15.02.17 Music / Arts / Lifestyle / Culture
Sydney / Free / Incorporating
Tour Explosions In The Sky Release Electric Guest Tour Warpaint
BRINGING HER BANJO TO BLUESFEST
Issue
176
RD 21 23 APRIL 2017 ST
HELD AT BEAUTIFUL DASHVILLE, BELFORD, HUNTER VALLEY NSW
A supreme music and arts festival, now celebrating its 12th year, perfect for the whole family or anyone looking to escape, relax, unwind and enjoy a quality soundtrack such as this:
REGURGITATOR // TRIPOD // KIM CHURCHILL // THE FUNK HUNTERS (CA) BOO SEEKA // MICK THOMAS & THE ROVING COMMISSION // GARETH LIDDIARD THE PEEP TEMPEL // LIZ STRINGER // FELIX RIEBL(THE CAT EMPIRE) // THE GO SET THE MELTDOWN // CAITI BAKER // SHINING BIRD // HITS // THE OCEAN PARTY FLYYING COLOURS // IRISH MYTHEN // MICK HART // LEAH SENIOR THE STEELE SYNDICATE // THE SEA GYPSIES // AFRICA ENTSHA (ZA) FREYA JOSEPHINE HOLLICK // DAVE WELLS // THE BAD TIME BOYS ROSE & THE SEA // DASHVILLE PROGRESS SOCIETY
THEGUMBALL.COM.AU PRESENTING PARTNERS
2 • THE MUSIC • 15TH FEBRUARY 2017
MUSIC & ART
BYO NO GLASS
CAMPING PROUDLY SUPPORTING
THE MUSIC • 15TH FEBRUARY 2017 • 3
4 • THE MUSIC • 15TH FEBRUARY 2017
BASEMENT
THU 16TH 8PM
BASEMENT
FRI 17TH 8PM
“AVELNA”
BASEMENT
ROCK SHOW SUPPORTED BY “CLEVELAND DREAMERS”, “THE READY SECTION” MILLER MARSHALL PRESENTS:
POP PUNK PIZZA PARTY
WITH “WE TAKE THE NIGHT”, “FLICKER”, “7 EVIL EXES”, “VETTY VIALS” AND COVER SET OF SONGS BY: “NECKDEEP”, “STATECHAMPS” ,”THE STORY SO FAR” AND OPEN MIC AFTER THE BANDS, FREE PIZZA!!!
LEVEL ONE
FRI 17TH 10PM
SAT 18TH 8PM
XERSTORKITTE PRESENTS:
THE WITCHING HOUR
GOTH/DEATHROCK/PUNK&POST PUNK WITH ARRAY OF DJ TALENT
LEVEL ONE
SAT 18TH 10PM
BASEMENT
SUN 19TH 5PM
COMING UP
NOISY CHICKEN COLLECTIVE/ PSYFARI PRESENTS:
PSY VS PSY
LOZ MONSTA VS ARTHUR FLANDERS, LYSERGICDAN VS PSYLUNA, NAARJIS VS KISENTRIC, SHANONYMOUS VS OBSRTUKT NOISY CHICKEN COLLECTIVE/PSYFARI PRESENTS:
PSY VS PSY
VOLKEINE VS PROFESSOR PURN, ZAC SLADE VS DJ BATZ, KEIRRA JADE VS SUPERBEAST, WAHOO VS BEAR
“DEAD TILL DAWN”
HEAVY ROCK SHOW SUPPORTED BY “VODVILLE”, “THE RAVENS”, “BORT”, “TREMOLO PLEASE”
Thu 23 Feb: 8pm Basement: “Underachiever” presents Emo/Punk Show with support from “Elk Locker”, “Antonia and The Lazy Susans”, “Marina Mitchell band”; Fri 24 Feb: 8pm Basement: The Elements Of Tech and Bass and Riddim presents DJ GUV & HEDEX with many local supports; 10pm Level One: Drop Zone presents: Beyond Darkness, feat: JTS, Technikore, Vendetta 7, Royals, Toniq, Haze, Oky, Brkdwn, Cydust, Danejer, Shock Wav in the night of Uk Hardcore, Reverse Bass, Classic UK, Rawstyle, Drum N Bass, Euphoric Hardstyle, Industrial; Sat 25 Feb: 8pm Basement: Brouhaha Pogo Party #2 Punk Show with “New Trends”, “Straight To A Tomb”, “Operation Ibis”, “Legal Alien”, “Collision Time”, “Ess-Em” and DJ’s; 10pm Level One: The Underground Saturdays presents: Launch Party: Session 1, Deep Progressive Tech with DJ’s MS.T, And.E, Ricky See Chidi; Sun 26 Feb: “Time On Earth” in Heavy Rock Show supported by many special guests
KLP FRIDAY JANUARY 27
( DJ SET/TRIPLE J ) + SPECIAL GUESTS
LOCAL AUSTRALIAN ACTS LIVE & LOUD EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT IN SELINA’S FROM 8PM
THE MUSIC • 15TH FEBRUARY 2017 • 5
Lifestyle Music / Arts / Lifestyle / Culture
Esther Hannaford
You Beauty
The Australian production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical has found its lead in Esther Hannaford. The Sydney Theatre Award recipient will tackle the role when it opens in Sydney this September.
Here They Come
400
Groovin The Moo sideshows have started rolling in. The Wombats, K Flay, The Darkness, Against Me!, Loyle Carner, Snakehips, Milky Chance and Architects are all touring around early May.
MILLION
The amount, in US dollars, of a lawsuit that the three Spinal Tap actors and director Rob Reiner have brought against Viviendi, claming it has not properly shared profits from the film since obtaining the rights. Stranded Boogie Strand Of Oaks, led by Philadelphia’s Tim Showalter, have announced they are joining up with Brooklyn rock band Endless Boogie for a co-headline tour of the east coast in April.
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Endless Boogie
Ni
e / Cultu Music / Arts / Lifestyle / Culture
Credits
Publisher Street Press Australia Pty Ltd
Long Live The Swching
Group Managing Editor Andrew Mast
Glaswegian alt-rock duo Honeyblood recently released their second album Babes Never Die, and now they have announced they will be bringing it Down Under in March/ April on their debut Australia tour.
National Editor – Magazines Mark Neilsen Arts & Culture Editor Maxim Boon
Gig Guide Justine Lynch gigs@themusic.com.au Contributing Editor Bryget Chrisfield
Honeyblood
Editorial Assistants Brynn Davies, Sam Wall
Iron Fist
The Wombats
The Man With The Dragon Tattoo The first trailer for Netflix’s latest Marvel series Iron Fist is out and it looks like the adventures of Danny Rand are going to be another home run for the streaming service when it comes out 17 Mar.
Contributors Adam Wilding, Anthony Carew, Brendan Crabb, Carley Hall, Cate Summers, Chris Familton, Daniel Cribb, Chris Maric, Christopher H James, Cyclone, Daniel Cribb, Danielle O’Donohue, Dave Drayton, Dylan Stewart, Guido Farnell, Guy Davis, James d’Apice, Jonty Czuchwicki, Liz Guiffre, Mac McNaughton, Mark Hebblewhite, Matt MacMaster, Mitch Knox, Neil Griffiths, Mick Radojkovic, Rip Nicholson, Rod Whitfield, Ross Clelland, Sam Baran, Samuel J Fell, Sarah Petchell, Sean Capel, Sean Maroney, Steve Bell, Tanya Bonnie Rae, Tim Finney, Uppy Chatterjee Photographers Angela Padovan, Cole Bennetts, Clare Hawley, Jared Leibowitz, Josh Groom, Kane Hibberd, Pete Dovgan, Peter Sharp, Rohan Anderson Advertising Dept Georgina Pengelly, Brad Edwards sales@themusic.com.au Art Dept Ben Nicol, Felicity Case-Mejia Admin & Accounts Ajaz Durrani, Meg Burnham, Emma Clarke accounts@themusic.com.au
Lewis Watson
Distro distro@themusic.com.au Subscriptions store@themusic.com.au Contact Us PO Box 2440 Strawberry Hills NSW 2012 Suite 42, 89-97 Jones St Ultimo Phone (02) 9331 7077 info@themusic.com.au www.themusic.com.au
ck Cave @ ATP 2009. Pic by Rod Hunt
— Sydney
Pit Pics Former Drum Media Sydney music shooter Rod Hunt has announced that after 25 years of photographing everyone from Dallas Green to Nick Cave, he’s hosting his first major solo exhibition titled Portraits, Pits & Punks at Chrissie Cotter Gallery from 16 Feb.
Midnight Track Rising UK singer-songwriter Lewis Watson has announced that he will return to our country in June for a national tour of his March-due second album, Midnight. THE MUSIC • 15TH FEBRUARY 2017 • 7
Music / Music / Arts / Lifestyle / Culture
Cattrip
Re-Reid
Southern rock’n’roll legends Nashville Pussy are bringing their brash mix of cowpunk, hard rock and psychobilly to our shores for a national tour. Prepare to be deeply offended and entertained this May.
Nadia Reid has returned with Preservation, the follow-up to her stunning 2014 debut Listen To Formation, Look For The Signs. The New Zealander is bringing it across for an Aussie tour in April.
Nashville Pussy
Hot Air
sleepmakeswaves
Post-rock instrumentalists sleepmakeswaves have announced plans for their third full-length, Made Of Breath Only, alongside huge tour plans. The ARIA-nominated band’s run will kick off in March.
Up N’ Adam
I’m no expert but a Brazilian sounds like a whole lot of bras
Ryan Adams has announced another east coast tour for May this year. The Grammynominated rocker will be marking the release of his 16th studio effort, titled Prisoner, which is due out this week.
@BoogTweets
Ryan Adams
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Nadia Reid
Arts / Li Music / Arts / Lifestyle / Culture
Frontlash
Old School Bad News
Los Angeles band Vintage Trouble will be making their return to Australia this year for two east coast shows. The rhythm and blues group will play in both Melbourne and Sydney in April.
Aussies On Top Of The World
Good times recently for Aussies musos, with Flume winning a Grammy and Vassy topping the US Dance Club Songs chart.
Vintage Trouble
Ruby Boots
Kevin Smith
Even though Clerks III might be off, it looks like Kevin Smith will still return to that universe with a new Jay and Silent Bob film.
Angus N’ Roses
Trip Aces It’s an Americana extravaganza to behold, with troubadour Henry Wagons, US alt-country muso Jonny Fritz and Nashville-based Aussie Ruby Boots announcing the east coast Sweet Creeps & Outlaws tour.
Flume Wins Grammy
Lashes
After some will he or won’t he moments, it turns out Angus Young did end up on stage with Guns N’ Roses. It’s weird to see him perform out of uniform, though.
Backlash Gold Carpet
Usually we stay away from commenting on red carpet outfits, but man, we just don’t know what to make of CeeLo Green’s new alter ego and his Mighty Morphin Ferrero Rocher outfit at the Grammys. Josh Quong Tart
Will the real Eminem tour please stand up?
Pucker Up The Judas Kiss, following Oscar Wilde in the days after his betrayal by Lord Alfred Douglas and before his subsequent imprisonment and featuring Josh Quong Tart as the famous wordsmith, opens at Fitz Theatre this Wednesday.
Despite the Eminem tour poster being fake, we reckon a tour would be pretty sweet.
Hot Enough For Ya?
Normally weather talk is banal, but jesus, Australia was the hottest place on earth on Saturday, with two of the top ten temperatures recorded in suburbs of Sydney.
THE MUSIC • 15TH FEBRUARY 2017 • 9
I
Music
Feelin’
On the verge of her second successive Bluesfest, singersongwriter Rhiannon Giddens tells Steve Bell why her new album Freedom Highway is a true labour of love. Cover and feature pics by Tanya Rosen-Jones.
