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2 • THE MUSIC • 14TH JANUARY 2015
THE MUSIC • 14TH JANUARY 2015 • 3
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Street Press Australia Pty Ltd
GROUP MANAGING EDITOR Andrew Mast
NATIONAL EDITOR MAGAZINES Mark Neilsen
EDITOR Steve Bell
ARTS EDITOR Hannah Story
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CONTRIBUTORS Alice Bopf, Anthony Carew, Baz McAlister, Ben Marnane, Ben Preece, Benny Doyle, Bradley Armstrong, Brendan Telford, Brie Jorgensen, Carley Hall, Chris Yates, Cyclone, Dan Condon, Daniel Johnson, Dave Drayton, Guy Davis, Helen Stringer, Jake Sun, Jazmine O’Sullivan, Lochlan Watt, Madeleine Laing, Mandy McAlister, Michael Smith, Mitch Knox, Paul Mulkearns, Roshan Clerke, Sam Hobson, Sky Kirkham, Sophie Blackhall-Cain, Tessa Fox, Tom Hersey, Tony McMahon, Tyler McLoughlan
THIS WEEK THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK • 14 JAN - 20 JAN 2015
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The CBD has a new(ish) music venue! The fledgling pop-up venue is called The Bunker and can be found at the always fun O’Malley’s Irish Bar, and today (Wednesday 14 Jan) marks the second instalment of ‘The Naked Sessions’ which finds legendary Oz rocker Steve Lucas delivering an unplugged rendition of his former band X’s seminal album X-Aspirations. Check out one of our nation’s best talents like never before!
This week marks the Brisbane opening of the theatrical production Thriller Live, which celebrates the career of the much-missed King Of Pop, Michael Jackson. Thriller Live has been slaying them in London’s West end for years now, thanks to the combination of great music and of course Jackson’s own killer dance moves. Thriller Live is as close as you’ll get to the real thing, so be sure to check it out!
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Actor Michael Keaton, of Batman and Batman Returns fame, stars in Birdman this summer – a film about a washed-up actor trying to make a comeback on stage in a Raymond Carver adaptation. Full of irony and sass, this black comedy opens 15 Jan. BRISBANE
JONSON STREET BYRON BAY FRI 16 JAN
MAMMALS, THE BADLANDS, GARRETT KATO SAT 17 JAN
STEVE SMYTH, JESSE PUMPHREY WED 21 JAN
THE GROWLERS, BABE RAINBOW FRI 23 JAN
THE COATHANGERS, BABAGANUOJ SAT 24 JAN
BOOTLEG RASCAL, MAR HAZE SAT 31 JAN
MAJIC BONES & HARTS SUN 8 FEB
THE SMITH STREET BAND SAT 14 FEB
GOOCH PALMS FRI 20 FEB
THE COURTNEYS SAT 21 FEB
THE BELLIGERENTS TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE WWW.THENORTHERN.COM.AU
THE MUSIC • 14TH JANUARY 2015 • 5
national news news@themusic.com.au TKAY MAIZDA
RUSSELL MORRIS
BLUES MUSIC AWARDS FINALISTS
ONE OUT, ONE IN
Under doctor’s orders, Lykke Li has reluctantly had to pull out of the forthcoming Laneway Festival, which also means her sideshows in Melbourne and Sydney have also had to be postponed. Taking up the baton in her stead is Tkay Maizda. Laneway Festival of course arrives in Australia 31 Jan at Brisbane Showgrounds, followed by 1 Feb at Sydney College Of The Arts in Rozelle, 7 Feb at Footscray Community Arts Centre and The River’s Edge, Melbourne, and 8 Feb at Esplanade Reserve and West End in Perth.
RUBY ROSE
A NEW FACE
Aussie television personality Ruby Rose has confirmed she will appear in the new season of acclaimed US series Orange Is The New Black, breaking the news on her Facebook page. She’ll be playing Stella, the new love – or lust – interest for characters Piper and Alex, played by Taylor Schilling and Laura Prepon respectively. Rose is probably best known for her multiple local TV appearances, namely her stint on MTV and modelling career than her developing acting career, though she has a couple of credits to her name including a role in the 2013 Aussie film Around The Block starring American actress Christina Ricci. Orange Is The New Black recently landed at number three in The Music’s Best TV Shows Of 2014 List.
LEPERS & CROOKS
AT IT AGAIN
Sydney-bred five-piece Lepers & Crooks are barely pausing for breath this season before getting the ball rolling on an already epic-sized 2015, with the band today announcing a comprehensive run of shows around the country next year in support of new EP, single and clip Her Kiss. Coming off the back of a similarly impressive 30-date headline tour of the nation, Lepers & Crooks will be taking on about 50 performances or so over the first four months of the year. They’ll be playing Beach Road Hotel, Sydney, 16 Jan; Great Britain Hotel, Melbourne, 14 Feb; Rad Bar, Wollongong, 28 Feb; Beach Hotel, Byron Bay, 20 Mar; and Mojo’s Bar, Fremantle, 23 Apr. More dates from theMusic.com.au.
TIME FLIES WHEN YOU’RE THROWING WATCHES CONGRATS ON BECOMING A DAD, @CAITLINSTASEY. 6 • THE MUSIC • 14TH JANUARY 2015
The finalists for the 2015 Australian Blues Music Awards has been announced, with Greg Dodd & The Hoodoo Men leading the list with nominations in four out of six categories (Album, Duo/Group, Male Vocalist and Song Of The Year), and Russell Morris and John McNamara each receiving three noms. Previous winners Hat Fitz & Cara Robinson are nominated for Album, Duo/Group and Female Vocalist Of The Year. The winners will be announced 7 Feb as part of the Australian Blues Music Festival in Goulburn.
MAMMOTH MILESTONE Seems crazy that 40 years ago now, a little radio station called 2JJ launched in Sydney. National network triple j continues to be as passionate about its ideals as ever, and is celebrating one hell of a milestone with a TV documentary, exhibition, live concert and some very special radio content. Sounds Like Teen Spirit will air on ABC on 19 Jan at 8.45, exploring the station’s beginnings; Beat The Drum Exhibition opens 19 Jan at ABC Ultimo Foyer and showcases the history and culture of triple j and Double J; day-long celebrations kick off from 6am on 19 Jan with the welcoming back of some of the biggest names to have talked into the studio mic, including Scott Dooley, Angela Catterns, Chris Winter, and more. There’s heaps happening, so make sure you tune in and celebrate everything triple j has achieved over the last four decades.
THE SUPERJESUS
SWEET BABY JESUS
Prepare for an evening of Australian rock royalty as Baby Animals and The Superjesus team up for a retrospective double-headliner tour they’ve aptly dubbed ‘She Who Rocks’. Fronted by Suze DeMarchi and Sarah McLeod respectively, this is the first time Baby Animals and The Superjesus have toured together. It all kicks off 22 May at Charles Hotel in Perth, then 29 May at The Hi-Fi in Melbourne, 5 Jun at Rad Bar in Wollongong, 6 Jun at Metro Theatre in Sydney and 13 Jun at The Tivoli in Brisbane.
local news qld.news@themusic.com.au
IT’S MOOMBAHTON TIME!
THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM
HOT AND SPICY
Fresh out of the US and at the forefront of the trap/ Moombahton movement, Gent & Jawns – DJ/producers Billy The Gent and Long Jawns – are bringing their club-smashing sounds to our side of the Pacific. Touting new EP, Faded, 21 Feb sees the pair play The Hi-Fi.
Great news with the announcement of the Sonic Masala Fest 2015 first line-up, the mid-March event at Greenslopes Bowlo already featuring Screamfeeder, Dollar Bar, Dead Farmers, Thigh Master and many more cool acts. Bring it on!
TUMBLIN’ ALONE
Heading north for the third instalment of The Naked Sessions 12 Feb at The Bunker, Tumbleweed frontman Richie Lewis will be performing songs from his band and previously unheard solo material in intimate acoustic mode for your listening pleasure.
SOBER RUMJACKS?
Produced by the inimitable Steve James (Thin Lizzy, The Jam, The Screaming Jets), Sober & Godless is the title of the new album from fiery five-piece The Rumjacks. Out 6 Feb, The Rumjacks launch it in person 19 Feb at The Bearded Lady, 20 Feb at Solbar and 21 Feb at Currumbin Creek Tavern.
