BY THE MUSIC OF THE TRAVELING WILBURYS
FRI 01 JUL
FRANK BENNETT
SAT 02 JUL
SHINE FOR KIDS FUNDRAISER
THE MUSIC 22ND JUNE 2016 • 5
Credits Publisher Street Press Australia Pty Ltd Group Managing Editor Andrew Mast National Editor – Magazines Mark Neilsen Arts Editor Hannah Story Gig Guide Editor Justine Lynch gigs@themusic.com.au Contributing Editor Bryget Chrisfield
Music Music / Arts / Lifestyle / Culture
Living The Dream
For a regular hit of news sign up to our daily newsletter at theMusic.com.au
Sydney’s Totally Unicorn are dropping their new album Dream Life 29 Jul, and to celebrate the rise of their ‘Motherfuckin’ Phoenix’ they’ll hit the road in September/October.
Editorial Assistants Brynn Davies, Sam Wall Contributors Adam Wilding, Andrew McDonald, Anthony Carew, Brendan Crabb, Brendan Telford, Cameron Cooper, Cameron Warner, Carley Hall, Cate Summers, Chris Familton, Chris Maric, Christopher H James, Cyclone, Daniel Cribb, Danielle O’Donohue, Dave Drayton, Deborah Jackson, Dylan Stewart, Eliza Berlage, Guido Farnell, Guy Davis, Hattie O’Donnell, James d’Apice, Jonty Czuchwicki, Kassia Aksenov, Liz Giuffre, Mac McNaughton, Mark Beresford, Mark Hebblewhite, Matt MacMaster, Mitch Knox, Neil Griffiths, Paul Ransom, Mick Radojkovic, Peter Laurie, Rip Nicholson, Ross Clelland, Sam Murphy, Samuel J Fell, Sarah Braybrooke, Sarah Petchell, Sean Maroney, Sebastian Skeet, Simon Eales, Steve Bell, Tanya Bonnie Rae, Tim Finney, Tom Hersey, Tyler McLoughlan, Uppy Chatterjee, Xavier Rubetzki Noonan
King Is In The Building There is a brand new album from Aussie rockers King Of The North due out 5 Aug. It’s called Get Out Of Your World and it comes with a huge tour through August and September.
Photographers Angela Padovan, Cole Bennetts, Clare Hawley, Jared Leibowitz, Josh Groom, Kane Hibberd, Leila Maulen, Pete Dovgan, Peter Sharp, Rohan Anderson Advertising Dept Georgina Pengelly, Sammy BladesMoore sales@themusic.com.au
King Of The North
Art Dept Ben Nicol, Felicity Case-Mejia Admin & Accounts Meg Burnham, Ajaz Durrani, Kathy Zhu accounts@themusic.com.au
Bob Evans
Folk singer-songwriter Liz Stringer has announced she’ll be back from her Canadian tour to smash out 19 shows from August to mid-December in support of her freshly announced record, All The Bridges.
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Bob’s Bargains — Sydney
6 • THE MUSIC • 22ND JUNE 2016
Burning Bright
ARIA-winning songwriter and Jebediah frontman Bob Evans released his new album, Car Boot Sale, just last week and to celebrate its arrival he has slated in a national tour this August.
c / Arts / Music / Arts / Lifestyle / Culture
Totally Unicorn
Change 4 Change
Jeremy Loops
South African roots act Jeremy Loops has dropped news that he’ll be heading over to Australia for his debut national tour in November/December to showcase his debut record, Trading Change.
Ball Park Music
Dream Team Brisbane indie-pop legends Ball Park Music have announced details of their fourth record, with Every Night The Same Dream dropping in August closely followed by a massive tour in support from September to October.
Liz Stringer
$3billion The Coathangers
Love Ya Bloody Face The Coathangers are heading back Down Under with their latest album Nosebleed Weekend. The neo-grunge three-piece hit Australian shores in October for five shows around the nation and an appearance at Yours & Owls Festival.
The amount YouTube claims to have paid to the music industry to date, refuting claims by Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor that the site was built on the back of free, stolen content.
THE MUSIC 22ND JUNE 2016 • 7
Lifestyle Music / Arts / Lifestyle / Culture
New Valve
Valve
Valve’s upstairs venue has been quietly getting a facelift – timber flooring, leather booths, Americana-style bar food, the whole kit and caboodle. Now Valve lounge is ready to show of the new look, officially kicking off 24 Jun.
The Monkees
See Monkees Rumours that The Monkees will be heading to Australia have proven to be true with confirmation that the iconic US outfit will hit the country this December on the back of their new album, Good Times! Girl Asleep
She Can Beat You In Her Sleep In a huge win for the Australian independent film industry, Girl Asleep, directed by Adelaide filmmaker Rosemary Myers, has picked up the prestigious Grand Jury Award at this year’s Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF). BANFF & Caitlin Park
8 • THE MUSIC • 22ND JUNE 2016
e / Cultu Music / Arts / Lifestyle / Culture
This Week’s Releases
US comedian April Macie has announced she’ll be heading to Australia this September in what will be her debut tour of the country. The Pennsylvania-born actress will perform two shows in both Melbourne and Sydney.
s e s a e l e R
Late April
April Macie
Dustin Tebbutt
Alt-J Live At Red Rocks Infectious/Liberator
Dawn Treader
Indie-pop artist Dustin Tebbutt has detailed news of a national tour in support of his upcoming album, First Light, which will kick off in August to coincide with the album’s release on 5 Aug.
Broods Conscious Island/Universal
Lovely Brisbane indie-pop act BANFF and Sydney folktronica artist Caitlin Park have unveiled their new video together for their collaborative single, My Love, My Lover, as well as announced a run of tour dates in August.
120
The depth, in metres, inside an Icelandic volcano, that 20 punters will be able to witness Deftones frontman Chino Moreno perform an acoustic set.
DJ Shadow The Mountain Will Fall Mass Appeal/Sony
Juan Du Sol Cuba Sweat It Out
THE MUSIC 22ND JUNE 2016 • 9
Music / Music / Arts / Lifestyle / Culture
Kristian Nairn
Hold The Floor
After last year’s massive debut, MoVement has announced dates for its 2016 return, 19 - 23 Oct. For the first event DJ Kristian Nairn, aka Hodor, will take over Enmore Theatre with Rave Of Thrones.
Masters Of
Opera In The Pub
Their Craft There is no better place to explore opera than the pub, so sit back, relax, and prepare yourself for an evening of cultural and craft beer injection. Opera In The Pub is returning to The Dove & Olive on 26 Jun.
First Dance
Why do we call it ‘being in a funk’? I don’t feel funky. I’m not even wearing my flares. @kara_nation
10 • THE MUSIC • 22ND JUNE 2016
Melbourne-based immersive theatre company The Boon Companions are bringing their live art experience, Dance Magic Dance: The Wedding Reception, to Sydney, on 9 Jul for a night of dance, music and interactive performance art.
Dance Magic Dance: The Wedding Reception
Strawberry Fields Festival
Arts / Li Music / Arts / Lifestyle / Culture
Frontlash
Event Horizon
Awake Is The New Sleep
Who else binged the entire S4 of Orange Is The New Black on the weekend? S4 > S3 and a standout season for Danielle Brooks and Lori Petty. Only a year to go for S5.
Melody Pool
4EVA Excitement is at an all time high for Strawberry Fields Festival in November with first round acts for the 2016 event finally announced. George Fitzgerald, Henry Saiz, Leftfield and more are set to perform.
Darren Hayes His passionate letter for marriage equality in Australia for the LGBT community hit the mark.
Cookin’ On 3 Burners The Kungs remix of their track This Girl has grabbed #1 on the UK dance charts and #2 on the UK singles chart. These Aussies continue to dominate over there.
Lashes
Hunter Valley’s Americana Dashville Skyline Festival is back for another round in September/October and the first round of acts have just been announced including Brian Cadd, The Brothers Comatose, Melody Pool and heaps more.
Orange Is The New Black
Backlash
Guns Do Kill People – Again
It’s a tragic coincidence but another singer from The Voice, Alejandro Fuentes, has lost his life to gun violence in Chicago, coming only a week after another alumni, Christina Grimmie, was also killed.
Eddie McGuire And The AFL
Choose Your Weapon Opening this week, 23 - 26 June, former Annandale Hotel manager, Matthew Gillett’s new exhibition My Art Kills Monsters is the culmination of five years work. The exhibition is an immersive experience that works to open discussion about mental illness.
When there was a racist meme on Adam Goodes recently, the AFL stepped in to have it removed from Facebook, yet it takes a week for an apology to be issued for comments inferring violence against women by two AFL club presidents no less.
When The Lights Come Up We’ve had a great week and a half at the Sydney Film Festival and are sad to see it go.
THE MUSIC 22ND JUNE 2016 • 11
Music
POL I T I CA E L E C E T R ON I CA.
Elizabeth Rose and Brynn Davies talk politics, say ‘urgh’ a lot and complain about how ‘fucked’ Tinder is. Cover and feature pics by Cole Bennetts.
lizabeth Maniscalco — a force to be reckoned with in the world of Australian producers as Elizabeth Rose — is absolutely tiny in stature. “I know, I know” she laughs, “I get that a lot.” She actually fits into a suitcase — there’s photographic proof on her Facebook. We’re curled up in a tiny patch of sunlight that is providing absolutely zero warmth on The Music’s office roof, Rose’s publicist snapping away for the producer’s various social platforms. They run a few poses for Boomerang and grab me in for a Snapchat, complete with lots of emojis. And peace signs (she’s just returned from Japan and is revamping the pose). There’s a lot of socialling going on, something that, while an integral part of boosting her career, deeply affects Maniscalco. “I feel [anxiety] from time to time about being so consumed by all these social media platforms that I have to keep up to date with and I have to represent myself through,” she explains. Her debut LP Intra is a journey into the young producer’s psyche, exploring the issues she cares most about or feels to the greatest extent. Anxiety covers this particular vulnerability. “The song is about having anxiety because of having an online presence — being public and having social media and being an artist and having to put yourself out there, show so much and give so much of yourself. Like, yes, that is great and therapeutic, but at the same time it’s like... urgh!” she exclaims. “That’s my personal thoughts and feelings and, like, people judge you on the internet! Like they can be horrible.” As “an anxious person”, Maniscalco could be seen as both lucky and unlucky to be thrown into the deep end with big name collaborations so early in her career — lucky for her music, unlucky for her nerves. “It’s pretty daunting working with people who are like, successful. You just feel like ‘Oh God, they’re gonna judge me and they’re gonna see that I’m not as good as them.’ You get all these insecurities coming up. “I almost psyched myself out [when] I did a writing session with Gotye for a week. He wrote with me in his massive barn where
12 • THE MUSIC • 22ND JUNE 2016
he has all these instruments that he collects. I stayed for the whole week and cancelled work, I was like ‘CANCEL EVERYTHING,’” she laughs. “That is the only time up until this point where I have been, like, truly intimidated, like, ‘I don’t wanna put ideas down because I’m so nervous around him.’” That fear of judgement initially held her back from writing EPs and singles with the kind of political motivations seen on Intra. “I used to really pick apart everything and think ‘Does this fit, do I really need to write about that, should I do that, are people gonna hate this?’ [When] I started I felt like I had to tread carefully because I was new and I didn’t want to start on the wrong foot,” she explains. “But now it’s like, urgh, it doesn’t matter, it’s a creative output... I feel more confident to talk about anything I want now.” Six years into her career she’s brazenly writing about everything from gun laws to same sex marriage. “I think [Malcolm Turnbull] has more of a chance [at legalising gay marriage] than what Tony Abbott did. It’s pretty disappointing that we’re still waiting for this to happen — it shouldn’t be made such a big deal of it being an ‘issue’,” she says emphatically.
Australia is so behind and so disorganised in a way. We just haven’t got our shit together. Having recently travelled overseas, Maniscalco has had time to reflect on and compare her home country’s politics. “Seeing how other countries are run — whether that be equality or legalising gay marriage, even like, transport systems! Australia is so behind and so disorganised in a way. We just haven’t got our shit together.” Maniscalco feels that she has gained some perspective on Sydney’s status as an international city, and her thoughts on lockout laws are made very clear. “It’s very limiting. Again, with being overseas, you come back here and it’s just like, ‘Urgh, there’s no fun in Sydney!’ There’s no fun at all — can’t drink on the street. There’s just a lot of negative things about Sydney. It’s ridiculous.” Intra’s most personal song isn’t about gay marriage or gun laws, or even anxiety. It’s Steel Hearts — the longest song on the album — which deals with love and loss, something Maniscalco talks about with detachment. “I was in a serious relationship when I wrote that, and it’s kinda weird being out of it now and seeing that [the song] was like a time capsule. That’s a song that’s really close to my heart. I got emotional in the take that I recorded it in because I was feeling like, you know, people feel overwhelmed by love and scared at the same time that you might lose it.”