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t was venerated artist/producer T Bone Burnett who first coaxed North Carolinian singer and multi-instrumentalist Rhiannon Giddens into the solo realms after over a decade fronting old-time string band Carolina Chocolate Drops, having already utilised her remarkable talents for a couple of musical projects he was curating. Giddens’ first album Tomorrow Is My Turn (2015) - produced by Burnett - found her predominantly reinterpreting classic songs of yesteryear made famous by esteemed artists such as Patsy Cline, Nina Simone, Dolly Parton and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. It earned immediate and raucous acclaim - including being nominated for Best Folk Album at the Grammy Awards - and signified to many a new star’s seemingly unstoppable ascent. When time came to work on a follow-up album it would have been easy for Giddens to take the path that had served her so well first time around. Instead she chose a completely different tack, her powerful new album Freedom Highway containing nine original tracks as well as a traditional song and two civil rights-era songs in Birmingham Sunday and The Staple Singers’ titular Freedom Highway. “It’s just the next step,” Giddens ponders of her solo evolution. “I was happy to continue doing Carolina Chocolate Drops for as long as we could do it, but when T Bone kinda stepped in and offered me a different direction I just went, ‘Well, these things just come along one time.’ I just kinda follow the flow - you want to do what’s been given to you to do and this was obviously the way to go. “I’ve been able to carry some of the tenets from the Chocolate Drops with me, and I still work with a lot of those guys too, so I obviously still believe in that mission, but I can also do other things that I can’t do with the Chocolate Drops but that I can do on my own, so that’s important to explore.” The tenets Giddens mentions refer to the non-musical impetus of Carolina Chocolate Drops, whose mission statement has always been to educate as much as entertain. “Yeah, and to enlighten and to excavate, and to just show these things that don’t get talked about very much,” the singer explains. “Freedom Highway is absolutely in line with that, with songs from slave narratives and civil rights songs and the whole idea of just talking about things in a way that they maybe don’t always get talked about. “In terms of the slave narrative stories most of the time it’s always told from the man’s point of view, and all of the songs I’ve written based on slave narratives are always from the women’s point of view. And just these song structures - that’s not a very
common thing either - so we’re just trying to do what’s been given. “It’s self-produced - or co-produced with myself and an extraordinary musician called Dirk Powell - and everybody in my band is on the record, so it’s kind of a much more personal record than the last one. The last one was incredible - it was such a great honour to work with T Bone - but you’ve got to keep moving and keep doing something different, so we went in a totally different direction with this one.” Despite having spent the last couple of years immersed in other people’s songs, Giddens doesn’t believe that the experience has seeped into her own writing. “I’ve got to say not really,” she reflects. “My songwriting has been influenced really heavily by the banjo: a lot of the songs that I’ve written on the minstrel banjo - a replica minstrel banjo from the 1850s - really couldn’t be written on any other instrument. The banjo itself is a unique instrument and the tunes that are in it and which come forth when I’m composing really just are very banjo-istic: they’re very wristy, and there’s no way to write this stuff on a guitar, that’s too regular. “So that’s really been more of an influence, the banjo and the words that I’ve been reading for years - I’ve been reading slave histories and American history for a long time, so a lot of that stuff has kinda sunk into me and then just come out in these songs. There’s a lot of that, and then I’ve done a lot of collaborating - co-writing
specifically - which I really believe in. There’s a few songs that I write by myself, or almost by myself, but my favourites are the ones that I write with other people.” And despite Freedom Highway consisting of mainly her own tunes, Giddens doesn’t find creating songs any more fulfilling than interpreting them. “They’re just different, and it’s very dangerous to exalt one over the other because I think that’s how you get a lot of mediocre songs to be honest with you,” she tells. “Not everybody’s a songwriter - and I say that about myself, not all of my songs are great or even good - and I may never do another record of original music, this is just what came out of me. “But I’ve always been an interpreter, and I think that it’s an art that doesn’t get the due that it used to get. There used to be people who didn’t write any songs - they just sang excellent songs that were either written for them or already in existence - and made them their own. Like Nina Simone only wrote a few songs - not that I’m comparing myself to her, mind you - but while she didn’t write many songs, she put her stamp on every song that she interpreted: you think of it as a Nina Simone song, and that to me is the ultimate in interpretation. I don’t think I’m that good in terms of my interpretations, I think I’m a good interpreter but I have a ways to go with that - but I think it’s a goal worth having, and it’s something that I don’t think people are really chasing. “As an artist you should pursue the thing that makes most sense to you at that time. For me my first solo record was mostly covers and interpretations, and my second record is mostly originals - my third record could be something totally different yet again. It’s really just about following what feels right to you as an artist.” Indeed the entire folk music tradition is about interpreting and putting your own spin on songs as they get passed down the generations. “Yes, absolutely,” Giddens smiles. “But for me coming from folk and opera - and most opera singers don’t write their own material - that’s kinda been my default. Now I’ve enjoyed the songwriting - especially with the collaborative process, I really like writing with people that’s probably my favourite thing. The songs that I write on my own are usually just kinda given to me - they’re the muse’s songs and I just opened up the gates and they just came through and I tried not to screw ‘em up - but the act of creating with another person really is where I get my joy.”
Not all of my songs are great or even good - and I may never do another record of original music, this is just what came out of me.
What: Freedom Highway (Nonesuch/Warner) When & Where: 8 Apr, Factory Theatre; 13, 14 & 16 Apr, Bluesfest, Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm
Mo’
Blues Giddens had a great time during her inaugural Bluesfest appearance in 2016 her roots-based music suiting the shindig’s vibe perfectly - and is stoked to be returning so quickly. “Yeah, it seemed to go really well,” she chuckles. “I know it’s not a usual thing that they ask you back the next year, so it seems like it’s going to be another great trip. I think the Sydney shows have sold out already which is pretty cool. I’m really excited to be getting back down there, Bluefest was such a great festival and a really fun experience.” Typically, given her thirst for knowledge, Giddens also took the time while here to brush up on our country’s background. “I’d never been and a lot of the guys hadn’t been, and it was a very cool trip - we went to Japan as well so there were a lot of firsts, which was great,” she enthuses. “I was trying to get to know Australia outside of what we get to see in movies or whatever, which is always exaggerated and not real. I’m always interested in history so I went to the convict museum and learned about Aboriginal history and all of the different immigrants and stuff. That’s the stuff that interests me, so it’s great to fill the picture out.”
THE MUSIC • 15TH FEBRUARY 2017 • 11
Music
Rock Opera
Fuck Off Drummer Chris Hrasky is looking forward to getting out of Trump’s America for a little while, especially if it means playing Sydney Opera House. Rod Whitfield gets the word on Explosions In The Sky’s upcoming tour.
Smarmy former editor of The Daily Mail and all-round right-wing dick trumpet Piers Morgan got a dressing down, Aussie-style, on Real Time With Bill Maher at the weekend, when comedian Jim Jefferies told the British Trump-ophile to “Fuck off” on live telly, after Morgan claimed Trump’s travel ban wasn’t targeting Muslims. Harry Potter author JK Rowling got in on the beef on Twitter writing, “Yes, watching Piers Morgan being told to fuck off on live TV is exactly as satisfying as I’d always imagined.” BURN! Soz old mate Piers, but we have to agree with JK and Jim on this one.
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C
hris Hrasky, drummer for Texan post-rock instrumental four-piece Explosions In The Sky, has an extra special reason for wanting to leave the United States and come to tour Australia (above and beyond wanting to play shows and be in our beautiful island nation). “I’m looking forward to getting out of the US for a little while so I can avoid watching its daily collapse,” he laughs, but it is a laughter tinged with a touch of regret. “We just want to say sorry for everything that’s going on in America right now, hopefully it will all turn out ok, maybe! We’ll see what happens, but good luck to us all, I guess. I’ve never seen anything like this here, the protests and the marches, so that encourages me that there are millions upon millions of people in this country that are just saying, ‘Whoa! This is just not the country we want.’ It’s a crazy time, so we’ll see what happens.” Political turmoil in their home nation aside, the band have something truly special to look forward to on their upcoming third tour of Australia: a very rare appearance for a rock/alternative act at the Sydney Opera
House. “That’s a pretty crazy one, when we saw that that was happening,” he says. “That’s the type of show you tell your parents about, ‘Hey Mom and Dad, we’re playing the Sydney Opera House!’ One of the most famous buildings on the planet, it’s iconic. That’s pretty exciting.” Known for their highly theatrical sound and stunning visuals, the show, along with all of the other gigs they are playing around the nation, promises something pretty special for the Aussie punters coming along, however Hrasky downplays this just a little. “I hope so,” he understates it, “we toured most of last year, so we feel really tight as band right now, so hopefully things will go well. We actually haven’t played live since November, so maybe we’ll be a little rusty, but we’re rehearsing and getting things going again.” The band have forged an incredible career for themselves, having formed way back in the late ‘90s and playing a style of music that is just about as far away from the mainstream as you can get. Hrasky is a little amazed by their success and their longevity himself. “Yeah, it’s pretty remarkable,” he admits, “it was certainly never our plan. It was a daydream for sure, we wanted to play music in Austin and have fun really and do something interesting, but the fact that this has lasted this long and this is our day job is amazing. We feel very lucky.” There seems to be no end in sight either. “Yeah, we’re going to tour most of this year, and we might do a soundtrack next year. Then we might take our first break for a long time. But we all want to work on new music, and the plan is definitely to keep going as long as we still feel interested and excited about it.”
When & Where: 23 Feb, Sydney Opera House
THE MUSIC 21ST SEPTEMBER 2016 • 13
Music
Dream Job
Ho-HoHogan
It was billed as a great, nay, THE greatest Australian story ever told. A tale of the rise of one of our proud nation’s greatest exports, actor and all-around true blue icon Paul Hogan. But the Channel Seven miniseries Hoges turned out to be one of the most craptacular dumpster fires to grace the telly-box in many months. The reasons it bombed so damn hard are too numerous to list, but the baffling casting choice of Josh Lawson as Hogan is right up there. That, and the dry-ass weave he was made to wear. He legit looks like the headline act of the midweek ladies night at some strip joint in Dubbo. It’s almost so bad it’s good... almost.
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Making music is lifeintensive, but Warpaint’s Stella Mozgawa is still living the dream. Annelise Ball interrupts the drummer’s downtime (surfing and beach hangs) to find out more.
E
njoying decent flat whites, Sydney’s northern beaches and chilling with Mum and Dad, Warpaint’s LAbased drummer and sole Aussie Stella Mozgawa is loving being back home. With Warpaint’s acclaimed third album Heads Up released last year, Mozgawa and co will kick off their 2017 tour schedule with four Australian shows. “This was very much the record we wanted to make and we wanted to hear,” says Mozgawa on Heads Up. “We purposefully weren’t too concerned about how we’d recreate the songs live, which was a new approach for us.” Australian punters buying tickets to Warpaint’s forthcoming gigs shouldn’t panic. If this devil-may-care approach is good enough for Coachella, who’ve given Warpaint a 2017 slot alongside Beyonce and Kendrick Lamar, then it’s damn well good enough for Australia. Widely described as ‘more electronic’ than their previous offerings, Mozgawa explains the simple reasons why. “We were all making music individually that was more directed at that sound,” she says, touching on the band’s time apart focusing on solo and session work. “It felt a little more faithful to the music we were interested in
making and listening to. Plus, we’ve always had a lot of electronic elements in our music, but it’s been overwashed by the live sound.” Despite the worrying internet rumours, plus the easily misconstrued time apart, Mozgawa is happy to confirm there was no actual Warpaint breakup. “There was a bit of exhaustion at the end of touring our last record,” she shares, happy to set the record straight. “It’s just like a relationship, one person might want to break up, and the one who doesn’t still has to honour the way they feel.” Mozgawa confirms that “options were explored”. “Music is a labour-intensive and life-intensive line of work” she shares. “Even though we’re living the dream creatively, it’s still a job. I can’t do anything else but tour this whole year. We had to make sure we were all still doing it for the right reasons.” Having spent her alone time as a session drummer for acts like Kurt Vile, Jamie xx and even the legendary Tom Jones, Mozgawa loved the opportunity to learn new skills. “I rarely take a break, because I’m usually so excited about the projects I’m offered when I’m having time off from Warpaint,” she says. “It all helps me build my range of skills as a drummer, because that’s who I am and how I learn how to do my job.” Mozgawa’s job skills will be on full display during Warpaint’s Australian tour. With a simple KPI of ‘play drums live’, Mozgawa should do so perfectly well at the Perth Festival, Melbourne Zoo Twilights, Brisbane’s The Triffid and the Sydney Opera House. “The day we play the Opera House just happens to be my birthday,” says Mozgawa, sounding stoked. “It doesn’t get any better than that.”
When & Where: 25 Feb, Sydney Opera House
THE MUSIC 21ST SEPTEMBER 2016 • 15
Music
Stax On
Still Cookin’ With Green Onions
With Booker T Jones presenting The Stax Revue as part of Bluesfest and sideshows, here he lists three of his favourite Stax songs: 1. Time Is Tight – Booker T & The MG’s It’s is one that I’ve always played over the years and added to and now it has an extensive coda on the end of the song. The melody is one of my favourites because of its simplicity. 2. Green Onions– Booker T & The MG’s It’s is still one of my favourites and I just love trying to play it the right way every time. I was so surprised when I heard it on the radio. I always loved it but I didn’t think so many other people would dig it too. That was really a surprise. 3. Knock On Wood – Eddie Floyd That became an anthem because of the way Steve Cropper played guitar on it. I think it was one of the first rock-sounding guitars that was heard actually. It’s a great line.