PT FANTASY
Releasing it on Bandcamp and vinyl, in 10” mode courtesy Lost Boy Records, math-popsters Seahorse Divorce are launching their new EP, Public Transport Fantasy Sequence, 5 Feb at The Underdog, supported by Sydney guests Oslow.
FEELING IT
BULLSEYE
ANTHEM SUPPORT
The Gaslight Anthem have invited fellow American, the Floridabased frontman of the Naples band Fake Problems, one Chris Farren, to join them as opening guest on their Australian tour. The Gaslight Anthem covered Farren’s Songs For Teenagers on their The B-Sides record, so there’s plenty of respect there. Catch them both 28 Jan at Coolangatta Hotel and 29 Jan at The Tivoli.
DIVA DAYS
Renowned for her dramatic interpretations of dark narrative songs, Irish-French chanteuse Camille O’Sullivan returns to Brisbane for two shows, 30 & 31 Jan at Brisbane Powerhouse, presenting her new show, Changeling, which is also the title of her latest album.
A mini-riot broke out at an international darts tournament in Melbourne, with a few hundred well-lubricated punters deciding that throwing chairs at each other beats watching someone throw little arrows at a board. Were they wrong?
WORLDS COLLIDE Will be cool to check out the Elliott Smith covers record that’s being released this March by Seth Avett and Jessica Lea Mayfield.
DOUBLE LOVE
With both acts sporting records produced by Paulie Bromley, whose credits include The Beautiful Girls and george, it seemed logical for The Mouldy Lovers and Chocolate Strings to team up for a double headliner album launch 6 Feb at The Triffid. Opening the evening are Rivermouth and Moski Jo.
MELODIES AT REDLAND
Redland Performing Arts Centre’s Music Melodies 2015 Concert Series is now on sale, featuring a range of performances: Philip Gould returns to the RPAC stage with The Pirates Of Penzance; The Complete Carpenters will pay tribute to ‘60s duo Richard and Karen Carpenter. Young Talent Time child-star John Bowles will bring to the stage his journey to stardom; and there’s plenty more. For the full program, head to rpac.com.au.
Ahead of the his Australian Tour, Scottish singer-songwriter Jack Henderson has released the first single, Feel Your Heart, from his forthcoming release, This Daring Light. He’ll be touring the east coast with, Sam York, Lachlan Bryan and Aleyce Simmonds. Catch them all when they hit up 28 Jan, Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane.
ONE FOR THE CONSPIRACY THEORISTS
BACKLASH IN WHOSE NAME?
The spate of killings in the name of various religions continues unabated around the world. Who would have thought so much carnage could be committed under the auspices of supposedly peaceful gods and prophets?
THE OTHER GUYS
VENUE CHANGE
Due to scheduling conflicts, the Rufus Wainwright performance scheduled to take place at QPAC Concert Hall on 12 Mar, will now be taking place at The Tivoli in fully reserved seating mode. The date and time will remain unchanged, and all ticket purchases will remain valid for the new venue.
FRONTLASH
HOZIER
A lot’s been made out of the cabaret version of Little River Band – featuring no original members – being invited onto Fallon, but WTF is Fallon doing getting LRB on his show in 2015 anyway? Is he that desperate for musical guests?
HOW AND WHY?
UNTIL WE’RE BLUE
The sixth Bluesfest line-up has been announced, featuring Hozier, The Waterboys, Switchfoot, Hunter Hayes, Fly My Pretties, Music Maker presents Super Chikan & Vasti Jackson, Diesel, Jeff Lang, Phil Wiggins & Dom Turner, Watussi, Nikki Hill and The Rumjacks. The festival takes place 2 – 6 Apr, Byron Bay.
How could Cameron Diaz decide that Benji Madden would make a good life partner? No wonder he fast-tracked the wedding, the vows happening mere weeks after the proposal. THE MUSIC • 14TH JANUARY 2015 • 7
local news qld.news@themusic.com.au JACKIE MARSHALL
DZ DEATHRAYS
MORE?!
ET’S REVOLT
Their 13 Mar show at The Brightside having sold out, DZ Deathrays have announced a second show at the same venue 15 Mar and an under-18s afternoon show at Music Industry College the same day.
Some of the finest local artists will be at The Triffid this Saturday for a special night of music called Children Of The Revolution: The History Of The Protest Song. Acts such as Paddy McHugh, Jackie Marshall, Luke Peacock (with full band), Sahara Beck, Tuxedo Kitten, CKNU, Lucy Star (Satellite), Celestino and more will revisit and perform the songs of protest and passion that have inspired them.
BUNCH O’ CHEATS
TIME FOR KINKY
Picture this: it’s Australia Day, you’re tuning into the Hottest 100 while on a boat, cruising down the river with a bunch of babes. This might be your reality; you just have to be one of 115 people to grab a ticket for the Cheated Hearts Boat Party. $35 gets you your ticket for the cruise, food and cheap bevos. Be at Brett’s Wharf, Hamilton to set sail at 4pm, and you’ll be back on land by 8pm.
There’s no one quite like Kinky Friedman. A very alternative country music artist before they invented the term “alt-country”, back in the ‘70s when he fronted a band called The Texas Jewboys, Friedman is also a successful crime fiction writer and a failed candidate for Texas State Agriculture Commissioner. He’s also one of the funniest guys you’ll ever share an evening with, so you’d better get your laughing tackle in order because 22 Jan, Kinky Friedman takes over New Globe Theatre to take through A Journey In Time.
UP TO THEIR NECKS
Sydney experimental jazz trio The Necks have announced a run of shows, which will take in Old Museum, 21 Feb.
HINDS
HINDSIGHT
Fresh from a change of name, Hinds (formerly Deers) head out of Europe for the first time, bringing their raw garage pop to our shores. Hear the four friends’ saccharine sounds of lust and mischief at Black Bear Lodge, 19 Feb.
FOR THE YEAR 2015, I’LL TRY TO GIVE MORE FUCKS....BUT CAN’T PROMISE YOU ANYTHING:) @SOLANGEKNOWLES’ (KIND OF) NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION
FREE FRIKS
The unlikeliest duo ever to have been spawned by the alternative music scene in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the now Mexicobased digital cumbia meets dub meets house meets whatever else you can imagine, Frikstailers, are over here to perform at a number of terribly arty festivals, and to celebrate, they’re throwing a free party night tonight (Wednesday) at The Zoo. Joining the fun are Sabrosa and Honky Kong featuring Scorpio and Archie. 8 • THE MUSIC • 14TH JANUARY 2015
FROM THE ASHES
Last year, Perth punk band The Victims were temporarily reincarnated in the guise of The Television Addicts, playing a one-off gig at Rosemount Hotel in Perth. They’ll be getting back together this February to play a string of shows across the east coast, including Punkfest at Prince Of Wales Hotel, 14 Feb.
A LITTLE CLARK BULL
Courtesy Red Bull Music Academy (RBMA), UK via Germany electronic artist and producer Clark, drawing on a 13-year back catalogue, is coming to Australia for the next RBMA Club Night, taking over Woolly Mammoth 16 Jan.
THE MUSIC • 14TH JANUARY 2015 • 9
music
ALL IN THE FAMILY Nearly 40 years on, Ranking Roger isn’t just keeping the legacy of The Beat alive – he’s turned it into a family affair. He talks to Michael Smith.
“W
e have Ranking Junior with us,” Ranking Roger, real name Roger Charlery, who co-fronted the original version of The Beat with singer and guitarist Dave Wakeling, announces proudly as he tucks into a cup of hot chocolate at home in London. “He’s my son and he’s been to Australia before and performed with us I think with The Special Beat, and with The Beat as well. But it’s great that he’s still there and he really appeals to the younger generation as well as the older, but the younger generation come to see him. There’s another generation of ska fans and reggae fans and they’re all interested. It’s good to see, really good. Every year we’ve seen our crowds growing and growing.”