On a lighter note, her views on social media extend to the dating realm of 2016 — “Everything is about being online, like, fucking Tinder. Like, isn’t that fucked?” she exclaims. “It’s stressful! We all have to be connected via the internet and it’s too much! Ten years ago I wouldn’t want to socialise as much, but nowadays from talking online, I wanna see people face to face. I wanna go on a real date!” We steer away from boys and get on to girls — specifically, the challenges she faces as a female producer in a genre and a scene traditionally dominated by men. “Yes, [sexism] does happen; it’s happened to me. There are things that make me feel less respected as a female. Like, last weekend, or the weekend before: when I was DJing this guy offered to take over and said to me ‘I bet you I can DJ better than you.’ I just took my headphones off and just looked at him and said ‘You don’t say that to anyone.’ And I put them back on and just ignored him. It’s just a classic example — it will never change, it will never change. “The only thing that can be done is to stop it right then and there, like, I’ll always call someone out if they’re doing something. On stage it’s just so important to stop that. If anyone’s ever calling stuff out that’s rude in the crowd — and they’ve done that before — to just... you have to get respect! Like some guy could be calling out ‘Uuuurhhhuuuu... show us your... whatever,’” she mimes, flailing her arms about in imitation of a bloke on the sauce. “But I don’t really like, I don’t know if this sounds bad or not, but I don’t really like complaining about it and making a fuss about it. I prefer to just ignore it and laugh. It has to be about the music, and not who’s behind it. And hopefully people realise that sooner rather than later. People who don’t respect women — that’s their problem. They will get shamed.”
T A L E NT GE NE
Elizabeth Maniscalco has dance and music in her blood. She began dancing at age three and later progressed to learning piano in primary school. “I would teach myself songs that I liked to listen to at the time, like Britney Spears and all these cheesy pop songs,” she laughs. Unfortunately we were refused a sneak preview of a potential cover: “No, no, no... oh, no, no. Need a few drinks for that!” It wasn’t until she watched her brother, Anthony Maniscalco — who you might know as Hook N Sling — lay down tracks on Ableton that she realised producing was where her heart lay. “Watching Anthony, my brother, doing music as I was growing up was a massive influence on me. I knew that that was what I wanted to do watching him make something from nothing.” He is a mutual friend of Flight Facilities — a collaboration that played a major part in launching her career that started with “me remixing one of their songs. I was so excited I stayed up all night finishing it. We started talking after that, because they know my brother as well — everyone knows everyone in the industry, which is something I’m coming to know! So weird how that happened”.
What: Intra (Inertia) When & Where: 24 Jun, Oxford Art Factory; 25 Jun, The Argyle House, Newcastle
THE MUSIC 22ND JUNE 2016 • 13
Music
Send Me Your Broods Georgia Nott of Broods spills to Cyclone about wanting to do a Beyonce with their second album Conscious.
Y
ou may know them as courtiers of the pop queen Lorde, but Broods are breaking out with their second album, Conscious. Encouraged by their now in-demand producer Joel Little, famously Lorde’s studio cohort, the New Zealand brother/sister synth-pop combo - Caleb and Georgia Nott - augured a new direction with April’s comeback single, Free. It’s closer to Depeche Mode’s ‘80s industrial than the ethereal emowave of Broods’ ARIA Top 5 Evergreen - only the perennially tortured Dave Gahan might envy Georgia’s unexpected gospel hook, “Hallelujah, I’m free.” As Broods’ singer-songwriter, she’s impatient for fans to hear Conscious in its entirety. “If it was up to me, I’d probably just do a Beyonce and drop it all at once and not tell anyone,” Georgia confesses.
On the eve of Free’s release, Broods boldly followed Little by relocating from Auckland to Los Angeles, the entertainment industry’s epicentre. Incredibly, in the short time since, they’ve wrapped North American dates supporting long-term Broods advocate Ellie Goulding (the Kiwis were ‘special guests’ on her 2014 Australasian run). Georgia is already happily settled in California. “It’s good - it’s been a surprisingly easy transition, to be honest,” she enthuses. “It’s been pretty painless... Well, when we got furniture, it helped. We were living in a very empty flat for a while!” Broods are reticent interviewees. In the past, journos have been advised not to probe them about their friendships with either Lorde or Goulding. Few know that earlier this year the charming Georgia, who often laughs nervously, quietly wed. 14 • THE MUSIC • 22ND JUNE 2016
The Notts encountered Little, former frontman of the punk-pop Goodnight Nurse, in 2011 while gigging in the indie band The Peasants - he judged a music comp they trumped. Initially, Georgia, The Peasants’ lead vocalist, worked with him, indulging her love of artfully melancholy pop. She eventually conceived Broods with the older Caleb as instrumentalist and Little produced them. Ironically, it was Little’s experimentation with Georgia that convinced Lorde’s then manager Scott Maclachlan to reach out to him. And, with Little’s guidance, Lorde went on to magic the Grammy-winning Royals. In late 2013 Broods shared their epic single Bridges online - and soon it was a blog phenom. This, coupled with their connection to Lorde, had major label A&Rs circling. The next year, the fast-moving duo unveiled their debut, Evergreen, inevitably prologued by an EP.
If it was up to me, I’d probably just do a Beyonce and drop it all at once and not tell anyone. Georgia’s timidity with the media oddly contrasts her new stridency as a vocalist on Conscious - which is overall edgier, and harder, than Evergreen. In early 2015 Caleb indicated to The Music that Broods’ second album would have “a little more of real instrumentation” over programming, and “an organic feel”. But, aside from the rock-stabbed We Had Everything, Conscious’ vibe is still electronic. “It’s definitely heavier,” Georgia states. “I think Free’s a very good example of the way that the production is headed. Everything’s not as aggressive as Free,” she laughs, “but it’s definitely more produced. It’s gonna be a really fun album to play live - it’s pretty upbeat and [it has] massive sound.” Little is executive producer of Conscious, but Broods also cut tracks with the emerging Australian Alex Hope (Troye Sivan) and LA posse Captain Cuts (Jessica Mauboy). And Conscious has a hot cameo. On the alt anthem Freak Of Nature, Georgia duets with grungy Swedish electro-pop scion Tove Lo - fresh off her hit Flume hook-up Say It. However, even that is bound to be overshadowed by Broods’ co-write with the elusive Lorde: the airy Heartlines. “We actually wrote it quite a while back when we were solely working on stuff in the studio and we had quite a bit of time,” Georgia says. “[Lorde] was working on stuff at the same time. It just kinda happened that we were all in the same place at the same time. Joel invited her in to have a session and see what came out - and it turned out to be a really cool song.”
What: Conscious (Island/Universal) When & Where: 9 Jul, Enmore Theatre
THE FUSEBOX
THE MUSIC 22ND JUNE 2016 • 15
Music
Head Space Election Watch
In the lead-up to the election, we thought we’d highlight the major parties’ stance on a few issues. This week we look at their commitment for new funding for the arts.
Liberal $20 million Will provide funding to build a La Trobe performing arts centre and Shepparton Art Museum.
Labor $176.6 million Includes renewing funding of the Live Music Office and SongMakers program, increasing funding to Regional Arts Fund and more.
Greens $270.2 million Will return and increase funding to the Australia Council, pay artists for the public display of their works and more.
16 • THE MUSIC • 22ND JUNE 2016
Still recovering from a gutwrenching loss, guitarist Matt Harvey of instrumental post-rockers We Lost The Sea tells Brendan Crabb about “a cathartic purge of emotions”.
W
e Lost The Sea axeman Matt Harvey takes The Music’s call while at home, where he undertakes freelance work in the design/motion graphics/animation field. The 35 year old insists the Sydney post-rockers are a proudly DIY band in many respects, Harvey often sacrificing his daytime hours “to do some band stuff, so I can work at night on other stuff, or vice-versa”. These duties can have occupational hazards. For instance, he admits scheduling their upcoming first headline tour of Australia entailed considerable effort. “Everyone in this band’s pretty good; when it’s time to work, we work. But essentially, a band has to be run by one or two people... You can’t have four or five head-strong leaders in the band that all want to do something. [Although] if someone’s good at something, then you give them that task to do at what they excel at normally, and that’s totally fine.” He also believes next time around they’ll likely require a manager, or someone in a similar role to assist. “But I’m a bit of a control freak. I like to make sure everything runs to a really high standard. It really stresses me out and it’s probably going to kill me one day, but I make sure everything’s done properly... Some of the time it gets too much, and the other
dudes chip in when they can. I refer to it as my second job, because essentially it is. It’s not a fulltime thing, I don’t make any money off it, but you’ve got to treat it like that.” During the aforementioned jaunt, the ambient act will perform last year’s emotionally and sonically draining Departure Songs album in its entirety. It’s a moving tribute to vocalist Chris Torpy, who took his own life in 2013. The remaining members opted to continue as an instrumental outfit. Does Harvey believe they’ve sufficiently purged Torpy’s death artistically, or could he prove an over-arching theme going forward? “Definitely with Departure Songs, the event of losing Chris was a massive thing, and a cathartic purge of emotions is exactly what it was. It’s also got some really pretty moments, which the band has never really done before. “I really hope we can be, with the next album, we can be in a really happy place and still write an album that really affects people. Because with this album we’ve had so many people writing to us, week after week, still to this day that pour their heart out and love the album and say thank you. I think regardless of what we do in the future the next album will be very special for us and a lot of our fans. I think next time, I hope, maybe the theme with Chris, I don’t think directly, and I think we need to move on. I think the next record, whatever head-space we’re in at the time is what we’re in at the time, and it might take another two years to develop that album. But it is an inspiration. It was an inspiration to do what it was, and I don’t think we could write another album like that, because the emotion behind it was just so raw, and you can’t fake that.”
When & Where: 25 Jun, Oxford Art Factory
THE MUSIC 22ND JUNE 2016 • 17
Film
Three Places For Storytelling
Story Club The first Monday of every month at Giant Dwarf you can head along to Story Club, the brainchild of Zoe Norton Lodge and Ben Jenkins, where you look up at a person telling you stories from a large book while they sit in a large armchair and probably make you laugh. Also available as a podcast – we recommend Nakkiah Lui’s Tragedy.
The Moth If you want to hear people tell you true stories, or you want to tell one of your own, head along to open mic storytelling night, The Moth. Also available as a podcast – we recommend the podcast featuring Clementine Ford.
Open Rant Night Open Rant Night has moved to World Bar starting this Thursday, and will host cantankerous old/young/neither men and women up on a soapbox, gesticulating wildly and complaining about kids on skateboards/whatever they like really for two minutes apiece. It’s on the third Thursday of everything month, and it’s time for you to form an opinion.
18 • THE MUSIC • 22ND JUNE 2016
Marijuana: For Your Health
Helen Kapalos, director of hotDocs documentary A Life Of Its Own, talks to Anthony Carew about the way we are “putting profits ahead of people’s health and wellbeing”.
I
t sounds surprising, but A Life Of Its Own: The Truth About Medical Marijuana is one of 2016’s saddest films – there’s families suffering from terminal illnesses and degenerative diseases, proselytising cannabis’s medical potency and lamenting its marginalised status in the medical industry. “I was watching it again at 2am last night,” says Helen Kapalos, its director. “I had another good cry. Every time I watch the film, I cry. Every time I even watch the trailer, I cry. It’s terribly sad. There are [subjects] that, during the making of the documentary, passed away. It’s heartbreaking. People contact me every week asking where they can get some cannabis oil, if there are any compassionate grants available. These are desperate people, who’re not having success with other drugs. Every time I watch it I’m filled with frustration, with sadness for all this suffering that’s going untreated.” Kapalos, a 45-year-old journalist who’s worked for every major Australian TV network - including stints as newsreader and current affairs show host - is an “unlikely activist”, which suits a film that challenges stigma and stereotype. She was inspired to make it after undertaking an initial tabloid-TV report. “I didn’t expect to see the wide-
ranging applications, and that, for example, epilepsy treatments involved strains high in CBD, which is a part of the plant that isn’t even psychoactive,” she says. “Afterwards, there was such a huge response to the story, but I was disappointed that it quickly became a sensational topic, rather than a topic we were looking at seriously. That’s what really motivated me to, literally, go to the bank one day and say: ‘How much money can I get out? I need to make a documentary.’” A Life Of Its Own: The Truth About Medical Marijuana became, then, a labour of love. “I self-funded it, had to take time off work, and eventually I left Channel 7 so I could finish the documentary,” Kapalos recounts. “It became an obsession, to me, to finish it, to depict the subject it the right way. I was frustrated that people are given such misinformation about the subject. So, I wanted to shed some light on this subject. It was a bit like Medical Marijuana 101: this is how it works.” In the US, on a federal level marijuana is still legally classified as more dangerous than cocaine and methamphetamine. This, and the power of pharmaceutical lobby groups, limits research opportunities. “It seems really, really baffling that the research has been blocked, but, then, a lot of it is tied to Big Pharma,” Kapalos says. “For me, the big take-home is: Why aren’t we doing more? Why isn’t there more research? Will Big Pharma ever fund a clinical trial with the whole plant? It’s really befuddling to me that in 2016, we’re, still, putting profits ahead of people’s health and wellbeing.”