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put the two together when I was at my piano teacher’s house and she played a few notes on a Hammond B3 for me and I realised that was what Ray Charles was playing. Bill Doggett, Earl Grant and Jimmy Smith were on TV and in the clubs and it was a very predominant live instrument in Memphis at the time. It was pretty predominant in the churches too so it was everywhere.” As with all longterm careers, Jones’ took a downturn during the 1980s as the industry and musical trends changed. “From the mid ‘80s up to the early ‘90s I was pretty much disengaged from the music industry. It took a downturn in the early ‘80s when the interest rates in the US rose so high and disco had come in and I wasn’t really a disco guy, even though I had done dance music with the MG’s. The whole period wasn’t a good one for me. It was a vacant period and though I was still working in music, to tell you the truth, I just couldn’t get arrested!” laughs Jones. “I left the Hollywood area and headed up North and started working with Neil Young and others. I went on tour with Neil and played in his band. I started concentrating more on music in Northern California and that seemed to turn the tide.” With a revitalised career, Grammy Awards and collaborations with Drive-By Truckers, The Roots, Lou Reed and Elton John, Jones is happy to be able to keep sharing his music with new generations of fans. “The industry has changed so much and there are so many more demands on the artist so I’m happy to just have the time to let the muse come through me and do its work.”
Booker T Jones has played on some of the most iconic records in R&B music. Ahead of bringing his Stax Revue show down to Australia, he talks through his musical life with Chris Familton.
“T
hey were all my favourite songs and as well as being a participant in them I was also a fan.” That’s Booker Taliaferro Jones, Jr. reminiscing about his storied early career as musician, songwriter and arranger with the Stax Records house band in the 1960s. Those songs he refers to include the indelible hits Green Onions, Hip Hugger and Time Is Tight with his own band the MG’s and countless others such as Eddie Floyd’s Knock On Wood and Otis Redding’s Try A Little Tenderness. “Personally it’s music that I’ve been fortunate to have been involved in and it’s the story of my life. It’s just great to play it again. I’ve not got sick of playing a single one.” Jones was a multi-instrumentalist as a youngster before discovering the organ and finding his calling with the instrument at Stax studio. “It was unique for me at my age to play the organ but it was a very popular instrument during that time,” recalls Jones. “I was led to the organ through my piano studies. I grew up in the church and was always curious about the pipe organ so I got a couple of lessons on it as a young boy. I did hear Ray Charles playing organ on the radio but I wasn’t sure exactly what it was. I
When & Where: 16 & 17 Apr, Bluesfest, Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm; 20 Apr, Metro Theatre
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GARETH LIDDIARD ( THE DRONES ) 23/04
COSMO'S MIDNIGHT 28/03
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KYLE LIONHEART
10/03
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UPS & DOWNS
LUPA J
OSLOW
STRAND OF OAKS
08/04
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USA
20/04
HAPPY HOUR PINTS MON - FRI 5 TO 7PM II KITCHEN OPEN L ATE PLUS HEAPS MORE AT W W W.NEWTOWNSOCIALCLUB.COM
COMING UP LIVE AT THE STAG FEB
18
FEB
FT. lagerstein + darkER half
19 TRIBUTE TO THE KINGS OF BLUES
JUST ANNOUNCED
LIVE
FEB
24
MAY
10 (USA)
FT. HUTCH + CIRCUIT BENT
JUST ANNOUNCED
JUST ANNOUNCED (USA)
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Tickets from baldfacedstag.com.au/gigs 345 Parramatta Rd, Leichhardt NSW | (02) 9560 7 188 | baldfacedstag.com.au We have parking! Enter at rear of either Balmain Rd or Hay St.
THE MUSIC â&#x20AC;¢ 15TH FEBRUARY 2017 â&#x20AC;¢ 17
Music
Scavenger Hunt
BURN BABY Electric Guest’s Asa Taccon tells Cyclone that the material they came up with prior to releasing Plural was “garbage”, but they salvaged one track that won their mentor’s approval and soundtracked Joanna Newsom’s honeymoon.
BURN It’s been a tad warm recently. Like surface of the sun warm. But in case you needed any convincing that it’s fuckin’ roasting at present, the 15 hottest locations IN THE BLOODY WORLD on Saturday were all in Australia, the highest being a 47.5 degree scorcher in Ivanhoe, NSW. And if you reckon this kind of sweltering bullshit is just par for the course in Aus, think again mate. Local wildlife is just not coping, with reports of flying foxes dying while hanging upside-down from trees, and possums carking it as the mercury has soared. It’s the end of days people, so make sure the freezer is well stocked with Zooper Doopers and crank up the AC.
18 • THE MUSIC • 15TH FEBRUARY 2017
L
os Angeles indie-bopsters Electric Guest have resurfaced with Plural their first album in five years. And, to frontman Asa Taccone’s relief, it’s already won the approval of their old “mentor”, Brian “Danger Mouse” Burton. The super-producer had sat on Plural for a month when they met up, Taccone fretting that he “hated it”. “I love him because he doesn’t bullshit you at all,” Taccone admits. “He will tell you straight out that he likes or doesn’t like something - and it’s rare that he likes something. [But] he was singing the chorus to this song Zero and he’s like, ‘Man, that’s the best thing you’ve ever done.’” Taccone formed Electric Guest with drummer Matthew Compton. They’d cut 2012’s retro-funk debut Mondo with Burton - an associate of Taccone’s older brother Jorma (from The Lonely Island comedy troupe). The duo’s songs were widely synced (This Head I Hold for Teen Wolf). Between albums, they dabbled in soundtracks. Compton, Electric Guest’s quiet half, toured with others. “I actually went to Australia with Devendra Banhart,” he reveals. Taccone was determined to produce Electric Guest’s follow-up himself. “We just wanted to kinda see who we were on our own,” he explains. They completed an album,
but Taccone realised it was “garbage” and laboured. “I think it was, not a reaction to the first album, but we wanted to make a left turn,” he says. The material was “really sombre”, compared to the old “upbeat and happy” Electric Guest - its members struggling with personal issues. “We’d send the stuff into the label and they’re like, ‘Oh, this is pretty dark, this is pretty heavy - you should keep writing.’” Electric Guest eventually rediscovered their mojo. “Just naturally in our lives, some of the things we were dealing with faded away. There was much more of an optimistic year for us and so we just pounded out this record in a year. It ended up having a much more optimistic, lighter feel.” Electric Guest salvaged tracks from the scrapped project - one being Zero. The ensuing Plural is the combo’s take on modish electro’n’B - only warmer and groovier. “Both of us feel like this is our first record, in a way,” Taccone ponders. “It’s definitely furthering the sound that was established, but it’s much more modern.” Electric Guest are joined by “friends” from Santigold producer John Hill to HAIM (the airily melodic single Dear To Me) to Joanna Newsom. The outfit had performed at Newsom’s 2013 wedding, Taccone shares. “She’s married to my homeboy [comedian Andy Samberg] and, basically, I gave them some of our demos for their honeymoon. When they came back, they’re like, ‘Oh my God, we listened to Zero on repeat.’ There was a little harp part at the end and I thought, ‘Oh, she should play this spot.’” Electric Guest hit 2012’s Splendour In The Grass. Will they tour Aus behind Plural? “We don’t have any dates yet,” Compton responds, “but I would love to come there ‘cause we were there once before and I had a great time - I loved it.”
What: Plural (Dew Process/Universal)
Eat / Drink Eat/Drink
Beach Burrito Company
This family owned business has gone from one small joint on the Bondi beachfront to a Mexican food empire with 14 restaurants. Each outlet has its own style - that’s just the vibe of its skating, snowboarding, globetrotting founder, Blake Reed. You’ll find all the usual fare of a well-heeled Mexican restaurant, from tacos, quesadillas, and of course, burritos, made with top-notch local produce, and washed down with a Mexican beer or frozen margarita.
The Chain Gang The phrase “chain restaurant” used to strike revulsion into the hearts of card carrying foodies. But these days, it’s not just Maccas and old mate Jack chaining it across the country. Gourmet success stories are expanding into nationwide empires. We take a look at a few of the new kids on the chain restaurant block.
Chur Burger The key to this burgeoning burger chain’s success has been the simplicity of its menu. There are just six burgers on offer at Chur: choose from beef, chicken, pork, lamb, fish and veg. Each of these tantalising fillings comes with its own unique flavour combination, transporting this fast food staple to gourmet levels of deliciousness. Be sure to order a side of smoked chilli salt fries and one of Chur’s signature milkshakes.
Messina When it comes to gelato, one brand leaves the others for dust. Founded by creative mastermind Nick Palumbo, Messina fuses the artisan craft of Sicilian gelato-making with a kooky flair for unusual flavours with fun themes. In addition to its extremely comprehensive range of traditional flavours, including sorbets, there are daily specials, with punilicious names worth queuing down the block for.
Sake Those in search of swanky evening (with an affordable price tag) need look no further than this top shelf contemporary Japanese eatery. The chain went through a shaky patch a couple years back after founding restaurateur John Szangolies hit financial troubles, but after being bought out by private equity group Quadrant, Sake has gone on to thrive, with branches in Brissie, Melbs and Syd.
THE MUSIC • 15TH FEBRUARY 2017 • 19
Music
The New Cool
Trumpocalypse Wow
Melissa McCarthy as Sean Spicer
Yep, we’re all friggin’ petrified of President Trump’s kamikaze joyride through democracy, but there are still one or two things to smile about. We take a look at the lighter side of these dark, dark days.
Spicey Ain’t Happy Melissa McCarthy is rivalling SNL colleague Alec Baldwin for the best political punking, thanks to her reprise this weekend of her downright side-splitting impression of Trump’s barely coherent Press Secretary Sean Spicer.
Dominican’t Speaking of Alec, a Dominican newspaper was so convinced of the funny man’s uncanny Trump impersonation it accidently printed a picture of Baldwin instead of Trump. Those bad hombres!
Awwwwwkwarrrrd One of the first official State visits of a foreign dignitary, Prime Minister Abe of Japan, hit a majorly awkward speed bump when Trump held an awkward and inexplicably yanky handshake during a photo op, lasting 19 agonising seconds.
20 • THE MUSIC • 15TH FEBRUARY 2017
On his new album UK rapper Loyle Carner (aka Ben CoyleLarner) has immortalised his parents. He explains to Rip Nicholson that he just wants to talk about what’s relevant.
A
s a point of difference to the usual US rap culture pervading our mainstream, Ben Coyle-Larner (artist name: Loyle Carner) makes music that peruses diary entries or family albums and presents the persona of a young man entering adulthood. For the 22-year-old South Londoner, this provides space for his innermost thoughts and feelings or, as he puts it, real talk. “That’s how it has to be. I’ve got no illusions that when I start making an album, I’m speaking for now. So if I make an album when I’m 30, it will be about being 30. I never really thought much of a message but I guess now that it’s cool to open up and it’s cool not to be cool. Instead of worrying about having loads of cash or whatnot, just talk about what’s relevant to you and fingers crossed people listen to it.” The video for his Ain’t Nothing Changed single, from his Yesterday’s Gone LP, released at the end of January, finds Coyle-Larner playing an older version of himself. When asked if he believes he’ll still be in the rap game in 20 years, he replies. “Yeah, I think so, man. “Everyone keeps talking about, ‘You’re playing shows now that are a little bit bigger, are you worried the music’s going to
change?’” he shares, before clarifying, “Okay, yeah, you might be making a little bit more money and riding a tour bus as opposed to the train, but there’s all the same stuff still happening. You can still lose people, you can still be brokenhearted, you can still be disillusioned by the weight of the world and how it’s turning out and I think that’s what’s important to keep writing about as opposed to writing about changes and currency.” For now, Yesterday’s Gone (named in honour of his late stepfather’s unreleased album featuring a track of the same name) shows how close Coyle-Larner is with his family as shown in his final track, Sun Of Jean, which features both of his parents. “Before my father passed away he made an album that we didn’t know about,” he divulges, explaining he kept tracks tucked away and unheard on his laptop until he “finally plucked up the courage to listen to it”. His father’s piano playing on Yesterday’s Gone became the heavily sampled album closer, over which his mother describes her son as “that scribble of a boy”. “It’s almost like it immortalises them for a lifetime, it’s crazy,” he admits. It’s his brand of real talk on this LP that Coyle-Larner finds overwhelming to elaborate on, but this is also what lends gravitas. “For me, on this album I’ve said everything I’ve wanted to say, and I’ve done everything I’ve wanted to do, and it’s a very truthful snapshot of what it’s like to be me right now. And that’s all I can do. In my eyes it’s truly me and if that doesn’t go down well then that’s just how it is.”
What: Yesterday’s Gone (AMF/Caroline) When & Where: 29 Apr, Groovin The Moo, Maitland; 7 May, Groovin The Moo, Canberra; 8 May, Oxford Art Factory
Theatre
Loveable Rogue Playwright and actor Kate Mulvany has a soft spot for one Shakspeare’s most complex villains, Richard III. She tells Maxim Boon why the tortured monarch deserves a little love.