In the half dozen years to their breaking up in 1983, Birmingham band The Beat were, alongside The Specials, The Selector and Madness, one of the seminal 2-Tone ska-reggae bands and racked up a stack of Top Ten hits including a cover of Tears Of A Clown, Hands Off…She’s Mine, Mirror In The Bathroom and Can’t Get Used To Losing You, as well as releasing three seminal albums – 1980’s I Just Can’t Stop It, 1981’s Wha’ppen? and 1982’s Special Beat Service – repackaged, remastered, expanded and reissued in 2012 by Demon Records. For America, they were obliged to change their name to The English Beat because there was already a band called The Beat there, though they obligingly changed their name to Paul Collins’ Beat, while Australia saw their records released as by The British Beat. Wakeling and Roger went on to form General Public, while two other members formed Fine Young Cannibals, but today, after a reformation in 2003, Wakeling lives in Los Angeles and tours as The English Beat, and Roger of course looks after the London chapter. In the intervening years Ranking Roger started a solo career that saw him release his third album, Pop Off The Head Top, which featured both Ranking Junior and his other kid, daughter Saffren Murphy. The injection of younger energy in The Beat has also meant they’re looking at recording new material. “Because Ranking Junior is around, he make me have to look at The Beat in a more modern way,” Ranking Senior admits. “I want people to hear the tunes like 10 • THE MUSIC • 14TH JANUARY 2015
the records live, but I also want this new life in there as well, something that takes it into now, and he’s part of that. The songs are kind of arranged differently from the records sometimes and we’ll go into dub sections and things like that, but they’re always spontaneous. Nothing’s planned, really – it’s all spontaneous – and I love that. We don’t even have a set list. I
you’re gonna hear a couple in there. Certainly you’re gonna hear tunes in there that haven’t been released and that will be fresh for people.” While The Beat came out of that late ‘70s early ‘80s northern English love affair with ska and reggae, they were always more diverse than, say, contemporaries like Buster Bloodvessel and his band Bad Manners. “We have, like, a reggae tune, and then we have, like, a punkish tune, and we’ll ‘ave a disco-ish tune and a calypso-ish tune,” Roger points out. “So you can kind of look at the audience and see whether they need calmin’ down or whether they need pushing. It’s great – I’m thankful that we have that choice. It’s not like one kind of music and that’s all you’re getting. You’re getting different varieties, and that variety is what changes the mood.”
“NOTHING’S PLANNED, REALLY – IT’S ALL SPONTANEOUS – AND I LOVE THAT.” haven’t had a set list in about five years. I look at the crowd and I know what tune to play next. “We are writing new tunes – we’ll have stuff out (later in 2015) – where you’ll hear the real side of Ranking Junior, what he has to say. But it’s difficult because there’s so many tunes to go through, I mean so many classic Beat tunes, but to throw in a couple of Ranking Roger ones would be great, so I think there’s a chance that
The message in The Beat’s music also remains all too relevant, allowing for Ranking Junior to relate easily to music written 30-odd years before. “Absolutely,” Roger Senior agrees with a chuckle. “Obviously he’s putting his own stuff in but he’s chanting the same kind of lyrics that I am. With the new tunes, I expect that there’ll be some corkers in there and you’ll be hearing the real side of Ranking Junior, what he has to say.” So, what can Australian audiences expect from The Beat circa 2015? “We’re not the kind of band that just stands around on stage and, you know, looks at our audience. We get you moving baby, so you’d better bring an extra T-shirt. That’s my only word of warning!”
WHEN & WHERE: 3 & 4 Apr, Bluesfest, Byron Bay
SHADES OF BLUES Steve Bell takes a look at some of the hidden gems of the Bluesfest line-up.
T
he 2015 instalment of Bluesfest features blues and roots-affiliated icons such as Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, Tony Joe White, Lenny Kravitz, The Black Keys, Michael Franti & Spearhead, The Gipsy Kings, Jurassic 5, Jimmy Cliff and Mavis Staples (to literally name but a very few of the big names who will be strutting their stuff over the festival’s five days and evenings). But as always what makes Bluesfest such a special event each year is the line-up’s depth and diversity, with the lesser-known artists who are yet to become household names – or may or may not even be destined for true stardom – often stealing the limelight from their better-established peers and contemporaries. It’s a completely subjective exercise, but let’s have a look at some of the bands and artists in the relative fringes who have the arsenal and skills to knock some unsuspecting punters’ socks off at Bluesfest 2015:
REBELUTION
ALABAMA SHAKES
ALABAMA SHAKES
Athens-bred swamp rockers Alabama Shakes made a sizable wave back in 2012 with their debut album, Boys & Girls, and its bevy of soulful Southern rockers. They’ve been quiet now for 18 months or so (down this way at least) so are likely to fly under the radar to a degree, but anyone who witnessed them on their first trip Down Under in early 2013 – including some incendiary performances at the Big Day Out and a couple of much-hyped headlining sideshows – will attest that they’re a phenomenal live proposition, especially dynamo frontwoman Brittany Howard, who has a voice that will metaphorically melt your face off. With a new album on the cards for 2015 expect some killer new tunes to be aired as well.
POKEY LAFARGE
DIESEL N’ DUB
American roots artist Pokey LaFarge has the uncanny knack of transporting you back in time using just his music, his ultra-authentic amalgam of swing, jazz and ragtime blues steeped in the musical tradition of the riverboats which used to hustle along the Mississippi. He’s been around for years, but his eponymous 2013 album coming out on Jack White’s Third Man Records helped propel his throwback style further into the public consciousness. His first tour to Australia last year found him an element of infamy when he publicly locked horns with Billy Bragg over the lineage and history of modern Americana (what an awesome argument!), but this was overshadowed by the torrential accolades he received for his stunning performances.
I remember seeing the great Midnight Oil lift the roof off the Big Top back in 2001 – one of the best singalongs ever, and one of my fave Bluesfest moments from amongst thousands – but while the iconic outfit hasn’t played together in years that doesn’t mean that we still can’t pay homage to their amazing music. Declan Kelly’s Diesel N’ Dub – featuring an array of luminaries such as Emma Donovan, Alex Lloyd, Pat Powell, Radical Son and Tony Hughes – is a dub-reggae reimagining of tunes from the Oils’ 1987 classic, Diesel & Dust, as well as a swag of other tunes from their ripper catalogue. In that finest altruistic tradition of Midnight Oil the proceeds from last year’s Diesel N’ Dub album went to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, so they’re putting their money where their mouth is too.
DECLAN KELLY
KARL S WILLIAMS There’s always a tonne of top-notch local talent on offer each Easter long weekend at Bluesfest and this year is no exception – think Paul Kelly presenting his Merri Soul Sessions, Xavier Rudd et al – but there’s also usually some up-and-comers showing their wares too, and in the 2015 line-up one of these is burgeoning bluesman Karl S Williams. Last year found Williams flat out like the proverbial lizard drinking, touring unrelentingly on the back of his acclaimed debut long-player, Heartwood, and even making his first tentative forays overseas. His shows are emotive and uplifting, and are no doubt one of the reasons that Bluesfest head honcho Peter Noble – a man with a keen eye for rising talent – has earmarked him as a star in the making.
REBELUTION KARL S WILLIAMS
POKEY LAFARGE
True reggae enthusiasts will be stoked by the return of scene legend Jimmy Cliff to Bluesfest (he smashed it at Bluesfest only two years back), but real genre aficionados will be excited by the first ever Australian performances by California’s progressive reggae outfit Rebelution. Forming a decade ago in Santa Barbara, there’s a touch of Sublime in the way they fuse traditional reggae with a more contemporary rock feel, a carefree blend with unremittingly positive connotations. Their most recent album, Count Me In, debuted at #14 on the US Billboard album chart last year and they’re more renowned for their live performances than their records, so head along to one of their sets and smoke ‘em if you got ‘em! THE MUSIC • 14TH JANUARY 2015 • 11
music
LIGHT GRENADES Alt-metal veterans Incubus are preparing to rock Soundwave. Mark Hebblewhite cornered vocalist Brandon Boyd to discuss the band’s longevity and more.