What: A Life Of Its Own: The Truth About Medical Marijuana When & Where: 22 Jun, Palace Electric, Canberra; 25 Jun, Palace Verona
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THE MUSIC 22ND JUNE 2016 â&#x20AC;¢ 19
Music
Reckless Driving As metalcore sensations Parkway Drive embark on their next adventure, vocalist Winston McCall and Brendan Crabb share some bush tucker.
A
s early DVD documentary footage indicated, and death-defying Vice Grip video recently reiterated, Parkway Drive are fond of the odd spot of risktaking and other assorted escapades. The moniker of their upcoming regional jaunt, the ‘All Aussie Adventure Tour’ (derived from an online competition) was inspired by the accident-prone TV comedy favourite. Has the Byron Bay outfit experienced any Russell Coight-like mishaps on tour? “What, jumping off a bridge and landing on a boat?” frontman Winston McCall jokes. “Probably the nastiest one we did, which was not
is literally the primary passion in our lives. We really care about creating this music and creating a moment on stage every time we play. Sacrificing a lot of the time by going and doing crazy crap, to the point where the show is secondary... You don’t have the energy to play properly when you get on-stage. The thing that makes me most psyched now is less the surf that we’re going to get on the tour, and more the show itself.”
We don’t have any plans of stopping, unless we’re forced to.
Considering their upcoming itinerary, a more professional approach seems mandatory. Post-regional run, Parkway Drive return to Europe for “pretty much the biggest shows we’ve ever played”, including prominent slots on major summer festivals like Leeds and Reading, and Germany’s none-more-metal Wacken Open Air. “We’ve had our share of interesting situations, for better or worse, that we’ve had to deal with over the band’s existence, and it’s one of those things where we just roll with it as we go. Luckily we’re all still friends, we all care about each other on a level that isn’t just, ‘You’re the guy next to me playing the music, and that’s it.’ I think there’s more passion about what we do now than there has ever been in the band’s existence. And we don’t have any plans of stopping, unless we’re forced to. So anything that pops up, we’ll simply just work it into our lives... But that being said, we’ll see what happens if anyone has kids,” he chuckles.
When & Where: 23 Jun, PCYC Bateau Bay; 24 Jun, Penrith Panthers; 25 Jun, Uni Bar, Wollongong; 26 Jun, Sutherland Entertainment Centre
intentional, was when we had the habit of jumping off things into water, we decided the best way to do it was make sure that our roadies tested the water first. So we’d make them jump off in front of us. We did a massive cliff jump in Sydney, made our roadie on his first day jump off. He couldn’t do it properly, landed on his back, ended up having to go hospital the day of the show, and retire from the tour.” Although the band remains based in their hometown, a domesticated existence seemingly doesn’t beckon yet. “It’s more the fact we give a shit about playing on stage far more now than we did in the past. Back in the day, we’d do the kind of thing where you’re playing like eight songs, and no real concept of this being anything other than a fun tour. [Now] this has become something that 20 • THE MUSIC • 22ND JUNE 2016
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THE MUSIC 22ND JUNE 2016 â&#x20AC;¢ 21
Theatre
The Women Walk The Walk Of Late Night Hot Brown Honey. Pic: Dylan Evans
Samantha Bee
Samantha Bee Former Canadian and Daily Show correspondent Samantha Bee went viral last week with her VERY angry post-Orlando anti-gun monologue. See why Louis CK thinks she’s the next big thing – her Full Frontal airs 8pm Mondays on SBS2.
Nikki Glasser Look up Nikki Glaser’s improv porn skit with Kyle Kinane and you’ll be wanting to watch her Not Safe series 8.30pm every Monday on Foxtel’s Comedy Channel.
Chelsea Handler Netflix chose Chelsea Handler, the controversial former host of Chelsea Lately and best-selling author, to front their first talk show. Chelsea is filmed and released within a 48-hour window – it drops midnight (US time) three times a week.
22 • THE MUSIC • 22ND JUNE 2016
Kim “Busty Beatz” Bowers tells Cyclone that if you want to incite real change in Australia’s arts and entertainment culture you have to come at it from both sides of the camera.
T
here is cabaret and then there’s Hot Brown Honey cabaret, which brings together pop, burlesque and hip hop culture. But it is also political — and transgressive. Today an ebullient Kim Bowers, aka Busty Beatz, is talking up Hot Brown Honey’s season at the Sydney Opera House even as she is “freezing in Adelaide”. Hot Brown Honey has been developed by the Black Honey Company, the production house Bowers launched with Candy, the pair South African Australians. Their mission is to represent greater diversity in Australia’s arts and entertainment world. “Me, Candy and [co-creator] Lisa Fa’alafi just went, ‘We need a platform for our crazy, kooky work that we do — there’s no one wanting to put on our stuff at all, so we’re just gonna start it,’” Bowers says. “It started quite organically, actually, just picking up guests wherever we went. Then Candy went to do Circus Oz and we decided, ‘Let’s make a show-show and see what happens!’” Hot Brown Honey stars artists from around the country, both “established” and “emerging”. As director, and choreographer, Fa’alafi leads the ensemble of six “honeys”. Bowers is musical director but also “host” or “the queen bee”. “I’m sort of the mouthpiece.” And, here,
she gives “a black woman’s viewpoint”. In 2016 there is a huge discussion surrounding diversity in the mainstream media that was amplified when Waleed Aly won the Gold Logie Award for Best Personality on Australian Television. But is tangible change occurring in the supposedly liberal arts? “Well, I mean, there’s this discussion – there’s talking the talk and then there’s walking the walk. And there’s a lot of levels of that walking the walk. There’s kind of that idea that, if we just put different people in these roles that it will be a change, right? And, yes, it will. But what we’re after is an overall change — looking at the structure and going, ‘Actually, what needs to be happening here is the stories need to be told, the writing needs to be done...’ Who’s behind the camera is just as important as who’s in front of the camera. So it’s hard. I haven’t seen enough of a change.” Bowers feels that a cabaret production can recontextualise the discourse for those who may not be listening. “It’s a trick, is what we like to say. We say, ‘Oh, look at this cabaret! Look at this thing.’ What it is is a political theatre piece. [But] people don’t wanna go out and see a political theatre piece (laughs), so we’ve used some of those devices to go, ‘Oh, mate, come on in...’” Even performing at the Sydney Opera House is symbolic. “Going into these institutions and these spaces is really great — our audiences reflect us. It’s like that quote, ‘You cannot be what you cannot see.’ We’ve got young First Nations women, we’ve got women from Indonesian backgrounds, from Samoan backgrounds, African backgrounds, so, of course, our communities are there to support, which is just so awesome.”
What: Hot Brown Honey When & Where: 22 — 26 Jun, Sydney Opera House
PRESENTS
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THE MUSIC 22ND JUNE 2016 • 23
Sarah Carroll What was their best period musically? Sweetheart Of The Rodeo came out in 1968 and although Gram’s vocals only grace three tracks — and were overdubbed due to contractual dramas — the whole album bears his mark as a lover of traditional country.
The Green Mohair Suits
In Focus What’s your favourite song of his and why? Brass Buttons is a beautiful and timeless song. It can be covered in any style and still remain heartbreaking. From the Burrito’s time, Sin City is and will remain a classic.
The Gram
Pa r s o n s P ro j e c t
Raised By Eagles
What’s your favourite song of his and why? So many... I Can’t Dance is one of ‘em... It’s funny, it’s sweet and it’s cool. If you can be those three things you got it made.
Heartworn Highway What was Parsons’ best period musically? Aside from being heavily responsible for the most iconic Byrds album, his solo albums with Emmylou Harris are where he captured a lot of his most memorable recordings.
The Mid North Which album of Parsons’ would you give to a newbie who had no idea about them to best represent them (and why)? Raven Records put out a career-spanning compilation Warm Evenings, Pale Mornings, Bottled Blues 1963-1973, Further Along: The Best Of The Flying Burrito Brothers is excellent, as is GP/ Grievous Angel.
As part of Bello Winter Music Fest, Sista Mary has curated The Gram Parsons Project on 10 July, a tribute to the music of the legendary Byrd Gram Parsons. When asked why she put together the tribute, Mary says, “I fell in love with Gram and his music early on with The Byrds’ Sweetheart Of The Rodeo. I knew he was doing something very special, marrying country with rock.” Some of the participants share their thoughts on Gram Parsons. To read the full interviews head to theMusic.com.au
THE MUSIC 22ND JUNE 2016 â&#x20AC;¢ 25
Theatre
Keyboard Metal Warriors
Home In Away Away
With the Heavy Metal Emoji Keyboard charging up the App Store charts (they have Kimoji in their sights), we thought we’d highlight some of our favourites.
Finally, no more \m/, we have horns up for real.
Sometimes everything needs to be turned up to 11.
Yet another Spinal Tap reference, but surely we’ve all wished we had an emoji that referred to a cucumber wrapped in foil shoved down a pair of pants? Right?
26 • THE MUSIC • 22ND JUNE 2016
For the third time in the threedecade history of Michael Gow’s Away, Sarah Woods is in the role of Gwen. She speaks to Dave Drayton.
W
ith nods to Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and King Lear it’s not surprising that Michael Gow’s Away has been programmed by Bard buff Damien Ryan’s Sport For Jove theatre company. Set in 1960s Australia Gow’s tale tells of three families from three different classes brought together by adverse weather during a coastal Christmas holiday. As a child Sarah Woods made her way south of Sydney each holidays to the coastal town of Bendalong. “At the beginning it was us and maybe three other families with a tent, and the local fisherman. It was an absolutely idyllic place and we kept going back there but every year there were more families. It certainly has that feel of tent city that we see in Away when we first get there — it’s Christmas day, the first scene with Gwen’s family, which dissolves into a terrible row. Sadly, I think that Gwen wants it to be fantastic, but it just doesn’t got that way... “That tent city, for me, is very reminiscent of Bendalong.” Woods first played Gwen, the martyrish mother of an upper middle class family, in her third year as a student at Western Australian Academy Of Performing Arts. “At that stage I was too young. Then in 2003 I did it with Railway Street Theatre Company directed by Mary-Anne Gifford, it was a beautiful production. The drama school
one, I mean,” Woods pauses for the words. “It was a nice production, but it was a drama school production. You got a lot of people playing people that they are not old enough to play really. “It was fantastic in 2003 to play Gwen at somewhere around the right age, and now, you know, maybe I’m too old for it, but everyone says I look young enough, so that will do for me. It’s incredible to come back to a play and a role that many times, but it’s been fantastic because the play is really an Australian classic, and deservedly so.” Now an aunt with access to teenage nieces and nephews Woods is in possession of a whole new world of experience with which to colour Gwen in her third time in the role. “Things like Jim calling Meg a handful, I mean, teenage kids are a handful! But it’s also what’s great about them. So even though I haven’t had kids my experience with the teenagers I know and love has given me that. But also, just the weight of living, knowing how much things matter, the important things like people and love and family, because that’s Gwen’s journey really. She loses everything else and that’s what she realises. “I think she loves her husband and daughter enormously but sometimes it doesn’t look like that. Unfortunately it just all comes out the wrong way quite often with Gwen, and it takes the incredible catalyst that is meeting Tom and his family, and finding out that Tom is dying to break Gwen open and makes her realise what she’s got, which is everything.”
What: Away When & Where: 22 — 25 Jun, York Theatre, Seymour Centre
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THE MUSIC 22ND JUNE 2016 • 27
Music
A Final Stroke Of The Beard As The Beards put down their instruments and grooming kits for the final time on their farewell tour, The Music got the band to nominate their highlights of their storied (and hirsute) career.
When We Fired Our
When We Met 17,823 People
Original Drummer
With Beards
Finding a drummer with both a beard and a station wagon was a tough ask back in 2005, but we thought we’d struck gold when we hired John Beardman to plunder the skins for us. Unfortunately, when it came to light that he’d been wearing a fake beard right from the start, it was a matter not only of deep embarrassment for us, but of urgently finding a replacement drummer with an actual beard. Luckily, John Beardman’s son, John Beardman Jr, was able to step straight in and we continued on our path to beard-related musical dominance (we strenuously deny any suggestion that the original drummer was simply our current drummer before he was able to grow a decent beard).