T
he insatiable appetite of a manipulative, powerhungry ruler, blinkered by his own gnarled, scheming ambition, throws a prosperous nation into turmoil. This sentence could easily be lifted from any of the hundreds of articles being penned daily by journalists covering the helter-skelter calamities of the latest American Presidency, but the ruler I’m referring to isn’t in the White House. In fact, for the better part of 530 years, he was buried under what is now a carpark in the British city of Leicester.
I can’t help but love him, because no one else does.
The eerie parallels between today’s geopolitical melee and Shakespeare’s vision of the last King of the Plantagenet dynasty, Richard III, are striking, so it might seem perfectly logical for a contemporary production of the Bard’s history play to be plugged into this zeitgeist. However, playwright and actor Kate Mulvany’s new edit of the text for Bell Shakespeare’s first production of 2017, in which she also stars in the title role, isn’t intended as a political commentary. “It has nothing to do with Trump,” she unequivocally declares. Mulvany has also subverted some of this play’s famously misogynist leanings, giving its female characters more prominence - another potential Trumpian link, given his stomach-turning “locker room talk” and the ensuing mobilisation of the Women’s March
movement. But whatever connections to current affairs might be inferred from the adjustments she’s made to this new production, Mulvany’s take on Richard III is built on a far more personally poignant foundation. For her, championing the agency and strength of Richard III’s female roles has been about challenging rusted-on precepts, rather than cashing in on a hot topic issue. “Often, you’ll find productions edited to take out a lot of the amazing female voices in this story. It becomes about men grappling for power, and that really bothered me,” she observes. “The power is held in the wombs of the women in this play, and in fact, I’ve tried to sneakily give them more even than Shakespeare did, by finding those moments between the lines that allow us to discover more about these characters.” Perhaps the most significant departure in Mulvany’s Richard - namely that she is playing a role typically played by a man - also superficially appears to be a statement about girl power. But inverting the titular King’s sex is similarly unpolitical, Mulvany says: “For me, it’s about his agenda, not his gender. I’m interested in what goes on in the background, in hearing what is normally played as an incredibly sexist remark, with an added wink to the audience,” she explains. “These are lines that should make you squirm because they are coming out of a woman’s mouth. Lines that if they came from a man, unfortunately, a lot of us wouldn’t bat an eyelid at. So I’m fascinated about how a female Richard adds a different element to that side of the play, but I’m also interested in taking the misogyny away. There are some moments that are traditionally played in a quite perverse or devious way that can actually be played for true romance and true love. It’s a very different way into this character that I’m intrigued by.” Finding the softer side of a character who is largely unambiguously villainous might sound like a bold move (or a blasphemous one for some purists) but Mulvany and Richard share something that may account for this surprising affinity. Both have scoliosis - an abnormal curvature - of the spine. This common ground has had a huge influence on Mulvany’s understanding of this character. “I have the same physicality as Richard. I know what it’s like to grow up kind of standing outside everyone else. I know what it’s like to be different,” Mulvany notes. Far from seeking out the typical malice of Shakespeare’s anti-hero, there’s a touching affection in Mulvany’s unique understanding of Richard. “He’s a cake that’s had the wrong ingredients thrown into it by various cooks,” she smiles. “Yes, he’s a murderer. Yes, he’s a misogynist. But he still has a conscience. As much as he likes to believe he doesn’t, by the end of the play we realise that we’re not dealing with a sociopath, not really. I can’t help but love him, because no one else does. He’s been so unloved by everyone, that the biggest gift I can give him as the person embodying him is to give him a bit of love.”
What: Richard III When & Where: 25 Feb - 1 Apr, Sydney Opera House 6 - 15 Apr, Canberra Theatre Centre THE MUSIC • 15TH FEBRUARY 2017 • 21
Music
The Snarky Spectrum With all the praise being heaped on Snarky Puppy’s sideprojects, bandleader Michael League was starting to wonder if “maybe people only like us when we’re not being ourselves”. Cyclone knows that just isn’t true.
I
n 2014 the cult jazz ensemble Snarky Puppy won the Grammy for Best R&B Performance with a live cover of Brenda Russell’s It’s Something led by Lalah Hathaway - outvying Melbourne’s Hiatus Kaiyote. It was the first time an Australian act had been nominated in an R&B category and the local media massively hyped it up. Luckily, everyone everywhere loves Snarky Puppy. Snarky Puppy’s bandleader Michael League laughs off the idea of ever scoping out his competition Down Under, stressing that it’s all love among the musicians. “Well, first off, I would never call any band in the world ‘competition’, because that’s of course not why anyone makes music,
A lotta people ... maybe weren’t aware of what we do the other 99% of the time.
I think - or it’s definitely not why we’re supposed to make music,” he says from a San Francisco hotel. “I’m a huge fan of Hiatus Kaiyote. In fact, many of the guys in our band are friends with many of the people in that band. We’ve been playing festivals and gigs with them for years. But, actually, at the time of that Grammy ceremony, it was our first nomination as well and we had not met them yet. [But] it’s like an unnecessary discomfort, because neither band had anything to do with that situation. Like I said, we’re fans of theirs so it’s so weird.” An even weirder scenario occurred when Snarky Puppy also claimed last year’s Best Contemporary Instrumental Album Grammy for 2015’s Sylva project with the Netherlands’ Metropole Orkest. “We were nominated in the same category as Marcus Miller and Bill Frisell,
22 • THE MUSIC • 15TH FEBRUARY 2017
who are heroes of mine,” League recalls. “It’s so strange to go up and accept an award when your heroes were in the same category. You just kind of feel like a jerk, but you didn’t do anything! We didn’t want it to be like that. That’s just the nature of awards.” And League is accruing quite a collection of Grammys in his Brooklyn base. Snarky Puppy recently collected another Grammy in the Best Contemporary Instrumental Album category for 2016’s studio album Culcha Vulcha. A student in the University of North Texas’ jazz studies program, League conceived Snarky Puppy during the early noughties as an instrumental outfit with pals. He’d become bassist, composer and producer. Snarky Puppy released an acoustic debut, The Only Constant, independently in 2006. Today Snarky Puppy is more of a collective than a band, with over 20 distinguished members, some international, in rotation. Invariably, Snarky Puppy are classified as ‘jazz fusion’ - the genre back in vogue with records like David Bowie’s Blackstar. However, League feels that the term has long been superseded in a pop culture where hybridisation is pervasive. “I don’t really think of us as a fusion band. I mean, I’m totally aware of why we’re considered that, because of the aesthetic and using analog synthesisers and the inclusion of rock and funk and stuff into a jazz idiom. But I think at this point ‘fusion’ as a word is kinda like calling something ‘world music’ - it’s so broad.” Snarky Puppy have an impressive discography. Ironically, they’re most renowned for what League calls “special projects” - such as the live, vocal-oriented Family Dinner charity series. Indeed, Snarky Puppy’s Grammywinning Something (they dropped the ‘It’s’) featured on the first volume. Still, Family Dinner finds Snarky Puppy recording with lesser-known guests, typically allies, rather than superstars (Laura Mvula showing on the second edition). “We don’t like being around drama,” League quips. The buzz Sylva represented another side-project. This worried League. “The things that we got recognised for were the things that were not what we normally do. I think a lotta people found out about us through these special projects and maybe weren’t aware of what we do the other 99% of the time. So, for us, it’s cool to have this nomination for Culcha Vulcha and to see it doing so well - because you start thinking, ‘Well, maybe people only like us when we’re not being ourselves’.” Since 2012, Snarky Puppy have issued their music through their own label, GroundUP Music. They remain a word-of-mouth phenom. “I don’t think anyone in our band plays music to be successful,” League says. “We just play music to be fulfilled and inspired.” League will be visiting Australia twice in 2017. He’s just launched a global supergroup, Bokante (a Creole word for ‘exchange’), encompassing Snarky Puppy members and others. They’ll be performing their inaugural international date at WOMADelaide. Then, in April, Snarky Puppy will make their Bluesfest premiere - League himself excited to catch co-headliner Bonnie Raitt. “I’ve never seen her live and I’m such a huge fan.” As to what to expect from Snarky Puppy? “We’ll be playing a lotta music from Culcha Vulcha, combined with a mixture of music from all of our previous albums - all of the normal Snarky Puppy records, not the special projects.”
When & Where: 10 Apr, Enmore Theatre; 13 & 14 Apr, Bluesfest, Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm
THE MUSIC • 15TH FEBRUARY 2017 • 23
Music
Going For
Core Beliefs
Gold
Despite what you may have heard about who won at the Grammys, the information you have is wrong. Because only one man won at the Grammys, and that man is CeeLo Green, who rocked up to the event dressed like C-3PO’s morbidly obese grandma. Well played sir. Well played. Granted, the man is well-known for his balls-to-thewall-mental-fifty-shades-of-craycray wardrobe, but the gilded, bobbly muumuu he sported at this weekend’s awards must rank up there amongst the singer’s most insane looks. Best of all, he wasn’t even nominated for an award! He literally came just to showboat the fuck out of the red carpet. He may not be the hero we want, but he is definitely the hero we need.
24 • THE MUSIC • 15TH FEBRUARY 2017
Ten years since Uncle Sam Goddamn drew heavy fire for its controversial critique of America’s human rights violations, Ali Douglas Newman, aka Brother Ali, has abandoned braggadocio but kept the candour. By Rip Nicholson.
U
ncle Sam Goddamn, the second single released from Ali Douglas Newman or Brother Ali’s 2007 album The Undisputed Truth, was flagged by The US Department Of Homeland Security for its condemnations. This, of course, brought a lot of attention to one of rap’s most insightful and contentious MCs, whose mission remains at the centre of his lyrics. “Especially that song,” he stresses. “I think it’s possible to grow, but the core is still there and a lot of my core is in that song.” He’s now aged 39, but Newman admits there are certain joints from his early-20s that he owes to immaturity. “People think of me as being a conscious rapper. I have songs where I am just completely talking about my ego saying, ‘I’m the best rapper, I can beat anybody, they’re all wack to me.’ Those are the songs that I’m glad didn’t catch on. I just don’t feel like that anymore. If I have a room full of people and their ears and their hearts I don’t wanna talk about how great a rapper I am anymore. I’m glad for the songs of mine that have become strong words.”
Newman has always had “strong words” to match his beliefs, whether they be political or concerning affairs of the heart. While Uncle Sam Goddamn relates to the former, two handpicked standouts resonate from a more personal place — tracks that must be included in every setlist. “One of them would be Forest Whitaker, which is the message of self-acceptance for those who feel like they don’t fit to whatever the standard is so they feel like outsiders, and we really have to just embrace ourselves. The other song is called Babygirl, which is about sexual violence and what it’s like to be in love with a survivor and witness that journey and that tremendous strength that they have. So they’re the three songs that I love to perform and I have the honour of doing that at every single show. If I don’t do those three, someone will be upset.” As his heaving tour with longtime Rhymesayers cohorts Atmosphere heads for Australia, Newman’s sixth LP is finished and ready to unveil live. “The album that we are about to release really focuses on the idea of meaning and love and beauty and how human beings apart can connect with each other. “I have been extremely fortunate especially with the people I make music with,” Newman punctuates speaking highly of Atmosphere’s DJ/producer Anthony Davis. “[Atmosphere] make the foundation of their music trying to get at the core of who we are as people and those are things that don’t change that much. Ant is so essential to me making music and that really comes from the deepest part of me because of the friendship that we have.”
When & Where: 2 Mar, Metro Theatre
W E D N E S D AY 1 5 T H F E B
KLP
+ MOSQUITO COAST + RUN MARLOWE
F R I D AY 1 7 T H F E B
Jex Vinyl Stand Displays your favourite album art front and centre - holds 20 standard LP’s
+ SHANTAN WANTAN ICHIBAN + FLEX MAMI + SWISS DANK + KRITTY
S AT U R D AY 1 8 T H F E B DANGER DANGER PARTY SET
S U N D AY 1 9 T H F E B
OFFICIAL
AFTER PARTY
TROPICAL ZOMBIE
BETTY OSWALD + KIMONO DRAG QUEENS
www.idlehands.design
Made in Melbourne
THE MUSIC • 15TH FEBRUARY 2017 • 25
Indie Indie
Lagerfest
‘The Velvet Underground & Nico’s 50th
Moreland & Arbuckle
Have You Been To:
Have You Been To
Just Visiting
Answered by: Jacob Tannett — Lagerstein Keyboardist
Answered by: Sylvie Sheehan — Owner, Midnight Special
Answered by: Dustin Arbuckle
Why should punters visit you? Lagerfest is a day dedicated to all things partying, the love of beer, hanging with good people and rocking out all day and night to awesome bands.
Why should punters visit you? Have a drink and listen to Sean Simmons’ (The Spoils) stripped-back solo performance of The Velvet Underground & Nico, in its entirety, for the album’s 50th anniversary. The Midnight Special has great sound and atmosphere.