“W
e played Soundwave back in 2008 and had a great time although I remember looking around at a lot of the other bands on the bill and thinking ‘Wow they are much heavier than us. We’re sort of the odd ones out here,’” laughs Boyd. “We were happy to come back for Soundwave because we love coming to Australia – being from California it’s like our home away from home. But on top of this when we found out that Faith No More and Soundgarden were on the bill – that was it. Those bands were so important to us and whether they know it or not, or for that matter are happy about it they were partially responsible for
music
this band’s existence.” Coming out of the wave of alt-metal that blossomed in the early ‘90s Incubus have proven themselves far more durable than many of their peers who at the turn of the last century started breaking up with alarming regularity. One of the things Incubus has done to ensure their longevity is take extended hiatuses when needed. According to Boyd, it’s just common sense. “With every core of my being I know that not being scared to go away for a while has saved this band. People don’t realise how intense it can get – being on the road for years, being away from your families – it can be rough
on people. And of course we are blessed for all the opportunities we’ve had because of this band, so I’m not complaining at all. But being in a band like this is like living life permanently on amphetamines. Any minor dysfunction you have personally, or the band has as a whole, is magnified. Add that to an insane travelling schedule, malnutrition, you name it, and things can go wrong quickly. We’ve always treasured the opportunities we’ve had to play our music together and bring it to people. If the price of that continuing is to take a break now and again, we’re prepared to do it.” Although various members have released solo albums, the band hasn’t released an album since 2011’s If Not Now, When? That’s set to change and Boyd was happy to tell The Music all he could. “We’re definitely on a creative streak right now. We’ve set up shop at a studio here in Los Angeles and we’re all together writing songs. None of us really knew what to expect, we thought we’d just see what happened. So far I can tell you that all these sweet riffs are coming out of Ben [Kenney, bass] and Mike [Einzinger, guitar]. The room is a huge mess and we’re all having a lot of fun. There’s tons of material pouring out, so I think the curation process for all this creativity is going to be interesting. “Well the goal now is to have some new music recorded and mastered before we come down to Australia – definitely not a whole album, but something,” Boyd expands. “We’re actually planning on playing some new material at Soundwave, so you guys will be some of the first people to hear the new stuff live.” WHEN & WHERE: 1 Mar, Soundwave, Brisbane Showgrounds
WORKING DAY AND NIGHT Self-described “opera composer by day and pop star by night”, Rufus Wainwright tells Bryget Chrisfield that while he was “struggling to be noticed” as part of a famous family he “had a way of visualising [his] imminent destiny”, which has now become reality.
R
ufus Wainwright is leading a somewhat schizophrenic musical existence of late: “I have been composing my second opera, Hadrian – it’s about the emperor Hadrian – at daytime and then, at night, I’ve been recording some new pop songs. So my whole thing right now is, you know, ‘Rufus Wainwright: Opera Composer By Day And Pop Star By Night’.” Hadrian, Wainwright’s second opera (following up Prima Donna), is scheduled for a world premiere in the Canadian Opera Company’s 2018/2019 season. This duality gives Wainwright an idea: “I think it would make a very good comic strip, actually. Believe it or not, I love drawing comic books as well so I’d probably do it myself. One day, when I lose my voice.” Wainwright laughs easily and definitely gets a kick out of challenging the norm. “Whether it’s in the pop world or the opera world, I mean, the minute someone says, ‘Okay, this is how it has to be,’ or, ‘This is what you should be accomplishing,’ or, ‘This is the way it’s done,’ I’m like, ‘Okay, well that’s not the way it’s gonna happen!’” he guffaws. His last set Out Of The Game (Wainwright’s seventh studio album) was produced by Mark Ronson and
12 • THE MUSIC • 14TH JANUARY 2015
Wainwright admits that while he’s “very much enamoured of [Ronson]”. “I dunno if [Out Of The Game is] my best record, but I do know that it’s my favouritesounding record. I think the quality that Mark gets in terms of recording vocals and instrumentalists is really second to none. I mean, there’s a certain warmth and depth and easiness to it.” While Wainwright says he’d love to work with Ronson again down the track, he hasn’t yet given the producer’s latest smash colllab with Bruno Mars, Uptown Funk, a spin. “I don’t think I listen to Bruno Mars
out of pure jealousy,” he jokes. “He’s getting more Mark time than me these days so I can’t.” Wainwright’s family ties charted his showbiz future and he reflects, “I started so young. Arguably I was about six or seven ‘cause, you know, my mum [Kate McGarrigle] and my aunt [Anna McGarrigle] – the McGarrigle Sisters – used to bring my sister [Martha Wainwright] and I out on the road and we sang. So we had, I had, a connection with show business really for as long as I can remember. I feel like there might’ve been gigs in there where I did feel, you know, underappreciated or that I wasn’t hitting the mark or that I was struggling to be noticed, but on the other hand I just kept my eyes on the horizon and always had a way of visualising my imminent destiny. And so far it seems to have turned out how I imagined, so I dunno what that’s about but that’s the way it happened.” WHEN & WHERE: 12 Mar, The Tivoli To read the full interview head to theMusic.com.au
THE MUSIC • 14TH JANUARY 2015 • 13
music
THE REAL THING He applies a formula only too real for him, one that has since been adopted into pop culture. Tauheed ‘2 Chainz’ Epps tells Rip Nicholson about taking what he calls his Mainstream Ratchet sound to the world.
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ainstream Ratchet is music that I made. Being black and being good enough to come from the underground has allowed me to go to places like Australia. And that’s because of that mainstream interest,” Tauheed Epps, who now travels as 2 Chainz, explains. “That’s kinda like the idea for how mainstream ratchet music is geared, where we talk about the hair weaves, skrippers and skrilla. It’s music that’s localised and talks about the lifestyle that I come from that’s loved all over the world.”
2 Chainz was formerly known as Tity Boi, onehalf of Playaz Circle with Earl “Dolla Boy” Conyers, and released an independent album in 2007 featuring lead single turned local hit, Duffle Bag Boy, adding to a growing demand for Atlanta-based Trap music. After breaking up, Epps signed with Ludacris’ Disturbing Tha Peace imprint delivering two LPs and a slew of mixtapes, most recently 2014’s Freebase EP, which is a sharp shot of regression to his duffle-bag soundscape. With the chains and matching shining ego, there is no ego as big as a rapper’s and Epps is
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no different. On On So Can We Live (featuring T-Pain) he raps; “If you ain’t arrogant then you’re out of your element.” But, as to how different Epps is from 2 Chainz, the Southern MC proclaims to be the same off-camera, so to speak. “Pretty much what you see is what you get with me. I’m very transparent. I love my family. I love my fans. I love myself. I’m not a facade. The cameras don’t have to be off for me to act a certain way.” Recently on Jay Z’s Life + Times with Elliott Wilson, Epps summarised his first album as being about strippers and cocaine, which made his music very relatable to his crowd. However, after touring internationally, Epps likened his second LP, B.O.A.T.S II, to a passport; dog-eared and well-travelled. “I just did it like I had to. Basically, it’s my diary that I was reading aloud. I had to show people what I’ve learned the past year or so. It’s like a seasoned passport that has a lot of stamps all through it and I’ll get even more as I go to Australia.” The night prior to this interview, Epps was on a flight from San Diego sitting first class, next to Hulk Hogan. Two days later he was in Kenya for a concert. In March, Epps joins Canadian rapcrooner Drake here and promises to give his all for the love of that trap music. “I want it to be an experience, man. For me, I put everything I have out there on the stage, you know? I try to be excellent and give people they money’s worth.”
WHEN & WHERE: 7 Mar, Future Music Festival, Brisbane Showgrounds
MAGIC MOMENTS A rapacious QOTSA fan, Matt Hayward ticked sharing a stage with his heroes off the bucket list in 2013. Bryget Chrisfield learns the Band Of Skulls drummer also makes a wicked cuppa.
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hen Band Of Skulls tour abroad, drummer Matt Hayward misses “a really good British cup of tea”. “I make a hellavu better cup of tea than Russell [Marsden, frontman] makes,” he claims. “He made me one this afternoon and it was disgusting.” Does Hayward suspect Marsden purposefully did a crap job so that he won’t be asked to brew another? “I think you hit the nail on the head,” the drummer laughs in a restrained, ‘mmm-hmm-mmm’ fashion. Hayward affectionately ribs Marsden so it comes as no surprise that they met as 11 year olds. “We were family friends and we’d both sort of taken up an instrument, and then Russell went to art college and met Emma [Richardson, bass] there.” So were the lads keen on recruiting a female? “Just completely open,” Hayward admits. “It was funny ‘cause, like, Russell’d bring all these real oddballs back to my family house. My dad used to run a recording studio at the top of the garden – that’s where we used to rehearse – and so every Tuesday some random dudes that Russell’d met that week would just come ‘round and have a jam. Then Emma – you just kinda know when something’s right, you know?” In quite a few articles on the band, Hayward’s dad’s recording studio is referred to as a “shed”. “Yeah, my 14 • THE MUSIC • 14TH JANUARY 2015
dad gets so infuriated by that,” the drummer chuckles. “I dunno why, but I think in a really early press release or something [the publicist] was like, ‘Yeah, these tracks were recorded in the corner of Matt’s garden in his dad’s shed’. And dad is like, ‘It’s not some fucking shed!’ It was a studio. It was very small, but he used to record all the local blues musicians around Southampton where we’re from and made a real name [for] himself around the town ‘cause he’d make all the demos for all these bands who were gigging around at the time. We owe him a lot because to have a space
to rehearse and play and record is hard for young bands to find. So we had the luxury of that.” When asked what bands made him fan-out back in the day, Hayward singles out QOTSA. “I remember seeing Queens Of The Stone Age in Southampton, in our hometown, and it was one of the best gigs that I’d ever been to,” he reminisces, “and all of your mates got together in the pub – some who looked too young to be in the pub, so that was pretty exciting too... You’d buy your ticket months in advance and you’d just be so excited about it on the night – that’s magical! Then we toured with them last year [2013]. And so that was one of those moments where I was the fucking kid beside myself at the show and then now we’re opening up [for them]. That was a real special moment.” WHEN & WHERE: 2 Apr, Riverstage; 3 Apr, Bluesfest, Byron Bay To read the full interview head to theMusic.com.au
THE MUSIC • 14TH JANUARY 2015 • 15
music
BANDING TOGETHER Metal supergroup Killer Be Killed officially launch themselves live at Soundwave. Mark Hebblewhite sits down with Max Cavalera to find out how they ensure too many cooks don’t spoil the musical broth.