Over the course of 11 years and 500-plus shows, one of the things we’ve enjoyed most is being able to spend time with fans after the shows. It’s a great way to meet lots of great beards, plus we generally get congratulated a lot, which is great for our fragile self-esteem, and the bass player will occasionally get laid. We’ve been fortunate enough to meet tons of stonking beards over the years of touring, not only during and after our gigs, but also just on the street, where we will often seek out the nearest bearded homeless man and buy him a new suit.
W
hen your career as a band has been packed with so many highlights, and absolutely no lowlights at all, choosing just five was a tough ask. Nevertheless, here is our selection of our favourite moments from the last decade of being one of the world’s top five beard-related novelty bands…
Us with members of the Tactical Beard-Owner’s Club, a worldwide organisation of combat-trained beard enthusiasts. Johann Beardraven with original drummer John Beardman
When We Went To The World Beard And Moustache Championships
When Johann Beardraven Forgot Every Lyric
If you’re going to start an international touring career, you’d better start it right, and the rightest way we could think of was competing and performing at the 2009 World Beard and Moustache Championships in Anchorage, Alaska. As well as comprising the first ever Australian team to compete at the event, we also scored ourselves a gig at the opening ceremony, performing in front of the who’s who of the competitive beard-growing world. While we haven’t been invited back since, probably because they discovered that we were a novelty band rather than a hardline activist group, the trip remains one of the most memorable we embarked upon.
Us with World Beard-Growing Champion Jack Passion
28 • THE MUSIC • 22ND JUNE 2016
Life on the road can be tough, more so when you consume as much alcohol as frontman Johann Beardraven does. So when we took the stage at Manchester’s famed Academy venue during 2014’s The Beard Album tour, it wasn’t a great surprise when he screamed a slightly slurred “Beeeeaaards” into the microphone to open the show, rather than the traditional “Good evening ladies and gentlemen, how are you tonight?” It was even less surprising when he proceeded to forget virtually every lyric to almost every song, replacing them all with the word “beard”. The crowd were immediately on board, singing along with gusto, and needless to say it was one of the best gigs we ever did.
Johann Beardraven partaking in one of his few non-beard-related hobbies: alcohol consumption.
When We Announced The Biggest Beard-Related Tour Ever Attempted As strange as it may sound, a band can’t sing about beards forever, so when the decision was made to pull up stumps on our unlikely journey, it was an easy decision to sign off with the single biggest Aussie tour that we’ve ever undertaken. And while the Australian music scene will seem a little empty without a band singing songs exclusively about beards (although we’re still hoping that someone else will take up the mantle), we will be retiring confident that we have made the world a beardier place.
Beards
When & Where: 29-Jun, ANU Bar, Canberra; 30 Jun, Beachcomber Hotel, Toukley; 1 Jul, Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle; 2 Jul, Metro Theatre
Music
first tour I’ve ever done, you know? Because I thought a few months ago that I was never gonna actually do a tour again... I’m just so appreciative that I actually even get the chance [to perform].” Describing driving long distances as “a necessary evil” of touring, McHugh jokes, “If I clocked up all the hours I’ve actually spent in the car — and all the miles driving — I’d been very afraid, I reckon.” McHugh puts this driving time to good use, however. “In my normal life, having a five-year-old and a bunch of other shit to do, you know, you’ve gotta find that time. So driving is kind of nice in that way; you can daydream.” He’s never been one to “sit down and think, ‘I’m going to write a song’,” and McHugh admits, “I generally have the idea and almost can hear a song finished before I even pick up an instrument. And then I have to kind of learn how to play it, basically.” McHugh believes that artists who have “super-long, super-creative, super-fulfilling lives... just kind of keep going and develop a monumental body of work and an important, kind of, cultural contribution”. “Where I’m at, it’s like, I feel like the tip of the iceberg compared to what’s possible,” McHugh contemplates. “I think everyone, as artists, kind of comes in and out of commercial parts of their careers where it’s kind of like they’re just doing their thing and the light comes in and shines on them for a minute, and then the light shines on somewhere else... And that’s where the value is; as opposed to just, like, trying to run around in circles so the spotlight lands on you. Because then you’re not creating anything, you’re just trying to be popular.”
Out Of The Darkness
Mat McHugh thought he’d never perform again after sustaining spinal injuries at the end of last year. Bryget Chrisfield finds him inspired and “appreciative” to be back out on the road.
M
at McHugh’s last solo tour was cut short after the singer-songwriterproducer discovered he had a ruptured disc in his neck and a chipped bone in his back, which required immediate surgery. “You go out on the road and you decide, you know, ‘I’m gonna give this album [away] for free and hopefully this tour will make enough to cover my rent until I figure out what to do next,’ and then, three shows in, it’s happened,” McHugh recalls. “It was just, like, ‘Oh, man.’ It was just a dark time for a little bit there. So coming out of that, like, the darker it goes, when you actually come out into the light it just seems so much nicer and brighter so, yeah! It’s definitely been a big emotional — and kinda spiritual and everything — journey for the last six months, that’s for sure. But in that regard, the [current] tour can’t go wrong; even if two people come every night [laughs].” His injury followed “just a full-on year” for McHugh. “I had about 12 months where I was just — I don’t wanna say stressed, ‘cause that sounds like a bit of a wanker-y thing to say about playing music, but it was two albums in a year that I made by myself in a dusty, old, freezing garage, like, two winters in a row.” Now that he’s back out on the road, McHugh observes, “To me, it’s almost like my
No Shows There must be something in the air as there have been a few big name cancellations recently.
Filter The US band cancelled a show in Sweden due to death threats sent hours before their show. The club they were meant to play at later accused them of overreacting.
Craig Robinson The US comedian/actor postponed his Aussie tour until December due to last minute conflicting filming obligations.
Savages When & Where: 24 & 26 Jun, Brass Monkey; 25 Jun, Newtown Social Club
The UK rockers cancelled their Australian tour a mere five days before their first show due to probably the most common cause – unforeseen circumstances. THE MUSIC 22ND JUNE 2016 • 29
Eat / Drink Eat/Drink
Perry Josito
Not So Guilty Pleasure
Dr Sam Prince
A brownie has been invented that is tackling the hunger epidemic in Australia. Brynn Davies chatted with Perry Josito and Zambrero’s Dr Sam Prince about the dogood dessert.
W
hen you think about the global hunger epidemic it’s not likely that you immediately associate it as something affecting Australia. However, a report by Foodbank revealed that one in six Australians have experienced food insecurity in the last 12 months alone. Dr Sam Prince’s Mexican food franchise Zambrero opened its doors in 2005, tackling hunger head on: “It was my way of combining entrepreneurship with my humanitarian goal of helping the underprivileged,” says Dr Prince. The organisation has over 110 restaurants around the world, and its Plate 4 Plate program donates one meal to a country in need every time a Zambrero product is bought. Their most recent initiative in partnership with Foodbank Australia brings these donations closer to home. “We partnered with Stop Hunger Now for international donations and Foodbank Australia for local donations; both organisations work directly in the field with communities in need every day. The donations come in the form of a rice and soy meal fortified with 21 essential vitamins and nutrients. Communities receive these packs and then use what local ingredients are available to make meals, primarily via school feeding programs,” explains Dr Prince. The initiative comes in the form of a Mexican style brownie created by Perry Josito. “We created the Zambrero retail line based on feedback we’d received from customers — they loved that we were donating meals through the Plate 4 Plate program, but they were all being
30 • THE MUSIC • 22ND JUNE 2016
sent overseas. The retail line contributes to the same initiative of sending a meal to someone in need, but instead we donate through Foodbank to an Australian family,” says Josito. The Hazillo Brownie “contains dark chocolate, whole hazelnut and a hint of guajillo chilli for a Mexican twist. The recipe was inspired by my partner’s brownie recipe, it’s what I think a brownie should be: slightly crispy on the outside but soft and moist on the inside, not too sweet with a generous amount of nuts,” Josito enthuses. “When you think Mexican dessert you think churros, I think there is such oversaturation of churros in the market! So I chose a chocolate brownie and added a Mexican twist with the guajillo chilli to create a three dimensional experience when you indulge in it.” Never has a guilty pleasure felt so good. The packaging he has created for the brownie includes a sliding box which,
when opened, contains information about how a customer’s purchase has helped an Australian in need. “For every burrito or bowl purchased in a Zambrero restaurant, a meal is donated to someone in need in the developing world and for any item from our retail line, the Forbidden Black Rice, Muesli Bars or Hazillo Brownie, a meal is donated to an Australian family,” explains Dr Prince. Josito is enthusiastic about the progress the company has made in tackling local hunger. “To date we have donated 25,000 meals in Australia and I think it’s special how much Zambrero have dedicated themselves to attacking world hunger, especially in our own backyard.”
Music
Time After Time To read the full interview head to theMusic.com.au
Halfway’s powerful new album may have abandoned narrative structure, but Josh Busby and Ben Johnson tell Steve Bell that it sure doesn’t ignore the ravages of time.
B
ack in 2014 Brisbane eight-piece rock troupe Halfway turned heads with their fourth album Any Old Love — a gorgeous family narrative set in rural Queensland — and now they’ve parlayed that success into stunning follow-up The Golden Halfway Record. Recorded in Nashville by esteemed producer Mark Nevers (Lambchop, Lou Barlow, Howe Gelb), Halfway’s fifth finds them steering away from any past country influences and focusing on the rock’n’roll side of the band. “It wasn’t something that I can remember sitting around discussing, it just started to musically kick back against the last album — in a good way,” offers bassist Ben Johnson. “The acoustic got put down and the electric guitar got picked up, and there were a couple of songs floating around towards the end of Any Old Love that made it onto this that changed pretty dramatically in the way that they played them over that time.” “People always talk about Any Old Love being a country record but I don’t really think of it like that,” continues co-frontman/ songwriter John Busby. “I wanted it to have an AM sound, a classic radio sound like Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers or something, because that sort of stuff was what was on
the radio all the time when I was a kid [up in Rockhampton] and what I was really into had a lot of that shit in it, but I guess a bit of it came out quite country.” And the pair explain that while the new album may not have a narrative it certainly has a theme. “After the Any Old Love thing it took me a little while to figure out what we were going to do next writing-wise, I was concerned about that,” Busby admits. “We write themed albums a lot, and when that one went to that end where half-adozen songs were part of the same narrative, it was good to get away from that. “We wanted to deal with memory but not nostalgia, remembering but without that schmaltzy fucking obviousness of, ‘When I was a kid it was great.’ That can get a bit hammy, so it was nice to deal with it in a broad strokes kinda way. All of these songs deal with time — we talked about themes of time a lot when we were writing it. A lot of these songs are looking back, and they’re about how you can have these huge turning points in your life but they can just be the tiniest little thing.” “It’s like there’s these points that exist just after something’s finished but before it’s changed to the next thing,” Johnson continues, “these snap moments which you won’t recognise at the time, but which later take on different meaning.” “Later you realise, ‘Oh, that’s over now, that’s done,’” Busby muses, “which is kind of what this album is about — points in time, and just the fucking relentlessness of it. It just goes on and on and fucking on, it’s merciless.”
Hey, Hey We’re The... You might know it’s The Monkees’ 50th Anniversary tour that’s just been announced, but here are some other things about the band you might not know (and could earn you a drink at your next pub trivia night):
Jack Nicholson wrote and produced their movie Head.
Davy Jones appeared in The Brady Bunch.
Michael Nesmith’s mother Bette invented Liquid Paper. What: The Golden Halfway Record (Plus One/ ABC Music) When & Where: 24 Jun, Newtown Social Club
THE MUSIC 22ND JUNE 2016 • 31
Indie Indie
Tragic Earth
Tullara Connors
Sound Of Koko
Album Focus
Have You Heard
Have You Heard
Answered by: Gavin Zacher
When did you start making music and why? I wrote my first song when I was 15 after I had my first heartbreak. Writing has always been the best way for me to release what I’m feeling. My own personal psychologist.