What’s the history of the event? Starting in Brisbane in 2014, the day was created by Lagerstein as an excuse to party and have a good time! Any advice for first timers who want to visit the event? Feel free to dress up, talk to the bands and be prepared for an uplifting atmosphere of party times! Who’s performing this time around? Lagerstein, Superheist, Keggin, Osaka Punch, The Stiffys, Valhalore and more. Do you have any plans for the event in the future? We want it to be more than just a gig. So far we have sideshow alley games, food specialties, acoustic sets; we want to grow this into more games and unique acts, not just bands. When and where for your next event? 11 Feb, The Triffid; 18 Feb, Bald Faced Stag; 25 Feb, Evelyn Hotel. Website link for more info? lagerstein.com/tour
What’s the history of the event? This a oneoff event in Sydney. Any advice for first timers who want to visit the event? It’s free entry so get in early. Who’s performing this time around? Sean Simmons from Melbourne band The Spoils. Do you have any plans for the event in the future? Not at this point, it’s a one-off show. When and where for your next event? 23 Feb, Sean Simmons Performs The Velvet Underground & Nico. Website link for more info? themidnightspecial.com.au
Why are you coming to visit our fair country? We are coming to play some good, rocking music, see your beautiful country and hopefully make a bunch of new friends while we’re there. Is this your first visit? Yes! We are mad with anticipation! How long are you here for? Eleven days. What do you know about Australia, in ten words or less? We’ve heard the music fans are very enthusiastic. Any extra-curricular activities you hope to participate in while here? Perhaps some Australian rules football if we’re feeling adventurous, but we’ll probably just go to the beach instead. What will you be taking home as a souvenir? Some sort of animal that is both adorable and deadly. Any suggestions? Where can we come say hi, and buy you an Aussie beer? 18 Feb, Holler Roots Music Festival, Caravan Music Club; 19 Feb, Spotted Mallard; 20 Feb, The Prince; 22 Feb, The Stag & Hunter Hotel; 23 Feb, Black Bear Lodge; 24 Feb, Soundlounge; 25 Feb, The Basement; 26 Feb, Brass Monkey. Full details and tickets at morelandarbuckleaustralia.com Website link for more info? morelandarbuckle.com/index/
26 • THE MUSIC • 15TH FEBRUARY 2017
Queer Screen’s 24th
FEBRUARY 15 – MARCH 2 2017 Ovarian Psycos
The Nest SUN 19 FEB 7:15PM EVENT CINEMAS GEORGE ST
FRI 24 FEB 9:00PM EVENT CINEMAS GEORGE ST
The Ovarian Psycos are a gang of feminist, cyclist, women of colour, and they are determined to take back the streets of Eastside LA one ride at a time.
This captivating TV series shows you the queer, punk underbelly of Brazil. With a sumptuous soundtrack and cinematography, The Nest takes on politics, sexuality, and identity.
Real Boy
Fursonas TUE 28 FEB 7:30PM EVENT CINEMAS GEORGE ST
Real Boy follows Bennett’s transition to manhood while, like any teenager, searching for acceptance and happiness amongst his friends and fractured family. A bona fide crowd pleaser.
Festival on now! queerscreen.org.au
FRI 24 FEB 9:00PM EVENT CINEMAS GEORGE ST
A peek into the world of immersive role play. Alongside their day-to-day personalities as partners, office workers, mothers, and retirees, this documentary unveils people’s fully formed furry alter-egos.
THE MUSIC • 15TH FEBRUARY 2017 • 27
OPINION Opinion
Sampha
O G F l ava s
Urban And R&B
S
ince Amy Winehouse’s emergence, the UK has consistently generated buzz for new soulsters. In News With 2016 Rag’n’Bone Man (aka Rory Graham) blew up with Human — a gospel-soul epic stamped by Sam Smith Cyclone producer Two Inch Punch. Graham won 2017’s predictive BRITs Critics’ Choice Award. The long-underground MCcum-singer developed his urban-blues with EPs. His gleaming first album, also entitled Human, should entice fans of both Smith and the “rock’n’soul” of James Bay. Still, the Uckfield, East Sussex lad’s take on the American blues idiom wavers with its cliched lyrics. More avant is Sampha Sisay. Like James Blake, this singer/songwriter/ producer has worked for urban music’s game-changers — from Drake to Kanye to Solange. He broke out as a shadow member of the post-dubstep SBTRKT. Sisay’s debut, Process, allegorises agonising personal growth. Indeed, he made it while caring for his mother as she battled terminal cancer. Yet Sisay remains that South London kid into club culture — cue the hallucinatory breakbeat anthem Blood On Me. However, Sisay’s pliable voice prevails over even texturally amorphous soundscapes. Notably, he co-produced Process with XL’s Rodaidh McDonald — any famous friends conspicuously absent.
Moderately Highbrow Visual Art Wank And Theatre Foyers With Dave Drayton
I
Beyonce via Instagram
t’s not uncommon for a musician to be referred to as an “artist”, particularly those that operate as an individual, rather than as a member of a group or band — think Prince, or Joni Mitchell. As a member of soul/pop trio Destiny’s Child, Beyonce was just that; stepping out on her own she made the transition to “solo artist”. So far, so simply semantic.
28 • THE MUSIC • 15TH FEBRUARY 2017
The Heavy Shit
Guns N’ Roses @ ANZ Stadium. Pic: Brendan Delavere
Her eponymous 2013 visual album complicated this definition somewhat, and last year’s Lemonade, once more ostensibly an “album”, complicated this even further, an empowering 60-minute assault on most senses that one could easily spend 60 days unpacking. And it’s now reached the point where Queen B doesn’t even need the cover of an album to display her artistry, as the creativity of the announcement of her pregnancy attests. As countless others have already offered their two deconstructive cents, analysing the various allusions to/subversions of artistic and religious imagery in the photos, it seems the more interesting questions now are: at what point does one transition from being an artist in the musical sense, to being an artist? Is it a distinction worth being made? And, now that Beyonce has shown she doesn’t need the guise of an album for a work of art, what comes next?
OPINION Opinion
Metal And Hard
W
hat a massively Rock busy period we have With Chris going on right now. Guns N’ Roses are Maric screeching their way across the nation, Opeth gave Sydney Opera House its first-ever airing of growling vocals and, as you read this, the Thrash Blast is wrecking its way across the land and Lagerfest is keeping all the pirates and wenches tanked and happy. Funny observation about Opeth’s show: I reckon the last time there were that many metal T-shirts in Sydney Opera House’s main hall was when I was in high school and we frequently went there for the Face The Music concert series (we pretty much used it as an excuse to smoke while the teacher was talking to the conductor — hee-hee). It looks very likely that I will be heading back over to the UK again in June for the fifth Heavy Metal Truants — the bike ride from London to the Download Festival that raises money for children’s charities. This time I’ll be joined by a couple of industry people, too. If you want to spend three days riding a bike through the very picturesque English countryside and the next three watching an amazing line-up of bands, get in touch with me and I’ll loop you in with the HMT team — their website is being rebuilt right now so sit tight on looking there. The Euro festival season is shaping up to yet again be a metal fan’s wet dream. The old guard still reign as headliners with the likes of Deep Purple, Aerosmith and semi-recent big hitters Linkin Park, System Of A Down etc taking top billing. The gig posters for fests like Download, Graspop, Copenhell and indeed Hellfest read more like your music collection on shuffle than a gig line-up. They are immense! Emperor is popping their head in there too! If you’ve never been, go! I know it can be a drain on your wallet, but I did see a $1,049 return flight to London the other day. It was via China Air with a long stop in Beijing but, hey! It gets you there! More and more of us are venturing offshore to satisfy our metal needs. I know a lot of people recently boarded the 70000Tons Of Metal cruise in the States and every year more people head to SXSW just for the hell of it. Great! Just remember to share the love with the local bands battling it out at home, too!
Now, just as I was looking for a way to finish this column off, I got sent something. I reckon he knew and had just the thing. Sydney’s metal scene lost one of its champions late last year. Leif ‘Snake Sixx’ Gregory was a character no one could forget. His endless enthusiasm was infectious and it was very sad to see a brother fall. So, on Sunday 26 Feb at Bald Faced Stag (where else?), You Can’t Kill The Riff will be a very metal send-off to the man. The event will kick off at 2pm with his best mate Metal Matt DJing a set of Leif’s fave songs. Then Stu Tyrrell will deliver a set of acoustic rock and metal as only he can, followed by The Aussie Metal Knights, Twin City Riot and The Mis Made. All proceeds will go directly to Leif’s family. Come and say goodby
THE MUSIC • 15TH FEBRUARY 2017 • 29
Album / E Album/EP Reviews
PVT
Album OF THE Week
New Spirit Create/Control
★★★★½
PVT have a surprising knack for the detour. Whenever their identity has seemed to solidify, they’ve dodged (either slightly or drastically) to the left. Their abstract and jazzflecked debut Make Me Love You gave way to the stark and angular O Soundtrack My Heart. That album, in turn, presaged the murky, synth-heavy Church With No Magic - which led to the (almost) straight synth-pop of Homosapien. New Spirit is yet another surprising twist. In a way, New Spirit shares more connective tissue with its predecessor album than any other record in the band’s catalogue. Like Homosapien, it’s specific brand of synth-tweaking and newromantic vocals suggest that era more than any other. But, whereas Homosapien was predominantly an exercise in verse/chorus songwriting, New Spirit is vastly different. At once, it feels like the band’s most organic and most aggressively bizarre release. In any given production there is an absolute abundance of detail and change. Salt Lake Heart starts with a rhythm as spartan and stuttering as Kanye West’s Ultralight Beam - but, in less than three minutes, simply explodes. The central bassline shifts, an array of synthetic tics twist the rhythm and glistening synth lines cascade out of every crevice. It’s both overwhelming and utterly sublime. And, really, quite typical of the album’s alien and cinematic dynamics. In time, it could easily be considered the band’s best work. Matt O’Neill
Holly Throsby
The Courtneys
After A Time
The Courtneys II
Spunk
Flying Nun
★★★★
★★★★
There’s something so light about Holly Throsby’s musical touch unobtrusive but not timid. Opener Aeroplane is subtle in its echoey call and response, but also features lots of instrumental room, making it light but not fluffy. It has something of a sister tune later with Evening Stroll, similarly breathy but this time with a type of alt-jazz support as a sax meanders along on the vocal path. This one’s firmly grounded (lyrically, too), but with a similar sentimentality. The album moves across tempos and approaches, with lovely pop interludes Going To The Sea and Find Your Way Home, both catchy and delivering tales of moving at a brighter pace. It reminds of Woodface-era Crowded House - almost twee at times with apparent happiness - fun to hear and hard to resist tapping along
Scuzzy Vancouver indie-pop outfit The Courtneys recently received the distinction of becoming the first-ever international band to sign with longstanding New Zealand tastemakers Flying Nun and unsurprisingly their sunny, ramshackle aesthetic is a perfect fit. New longplayer The Courtneys II is an uplifting, feel-good wedge of dreamy lo-fi bubblegum garage-punk, swathed in distortion and sloppy in feel but never in execution. Upbeat lead single Silver Velvet opens proceedings with its perfectly poppy chorus acting like a statement of intent, Country Song following atop disarmingly dreamy riffs while Minnesota soars with infectious choruses and laidback guitar histrionics. Tour eulogises being on the road with kickass
30 • THE MUSIC • 15TH FEBRUARY 2017
to. Then there’s the great break with What Do You Say? - where Mark Kozelek’s voice counters Throsby’s perfectly by refusing to blend in. The sounds don’t clash but they refuse to merge - telling the song’s story beyond its lyrics. Similarly, the emergence of Being Born is so great in the way its soundscape matches its theme - ambling to begin until it builds confidence - finding its feet as the verses progress and with unexpectedby-delightful backing vocals to bring it home. Don’t forget to hang in for the tight harmonies on final track Seeing You Now, too. Simple and gorgeous. Liz Giuffre
vocal harmonies, before the near-seven-minute Lost Boys continues The Courtneys’ penchant for piling on pop culture references. The aloof Mars Attacks devolves into chanted schoolyard refrains and Frankie finishes with a fitting fuzz flourish. Throughout the casual croon of drummer/vocalist Jen Twynn Payne adds a nonchalant cool to offset the casual largesse with hooks and melodies displayed by her bandmates and, despite its dreamy sheen, they deliver their power-pop with a steely determination that adds real heft. Steve Bell
EP Reviews Album/EP Reviews
Middle Kids
Electric Guest
Busby Marou
Ryan Adams
Middle Kids
Plural
Prisoner
EMI
Due Process/Universal
Postcards From The Shell House
EMI
Warner
★★★★
★★★½
★★★
★★★½
Equally intimate and epic, Middle Kids’ sound would be as much at home in a stadium as a mate’s garage. We already know how good Edge Of Town is, especially Hannah Joy’s delectable, shapeshifting vocal. Your Love is just as good, reeling from stomping beat to jangly riff to anthemic chorus via a curiously catchy hand-clapping bridge. Never Start is a dead-set showstopper, while the muted, piano-driven Doing It Right showcases a different mood and mode. The Kids’ star is rising.