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n paper, supergroups sound great. You just take the best elements of established acts and put them together: more talent = better music. In reality things are little more difficult. How does a musician used to being the main songwriter for their day group co-exist with other musicians also used to being head honchos? Surely the concept is an ego-laden recipe for disaster? Not the case, says Max Cavelera. “We made sure everyone had their voices heard and we shared a lot of stuff during the
comedy
songwriting process. Some of the stuff was written when it was just me and Greg [Puciato – The Dillinger Escape Plan] – stuff like Face Down, which ended up staying on the record. When Troy [Sanders – Mastodon] joined, we wrote more songs with him – stuff like Snakes Of Jehova. The final writing session happened in the studio when we were actually recording the album. For my part I was really excited to hear what all the guys had to say about the direction of the songs. In Soulfly I write all the songs myself but with Killer Be Killed the songs were collaborative. Sometimes I’d only
written one part of a particular track and the other parts were from the others. We were all very aware that each of us came from different bands people already liked, so we knew it was going to be a surprise. But I think in the end it was the band that was surprised because the record just blew us away – we couldn’t believe how strong the songs were.” Australian fans in particular took to the Killer Be Killed project, giving the band some of its strongest sales figures anywhere. That was partially responsible for their decision to treat Australia to a world premiere. “Yeah, Killer Be Killed will be playing our first ever live shows at Soundwave – and we’re thrilled to be doing it in Australia. We got together to do the record and then we shot two videos and that was it. We’ve all been so busy touring with our bands that Killer Be Killed hasn’t yet played a single show.” Cavalera also reveals the approach Killer Be Killed is taking to their inaugural shows. “We’re planning on getting together before the tour and practising for a straight week in January to get the songs really sharp and ready to go. As for the set list, I don’t know at the moment. As I said before, everything is really democratic in the band and I haven’t sat down with the guys to sort out exactly what the set will look like. But right now I think a good idea will be to play the whole record and add a couple of cover songs on as well to round out the set. I’m so proud to be playing with these amazing musicians and it’s going to be great to see what we can do live. I think they’re going to blow people away at Soundwave.”
WHEN & WHERE: 28 Feb, Soundwave, Brisbane Showgrounds
A LITTLE RESPECT Stand-up comedian Bill Burr’s been ticking all kinds of things off the bucket list, even adding a day off to his Australia trip to ensure another, as Dave Drayton discovers.
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here’s an old joke - a pedestrian on 57th Street, Manhattan, stops pianist Jascha Heifetz and asks, “Could you tell me how to get to Carnegie Hall?” “Yes,” Heifetz replies. “Practice.” At one point not so long ago, when he was still doing club tours, Bostonian Bill Burr was averaging around 300 shows a year. That’s a lot of practice. Burr got to Carnegie Hall in 2011, but it took him until this year to get any evidence of that fact out. “I wanted to document that I was there obviously, but basically that recording and my previous special were done within two, three months of each other, so there was too much overlap in the material to release both of them without screwing over the fans. You don’t get to play Carnegie Hall too often so I just wanted to document that I was there so I put it out in a way that I knew only truly hardcore fans would get. You know, if you’re buying a comedy album you’re a hardcore fan, but if I was to release it on CD or iTunes, people would complain and be like, ‘Hey man, this is a lot of the same kind of stuff, you’re charging me twice for the same thing?’ So I gave them something unique, and I went all out too, I paid a lot of money to have the thing made, believe me, recording there wasn’t cheap, and
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I have an insert with all kinds of photos from the night and all that. Plus I always wanted to have a comedy album, so I checked that off the list.” Burr’s latest special, which premiered on Netflix last month, I’m Sorry You Feel That Way, and shot entirely in black and white, constituted crossing another achievement off the list. “Doing a special in black and white was another thing I wanted to do, and trying to shoot it more like a movie. I’m not the biggest fan of how they approach shooting a standup special. And I’m
not a big fan of HD TV; it looks so clear now it looks like you’re looking into a tropical fish tank. “All of my specials have been working towards this one in terms of how they look, because when I started doing hour-long specials it was that era of doing very quick, choppy edits, doing crowd shots and swooping into jokes, and I just couldn’t stand how they looked! There was so many comics I was a fan of and I felt that the way their special was shot hurt their material.” A spot on Breaking Bad? Tick. Getting killed on screen by Al Pacino? Tick. His first headline Australian tour looming, the “huge AC/DC fan” is ensuring another tick – a visit to Bon Scott’s grave. “I already talked to my agent. He had me going right in and out of Perth and I said, you gotta switch up my flights, I got to have time to go pay my respects.” WHEN & WHERE: 31 Jan, City Hall
THE MUSIC • 14TH JANUARY 2015 • 17
music
STILL DARK
to the basics. It’s drums, guitar, vocals and bass – it shouldn’t be that hard to get a good sound.”
Swedish black metal horde Marduk are preparing to eclipse all natural light on their upcoming Australian tour. Mark Hebblewhite cornered mainman Morgan Håkansson to talk the art of aural extremity.
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arduk are black metal survivors. Long after the heady days of church burnings and corpse-painted melodrama, the Swedish outfit continues to churn out superb slabs of uncompromising brutality. In fact Morgan Håkansson promises their forthcoming war-obsessed album will be their strongest statement yet. “The new album is called Frontschwein and it has eleven tracks,” he reveals. “It’s really powerful yet really
diverse as well in terms of the songwriting. I think it’s a great representation of where this band is right now.” Indeed on past tours Marduk have been an absolute revelation, boasting not only a massive sound but also a sonic clarity many of their more glamorous black metal contemporaries would kill for. “Look, to a certain extent you’re at the mercy of the venue and the local sound people you use but our philosophy playing live has always been simple. We make sure the band is tight as possible and we stick
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Aside from offering up the satanic cream of their punishing new album Marduk have some other surprises in store. “We’ve got a special show set for Melbourne. One night we’ll be doing the regular set and then the next night we’re going to come out and play the entire Panzer Division Marduk and Those Of The Unlight albums. We’ve been doing these albums in Europe but we wanted to give our Australian audiences a chance to see this as well because we’ll never be doing it again.” Asked whether he ever expected to maintain a viable career in such a niche musical style Håkansson quickly displays his legendary self-confidence. “Look, of course when we started we couldn’t see into the future. But when you work hard and have ambition there are no limits to what you can achieve. We’ve always had the burning desire to create and play this music – others have fallen away, we’ve kept going.” Håkansson is just as strident on the black metal scene circa 2014. “Look, with any scene that becomes big there’s always a lot of crap that’s produced. But really for us whether the black metal scene is ‘healthy’ is irrelevant. We’re not really concerned about what other people are doing. For us it’s all about our creations and making sure they are the best they can be. We believe in the power of our music and we believe in bringing it live to people around the world. Marduk will never depend on what other people are doing – we stand alone.” WHEN & WHERE: 18 Jan, Crowbar
ELECTRO TACOS The days of Mariachi El Bronx just being a vehicle for punks The Bronx to dabble in something festive are over. Singer Matt Caughthran tells Carley Hall they’ve finally settled into their adopted genre on their third album.