Answered by: Kachina Lewis
Album title? Hatred And Tolerance Where did the title of your new album come from? We had the title early on. It’s sort of a concept album, the lyrical content reflects society’s abundance of problems, and instead of solutions to those problems, there are just Band-Aids. We’re the symptom! How many releases do you have now? In April 2015 we released our self-titled EP. Two physical releases, and plenty of artwork to collect digitally and physically. How long did it take to write/record? Writing and recording is easy for us. We write things we can’t play, so we have to improve as an ensemble. I think it took about two weeks to record, 18 months to write. Was anything in particular inspiring you during the making? A lot of what inspires me is my relationships. I try to write music for TE with moments, my guitar solos reflect that. I’m more in touch with my anger when I’m at my best. What’s your favourite song on it? My favourite song on the album is The Curse Of The Nocturnal Eternity. It’s the end, I like good endings. Will you do anything differently next time? Methodically, we want to have more preproduction of our own before we hit the studio. We’re already writing. It is the same... Just a stronger band. When and where is your launch/next gig? We launch our album on 25 Jun in Sydney’s Valve Bar, then we hit Melbourne’s Brunswick Hotel 1 Jul and Canberra’s The Basement 2 Jul! Website link for more info? facebook.com/ TragicEarth/
32 • THE MUSIC • 22ND JUNE 2016
Sum up your musical sound in four words? Folk pop blues roots. If you could only listen to one album forevermore, what would it be and why? It’s between John Butler and Taylor Swift. I think I’d have to choose John Butler’s Tin Shed Tales because Ocean (my favourite song) is on there. I don’t think I’ll ever get over that song. Greatest rock’n’roll moment of your career to date? I’ve split the top of my guitar half way through a show, on top of that I had to rip my hair out of my guitar capo. I’ve also had a few fake acrylic nails fly off into the audience. Why should people come and see your band? It’s a fresh, new band. You might even be lucky enough to take home a fake acrylic nail. When and where for your next gig? 8-10 Jul, Bello Winter Music Festival, then we’ll be doing a run of ‘Single Launch’ shows in Northern NSW, 12-16 Jul, ending with Grafton Pelican Playhouse Theatre. Website link for more info? onepagelink. com/tullaraconnors
When did you start making music and why? I remember writing my first song when I was in year eight at high school with my best friend. I began playing piano at five years old and made up my own songs. Sum up your musical sound in four words? Soul funk tribal fusion. If you could only listen to one album forevermore, what would it be and why? Frank by Amy Winehouse. Greatest rock’n’roll moment of your career to date? Winner of national leg, Hard Rock Rising 2016. Why should people come and see your band? We are unique and our original songs communicate with the emotions. Most people walk away buzzing. When and where for your next gig? 25 Jun, Shoalhaven Ex-servicemen’s Club Website link for more info? facebook.com/ SoundofKoKo
THE MUSIC 22ND JUNE 2016 â&#x20AC;¢ 33
OPINION Opinion
Trai ler Trash
Wa ke The Dead
Descendents
Punk And
I
t’s always a good time when you hear that one of your favourite and most influential punk bands are Hardcore releasing a new record. But for me, the appeal of the Descendents is as much about their contribution and With Sarah influence on the punk and hardcore scenes as a whole, as it is about their great musical output. Petchell Hypercaffium Spazzinate is the name of the record that will be gracing fans with its presence this July and will see the band return to Epitaph for the release. It is the first release from the band since 2004’s Cool To Be You and their first since they returned from an extended hiatus to start playing live shows again in 2010. The band made their mark on punk back in the late ‘70s/early ‘80s with somewhat juvenile sounding songs like I Don’t Want To Grow Up, I Like Food and I’m Not A Loser that would play out as influences on the likes of NOFX, Green Day, Fall Out Boy and Blink-182. But the broader themes of relationship struggles and the problems with suburban life moved easily into my adult life. Even now, caffeinefuelled tracks like Coffee Mug speak volumes about my love of coffee (I do live in Melbourne after all...) And if the new track that has been released, Victim Of Me, is anything to go by, this is the Descendents that we all know and love. It’s the Descendents that perfectly mixes punk and pop. It’s the Descendents that makes me want to skate in the SoCal sunshine.
Get It To g et her
Azealia Banks
Hip Hop With James D’apice
F
ew life choices Azealia Banks has made deserve unqualified endorsement. However, she recently announced on Facebook that she would leave the word “faggot” behind for good. It’s the right move; centuries late but better than the alternative. Rap music has a problematic history of being uncommonly aggressive towards the LGBT community. That includes rap music made locally, before you start feeling too
34 • THE MUSIC • 22ND JUNE 2016
Steve Jobs
comfortable. Indeed, to take but one example, one of the early instalments of this column concerned an Australian rap crew whose targets “sucked dick like American beer”. Rap music - worldwide - has a problem. “B-b-b-but other subcultures are homophobic too!” That’s fine, and I accept that, but we shouldn’t let the faults of others stand in the way of improving ourselves. It’s easy to feel powerless in the face of madness. As we try to come to terms with the Orlando shootings, I’d like to issue a challenge: next time you find yourself with an opportunity to do something, big or small, do it. If you’re a professional whose senior colleague is saying something hateful or hurtful, confront them. That’s hard. If you’re a music listener with near infinite choices of what music you get to listen to, choose music that embodies your values and jettison the rest. That’s easy. If you’re friends with someone whose prejudices are entrenched, invite them to rethink. That’s timely. Most cliches have a ring of truth. ‘Be the change you want to see,’ is no exception. If you’re struggling to chart a path through the grief and anger, your first and most important step might be to help make the world anew.
OPINION 220-232 Oxford St Paddington Sydney 2021 www.paddorsl.com.au
Opinion
Dives Into Your
W
hile there are times Screens one can take pride in their And Idiot Boxes individual taste and their contrarian take With Guy Davis on things, there are also times when, let’s face it, it feels a little strange to be out of sync with the general consensus. Sure, have enough confidence in your own opinion and it’s pretty easy to view those with an opposing point of view as...well, ‘idiots’ is a harsh term but, yeah, let’s say idiots. But when it seems like you’re the only person championing a certain piece of work (and come on, you’re probably not), that confidence can be shaken. What am I seeing that everyone else is not? Actually, the question becomes ‘What is everyone else seeing that I am not?’ I bring this up because Steve Jobs, directed by Slumdog Millionaire’s Danny Boyle and written by The West Wing’s Aaron Sorkin, is now available on DVD and Blu-Ray, and I hope its home-video release is the first step in the re-evaluation of a movie that wasn’t regarded as an unqualified success but wasn’t enough of a monumental flop that it developed a reputation as the kind of stinker you simply had to see. It made less — a lot less — at the box office than anyone was anticipating, and the critical opinion was mostly positive but not rapturous. It was there one moment, pretty much gone the next and left a somewhat insignificant cultural footprint, unlike its unofficial counterpart The Social Network, which made a shitload of cash while tapping into the zeitgeist of its time. Was it burnout when it came to the late Jobs himself, who’d been deified and pilloried in equal measure? Was it the fact that Steve Jobs seemed to focus on one man rather than an epoch-shaping phenomenon the way Social Network did? Did Social Network stars Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake have the kind of box office pull that Steve Jobs stars Michael Fassbender, Kate Winslet and Seth Rogen did not? (That one seems unlikely, but who the hell knows?) Whatever the reason for Steve Jobs not gaining much traction during its theatrical run, I would implore you to take it for a spin, especially if — like me — you’re partial to stories of intelligent, uncompromising and occasionally dickish individuals who can wield words like weapons and aren’t afraid to wound first and maybe offer an apology later on. Sorkin’s screenplay — beautifully structured in three acts spanning three different time periods and three stages of
Jobs’ personal and professional evolution — is among his most articulate and biting, which is saying something. (It’s a little thing, I know, but Jobs calling a suit he feels betrayed him ‘Pepsi Generation’, referring to the man’s time selling soft drink, struck me as a magnificent burn.) Social Network’s David Fincher was reportedly attached to Steve Jobs for quite some time but the combination of the director’s clinical precision and the title character’s often abrasive manner might have resulted in something fascinating but too uncomfortable to bear. Boyle is warmer, and he allows a humanism and a playfulness to emerge, making Jobs more threedimensional, more unpredictable and more compelling. The supporting cast is noteperfect (shoutout to Rogen, really quite marvellous as fellow genius Steve Wozniak), but it wouldn’t work without Fassbender. He doesn’t resemble Jobs in the slightest, but that doesn’t really matter in this case. He vividly conveys the man’s towering ambitions, conflicting impulses and world-changing imagination. It’s not always the most flattering tribute, but it’s one that the actual Jobs may well have recognised and appreciated.
SATURDAY 25 JUNE 8PM – LATE
SAT 2/7 8PM
CONTINENTAL ROBERT GROUND FLOOR THE HANGOUT: FREE
DOG THE DUKE
BLUES/ROCK WITH GRITTY SOUL/FUNK THE HANGOUT: FREE
THE MUSIC 22ND JUNE 2016 • 35
Album / E Album/EP Reviews
Album OF THE Week
Mick Harvey Delirium Tremens
Mute/Create Control
★★★★
Finally Mick Harvey has picked up where he left off 20 years ago with Intoxicated Man and Pink Elephants, both English translations of Serge Gainsbourg’s works. Thank god he found time to drag the dark, haunting French sentiments in Delirium Tremens into the now. Where does a Francophile begin with such a catalogue of muchloved songs to choose from. Harvey has chosen to run the gamut of Gainsbourg releases for this third piece of the puzzle, capitalising on the kitsch, the melancholy and the offbeat wordplay that made the French icon just that. Harvey’s gravelly vocal and dark stamp is heard and felt from the very beginning in The Man With The Cabbage Head’s fuzzy rock, and the focus he pulls to Gainsbourg’s wizardry with words never ceases to enthrall from there on. None of the distinctly French sentiments in Coffee Colour or A Violent Poison (That’s What Love Is) are lost; rather they’re refreshed for new sets of ears. Leaving aside the instant pull to this album as a collection of Gainsbourg ditties, Harvey has also crafted a sound here that undeniably honours the legend’s originals and yet seems to be equally his own. Those crashing, distorted guitars and chanting chorus in SS C’est Bon, gentle strums and keys in More And More, Less And Less, and The Decadence’s atmospheric waltz make for an endlessly interesting listen. Carley Hall
Broods
Split Seconds
Conscious
Rest & Relocation
Island/Universal
Independent
On first listen, Conscious doesn’t scream out as a great record. Sure, there are moments like opener Free and the radiofriendly Heartlines that show why there’s been such interest around the Kiwi duo, but it’s hard to find clear evidence as to why Broods should stand out from the myriad of femaleled electronic music being produced. It’s not until multiple listens, though, that it becomes clear what Broods stand for, and why Conscious is worth the commitment of repeat visitation. Singer Georgia Nott is more than the dime-a-dozen vocalists who whisper over programmed beats. Her voice trembles as it evokes the best of Sarah Blasko on All Of Your Glory, and on the final, title track, she lays out the raw power that it seems she’s been bottling up throughout the rest of
Having achieved some success with All You Gotta Do in 2012, the four-piece headed over the Nullarbor to base themselves in Melbourne where it was assumed they’d hit the ground running. But having given up a somewhat loyal following out west, the band have struggled to make an impact since then and subsequently Rest & Relocation has the feel of a last-ditch attempt to crack the eastern market. Which is why this album is particularly confusing and frustrating. The band has some serious talent as shown by the album’s opening tracks. Relocation Blues belts along as main man Sean Pollard relates the band’s disastrous move, while Any Minute Now is dark and propulsive. Album highlight Young Adults could be 2016’s most perfect little pop rocker.
★★★½
36 • THE MUSIC • 22ND JUNE 2016
★★★½
the record. Revisiting Conscious shades of darkness and light continue to expose themselves: a swelling and contracting of sound, with moments like the beat that kickstarts Recovery keeping you on the lookout for a change in direction. Broods, while not yet deserving of such superstar status, are well on their way. Conscious is a considered piece of work that, rather than being limited to a few key tracks, retains your interest for all 48 minutes. Dylan Stewart
Packed with creative guitar melodies, it effortlessly twists and turns in numerous cool directions without breaking a sweat. This album confuses and frustrates, for while the remaining songs are pretty good — especially Relocation Blues #2 — they seem somewhat restrained, as if the band’s playing within itself. At the same time, after four years, a nine-track release that goes just 33 minutes probably doesn’t cut it as a statement album, especially when one feels like Split Seconds have plenty more quality songs to give. Paul Barbieri
EP Reviews Album/EP Reviews
Denner/ Shermann Masters Of Evil
DJ Shadow
Hannah Georgas
Jemma Nicole
The Mountain Will Fall
For Evelyn
My Darkest Hour
Dine Alone
Independent
Metal Blade Records/Rocket
Sony
★★★
★★★½
★★★
★★★½
Michael Denner and Hank Shermann: a combination right up there with Dowling/Tipton and Murray/Smith in the annals of metal guitar. Not surprisingly then Masters Of Evil is full of godly riffs, many of which would have been at home on Mercyful Fate’s sleek and triumphant 9. Masters Of Evil improves on last year’s solid Satan’s Tomb EP mostly thanks to vocalist Sean Peck, who this time around shows a bit more versatility, especially on the album’s centrepiece The Wolf Feeds At Night. Sure, this may make you long for more Mercyful Fate LPs, but until that happens the Denner/Shermann project will do just nicely.
“Repeat Endtroducing over and over again?... I think it’s time for certain fans to decide if they are fans of the album, or the artist.” It’s now ten years since DJ Shadow defended himself from the savaging meted upon third album The Outsider — 20 since the genre-defining Endtroducing — and yet Josh Davis understandably just wants to push forward. Just one track will silence the baying of the Endtroducing devoted: The Sideshow’s nostalgic scratches, beats and scrappy rhymes feels convincingly 1996. The Mountain Will Fall only occasionally fails to find a firm foothold, but it’s unfair to expect any artist to still be exactly where they were 20 years ago.