Electric Guest’s Plural opens with the bright piano of Zero, frontman Asa Taccone’s familiar falsetto and a laidback, retro vibe setting the tone of the album. Taccone, along with Matthew Compton, collaborated with fellow Los Angeles group HAIM on track Dear To Me, the sister-trio featuring on the song alongside vintage synthesisers and hard-hitting drums. Other album highlights include Oh Devil, which has a bit of a Latin feel, the long build-up of Back & Forth and uptempo album closer Bound To Lose. The duo, working with a new sound palette, deliver a fusion of well-produced electronic music, R&B and soulful pop that’s super catchy.
If Rockhampton duo Busby Marou hadn’t already found a nice little groove over their first two records, then Postcards From The Shell House ensures they have now. Think melodic, acoustic tunes with heartfelt lyrics delivered by the John Mayeresque Tom Busby. From the opening cut, Best Part Of Me, none of the 11 tracks particularly break the mould, nor do they need to. Busby and his partner in crime, Jeremy Marou, are at their best when they’re throwing down three-minute guitar-pop tunes, and their growing legion of fans are sure to lap up this latest collection.
After nearly 20 years of consistently well-received records, Ryan Adams has established himself as his own musical mastermind and Prisoner is the latest example. Sure, he takes a welltrodden path across the record - using organs and reverb to fill the sound on Do You Still Love Me? and the title track respectively; channeling Springsteen’s vocal delivery and production on Doomsday and especially Haunted House - but delivered with the backing of a respectable band and the confidence of a man at the top of his game, Prisoner is a tidy, yet safe, album.
Dylan Stewart
Dylan Stewart
Tim Kroenert
Madelyn Tait
More Reviews Online Jens Lekman Life Will See You Know
theMusic.com.au
Toby Martin Songs From Northam Avenue
THE MUSIC • 15TH FEBRUARY 2017 • 31
Live Re Live Reviews
Guns N’ Roses @ ANZ Stadium. Pic: Brendan Delavere
Guns N’ Roses, Rose Tattoo ANZ Stadium 10 Feb
Guns N’ Roses @ ANZ Stadium. Pic: Brendan Delavere
Guns N’ Roses @ ANZ Stadium. Pic: Brendan Delavere
Bruce Springsteen @ Qudos Bank Arena. Pic: Josh Groom
Bruce Springsteen @ Qudos Bank Arena. Pic: Josh Groom
32 • THE MUSIC • 15TH FEBRUARY 2017
Bruce Springsteen @ Qudos Bank Arena. Pic: Josh Groom
Once known as the “most dangerous band in the world”, Guns N’ Roses may have mellowed, but their sound hasn’t. On one of the hottest days of summer, with a full moon and a packed stadium, Axl, Slash and Duff re-ignited our ‘90s hairrock passion. Rose Tattoo aren’t going to change (or ‘be beaten’). The band play straight-ahead rock’n’roll and, despite the lineup changes (including several original members passing away), they continue to release new music. Lead singer Angry Anderson, now pushing 70, just keeps chugging along. They were probably asked to support because of their 1993 GNR appearance, which is quaint. Despite the plastic white chairs on the ‘floor’ of the stadium, a smattering of empty seats and an ageing audience, Guns N’ Roses still attract attention, especially now that the original trio have reunited for the Not In This Lifetime tour. One would guess that a healthy chunk were in attendance at Eastern Creek 24 years ago. They started the same way. The sound of Duff’s bass on It’s So Easy kicked off the mammoth set, but it was a worrying start. Axl’s voice seemed off; his mic appeared dodgy. What was happening? By the fourth song, the genre defining Welcome To The Jungle, we needn’t have worried. Axl can still hit the high notes and he did, for two-and-ahalf hours. We had to put up with three songs from Chinese Democracy, but that was ok when you have Slash ripping the most amazing extended solos you’ll see. His fingers danced on that fretboard on the big screen, his top hat in place, his hair still curly, his face
rarely changing. A guitar god in presence. The highs of Rocket Queen, Civil War and Sweet Child O’ Mine were interspersed with covers but, ultimately, their sound is good. Really good. Estranged is a ten-minute epic that deserves to be heard live. When AC/DC guitarist Angus Young made an appearance, the reverence was obvious as he
This was GNR’s night. A huge return; on time and matured, but still as good as ever. blasted out solos on Whole Lotta Rosie and Riff Raff. Slash looked suitably impressed as the 61-year-old performed his trademark moves to a rapturous crowd. But this was GNR’s night. A huge return; on time and matured, but still as good as ever. They seemed to be enjoying playing together. Axl even put his arm on Slash and Duff at points and there were smiles all around at the end. With the sound of Paradise City ringing in our ears (for days probably), we entered the throng heading to the station knowing it’s probably the last time we’ll see them together in this town again. Mick Radojkovic
eviews Live Reviews
Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band Qudos Bank Arena 7 Feb
Perhaps you haven’t heard of the quote that defined - and nearly crushed - Bruce Springsteen 40 years ago. He wasn’t just “the future of rock’n’roll”, he was also “the past and present” of it as well. Now, with recent political stupidities in his homeland, The Boss’ strange status as multi-millionaire everyman has him representing those blue collars - even some with slightly red necks - who still believe we’re all in this together. He’s even been overtly outspoken in some of the earlier dates of this tour as the alternative reality of Trump sank in. With a tour ostensibly built around The River - 1980’s sprawling double album of rock revivalism, complete with Springsteen sporting Elvis sideburns - maybe these shows are representative of the past, present and future of The Boss himself. The Springsteen live experience remains an extraordinary thing. Each show is the same and yet different, finding its own dynamic between the crowd, this so-tight and so-loose band and events outside the room. There’s no straight-up lecturing tonight but, following an opening New York City Serenade sweeping in on Roy Bittan’s piano cascades and a guest all-female string section - each rewarded with a handshake and thank you from the head man as they clambered off after their one-song appearance - there are some recurring themes. American Land’s immigrant hope, The Ties That Bind, No Surrender, the still-lacerating American Skin (41 Shots) and The Rising’s story of a 9/11 first responder’s humanity show that there’s still an eye on the country they’re currently not in.
But there’s still room for some traditions that almost verge on hokey. The carefully scrawled cardboard sign requests are almost a competition among the faithful of just how obscure a tune you can throw at a band that seems to have everything in their leader’s catalogue committed to muscle memory. My Love Will Not Let You Down is the deep cut, into the venerable Long Tall Sally and Hungry Heart’s towering sour bubblegum, which is the first - but certainly not the last - to get the crowd out of their seats. That’s also the cue for Springsteen to go on an excursion around the perimeter of the moshpit before crowdsurfing back - a trick made a little more complicated these days as so many punters try
There’s now half a dozen ‘Courtney’s invited up onstage to shimmy as Dancing In The Dark unfurls.
not to play. As drum heartbeat, mighty Max Weinberg just is. And Jake Clemons - given that near-impossible space that his uncle Clarence used to fill - is expressing himself more, his sax tone now almost eerily like his forebear. There’s not been a time when the opening mournful harmonica as “The screen door slams, Mary’s dress waves” in Thunder Road doesn’t provoke some Pavlovian response in your guts and put something in your eye. Also more welcoming, there’s now half a dozen ‘Courtney’s invited up onstage to shimmy as Dancing In The Dark unfurls. And still it’s not over. Jungleland is a neon-lit opera out on the New Jersey turnpike. It’s huge, emotional and somehow real - although outside most of our experience. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out honks and swings as it should.It shouldn’t be possible for a band this long-serving to be finding even better balances in their work, but this sweat-soaked guy in the check shirt manages it. This is nothing more or less than the shit that keeps us alive. You have to see this spectacle at least once, if only to give yourself a yardstick.
More Reviews Online theMusic.com.au/ music/live-reviews
The Cat Empire @ Stuart Park Ball Park Music @ Taronga Zoo B*Witched @ Big Top My Disco @ Newtown Social Club Opeth @ Sydney Opera House
Ross Clelland
to hold their mobile in one hand and some portion of Springsteen in the other. Candy’s Room and the entwining heat of I’m On Fire are more straight-up carnal than any 67-year-old man has a right to be. And yet they are, and he is. That the band can follow these mood swings remains magical. Stevie Van Zandt is the overseeing eminence grise, Nils Lofgren can stretch again after being a bit lost down the guitar pecking order when Tom Morello was in the fold. As above, Bittan is studied and knows when THE MUSIC • 15TH FEBRUARY 2017 • 33
Arts Reviews Arts Reviews
the shots and Niall Leonard (the husband of Fifty Shades author James) adapting the novel. It makes a difference. Foley’s a capable filmmaker with a couple of terrific movies to his credit, and his skill gives a hum of menace or jolt of energy to a handful of sequences here. But the perspective TaylorJohnson and Marcel brought to Fifty Shades, and to Ana’s journey especially, is missed here. Frankly, though, there’s only so much Foley, and a lot of other people attached to Fifty Shades Darker, can do with material that only moves the whole saga forward an inch or two when it’s not going through the same old motions from the first time around. More nudity than the typical Hollywood movie delivers notwithstanding, it’s about as sexy as a midweek date night at Grill’d, to be honest. At the end of the first movie, Ana calls it quits on her relationship with Christian when she realises she could no longer submit to his S&M-heavy sexual demands. Fifty Shades Darker picks up the story three weeks later, with Ana starting her dream job as assistant to smarmy book editor Jack Hyde (Eric Johnson). Outside the office, she’s accosted by Christian, who bluntly declares “I want you back” and claims he’s willing to try a relationship that’s a little more “vanilla”. Ana tentatively agrees, and tries to school the chilly, domineering Christian in the ways couples usually operate. Naturally, the relationship soon heats up once again, and it’s not too long before Ana agrees to allow a few of Christian’s favourite toys back into the bedroom.It’s also not too long before Christian’s sexual history comes back to haunt him, with emotionally wrecked ex-lover Leila (Bella Heathcote) skulking around the scene, and Elena (Kim Basinger), his bondage mentor, trying to insinuate her way back into his life. Mainly, though, Fifty Shades Darker is two people, a little low on personality, navigating the slightly rough waters of a slightly unconventional relationship. While Johnson can occasionally put a sweetly daffy spin on Ana, the hours Dornan has clearly spent at the gym are no compensation for the blankness of his performance. Fifty Shades Darker
Fifty Shades Darker Film In cinemas ★★½ The 2015 movie adaptation of the bestselling novel, Fifty Shades Of Grey, was something of a pleasant surprise because, well, it wasn’t an absolute stinker. The movie didn’t completely redeem the book but some clever casting, especially Dakota Johnson as timid heroine Anastasia Steele, and some sultry, atmospheric depiction of the kinky relationship between Ana and billionaire bondage fan Christian Grey, played by Jamie Dornan, injected a little life into the proceedings. However, for the sequel, Fifty Shades Darker, the female talent behind the camera — director Sam Taylor-Johnson and screenwriter Kelly Marcel — has been replaced by two chaps, with journeyman director James Foley calling
Guy Davis
34 • THE MUSIC • 15TH FEBRUARY 2017
A Strategic Plan
A Strategic Plan Theatre Griffin Theatre to 11 Mar
★★½ Meet Andrew, a former musician who’s just landed himself his first “real” full-time job: co-CEO at not-forprofit music organisation STACCATO. He immediately sets about plotting to get young people to really engage with music again, get them pumping like the old days when sweat condensed on the ceiling of dingy bars and dripped down upon the crowd. Unhappily for him, the managing board apparently didn’t jive with the “music is our motivation” bit on STACCATO’s annual plan. A Strategic Plan is writer Ross Mueller’s satirical revenge on bureaucracy, regulation and the soul-crushing burden modern society places upon the creative soul. The idealistic Andrew gets instantly bogged down in a sea of corporate stereotypes, babbling about gridlocked schedules and budget allocations. Predictably, things don’t go well. Unfortunately, the enthusiastic and talented cast aren’t given much to work with here. Dialogue is stilted and often clunky, muddied further by gratuitous levels of jargon and constant heated exchanges where participants shout over each other, drowning entire conversations out. With no chance to breathe between the high stress scenes, the audience’s nerves end up as frayed as Andrew’s by the end. Hidden in A Strategic Plan is an intensely relatable story about contemporary corporate and social pressures and the life-changing power of music and art. It’s a shame that too often it gets lost in the noise. Sam Baran
THE MUSIC • 15TH FEBRUARY 2017 • 35
Comedy / G The Guide
Wed 15
Dispossessed
SOSUEME feat. KLP + Mosquito Coast + Run Marlowe: Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach
Harry Sutherland Trio + Andy Fiddes Trio: Foundry 616, Sydney
Gallant
Creo + Stone Empire + Eugene: Frankie’s Pizza By The Slice, Sydney Luke Collings + Greasy Lake + Lyn Taylor + Peter Conaty: Gasoline Pony, Marrickville
The Music Presents Mother’s Cake: 24 Feb, The Basement, Canberra CW Stoneking & Nathaniel Rateliff: 7 Mar Enmore Theatre Holly Throsby: 9 Mar Clarendon Guest House Katoomba; 11 Mar Milton Theatre; 18 Mar Lizottes Newcastle; 19 Mar Newtown Social Club Twelve Foot Ninja: 9 Mar Uni Bar; 10 Mar Manning Bar; 11 Mar Cambridge Hotel 4Elements Hip Hop Festival: 18 Mar, Bankstown Arts Centre The Waifs: 1 Apr Enmore Theatre Guy Sebastian: 5 & 6 Apr Oxford Art Factory Rhiannon Giddens: 8 Apr Factory Theatre Snarky Puppy: 10 Apr Enmore Theatre Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue: 10 Apr Metro Theatre Roy Ayers: 11 Apr The Basement
Kim Churchill: Grand Junction Hotel (The Junkyard), Maitland RVIVR + Obat Batuk + Hannahband + Paper Thin: Hamilton Station Hotel, Islington Kinsky: LazyBones Lounge, Marrickville The White Tree Band: Leadbelly (formerly The Vanguard), Newtown Live & Local feat. Breanna Young + Lili Crane + Hinnom: Lizottes Newcastle, Lambton Manouche Wednesday feat. The Squeezebox Trio: Mr Falcon’s, Glebe Ralph Graham + Angus Murray: Newtown Social Club, Newtown Comedy Night with Adam Richard: Oatley Hotel, Oatley
Lucie Thorne & Hamish Stuart + The Yearlings: 505, Surry Hills
James Taylor: Royal Theatre, Canberra
Alvena
Zack Martin + Monica + David Harrod + Chris Brookes + Kenneth D’Aran: Harbour View Hotel, Dawes Point The Morrisons + The Sweet Jelly Rolls: Hotel Steyne (Moonshine), Manly Munro: LazyBones Lounge, Marrickville Dr TAOS: LazyBones Lounge (Level 1), Marrickville Justin Yap Band: Leadbelly (formerly The Vanguard), Newtown
No Refunds with Various Artists: Bald Faced Stag (Front Bar), Leichhardt
Bliss N Eso
Castlecomer: Brighton Up Bar, Darlinghurst Thursday Night Live with Mar Haze + Voodoo Youth + Byren + Buoy, Oh Buoy: Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle West
The Lumineers: 17 & 18 Apr Sydney Opera House
Another Run Following up their recent EP release and return to stages for the year pop-rockers Alvena are heading back to Valve Bar this Thursday night. Catch them with The Cleveland Dreamers and The Ready Section.