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oing something off-kilter has always been a way to blow off steam for LA hardcore punks The Bronx. Since 2003, the loveable genre stalwarts have regaled us with short, snappy, blistering ditties. So in 2009, after three killer Bronx albums were unleashed and loved, the five-piece made a huge left turn with Mariachi El Bronx, their festive Mexican counterpart that immediately tapped into a fresh take on a traditional sound. But after two albums of mariachi gems, singer Matt Caughthran says it was time to step things up a notch for their third, Mariachi El Bronx III, and take the music and the lyrics beyond what he admits was at first an exploration and expedition away from the punk rock side of things. “Yeah it’s a darker record, you know,” Caughthran admits. “I think there’s more reflection lyrically, musically we did a bit of experimenting with different layers and samples. So it was about doing things differently and to open up to show a different artistic side.” The affable frontman says their third for Mariachi El Bronx was the hardest to get off the ground following the release of The Bronx IV. 18 • THE MUSIC • 14TH JANUARY 2015
“Going into the third El Bronx album, it was a tough transition for me personally; it took a bit of time to sink into the record,” Caughthran says. “And the music was coming out a lot darker this time around and I could feel it was going to be tough to kind of match that and write into it. I was dreading it to be honest with you. (The guys) were sending me six or seven songs that I hadn’t even started on yet. But I was able to do it and it kind of opened it up and gave it what I think is our best record.” What Matt believes is their best was aided in no small part by heading to
Dave Matthews’ farm to record, where, this time around, they chucked out the rulebook and fused a bunch of sequencers with traditional melodies, and by inviting mariachi harpist Willie Acuna and DJ Bonebrake of Eyes and X to work their magic. However, having such talent on board was daunting. “Fuck yeah, it’s scary because it’s still a genre that we’re outsiders in!” Caughthran laughs. “It’s our take on a style of music and with this record we branched out even further. But that’s what keeps you motivated, what keeps you inspired and what keeps you going after you’ve been doing it for twelve years. “We’ve kind of accepted that this is our lot; we are two bands. And that’s the way it’s going to be so we just go back and forth whenever it feels right.” WHAT: Mariachi El Bronx III (White Drugs/Cooking Vinyl) WHEN & WHERE: 4 & 6 Apr, Bluesfest, Byron Bay
THE MUSIC • 14TH JANUARY 2015 • 19
music
THE TIDE TURNED It was the internet that ensured Brisbane’s Caligula’s Horse wouldn’t just be a one-off home studio project, singer Jim Grey tells Michael Smith.
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hey recently signed with one of the biggest booking agencies in the US, The Agency Group, which also looks after Bring Me The Horizon and Trivium among others, and are gearing up to tour the States later in 2015. Yet Brisbane’s Caligula’s Horse might never have gone beyond a two-man one-off affair had they not thought to post their first little effort on the net. “We’d never really planned anything beyond the first album [Moments From Ephemeral City],” singer Jim Grey admits. “It was just meant to be a little ephemeral project of itself. The response we had worldwide was really what triggered us to go, ‘Well, you know we
should probably do this!’ We’ve got a very fervent fanbase all around the world.” Caligula’s Horse began as a solo project by multi-instrumentalist/ audio engineer/producer Sam Vallen, who had an album nearly done when, in 2011, he invited Grey to add some guest vocals. “After we’d done that, we realised how well we worked together, how easy the process was and how good the sounds we were coming up with were, so we started looking for a fuller sound – you can hear that almost in the first single from that album, The City Has No Empathy, because that’s the one we collaborated
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on. From there, once the other guys joined, obviously it was like, ‘Cool, we’ve got this sound now.’ That’s when to The Tide, The Thief & River’s End happened.” It was positive reviews of Moments From Ephemeral City on the Prog Archives website that caught the attention of international prog fans, which prompted Vallen and Grey to find some like-minded compatriots to develop the studio project into a living, breathing musical entity, which led to The Tide, The Thief & River’s End, which in turn led to their being contacted by The Agency Group. This will see them in the States promoting their third album, the first taste of which, A Gift To Afterthought, is the single on which they’re touring nationally through January. “We go away and demo these things and bedroomproduce them to the best our ability,” says Grey, “and once they’re complete in that regard we’re able to take them to the guys and rehearse them in a live context. But it’s all written and arranged at home pretty much. We sort of set out with particular things in mind ‘cause we’ve got a particular approach that we want to have with the music and the things we want to capture are a bit different and a little bit more like us. So harmonic density is a big thing that we go for, lots of bright colours and things like that in the sound; that’s what we really want to capture. So all of these elements that we’ve realised over the last couple of years make our sound, those will be enhanced on the next album. So we’re aiming for even more colour, more brightness, more depth in terms of harmonies and trying to make it as fun and enjoyable and as hooky as we possibly can.” WHEN & WHERE: 16 Jan, The Zoo
TRAVEL CHEATS Californian rockers The Growlers are busy chasing that endless summer, and frontman Brooks Nielsen tells Steve Bell they’re still at “the fun part of partying”.
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hen we catch up with Californian rockers The Growlers are in Honolulu, Hawaii for the Volcom Pipe Pro surf event; just playing some gigs, catching some waves and generally hanging out. No surprise really for a band that describes their blend of rock’n’roll, psych and surf as ‘beach goth’, and who’ve been chasing the eternal party for eight years now. Despite this ‘hard living’ they’re far from slackers; they’ve released music at a prolific rate of late, this burst culminating in third long-player, Chinese Fountain. “We’ve been going non-stop, but there’s a lot of fun involved in it so we’re cruising,” offers Nielsen. “We’ve always created imaginary deadlines for us to kinda put the fire under our butts, and it’s gotten to the point where we’ve pulled some pretty amazing feats. So now any time I’m at a point of not being able to think of anything or getting writer’s block or when I run out of time we just get creative and dive into and it just tends to work out. “There’s been a little bit of pressure, but that’s good... To me you’re not living your life if you’re not getting stressed out, you’re not doing it right if you’re just bumping along sitting on your ass. I feed off it.” The Growlers are renowned for their intense performances, so has it been hard capturing that 20 • THE MUSIC • 14TH JANUARY 2015
intensity in the studio? “I think they’ve just got to be separate. I don’t want to record what we do live and have that be our album – that’s a little bit more of a shit show, and for good reason. We just want to have a good time when we play live; there’s no way I’d want to capture our dipshit drunk asses on the record, forget it. I actually prefer the recording style, with us being more mellow. Having to be on stage kinda pushes me towards being drunk and… everything else. But it’s cool – I don’t think we’ve quite yet reached that part of the
documentary where we get too out of control and everything falls apart,” Nielsen laughs. “We’re still at the fun part of partying.” And now they’re bringing the good times back to Australia, having played here for the first time last March. “We had a really good time... We got to surf a lot, we’ve got a lot of friends there because we grew up with Aussies coming here and hanging up in our cities and on our beaches and hooking up with our girls. Now it’s fun to go over there and see what you have, get some revenge. It feels like travel cheating – you guys have the same language so it’s easy and comfy, but we still get to learn something new.” WHAT: Chinese Fountain (Smack Face) WHEN & WHERE: 21 Jan, The Northern, Byron Bay; 22 Jan, Coolangatta Hotel; 23 Jan, The Triffid; 24 Jan, Solbar, Maroochydore
album/ep reviews
THE DECEMBERISTS
Absent Fathers
What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World
Vagrant/Warner
This is partly due to his new band and primarily the addition of Paul Niehaus (Lambchop, Calexico), whose pedal steel adds a mournful beauty throughout and especially on pared-back pair, Least I Got The Blues and Day And Night. The laid-back, cruisy tempo of the arrangements also abets his
Capitol/EMI
★★★★ wounded troubadour persona perfectly, as does Earle’s adroit lyricism – his weary worldview dissects relationships by honing in on the devil in the detail (soul-crushing opener, Farther From Me, and the pleading soul of When The One You Love Loses Faith), yet retains that effortless ability to pluck heartstrings in a way that’s wistful rather than worrisome. Subtle humour shines through on Slow Monday and Someone Will Pay, before the album proper concludes with the beautiful acoustic melancholy of Looking For A Place To Land. Steve Bell
In The Decemberists, singer and chief songwriter Colin Meloy has a bit of double-edged sword with which to contend. He’s managed to build a sound so distinct and so unique it’s easy for lazy naysayers to label it’s more of the same old, same old. The beauty of What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World is that while it remains within a very strict and recognisable set of Decemberists sounds, it still manages to find plenty of variation within those limits. Gentle acoustic guitars, even gentler vocals and a little violin to ensure things are really kept in check provide the perfect start to the first Decemberists studio album in four years. When things begin to soar, it’s clear Meloy and crew have no cobwebs to dust off after their hiatus. And all of that happens in the opening track, The
Singer Addresses His Audience. From stripped-back simplicity (Carolina Low) to lush and gorgeously grand (Make You Better) to perfect pop melodies (Cavalry Captain) to pure atmosphere (Till The Water’s All Long Gone) to refreshingly twee-free folk (Better Not Wake The Baby) to novel-like storytelling (Easy Come, Easy Go), it’s been a bit of a wait between Decemberists drinks, but What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World is more than worth it. The only real downside is its release date. Hopefully it’s still top of the mind when “Best of 2015” lists are compiled ten or 11 months from now. Pete Laurie
ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Justin Townes Earle was born with Americana music coursing through his veins, his unquestionable pedigree compounded by a Deep South childhood and immersion in the disparate sounds of that fertile region of the US. His incredibly prolific solo career has to date primarily explored strains of folk and blues, but on his sixth long-player, Absent Fathers, a companion piece to last year’s Single Mothers – the two originally envisioned as a double-album – he’s subtly shifted focus to the country end of the spectrum.