In For Evelyn, Hannah Georgas has hit the midpoint between her tough chick attitude from The Beat Stuff EP and the melancholic fragility of her self-titled album. The fear and angst in her lyrics is offset by the power of the brutal selfreflection that shines brightest on Waste and Don’t Go. By the time you get to Lost Cause, all that questioning becomes a bit whiny: “I feel like I’m a lost cause/Life could be so sweet if I knew how to change.” You’re either going to love or hate the arrangement: classical piano and beautifully raw vocals interspersed with mechanical ‘80s synths which, though jarring at times, definitely piques interest. It’s not easy listening, but it doesn’t try to be.
Jemma Nicole’s country noir album kicks off with the seductive tango of Too Late To Save My Soul. Simple percussion and piercing violin back Nicole’s vocals and Americana twang occupies the following track Only A Man. Guilty And Free plays out like an early Stones song, complete with a catchy organ line. Nicole’s voice is passionate and alluring, but also embraces vulnerability. The Killing Of Me is a morose track, with Nicole reaching difficult high notes. Dance With The Devil is a delightfully twisted opus, with a descending piano line jumping throughout. Nicole breathes life into country music like you’ve never heard before.
Mark Hebblewhite
Mac McNaughton
Jonty Czuchwicki
Brynn Davies
More Reviews Online Fitz & The Tantrums Fitz & The Tantrums
theMusic.com.au
Red Hot Chili Peppers The Getaway
Emma Russack In A New State
THE MUSIC 22ND JUNE 2016 • 37
Album / E Album/EP Reviews
The Interrupters Say It Out Loud Hellcat/Warner
The Mystery Lights
Why We Run
Whitechapel
Holograms
Mark Of The Blade
The Mystery Lights
Double Drummer/Kobalt
Metal Blade/Rocket
Daptone
★★★
★★★★
★★★½
★★★½
After riding the success of their stellar self-titled debut in 2014, LA misfits The Interrupters return with a second album that packs equal punch using their tried and true ska-flavoured punk rock. The short and sharp ditties come flying out of the barrel from opener By My Side and they don’t let up, with On A Turntable, Control and Divide Us fuelling the energy with punchy lines and Aimee Allen’s ballsy pout. It’s non-stop high energy fun, which also renders the album a bit ho hum by the end. A slight deviation structure-wise to break up the frenetic energy might have helped bring things into relief but the off-beat cheek throughout is pretty irresistible.
The popularity of psych and garage rock in recent years shows no sign of abating and that’s a good thing when top shelf exponents such as New York five-piece The Mystery Lights rise to the top. They’ve got the ‘60s sound down pat with heavy-on-the-reverb, fuzzed out guitars, droning organ, and a soulful, punk-injected push and pull rhythm section. Singer Mike Brandon has a thin, taut and frenzied yelp that keeps the ramalama riffs and grooves in a permanent state of teen anxiety. They never run out of ideas on this, their debut album and though it’s nothing new, they’ve impressively nailed the sound and attitude of primitive rock’n’roll.
Some albums you just can’t believe are debuts. Holograms, with its confidently mature songwriting and lack of obvious influences, is one of them. The four indieminded Sydneysiders have an artful knack for reflective songs like Hologram and Air Between Us, which are convincingly delivered through understated but effective vocals. Their most compelling characteristic though is a disaffected frostiness which ghosts through the likes of Hallway: a standout track underlined by a hypnotic marimba and a gorgeously melting guitar line that plays the heartstrings like a cello bow.
The monstrous extreme metal sound was notably absent from Whitechapel’s last record, but has returned in full form with Mark Of The Blade. While not fully turning away from their evolution, the title track follows a thick almost groove metal riff and the band even let fly on some clean/dirty vocal mixes through Tremors. Mark Of The Blade drips with the guttural skills of Phil Bozeman alongside powerful blast beats and ferocious technical riffs, there is no denying however that this is as Whitechapel as they’ve been so far.
Carley Hall
Chris Familton
Christopher H James
More Reviews Online Alt-J Live At Red Rocks
38 • THE MUSIC • 22ND JUNE 2016
Mark Beresford
theMusic.com.au
Cat’s Eyes Treasure House
Listen to our This Week’s Releases playlist on
THE MUSIC 22ND JUNE 2016 â&#x20AC;¢ 39
Live Re Live Reviews
Thelma Plum @ Plan B Small Club. Pic: Renee Coster
Thelma Plum, James Crooks, Kayex Plan B Small Club 17 Jun
Thelma Plum @ Plan B Small Club. Pic: Renee Coster
Urthboy @ Oxford Art Factory. Pic: Pete Dovgan
Urthboy @ Oxford Art Factory. Pic: Pete Dovgan
Eleanor Friedberger @ Newtown Social Club. Pic: Clare Hawley
40 • THE MUSIC • 22ND JUNE 2016
Eleanor Friedberger @ Newtown Social Club. Pic: Clare Hawley
Plan B Small Club was almost filled to the brim when the first support act Kayex took to the stage. The newly formed duo managed to thrill the crowd with their stage antics, catchy beats and soothing yet brooding vocals. They managed to get the crowd dancing and cheering: a promising start for this electronic band. Following Kayex, James Crooks began his magnificent set, as he played drums both electronically and authentically. It was interesting and entertaining to watch as his musicianship was impeccable. The performance felt as if it lacked a certain excitement as the vocals were tracked, not sung live — an area of improvement for him and his project. Finally, later in the night Thelma Plum graced the stage with her enthralling performance. The venue by then was pumping, people dancing and laughing in the crowd, getting ready to let loose and dance. She played a rework of her hit tune Dollar, escaping her usual acoustic tendencies to fly into the ambience of electronic/ synth-pop. This new exploration of the genre throughout the set really suited the new tunes she had composed for her album, though this left the old tunes behind as they were rather acoustically stunning in previous performances and EPs. Perhaps it was an interesting change to prepare crowds for Plum’s possible new image and sound. Her banter was sweet as well as her general vibes on stage, putting the crowd at ease. Young In Love a tune from her EP, Monsters, got the singalongs reaching an all time high, the audience lapping up Plum’s
confidence. At times the sound seemed shaky, as the drums became overpowering and Plum was left in the mist. She handled this well later in the set as she performed Around Here. Her vocals really shone over the synth-pop frequencies. To
A great vocal performance to end an earcatching and interesting set.
follow she performed a song from her upcoming album, a song she “really didn’t know what to name it yet”. The guitar riff in this tune in particular was completely magnetic, hopefully a taste of the expertise that will be showcased in this upcoming album. Then, How Much Does Your Love Cost? brought the tempo up again before the soft encore of one of Plum’s hits from her early days, Father Said, in which she owned the stage all by her lonesome, just with her guitar, which is how she seems most comfortable. For her second encore she got the crowd roaring as she ended with her cover of Chet Faker’s Gold for triple j’s Like A Version. A great vocal performance to end an ear-catching and interesting set. Sara Tamim
eviews Live Reviews
Urthboy, L-FRESH The LION, Okenyo Oxford Art Factory 16 Jun
An Elefant Traks party is a good party and that’s what the feeling was like tonight as a trio of acts from the seminal Sydney label merged for an epic and entertaining night of music. Okenyo is the most recent addition to the ET stable. She stands solo on the stage behind electronic pads and keys which she switches between to provide the smooth beats for her expressive and smoky voice. Her
Along with regulars Meklit Libret, Ev Jones and Jayteehazard, we are treated to appearances from Kira Puru, Bertie Blackman, B Wise (with ET signing news!) and Jane Tyrrell. music can be described as upbeat for the most part, but new single 10 Feet Tall explores her vocal range and has the early crowd hypnotised. One of the albums of 2016 has to be the second release from South-Western Sydney resident, L-FRESH The LION. Become explores race, family and Punjabi culture with very danceable and energetic songs perfectly made for a live setting. When it comes to hyping a crowd, there are none better than L-FRESH’s MC partner,
Mirrah. She psyches us up for a set that covers old and new. L-FRESH delivers them all with an energy that is infectious, and a voice that encourages us to listen. Hold Up with a new verse from Mirrah hits the crux of the issue of personal space, whilst 1 In 100,000 gets us dancing even with its racial topic. Look out for a headline tour soon! “I just want you to leave this place with a smile.” Tonight is all about feeling good and Urthboy is in a great mood as he celebrates the (now) home leg of his Second Heartbeat tour. Kicking off with the rarely heard Naive Bravado, he moves into a medley of older tracks before giving us the new tracks that prove how diverse the catalogue has become. Tonight is all about the guests. Along with regulars Meklit Libret, Ev Jones and Jayteehazard, we are treated to appearances from Kira Puru, Bertie Blackman, B Wise (with ET signing news!) and Jane Tyrrell. Urthboy has a knack of working seamlessly with a range of amazing artists and the love on and off the stage is palpable. A 90-minute set ends with 11 people on stage in a cover of Meg Mac’s Roll Up Your Sleeves to the delight of the sold out OAF. Tonight is a celebration of an artist that is still rising after more than 12 years on the scene and someone that delivers a show deserving of the ‘sold out’ signs around the country. Mick Radojkovic
Eleanor Friedberger, Noire, Georgia Mulligan Newtown Social Club 16 Jun
Almost until the moment the headliner stepped onto the stage this threatened to be one of those gigs where punters just don’t turn up — even for an artist with a relatively established fanbase. Thankfully Eleanor Friedberger’s fans crept out of the woodwork at the last minute and, though the venue was only half full, they were a warm and receptive audience. The late rush did mean that both support acts played to each other, a small coterie of friends and some early arrivals. Georgia Mulligan gave a fine set with a balanced addition of drums and bass to her smoky, slowburning songs, which always seemed to sit right in the pocket and showcased her singular and emotive voice. Noire took things in a postmodern indiepop direction. You can hear shades of Beach House and The xx bathed in a dreamy wash of reverb. They showed a fine range of guitar riffs amid the mostly mid-paced songs but unfortunately the vocals were mixed way too low to really get a handle on Noire as songwriters. Eleanor Friedberger is now three albums deep in her solo career and that gave her set a rewarding mix of old and new songs plus a Cate Le Bon cover. Between professing her love for Sydney and recalling a weeklong bicycle adventure around the city on a previous visit, she delivered song after song with her trademark on-point and quirky turns of phrase, breezy strumming and the occasional jagged interlude. Because I Asked You and Cathy With The Curly Hair were two highlights from the recently released New View, as were My Mistakes and When I Knew from earlier
... she cut a striking figure, somewhere between understated rock star and beat poet — which pretty much sums up her music.