The Songs of Patsy Cline with Michelle Little: Camelot Lounge, Marrickville Morgana Osaki + Deepsea Lights: Camelot Lounge (Django Bar), Marrickville Yachtshop + Benefits + Matrick Jones: Captain Cook Hotel, Paddington The Biggest Comedy Show on Earth: Comedy Store, Moore Park Soul Roots Revival Band: Coogee Diggers, Coogee Freesouls: Foundry 616, Sydney
Peter ‘Blackie’ Black + Forest Pooky: Smiths Alternative, Canberra Ludovico Einaudi : Sydney Opera House (Concert Hall), Sydney Thrash, Blast & Grind Festival feat. King Parrot + Revocation + Psycroptic + Whoretopsy + Black Rheno: The Basement, Belconnen
36 • THE MUSIC • 15TH FEBRUARY 2017
JR’s Jazz Jam + Trish Delaney-Brown: B.E.D. (Beats.Eats.Drinks), Glebe
Lyre Byrdland + Tiana Martel + Matt Roberts Trio: Beresford Hotel (Upstairs), Surry Hills
Max Jury: 13 Apr The Basement
Jeff Lang: 11 May The Oxley Wine Bar Cowra; 13 May Hotel Gearin Katoomba; 18 May Lizottes Newcastle; 19 May Hardys Bay Club; 20 May Wauchope Community Arts Hall; 21 May 5 Church Street Bellingen; 27 May The Basement; 16 Jun State Theatre Canberra; 17 Jun Murrah Hall
Bad!Slam!No!Biscuit!: The Phoenix, Canberra
The Mandarin Band: Rock Lily, Pyrmont
Bluesfest: 13 – 17 Apr, Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm
The Gum Ball: 21 - 23 Apr, Dashville
Michael Dimarco: The Bourbon, Potts Point
Thu 16
Laura Mvula: 12 Apr Metro Theatre
The Record Company: 19 Apr Newtown Social Club
Sydney’s metallers Dispossessed are joining 30-year vets Neurosis for their Australian tour. The run comes of the back of the American group’s new LP Fires Within Fires and hits Manning Bar this Friday.
El Guincho + Donny Benet: Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst
Gregory Porter: 12 Apr Enmore Theatre
Gallant: 18 Apr Oxford Art Factory
We Need A Posse
Ready & Raring To Go After a terribly tragic start to their year, Bliss N Eso are back at it with the Dopamine tour. Catch them on Thursday at Metro Theatre for what’s sure to be a wild one.
Simon Kinny-Lewis Band: Frankie’s Pizza By The Slice, Sydney Southerward + The Moon Hounds: Gasoline Pony, Marrickville Kim Churchill: Grand Junction Hotel (The Junkyard), Maitland Time On Earth + Web City Limits + Start The Boats: Hamilton Station Hotel, Islington
London Klezmer Quartet: Lizottes Newcastle, Lambton Larger Than Lions: Marble Bar, Sydney Bliss N Eso: Metro Theatre, Sydney PJ Orr: Mr Falcon’s, Glebe
Gigs / Live The Guide
Wil Wagner
Miki Dean + Friends: The Soda Factory, Surry Hills
Dirty Rotten Imbeciles + Wolfpack + Vee Bees + Kid Presentable: Transit Bar, Canberra City
Avelna + Cleveland Dreamers + The Ready Section: Valve Bar (Basement), Ultimo The Whizz Kids + Tim & The Boys: Vic On The Park, Marrickville
Smith Street Man Wil Wagner, the lovable frontman of The Smith Street Band, is touring the country solo. Get over to Oxford Art Factory on Sunday to catch him with support from Laura Stevenson, Lucy Wilson and Iona Cairns.
Vanessa Heinitz: Clovelly Hotel, Clovelly Wanted - Bon Jovi Show: Colonial Hotel, Werrington
The Biggest Comedy Show on Earth: Comedy Store, Moore Park
Betty & Oswald + The Gypsy Scholars: Coogee Bay Hotel (Selina’s), Coogee Jimmy Bear: Coolibah Hotel, Merrylands West
Cannibal Spiders + Danaides + Bonniesongs: LazyBones Lounge, Marrickville
King Tide: Leadbelly (formerly The Vanguard), Newtown Beth Brown + Whistle Dixie: Lizottes Newcastle, Lambton Nathan Cole: Macarthur Tavern, Campbelltown
Fri 17
Michael Fryar: Crown Hotel, Sydney
Neurosis + Dispossessed: Manning Bar, Camperdown
Lamine Sonko: 505, Surry Hills
Lagerstein: Dicey Riley’s Hotel, Wollongong
Brown Sugar: Marble Bar, Sydney
The Mis-Made + Machine Valley: B.E.D. (Beats.Eats.Drinks), Glebe Like Royals: Bald Faced Stag, Leichhardt
Wolfpack
Black Heart Breakers + Smitty B Goode + Thee Evil Twin: Bank Hotel, Newtown Halfway Crooks + Shantan Wantan Ichiban + Flex Mami + more: Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach Justin Yap Band: Beaches Hotel, Thirroul
Jakubi: Newtown Social Club, Newtown Steve Tonge: Observer Hotel, The Rocks
London Klezmer Quartet: Blue Mountains Theatre, Springwood
Kishi Bashi + Tall Tall Trees: Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst
Never Ending 80s: Brass Monkey, Cronulla
Moth King + Astrix Little + Murray Darling: Oxford Art Factory (Gallery Bar), Darlinghurst Sancha & The Blue Gypsies: Petersham Bowling Club, Petersham Annie Z: Pittwater RSL (Distillery), Mona Vale
PLTS + Wolves In Fashion: Brighton Up Bar, Darlinghurst Vaudevillia by +Mic Conway’s National Junk Band: Camelot Lounge, Marrickville The Soul Movers: Camelot Lounge (Django Bar), Marrickville Lennon Through A Glass Onion with John Waters: Canberra Theatre Centre, Canberra
#TheHangs with Glenn Lumanta + Bruce Hathcock: Play Bar, Surry Hills Mosquito Coast + Mezko + Tropical Wax: Rad Bar, Wollongong Isaiah Firebrace: Revesby Workers (Whitlam Theatre), Revesby
The Lowlands + Alex & Joel: Smiths Alternative, Canberra Twilight At Taronga feat. Jet: Taronga Zoo, Mosman James Southwell Band + Charlie Wooton + Chris Wilson: The Basement, Sydney Elisa Kate: The Beach Hotel, Merewether The Screaming Jets: The Bridge Hotel, Rozelle Michelle & Nicole Issa + Cassy Judy Chair + Harry Cobon: The Louis (formerly Lewisham Hotel), Lewisham DJ Somatik + The Newports: The Newport, Newport
Factory Theatre is hosting a night of pure, unmitigated punk on Friday night. If that’s your thing head down to catch Melbourne’s Wolfpack supporting 30-year vets Dirty Rotten Imbeciles with Hostile Objects, Staunch and Disparo.
Ted Nash: Engadine Tavern, Engadine
Reggae Thursday feat. Errol Renaud + Caribbean Soul: Rock Lily, Pyrmont The Midnight Tea Party + Ines + La Tarentella + Fat Yahooza + Zig Zag Wanderers DJs: Slyfox, Enmore
Pack Of Imbeciles
Yellowcard + Like Torches: Enmore Theatre, Newtown Fractures
Dirty Rotten Imbeciles + Wolfpack + Hostile Objects + Staunch + Disparo: Factory Theatre (Factory Floor), Marrickville
Brand New, Just For You
Blaming Vegas: Fortune of War Hotel, The Rocks
With his much-anticipated album Still Here soon to be released, Fractures will be taking to the stage at Newtown Social Club on Saturday night. Don’t miss this night of fresh new tunes.
From Billie Holliday to Bill Evans with The Rodric White Quintet + Tiana Young: Foundry 616, Sydney
Zepha + Coast & Ocean + Mista Miki: Captain Cook Hotel, Paddington
TMG (Ted Mulry Gang): Miranda Hotel, Miranda Sarah Frank: Mr Falcon’s, Glebe Mountain Sounds Festival: Mt Penang Gardens, Kariong Dave Tice + Jim Finn + Ross Ward: Orange Grove Hotel, Lilyfield Clairy Browne: Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst
Chris Turner: Garry Owen Hotel, Rozelle
Wawawow + Crocodylus + Jackie Brown Jr + Hector Gachan: Oxford Art Factory (Gallery Bar), Darlinghurst
Super Sly: Garry Owen Hotel (Sunset Bar), Rozelle
LTR ON feat. Sofi Tukker: Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst
Equa Hey + Rogue Company: Gasoline Pony, Marrickville
The Pinks: Petersham Bowling Club, Petersham
Elwood Myre: Grand Junction Hotel (The Junkyard), Maitland
RJ Music Duo: Pittwater RSL (Distillery), Mona Vale
CHILD: Hamilton Station Hotel, Islington
The Consouls: Play Bar, Surry Hills
Ray Mann: The Newsagency, Marrickville
Soundproofed: Castle Hill RSL (Terrace Bar), Castle Hill
Lisa Hunt: Heritage Hotel, Bulli
Snavs: Proud Mary’s, Erina
Marlon Bando + Propeller + B.L.T: The Phoenix, Canberra
Michael Dimarco: Chatswood RSL, Chatswood
High-tails + Raindrop: Hotel Steyne (Moonshine), Manly
They Call Me Bruce: Quakers Inn, Quakers Hill
Lagerstein: The Small Ballroom, Islington
Dirty Audio: Chinese Laundry, Sydney
THE MUSIC • 15TH FEBRUARY 2017 • 37
Comedy / G The Guide
Sirens with Body Type + Julia Why? + Galaxy Girls + Mira Boru: Red Rattler, Marrickville
Miriam Liberman Trio: Milton Theatre, Milton
Birthday Bash with What So Not: Mona Vale Hotel, Mona Vale
Smooth Groove: Revesby Workers (Infinity Lounge), Revesby
Katcha: Mr Falcon’s, Glebe
Tamika Jai Duo + DJ Kitsch 78 + Soul Nights: Rock Lily, Pyrmont
Fractures + Edward R + ADKOB + OK Badlands: Newtown Social Club, Newtown
Courtyard Sessions feat. Taryn LaFauci + Sabrina Soares + Melanie Dyer + more: Seymour Centre (Courtyard), Darlington
Get Rocked Band: Oatley Hotel, Oatley
Jared Baca: Tahmoor Inn, Tahmoor
Adrian Joseph + The JP Project: Observer Hotel, The Rocks
Twilight At Taronga feat. George + Felix Riebl + Jack Carty: Taronga Zoo, Mosman
Songs On Stage feat. Russell Neal + The Vegas Nerves: Orange Grove Hotel, Lilyfield
The Screaming Jets: Terrey Hills Tavern, Terrey Hills The Lachy Doley Group: The Basement, Sydney DJ Graham Mandroules + DJ Sam Wall + DJ Mike Dotch + Ines: The Newport, Newport Pascoe + Matt Gold: The Newsagency, Marrickville
The Upbeats + Philth + Paragon: Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst
Mosquito Coast
Michael Fryar: Panania Hotel, Panania
Coast In
Soundproofed + Mulgoa Road Jazz Band: Penrith RSL (Castle Lounge), Penrith
Perth’s very own Mosquito Coast are making waves in 2017, kicking off the year with an Australian tour. Check them with KLP at Beach Road Hotel’s Sosueme on Wednesday for some solid summer tunes.