★★★★
JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE
MORE REVIEWS
themusic.com.au/music/album-reviews
★★★½
★★★
★★★½
BELLE & SEBASTIAN
WEDNESDAY 13
STORM THE SKY
Girls In The Peacetime Want To Dance
Monsters Of The Universe: Come Out And Plague
Permanence
Matador/Remote Control
3Wise
A blend of synth-pop and contemporised ‘60s chord progressions, Belle & Sebastian’s latest offers up a tapestry of sweet indie-pop, melancholy lullabies and ventures into the electronic jungle; an eclectic album catering for every mood and swing. Although perfectly executed, crystal production and predictability leave little room for surprise. Where Belle & Sebastian break the safety net is in Play For Today, Stuart Murdoch and Sarah Martin playfully intertwining and the buzzing synthesiser creating a sparkling energy that resonates right to your fingertips.
Wednesday 13’s latest is his most ambitious: a schlocky, sci-fi horror concept album. His shift away from punk to a more metallic sound has reached its conclusion, this album featuring primarily thrash riffs, occasionally bordering on power metal. The inclusion of more progressive passages – including atonal solos and traces of black/ death metal – fits, although the horror punk remains strongest when laying down straightforward, fun songs. On first listen, it might seem he’s taking himself a bit too seriously, but after a few spins he well and truly gives us the wink.
Brie Jorgensen
Cameron Cooper
UNFD
Raised Fist – From The North
This Melbourne six-piece worked on this debut album with producer Cameron Mizell (Memphis May Fire, Sleeping With Sirens) in Arizona. The result is a clean, sonically complex, melodically satisfying and solid hardcore release. Single Same Graves is the early standout, clean double-kick and dual vocal attacks from Daniel Breen and Will Jarratt quickly grabbing hold. From there, Dead Giveaway, Sheltered and Tempest are the points of difference from the others, offering some altered structures and the light-in-thedark these guys thrash out.
Enter Shikari – The Mindsweep Marduk – Frontschwein BC Camplight – How To Die In The North Sylosis – Dormant Heart Cerrone – The Best Of Cerrone Productions Various – Another Day, Another Time: Celebrating The Music Of Inside Llewyn Davis
Carley Hall
THE MUSIC • 14TH JANUARY 2015 • 21
live reviews
WYE OAK, MAJOR LEAGUES
Black Bear Lodge 11 Jan Taking to a stage adorned with shiny silver, locals Major Leagues open with a boppy summer pop track to get the crowd moving. They’re putting the finishing touches on the film clip for new single Someone Sometime tonight, a camera following a tall beauty in a flowing outfit as she listens to Jaimee Fryer dish the sweetest of sweet vocals over a striking melody. With a pace shift, pop gem Endless Drain signals a set drawing to an end, though not before the four-piece
watch Wasner’s extraordinary musicianship between guitar, bass and keys, as drummer Andy Stack calmly goes above and far beyond his duties, simultaneously controlling a laptop, and a keyboard with his left hand. On a borrowed guitar, Wasner steps back into 2011’s breakthrough album Civilian, and though she has more than proven the value of Shriek, it’s difficult not to be utterly absorbed by her instinctive feel for getting wild and discordant across Holy Holy and Plains in a way that the synth-based tracks just can’t get close to. Newbie Glory connects the two records nicely, though Despicable Animal plods along, providing the only dull point of the set. Wasner is a personable leader; chatty and down-toearth, she has the whole room
WYE OAK @ BLACK BEAR LODGE. PIC: MARKUS RAVIK
sign off with the chugging guitars of Feel, growing incrementally faster and noisier as Vlada Edirippulige holds steady on bass and the set highlight is delivered. Tonight’s set from Baltimore natives Wye Oak could be polarising for fans of the guitar driven, autumnal altfolk of their first four records, especially as the synth blips and extra-heavy bass line of Before, the opener from new record Shriek, introduces the pair. Very quickly though it is clear that they’ve done a great amount of work to make the seemingly disparate styles gel in a live setting. On bass, Jenn Wasner is a powerhouse; loud, dirty and intricate when needed, The Tower – and much of the new album’s material – connects to a greater level in a live setting. It’s also an opportunity to 22 • THE MUSIC • 14TH JANUARY 2015
pop. The pair – Erin and Emma – stand facing each other teasing motorik-tinged beds from their keyboards, adding sparse samples and heavily-affected vocals to layer their interesting soundscapes. There’s enough tonal diversity to hold early attention, and Purity Exhibition (from last year’s tape Luxury) proves to be set standout. Local indie ensemble Tape/ Off are next up and from the get-go they inject a sense of restrained venom into proceedings, the fourpiece urgent and raucous without sacrificing melody and cool arrangements. They construct walls of sound where repetition and groove abide in perfect harmony, bursts of distortion
THE STRESS OF LEISURE @ BLACK BEAR LODGE. PIC: BEA MAGLI
in rapture. Though perhaps the moment that cements it is how comfortable she is with the southern whiskey rock verses of 2009’s For Prayer that turn into a beautiful, wailing shredfest. As a parting gift, the song most of the crowd have been hanging out for – Civilian – closes a triumphant set on Wye Oak’s debut Australian tour. Tyler McLoughlan
THE STRESS OF LEISURE, TAPE/ OFF, WORKSHOP Black Bear Lodge 8 Jan Local duo Workshop kick off tonight’s proceedings, and judging by the early turnout are rapidly gaining a fanbase for their idiosyncratic synth-
living side-by-side with clean sounds and resulting in a vibe that’s feisty but fun. They play some new material from the impending follow-up to last year’s AMP-nominated long-player Chipper, but still manage to slot in that album’s single Pedestal Fan towards the end of a typically invigorating performance. Tonight’s launch is for the first single from The Stress Of Leisure’s impending fifth album (working title Achievement), and from the outset it’s clear that they’ll be airing a lot of new tunes as the self-referencing White Funk opens with its early-‘80s post-punk vibe. They seem to be on a fertile creative roll, the new material brash and confident but carried well as they
move through Sylvia Plath and Professional Woman. Ian Powne has grown into his frontman role and seems far more assured, injecting onstage character where once he may have left it to the songs to tell his story, and the recently-minted rhythm section – Phil Usher (drums) and Jane Elliott (bass) – seem to thrive on the affinity and sense of ownership that they clearly feel with the new tracks. Work It Out (from 2012’s Cassowary) rides atop Pascal Burton’s prominent key hooks, 2011 single Sex Time is as sardonic as ever while newie Aim High Get High is introduced as a mantra for the forthcoming election. Another fresh number No Idea Is The New Idea proves
TIJUANA CARTEL @ SOLBAR. PIC: EMILY LAWLOR
to be more than just a nifty slogan with its jagged grooves and claustrophobic arrangements, while the new single we’re celebrating, Girl On A Lilo, reminds of The Cure’s early days with its inscrutable lyrics and simpleyet-incessant hooks. Shark Killer adds some familiarity before they finish with the oddly-titled Goodyear Blimp – the obtuse subject matter not detracting from the track’s inherent lazy charm – before being coaxed back for an encore rendition of bona fide early classic The Boy’s Got Issues. This new album seems certain serve to prove that the oft-underrated The Stress Of Leisure amount to far more than one of Brisbane’s best ever band names. Paddy McCartin
live reviews
TIJUANA CARTEL, KALLIDAD, BRAINS TRUST Solbar 11 Jan It’s rare to have a room filled at 9pm for the very first act of the night, but Brains Trust must definitely have some local cult followers because punters are filing into Solbar in quick succession, packing the room ready for a balmy night of tunes. The three-piece from Brisbane has the crowd milling around the room with drinks in hands and people are already boogying by the first few songs. They play a short set of downbeat but groovy tunes and are the most humble of performers to boot. Kallidad then take the stage. Witnessing the live performance of the heavy metal Mexicaninspired musos is something everyone has to experience when they get the chance. The three boys from Sydney delve