albums. With her trademark shaggy fringe, worn jeans and a striped shirt she cut a striking figure, somewhere between understated rock star and beat poet — which pretty much sums up her music. It was an intimate performance that reinforced the notion that simplicity in music is sometimes the most effective way to present one’s songs and connect with an audience. Chris Familton
THE MUSIC 22ND JUNE 2016 • 41
Arts Reviews Arts Reviews
Mustang
OUR
land people stories Dance Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House to 9 Jul
Mustang Film In cinemas
★★★★ Films about the female struggle, societal roles and feminism are important due to their ever-prevalent nature. The Turkish-French Oscar-nominated Mustang is a film that intimately examines this. The film follows the lives of five young orphaned sisters in a remote Turkish village and the challenges they encounter coming of age under the care of their domineering uncle, grandmother and conservative Turkish society as they are groomed for arranged marriage. This directorial debut by Deniz Gamze Erguven is stunningly engrossing, with its intimate, gritty, emotional insight into the lives of young women who desire freedom. Erguven shows talent, with her impartial, documentary-like, detailed, unflinchingly honest and empathetic approach, and captures themes of freedom of choice, identity, the bond of sisterhood, societal values and culture. There are heart-warming moments, there are heartbreaking moments too, and some moments will make your blood boil as you further root for the girls’ happiness and frown on the individuals who ignorantly stand in the way of it. The cast feel authentic, particularly the girls and their believable sisterhood, some of the best sisterly bonding since Sofia Coppola’s The Virgin Suicides. The standout is the youngest, tomboy Lale (Gunes Sensoy), with her emotionally expressive face. Mustang is immaculate, insightful, important and emotional cinema that will linger. Sean Capel
★★★★★ Nyapanyapa Yunupingu is a Yolngu woman from the Gumatj clan of North East Arnhem Land, and a renowned painter whose work has gained notoriety for its union of traditional techniques with nontraditional materials and personal subject matter. In its most simplistic reading, the same can be said of 2016’s OUR land people stories. Yunupingu’s painting Buffalo Story depicts, with a wild immediacy and fervent movement, the day when she was gored by a water buffalo as a young woman. For Bangarra Artistic Director
OUR land people stories. Pic: Jhuny Boy-Borja
and choreographer Stephen Page, her work “reminds me of why I started dancing as a young man — because it was my calling.” This creative exchange has resulted in an extended meditation on the experience of Indigenous life today, shaped by the shadows — and light — of recent and ancient Aboriginal history. The performance of OUR land people stories is comprised of two 25-minute sections; Macq and Miyagan respectively, followed by the longer 44-minute Nyapanyapa, which has a depth of feeling that consolidates both the viscerally charged first act, and softer, meditative tone of the second. In each case, set designer Jacob Nash’s inspired, impermanent architecture vibrates with its own glorious energy. Each structure acts as a sort of totem around which the dancers congregate, a creative element also present in Bangarra’s production of Ochre earlier this year. A series of massive stalks of native grass crosshatch the air above the dancers like a canopy; its effect is to miniaturise the dancers’ bodies, yet also shelter them. In Nyapanyapa, dancers leap and thrust with bushels of eucalypts in hand and form parades of fluid bodies to spirit burning smoke sticks across the stage, leaving circles of smoke in their wake. The Bangarra dancers catch your breath when they achieve moments of sublime imperfection — when ancient movements are re-interpreted in the bodies of young performers. It’s a cohesive and totally immersive experience. Bianca Healey
42 • THE MUSIC • 22ND JUNE 2016
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Comedy / G The Guide
Jack Garratt: 20 Jul Metro Theatre
Wed 22
The Paper Kites
The Ramblers: Bald Faced Stag, Leichhardt SOSUEME feat. Discovery (Daft Punk Tribute Show): Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach
HIStory - Michael Jackson Tribute: Civic Theatre, Newcastle Wasted Wanderers + Montes Jura + Draw: Frankie’s Pizza By The Slice, Sydney
The Music Presents The Rubens: 24 Jun Hordern Pavilion Elizabeth Rose: 24 Jun Oxford Art Factory; 25 Jun Argyle House Newcastle
Fallon Cush + Stephanie Grace: Gasoline Pony, Marrickville The Groovemeisters: LazyBones Lounge, Marrickville Ben Morris: Manly Wharf Hotel, Manly Key to the Highway: Marble Bar, Sydney
Abbe May: 1 Jul Newtown Social Club Mark Travers: Orient Hotel, The Rocks Bello Winter Music: 7 – 10 Jul Bellingen Jack The Stripper: 8 Jul The Basement Canberra; 9 Jul Factory Floor The High Learys: 14 Jul The Basement Canberra; 17 Jul Newtown Social Club; 21 Jul The Small Ballroom Newcastle Beach Slang & Spring King: 20 Jul Oxford Art Factory
Dave + Split Feed + Ugly Mundays + Shedhead: Rad Bar, Wollongong Musos Club Jam Night: Ruby L’Otel, Rozelle James Morrison + Anthony Callea + Sarah McKenzie: State Theatre, Sydney
James Blake: 26 Jul Hordern Pavilion sleepmakeswaves: 8 Aug Uni Bar Wollongong; 10 Aug Cambridge Hotel Newcastle; 11 Aug ANU Bar Canberra; 12 Aug Metro Theatre Bob Evans: 12 Aug Newtown Social Club
Raechel Whitchurch + Melody Moko: The Vanguard, Newtown
The Paper Kites + I Know Leopard + Luke Thompson: Enmore Theatre, Newtown
Wasted Wanderers: The Pier, Port Macquarie
Thu 23
Michael Kopp: Fortune of War Hotel, The Rocks
Pat Capocci’s Two Timin Playboys: The Temperance Society, Summer Hill
Stormcellar: Frankie’s Pizza By The Slice, Sydney
Papa Pilko & The Bin Rats + Frank
Simone Waddell: Brass Monkey, Cronulla Joe Mungovan + Clews + Hannah Robinson: Camelot Lounge (Django Bar) , Marrickville
The Jungle Giants
A Day On The Green: 5 Nov Bimbadgen Winery Rothbury
Lloyd Spiegel: Heritage Hotel, Bulli
Catherine Britt: Lizottes Newcastle, Lambton Michael Gorham: Manly Leagues Club, Brookvale
Dead Letter Circus: 20 Aug Metro Theatre; 21 Aug Cambridge Hotel Newcastle
Gregory Porter: 28 Sep The Basement
Larger Than Lions: Marble Bar, Sydney
Jungle Boogie
Trinity Roots + Declan Kelly: Newtown Social Club, Newtown
Catch four-piece indie-rockers The Jungle Giants this Saturday night for their all ages show at Metro Theatre. An awesome line-up of The Lulu Raes, Gideon Bensen and Machine Age will be supporting.
The White Bros: Orient Hotel, The Rocks The Strides + Project Ska Collective + Foreign Dub: Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst All Ages Show with Parkway Drive + Make Them Suffer + Scars Have Faded: PCYC Bateau Bay, Bateau Bay A.D.K.O.B. + Owen Rabbit: Rad Bar, Wollongong The Rechords: Rock Lily, Pyrmont
Funk/Soul Party with Bump City: Camelot Lounge, Marrickville
Hot Damn! feat. The Winnie Blues + No Further Questions: Scary Canary, Sydney
Aunty Donna: Civic Theatre, Newcastle
The Baldwins + Pimpanzee + Florian: Slyfox, Enmore
The World Famous Comedy Store Showcase 2016 + Various Artists: Comedy Store, Moore Park Dave Anthony: Crown Hotel, Sydney
44 • THE MUSIC • 22ND JUNE 2016
Halfway
Soul Roots Revival Band: LazyBones Lounge, Marrickville
Whole Lotta Love: 20 & 26 Aug Laycock Street Theatre Gosford; 27 Aug State Theatre
Wollombi Music Festival: 24 Sep Wollombi
The Buck Loner Revue: Gasoline Pony, Marrickville Zack Martin + Kenneth D’Aran + Chris Brookes: Harbour View Hotel, Dawes Point
Vintage & Custom Drum Expo: 14 Aug Factory Theatre
Liz Stringer: 31 Aug Mullumbimby Ex-Services Club; 14 Sep Grand Junction Hotel Maitland; 15 Sep Lizottes Newcastle; 16 Sep Camelot Lounge
Folk-rock five-piece The Paper Kites have a story to tell with their Midnight tour. Catch their mesmerising live show this Thursday at Enmore Theatre with support acts I Know Leopard and Luke Thompson.
Tash Sultana: The Northern, Byron Bay
Jack Garratt: 21 Jul Metro Theatre Mark Lanegan Band: 23 Jul Factory Theatre
Fly By Night
Leo Sayer + Lulu: State Theatre, Sydney Elisa Kate: The Beach Hotel, Merewether
Golden Halfway House Queensland’s country, rock’n’roll eight-piece band Halfway will be launching their fifth album at Newtown Social Club this Friday, and will be supported by special guests Crow, Sam Shinazzi and Clinton Walker.
Sultana & the Sinister Kids + Little Big Wolf: The Vanguard, Newtown Boo Seeka + Gold Member: Uni Bar, Wollongong DJ Salvy + Lukeas + Chris Spicer: Valve Bar (Basement), Ultimo
Gigs / Live The Guide
Mat McHugh
The World Famous Comedy Store Showcase 2016 + Various Artists: Comedy Store, Moore Park Boo Seeka + Gold Member: Commercial Hotel, Milton Oscar & The Grouches: Coogee Diggers, Coogee
Cath & Him: Dee Why RSL (Scores Sports Bar), Dee Why Cult with Monobrow + Laurence Vector + Derek Turner: Different Drummer, Glebe
May McHugh Sydney’s own singersongwriter Mat McHugh is playing Newtown Social Club this Saturday. This will be his first tour since taking time off due to injury after the release of his debut album Waves.
Clive Hay: Dural Country Club, Dural The Pink Floyd Experience: Enmore Theatre, Newtown The Axeman’s Benefit for Spencer P Jones feat. The Johnnys + Died Pretty + Hoodoo Gurus + Straight Arrows + Young Docteurs + more: Factory Theatre, Marrickville
Rob Henry: Jacksons on George, Sydney A.D.K.O.B. + Owen Rabbit: Lass O’Gowrie, Wickham
The Best of the Eagles: Laycock Street Theatre, North Gosford Randall Weller: LazyBones Lounge, Marrickville Adrian Joseph: Manly Leagues Club, Brookvale
Toxic Dolls: Penrith RSL (Castle Lounge), Penrith
Darren Johnstone: Picton Bowling Club, Picton
Oscar Key Sung: Plan B Small Club (formerly Goodgod Small Club), Sydney 73 til’ Infinity with Tom Studdy + Edseven + DJ Benny Hinn: Play Bar, Surry Hills Evie Dean: Quakers Inn, Quakers Hill
Brown Sugar: Marble Bar, Sydney
Lepers & Crooks + Capital Coast + The Melting Caps: Rad Bar, Wollongong
Glenn Esmond: Marlborough Hotel, Newtown
Salsa Kingz: Revesby Workers
Nerdlinger
The Dividers + Nerdlinger + Ebolagoldfish + The Great Awake: Factory Theatre (Factory Floor), Marrickville Karaoke: Figtree Hotel, West Wollongong
Fri 24
The Radiators: Fitzroy Hotel, Windsor
Steve Crocker: 99 On York, Sydney
Blake Wiggins: Fortune of War Hotel, The Rocks
Gold: The Ultimate ABBA Show: Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul Chronolyth: Bald Faced Stag, Leichhardt
Black Vat Trio + Runebilly Raga + Slyng Shot: Gasoline Pony, Marrickville Nick Bampton: Hard Rock Cafe, Sydney
Slumber Heights: Bald Faced Stag (Front Bar), Leichhardt
Jack Homer: Heritage Hotel, Bulli
Gabriella Cohen: Bank Hotel (Waywards), Newtown
Flamin’ Beauties: Home Tavern, Wagga Wagga
Belvie: Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach
Like Clockwork
The Rubens + Mansionair + Slum
Sydney’s punk rock trio Dividers will be celebrating the release of their new album Clockwork this Friday night at Factory Theatre and will be supported by fellow punk rock outfits Nerdlinger, Ebolagoldfish and The Great Awake.
Looking Through A Glass Onion with John Waters: Belmont 16’s, Belmont Kyary Pamyu Pamyu: Big Top Sydney, Milsons Point Mat McHugh + Marlis: Brass Monkey, Cronulla
Front End Loader + Charlie Marshall & The Body Electric + Garry David + Golden Fang: Marrickville Bowling Club, Marrickville
Library Siesta + Julia Why? + Prints Familiar + Vacations: Brighton Up Bar, Darlinghurst Swervedriver + East Coast Low + The Holy Soul: Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle West Vaudevillia by Mic Conway’s National Junk Band: Camelot Lounge, Marrickville Afro-Balkan All Stars: Camelot Lounge (Django Bar), Marrickville AJ Dyce: Campbelltown Catholic Club, Campbelltown Freshly Pick’d Headz with Benji PK + Mitchos + more: Cauliflower Hotel, Waterloo Leroy Lee: Chatswood RSL, Chatswood Rene Lavice + Teddy Killerz + Baytek: Chinese Laundry, Sydney
Died Pretty
Axe Factory Factory Theatre will play host to Australia’s rock legends this Friday for The Axeman’s Benefit. The benefit will raise money for master guitarist Spencer P Jones’ medical treatment. The Johnnys, Hoodoo Gurus, Died Pretty and many more will be playing.