Stephanie Lea: PJ Gallagher’s, Moore Park
Lindsay McDougal’s Acoustic Punk Karaoke + Billy Myers: Vic On The Park, Marrickville
The Minshull Brothers: Coogee Diggers, Coogee
Like Royals + Brave Today: Red Rattler, Marrickville
Angelena Locke: Crowne Plaza Terrigal, Terrigal
Mirusia: Revesby Workers (The Whitlam Theatre), Revesby
James Heathwood: Engadine Tavern, Engadine
The Rocking Byrds + Hype Duo + DJ D-Flat: Rock Lily, Pyrmont
Carnage + Section Boyz: Enmore Theatre, Newtown
Leroy Lee: Rocks Brewing Company, Alexandria
James Heathwood: Fortune of War Hotel, The Rocks
DJ Matt Allcock: Rooty Hill RSL (Fred Chubb Lounge), Rooty Hill
Geoff Davies: The Push, The Rocks
Like Royals
Sat 18 Tiaggo De Lucca: B.E.D. (Beats. Eats.Drinks) (Downstairs), Glebe Fables + Matthew Syrus: B.E.D. (Beats. Eats.Drinks) (Upstairs), Glebe
Royal Rager Push your weekend into complete overdrive by checking out five-piece, melodic metalcore Sydney band Like Royals on Friday. They will be at Bald Faced Stag as part of the Wither Away single tour.
Wil Wagner + Laura Stevenson + Ian Graham + Iona Cairns: The Small Ballroom, Islington The Australian Guns n Roses Show + Poison’us: Towradgi Beach Hotel (Sports Bar), Towradgi James Southwell Band + Chris Wilson + Simon Kinny-Lewis Band + Harry Brus: Towradgi Beach Hotel (Waves), Towradgi Rufus + Winston Surfshirt: UC Refectory, Bruce Pop Punk Pizza Party with We Take The Night + Flicker + 7 Evil Exes + Vetty Vials + more: Valve Bar (Basement), Ultimo The Witching Hour: Valve Bar (Level One), Ultimo
Lagerfest feat. Lagerstein + Darker Half + The Stiffys + Valhalore + Keggin + Saralisse + Head In A Jar + Eightball Junkies: Bald Faced Stag, Leichhardt Party Set with Danger Danger: Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach Luke O’Shea & Medicine Wheel + John Krsulija + Jason Kearney: Brass Monkey, Cronulla Fazerdaze + Body Type + Okin Osan: Brighton Up Bar, Darlinghurst Monsieur Camembert: Camelot Lounge, Marrickville Danny Sun’s Rhythm Revue: Camelot Lounge (Django Bar), Marrickville Florentine + Gelatin Davis + Ryse: Captain Cook Hotel, Paddington Battered & Bluesed: Carousel Inn, Rooty Hill Remembering The Carpenters Tribute Show: Castle Hill Bowling Club, Castle Hill Thirsty Merc: Caves Beachside Hotel, Caves Beach The Hour of Power feat. Matt Okine + Becky Lucas + Wilson Dixon + Mike Goldstein: Comedy Store, Moore Park The Biggest Comedy Show on Earth: Comedy Store, Moore Park Ted Nash + Acoustic Grooves: Coogee Bay Hotel, Coogee
Throttle: Proud Mary’s, Erina Dean Michael Smith: Red Cow Hotel, Penrith
Sally Cameron: Foundry 616, Sydney The Lockhearts + CHILD + Los Hombres Del Diablo: Frankie’s Pizza By The Slice, Sydney Lisa Richards + Danny Yau + Paula Punch: Gasoline Pony, Marrickville Honest Crooks + Overlord + more: Hamilton Station Hotel, Islington MMRS feat. Semper Fi + Gravemind + Of Divinity: Hermanns Bar, Darlington Bruce Springsteen & the E-Street Band + Jet + Diesel: Hope Estate Winery, Pokolbin Isaiah Firebrace: Hornsby RSL (The Showroom), Hornsby Ruth Carp & The Fish Heads: Leadbelly (formerly The Vanguard), Newtown All The Kings Men: Tribute to Albert, Earl, Freddie and B.B: Lizottes Newcastle, Lambton JJ Hausia: Macarthur Tavern, Campbelltown
The Stiffys
Stiff Drink Largerfest is back for round four with a huge line-up of pisssinking legends at Bald Faced Stag, Saturday. The Stiffys (DJ set), Keggin, Valhalore and more will join Largerstein for the daylong party.
Clive Hay: Macquarie Arms Hotel, Windsor
Tiger Army + Fireballs + Pat Capocci: Metro Theatre, Sydney
Divergence Jazz Orchestra + Miroslav Bukovski + Loretta Palmeiro + Andrew Scott: Seymour Centre (Sound Lounge), Darlington
The Morrisons + Lime & Steel: Metropole Hotel, Katoomba
Twilight At Taronga feat. James Morrison Big Band: Taronga Zoo, Mosman
Mike Champion: Marble Bar, Sydney
Karise Eden: The Basement, Sydney
38 • THE MUSIC • 15TH FEBRUARY 2017
Gigs / Live The Guide
Logan’s Heroes: The Beach Hotel, Merewether
Sun 19
The Mighty Surftones: 4 Pines Public House, Newport
Dean Michael Smith: The Belvedere Hotel, Sydney
TMG (Ted Mulry Gang): The Bridge Hotel, Rozelle Alphamama + DJ Treble n Bass + DJ Phil Toke + Miranda Carey: The Newport, Newport Issabird: The Newsagency, Marrickville Jimmy Mann: The Push, The Rocks
Stephanie Lea: Jamison Hotel, Penrith
All The Kings Men: Bald Faced Stag, Leichhardt
Brendan Gallagher: Kanpai Japanese Restuarant & Bar, Huskisson
Tropical Zombie + Betty & Oswald + Kimono Drag Queen: Beach Road Hotel (Upstairs), Bondi Beach
Paul Mbenna & The Okapi Guitar Band: LazyBones Lounge, Marrickville
Dirty Rotten Imbeciles + Frank Rizzo + Wolfpack: Black Wire Records, Annandale Jackie Dee + Brielle Davis + TC Coombes: Brass Monkey, Cronulla Leonard Cohen Koans with Ali & The Thieves: Camelot Lounge, Marrickville Mocambo Jam: Camelot Lounge (Django Bar), Marrickville Fair Day ‘17 with Various Artists: Camperdown Memorial Rest Park, Marrickville
Party Time For a night of groovin’, get yourself down to Newtown Social Club on Thursday to go totally wild with Melbourne’s Jakubi, as they return from another US tour. It’s gonna be a party!
Smokin’ Willies: Colonial Hotel (Beer Garden), Werrington
Karise Eden + Whistle Dixie: Lizottes Newcastle, Lambton Jared Baca: Macarthur Tavern, Campbelltown The Mezcaltones: Marrickville Bowling Club, Marrickville Yellowcard + Like Torches: Metro Theatre, Sydney Evie Dean: Northies Cronulla Hotel (Main Bar), Cronulla Vanessa Heinitz + Dean Michael Smith: Observer Hotel, The Rocks
PLTS
Black Aces + Jungle City + Pyrefly + Dirty Utility: Frankie’s Pizza By The Slice, Sydney
The Pavlova Gods + Hey Lady!: Vic On The Park, Marrickville
Chic & The Soul Messengers: Garry Owen Hotel, Rozelle
Cakes feat. Linda Marigliano: World Bar, Potts Point
Dead Till Dawn + Vodville + The Ravens + Bort + Tremolo Please: Valve Bar (Basement), Ultimo
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Incoming Call They‘ve just wrapped the leg of their tour supporting Amity Affliction and now they’re out on their own to launch latest single Call Me Out. Head to Brighton Up Bar on Friday to catch PLTS.
Satellite V: Gasoline Pony, Marrickville Mark Lucas + Lazy L: Golden Barley Hotel, Enmore
PO Box 190 St Peters NSW 2044
Unit 10, 2 Bishop St, St Peters NSW 2044
Ted Nash: The Mill Hotel, Milperra
Crawl File - Australian Crawl Show: Towradgi Beach Hotel, Towradgi
Blake Tailor: Coolibah Hotel, Merrylands West
Peter Gabrielides: Fortune of War Hotel, The Rocks
Russ Dewbury: The Deck, Milsons Point
JJ Hausia: The Push, The Rocks
Remi + Kuren: Coogee Pavillion (Rooftop), Coogee
PSY + Loz Monsta + Arthur Flanders + more: Valve Bar (Basement / Level One), Ultimo
Get set for a night of rockabilly tunes when roots-rocker Pat Capocci joins Fireballs and Tiger Army at Metro Theatre. Be ready for some shredding as he lights up the stage on Saturday.
DJ Alex Mac + Animal Ventura + DJ Cool Hand Luke + Rob Edwards: The Newport, Newport
For The Funk Of It: Coogee Diggers, Coogee
Isaiah Firebrace: Ettalong Diggers (Ballroom), Ettalong Beach
Rockabilly Rhythms
Spike Flynn & The Open Hearted Strangers: The Merton Hotel, Rozelle
Angelena Locke: Commodore Hotel, McMahons Point
Gwyn Ashton: The Stag & Hunter Hotel, Mayfield
Pat Capocci
The Strides: Hotel Steyne (Moonshine), Manly
Matt The Rumble Morrison: B.E.D. (Beats.Eats.Drinks), Glebe
Dylan Hartas & The Blues Martyrs: Bird In Hand Inn, Pitt Town
Jakubi
Chase The Sun: Harmonie German Club, Narrabundah
Wil Wagner + Laura Stevenson + Ian Graham + Iona Cairns: Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst Steve Passfield & Handpicked: Penrith RSL (Castle Lounge), Penrith Christine Collister & Michael Fix: Petersham Bowling Club, Petersham DJ Troy T + Suite Az: Rock Lily, Pyrmont Ludovico Einaudi : Sydney Opera House (Concert Hall), Sydney Twilight At Taronga feat. Jet: Taronga Zoo, Mosman Lagerstein: The Basement, Belconnen Omar Sosa Quarteto AfroCubano: The Basement, Sydney Michael Dimarco: The Bellevue Hotel, Paddington
Mon 20 Songs On Stage feat. Russell Neal + Kenneth D’Aran + more: Kellys on King, Newtown John Maddox Duo: Mr Falcon’s, Glebe The Bootleg Sessions feat. Slow Turismo + Rebecca Maree + Guyy: The Phoenix, Canberra
Tue 21 Bernard Fanning + Kasey Chambers + Garrett Kato: Canberra Theatre Centre, Canberra Raw Comedy 2017: Comedy Store, Moore Park Songs On Stage feat. Russell Neal + Chris Brookes + Pauline Sparkle + Steve Clark: Gladstone Hotel, Dulwich Hill Songs On Stage feat. Stuart Jammin + Jenny Hume: Kellys on King, Newtown Steve Hunter Band: LazyBones Lounge, Marrickville Live & Originals feat. Charli Simons + Kay Camargo + The Dots: Mr Falcon’s, Glebe London Klezmer Quartet: Smiths Alternative, Canberra
THE MUSIC • 15TH FEBRUARY 2017 • 39
40 • THE MUSIC • 15TH FEBRUARY 2017