Dave Anthony: Clovelly Hotel, Clovelly
Ziggy Alberts + Kyle Lionheart: Max Watt’s, Moore Park Bey vs Jay with +Luen + Astrix Little + Flex Mami + more: Metro Theatre, Sydney Dragon: Milton Theatre, Milton Halfway + Crow + Sam Shinazzi + Clinton Walker: Newtown Social Club, Newtown Reckless: Orient Hotel, The Rocks Brad Johns: Oriental Hotel, Springwood Elizabeth Rose + Baro: Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst Burn Antares + Mount Zamia + Los Espinas + Dappled Cities DJs: Oxford Art Factory (Gallery), Darlinghurst Wasted Wanderers: Pacific Hotel, Yamba
Anthems of Oz: Colonial Hotel, Werrington
Sociable: Hordern Pavilion, Moore Park
Ivan Aristeguieta: Comedy Store, Moore Park
Vanishing Shapes: Hotel Blue, Katoomba
All Ages Show with Parkway Drive + Make Them Suffer + Polaris: Penrith Panthers (Evan Theatre), Penrith
Michael Fryar: Hunters Hill Hotel, Hunters Hill
Blake Tailor: Penrith Panthers (Squires Terrace Bar), Penrith
(Infinity Lounge), Revesby Liza Ohlback + DJ Kitsch 78 + Lily Road: Rock Lily, Pyrmont Melbourne Ska Orchestra: Sawtell RSL, Sawtell Born Jovi + Bryan Adams Tribute Show: South Sydney Juniors, Kingsford HIStory - Michael Jackson Tribute: State Theatre, Sydney Angelena Locke + Lj: Tahmoor Inn, Tahmoor Prince: 1958 - Forever with The Purple Doves: The Basement, Sydney Cities Apart: The Beach Hotel, Merewether Shannon Noll: The Bridge Hotel, Rozelle Hans Yolo + Amber Lies + Technicolour + Trouble in Paradise: The Chatswood Club, Chatswood Lucky Luke & His Shooting Stars: The Merton Hotel, Rozelle Bugs with Friends: The Northern, Byron Bay
THE MUSIC 22ND JUNE 2016 • 45
Comedy / G The Guide
Richard Cuthbert + The Maladies + The Metal Babies + Richard Cartwright (Richard in your Mind): The Oxford Circus, Darlinghurst
Mesa Groove: Revesby Workers (Infinity Lounge), Revesby
Tragic Earth
Spit Syndicate: River Inn, Thredbo DJ D-Flat + Tamika Jai Duo: Rock Lily, Pyrmont
Lycanthrope: The Small Ballroom, Islington Thrashin’ feat. No More Faith + The Gnarly Few + The Sweet Lips: The Vanguard, Newtown
Bruce Springsteen & John Mellencamp Revival: Rooty Hill RSL (Fred Chubb Lounge), Rooty Hill
Binalong Road: The Vineyard Hotel, Vineyard
Gold: The Ultimate ABBA Show: State Theatre, Sydney
Being Jane Lane + Josh Shipton + Stellar Addiction + Hey Lady!: Town Hall Hotel, Newtown
Eliza & The Delusionals + The Goldhearts + Dave Is A Spy: Tatts Hotel, Lismore
Original Sin - INXS Show: Towradgi Beach Hotel, Towradgi
Elizabeth Rose: The Argyle House, Newcastle
Paper Hearts: Twin Towns (Breezes Lounge), Tweed Heads
Spirit of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh & Lucky Dube with Afro Moses: The Basement, Sydney
Quanta + Thierry De + more: Valve Bar (Basement), Ultimo Father Private Launch Party + Various DJs: Valve Bar (Level One), Ultimo Peabody + Clive of India + Repeter Fonda: Vic On The Park, Marrickville
Tragic Hate
James Thomson: The Beach Hotel, Merewether
Melbourne hard rock band Tragic Earth are embarking on their biggest tour to date to celebrate the release of their debut album Hatred And Tolerance. The four-piece will be storming Valve Bar this Saturday.
Sat 25 The Last Exposure: Bald
Bertie Blackman
The Best of the Eagles: Cessnock Performing Arts Centre, Cessnock Late Nights + Late Nite Tuff Guy + LO’99 + Friendless: Chinese Laundry, Sydney Next Best Thing: Club On East, Sutherland Big Way Out: Club Toukley RSL, Toukley Nath Valvo: Comedy Store, Moore Park The World Famous Comedy Store Showcase 2016 + Various Artists: Comedy Store, Moore Park The Skeletones: Coogee Bay Hotel, Coogee
Pretty In Black Get to Waves at Towradgi Beach Hotel this Sunday to see three awesomely talented women rock the stage. Bertie Blackman tops a line-up that includes RW Grace and Julia Jacklin.
The Beat Kitchen with Archie + Harry Sounds + Paris Groovescooter: Different Drummer, Glebe
The Pink Floyd Experience: Enmore Theatre, Newtown Swervedriver + Sounds Like Sunset + Grinding Eyes + The Holy Soul: Factory Theatre, Marrickville
Lagerstein + Being Jane Lane + Head In A Jar + Saralisse: Bald Faced Stag, Leichhardt Yours - Block Party Part 3 with Various DJs: Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach Rumours - A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac: Brass Monkey, Cronulla
All Ages Show with The Jungle Giants + Gideon Bensen + The Lulu Raes + Machine Age: Metro Theatre, Sydney Melbourne Ska Orchestra: Mullumbimby Civic Hall, Mullumbimby Magic Carpet Ride with +The Trippy Hippy Band + Jeremy Smith + IONIA + Catgut: Newtown Neighbourhood Centre (1st Floor Hall), Newtown Mat McHugh: Newtown Social Club, Newtown
The Badlands + Blonde on Blonde: The Northern, Byron Bay
Being Jane Lane + This Time Only + We Take The Night: The Record Crate, Glebe Ape BC + Swampash + Three Wise Monkeys: Town Hall Hotel, Newtown Bertie Blackman + R.W. Grace + Julia Jacklin: Towradgi Beach Hotel, Towradgi Paper Hearts: Twin Towns (Breezes Lounge), Tweed Heads All Ages Show with Parkway Drive + Make Them Suffer + Graves: Uni Bar, Wollongong Tragic Earth + Eightball Junkies + Snow Leopard + Black Knuckles: Valve Bar, Ultimo
Soundproofed: Oatley Hotel, Oatley Panorama + Russell Nelson: Orient Hotel, The Rocks We Lost The Sea + VOX + Sydney Philharmonia Choir + Meniscus + Have/ Hold + Majora + Brother Colluder: Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst Ted Nash Duo: Panania Hotel, Panania
The Smokey Berets: Gasoline Pony, Marrickville Spurs For Jesus: Gasoline Pony, Marrickville
Beatnix - Beatles Show: Parramatta RSL, Parramatta Urban Stone: Penrith RSL (Castle Lounge), Penrith
Noire: Golden Age Cinema & Bar, Surry Hills LeFunk: Petersham RSL, Petersham Argy: Greenwood Hotel, North Sydney
Lloyd Spiegel: Camelot Lounge, Marrickville
The Chop feat. Hayds + Waza + Off Course + Raine Supreme + DJ Benny Hinn: Play Bar, Surry Hills
Kovalo: Camelot Lounge (Django Bar), Marrickville
Swingshift - Cold Chisel Show: Ingleburn RSL, Ingleburn
They Call Me Bruce: Plough & Harrow, Camden
Thunderstruck AC/DC Show + Shadowboxer - The Angels Show: Campbelltown RSL, Campbelltown
Legends feat. Akinga: Kareela Golf & Social Club, Kareela
Pasha Bulka + Vitals + Sleep Talk: Port Macquarie Youth Hub, Port Macquarie
Regent Street Big Band: LazyBones Lounge, Marrickville
Charlie Marshall & The Body Electric + The Nice Folk + Golden Fang: Rad Bar, Wollongong
46 • THE MUSIC • 22ND JUNE 2016
Stephanie Marchant: The Merton Hotel, Rozelle
Arabesk: The Oxford Circus, Darlinghurst Whispering Jack - A tribute to the music of John Farnham: Merrylands RSL (Auditorium), Merrylands
Connie Kis Andersen: Hexham Bowling Club, Hexham
One World: Carousel Inn, Rooty Hill
Pacha feat. The Potbelleez: The Ivy, Sydney
Cavan Te & The Fuss: Marble Bar, Sydney
Evie Dean: Dural Country Club, Dural
Michael Gorham: Fortune of War Hotel, The Rocks Faced Stag, Leichhardt
Diesel: Lizottes Newcastle, Lambton
Chantal & Cesar: The Belvedere Hotel, Sydney
Chronolyth
Chronoriffs Death metal band Chronolyth are headlining a night of metal at Bald Faced Stage this Friday for the launch of their album Atrophy. The Murdering, Exist Within, Under Night’s Cover and Gutter Tactic support.
Gigs / Live The Guide
Naive Showcase 001 with +Various DJs: Valve Bar (Level One), Ultimo
Judy Bailey’s Jazz Connection: LazyBones Lounge, Marrickville
Unity Hall Jazz Band: Unity Hall Hotel (Upstairs), Balmain
Andrew Russelle + John & Yuki: Well Connected Cafe, Glebe
Diesel: Lizottes Newcastle, Lambton
Lowgazer + Three Wise Monkeys + Genetics + Metanoia + Basil’s Kite: Valve Bar (Basement), Ultimo
Red Alert: Wentworthville Leagues Club (Wenty Lounge), Wentworthville
Sun 26 See You Sunday with Various DJs: Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach Mat McHugh + Ant Beard: Brass Monkey, Cronulla Jonah & The Wailers + The Elementals: Camelot Lounge, Marrickville
Michael Fryar: Macarthur Tavern, Campbelltown
DJ Tikelz + MC Mooks + Bow & Arrow + Philly + Izzy: Newtown Social Club, Newtown Anthony Hughes: Oatley Hotel, Oatley UK Anthems + U2 Elevation: Orient Hotel, The Rocks 60s Chart Toppers: Penrith RSL (Castle Lounge), Penrith
52nd Anniversary Party with Various DJs: Valve Bar, Ultimo Blake Tailor: Wallacia Hotel, Wallacia Discovery
Mon 27 Songs On Stage feat. +Russell Neal: Kellys on King, Newtown
Stronger Faster
Sonic Mayhem Orchestra: LazyBones Lounge, Marrickville
This Wednesday get your midweek dance on after the footy upstairs at Beach Road Hotel for Sosueme. This week Discovery are performing their Tron tour along with Hobophobics, Bernie Dingo and Viberia.
Charlie Marshall & The Body Swerve Society feat. Luke O’Farrell + Darren Cross + Jack Elias: Newtown Social Club, Newtown
The Strides
Greg Byrne: Orient Hotel, The Rocks Belle Haven + Below Arcadia + Pariah + The Maybe List: Rad Bar, Wollongong Karaoke: Rock Lily, Pyrmont The Monday Jam + Various Artists: The Basement, Sydney
Adam Gorecki: Orient Hotel, The Rocks
Tue 28
Ruby Tuesday feat. Russell Neal + Green Manalishi + Mysterious Universe + more: Ruby L’Otel, Rozelle
Bandviews Sessions with Sixth Circle House Band: Bald Faced Stag, Leichhardt
Trivia: Rock Lily, Pyrmont
Open Mic Night with Champagne Jam: Dundas Sports Club, Dundas Dita Von Teese: Enmore Theatre, Newtown Rock n Roll Karaoke: Frankie’s Pizza By The Slice, Sydney
Dramatic Steps Reggae powerhouse The Strides will be at Oxford Art Factory to launch the video for the second single, No Drama, from their latest album this Thursday. The Strides team up with Wallace and Foreign Dub.
Vic Janko Orkestar: Camelot Lounge (Django Bar), Marrickville
Electric: Rad Bar, Wollongong
Dirty Deeds - AC/DC Show: Catherine Hill Bay Pub, Catherine Hill Bay
Pasha Bulka + Vitals + Sleep Talk: Red Rattler, Marrickville
Bondi Cigars: Central Hotel, Shellharbour City Centre
Suite Az + Troy T: Rock Lily, Pyrmont
Circle Music Mid Year Concert 2.0 + Various Artists: Coogee Diggers, Coogee John & Yuki: Cronulla RSL, Cronulla Benj Axwell: Crown Hotel, Surry Hills Glenn Esmond: Fortune of War Hotel, The Rocks Poison’us + The Australian Guns n Roses Show: Frankie’s Pizza By The Slice, Sydney
Seven Suns + Sandon Groves + Piper Favelle: Heritage Hotel, Bulli Michael Kopp: Hunters Hill Hotel, Hunters Hill Jed Zarb: Jamison Hotel, Penrith
Stormcellar
Leroy Lee: Rocks Brewing Company, Alexandria
Understruck
Darren Johnstone: South Hurstville RSL, South Hurstville
Sydney blues’n’roots rock outfit Stormcellar are bringing the thunder to Frankie’s Pizza By The Slice this Thursday. Currently in pre-recording for their ninth album, they’ll pack the night with blues, roots and boogie.
All Ages Show with Parkway Drive + Make Them Suffer + Polaris: Sutherland Entertainment Centre, Sutherland Luka Lesson: Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Sydney D Love: The Beach Hotel, Merewether
John Kennedys’ 68 Special: Gasoline Pony, Marrickville
Songs On Stage feat. Ingrid Mae: Gladstone Hotel, Dulwich Hill
The Stray Dogs: The Merton Hotel, Rozelle Michael Gorham: The Mill Hotel, Milperra On The Stoop + The 5 Lands Band: The Rhythm Hut, Gosford
Songs On Stage feat. Stuart James + Stuart Jammin: Kellys on King, Newtown
Jon Stevens + Ben Ransom: Towradgi Beach Hotel (Sports Bar), Towradgi
Live & Originals feat. Jessey Napa + Sooze + Sabrina Soares: Mr Falcon’s, Glebe
THE MUSIC 22ND JUNE 2016 • 47