deep into their alter egos of Senor Bang Bang, The Raven and Jacinko, transformed with their famous Dia de Muertos painted faces and crazy eyes. The rarity of finding a purely instrumental band these days able to get people dancing as heavily as they do to Kallidad is astounding. Their energy and fingerpicking are second to none and there wouldn’t be a band in the world that would be a more fitting opener for the headliners of the night. The vibe in the room is building and reaches a crescendo when Tijuana Cartel step onto the stage. Absolutely flying through their set at breakneck speed, they provide the floors of Solbar with some of the heaviest footstomping imaginable, with dance circles forming and even security guards dispatched into the crowd joining in on the moves. Once again, some of the most humble performers out there, genuinely leaving the stage at the end of the set, after a deafening chant of “Encore!” they return, grinning ear to ear and treating the crowd to
an extra four songs to end the night. With Tijuana Cartel enticing the crowd with a mix of tunes from both M1 and 24 Bit Guitar Orchestra, Kallidad later return to the stage for the closer and put on such an energetic performance that it’d be impossible to have left the gig without feeling on top of the world. With everything from bongos to brass instruments, techno beats and then the MC of the night joining in for a couple of rap numbers, the gig has every requirement to ensure Sunshine Coast punters will be talking about this night for weeks to come. Stephanie Oakes
MORE REVIEWS
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WOODFORD FOLK FESTIVAL. PIC: JAKE SUN
Woodford Folk Festival @ Woodfordia Krafty Kuts @ The Met Black Vacation @ The Bearded Lady
arts reviews These are not bad qualities for a film to have by any means, but they can also create the impression that it has more substance than it actually possesses. Birdman is a smart, funny, invigorating and entertaining movie, but perhaps not all that deep. BIRDMAN
BIRDMAN Film
In cinemas 15 Jan
★★★★ It would be easy to view Birdman as something more than it is. It tackles some big issues – art versus commerce, expressing yourself authentically in both creativity and everyday life; its screenplay is full of dense monologues and exchanges; its direction is imaginative and charged; its cast is made up of actors referencing their own reputations or stretching their boundaries a bit.
That said, director Alejandro G Iñárritu and his cast bring a definite energy to this story of on-the-skids movie star Riggan Thomson (Michael Keaton in a role that makes good use of his gonzo soulfulness) making a last-gasp bid for credibility by writing, directing and starring in a Broadway drama and finding the lines between real life and fantasy becoming blurred. When it’s poking fun or paying tribute to the passions of the people involved (special shoutouts to Edward Norton and Naomi Watts for their portrayals of talented people with fragile egos), it works like gangbusters. On that level, Birdman is a vibrant, searching piece of work. And that’s more than enough. Guy Davis
THRILLER LIVE Preview
Festival Theatre, Adelaide, 3 Jan Thriller Live opened while The King Of Pop was still with us. The show runs for over two hours, kicking off in the Jackson 5 days before moonwalking through the artist’s 45-year musical history. It’s ‘edutaining’ when members of the international cast impart Jackson chart facts and we’re regularly coaxed to our feet for left-versus-right audience participation/rivalry.
The killer trifecta of Man In The Mirror, They Don’t Care About Us and Earth Song leaves us emotionally spent. Attention to detail stretches right down to white bandaids on the various Jacksons’ fingertips and this show truly celebrates the artist’s legacy. Who wouldn’t wanna be reminded of MJ’s spectacular catalogue? Jackson songs remain on high rotation in this scribe’s internal jukebox. Thriller Live runs 14 – 25 Jan , Concert Hall, QPAC. Bryget Chrisfield
The impressive choreography doesn’t let up for a millisecond, but we wouldn’t expect it to. The Dangerous musical arrangement is phenomenal as is the Beat It guitar solo during which an axeman struts out to claim the spotlight. All vocalists are impressive, but Samantha Johnson’s joyful energy constantly pulls focus.
THRILLER LIVE THE MUSIC • 14TH JANUARY 2015 • 23
24 • THE MUSIC • 14TH JANUARY 2015
the guide
HAZARDS OF SWIMMING NAKED
Members answering/role: Adrian Diery (guitars), Cam Diery (bass), Mikey Gagen (guitars) How long have you been together? Adrian: This present line-up has only been around for just over 12 months. Previously we’d been together for about seven years. You’re on tour in the van – which band or artist is going to keep the most people happy if we throw them on the stereo? Mikey: Honestly, probably Minus The Bear. Best combination of groove, cool guitar and good hooks. That said, Kyuss. Slint. Bluebottle Kiss. gy!be. set fire to flames. Jakob. Also, Babymetal, you know, the classics. Would you rather be a busted broke-but-revered Hank Williams figure or some kind of Metallica monster? Cam: What about a Pantera puppet? Adrian: We’d be pretty happy if we broke even any time we toured. Which Brisbane bands before you have been an inspiration (musically or otherwise)? Adrian: A shabby three-piece named Alpen Glow, they had enchanting moments of brilliance in amongst their perpetual state of not-quite-having-their-shit-together. Bloon were uncompromising in their adherence to their musical approach, much like MBV. Midget (originally from Brisbane) and To The North... raw and honest. Powderfinger... any band that can come back from being literally pissed on by Pantera at the start of their career is inspiring. The Bee Gees... pretty much the reason we don’t even try to sing, you can’t top that. What part do you think Brisbane plays in the music you make? Adrian: I guess our music is more influenced by Queensland as a whole, that dichotomy of the urbanised hub of SEQ versus the remoteness and large distances in the rural areas from which we hail. Having one foot in two worlds seems to be a recurring theme in our music, trying to create something with an over-arching broadstroke view yet laced with detail and nuance. Everything’s relative; Brisbane’s not a hectic city, but compared to Kurrimine Beach it’s chaotic. What’s in the pipeline for the band in the short term? Mikey: Our new album is due for release in the first half of 2015 and we’ll be touring it around Australia shortly afterwards. It’s going to be a hectic year, and we can’t wait. Hazards Of Swimming Naked play The Triffid on Saturday 31 Jan.
PIC: Terry Soo. THE MUSIC • 14TH JANUARY 2015 • 25
eat/drink MAKE ME, DRINK ME Made more pies, cakes, jams than you can physically get through? Move onto drinks. Smoothies These are a given. Blend up your fruit with any combo of yoghurt, milk, coconut water, supplements if you’re feeling healthy, and honey if you’re feeling sweet.
TAKE YOUR PICK PIC BY SHINYA SUZUKI
FRUIT PICKING Pop on some comfy shoes, a shady hat and sunscreen, bring some containers and put your nimble fingers to work.
Strawberry Fields – 133 Laxton Rd, Palmview Pick Your Own prices fluctuate, but just remember: redder is better when it comes to strawberries. When you’re all picked out, head to the café for some strawb-treats and coffees. Unfortunately the season doesn’t open until June but hey, now you’ve got all this time to look up recipes! McMartin’s Strawberry Farm – Lot 7 Sports Rd, Bli Bli Another to mark down for later, not only is this a place you
can go to pick some sweet strawberries, but McMartin’s also features a café when you can get tea, coffee, scones, smoothies, sundaes, light lunches and their award-winning ice cream. Oh, and they do kids’ birthday parties. Sutton’s Farm – 10 Halloran Drive, Thulimbah As well as a farm, this is a juice factory, cidery, distillery, and café. Their apple-picking season begins in February but you’ll have to check in with them when the month rolls ‘round to make sure the crops are all good. She’ll be apples.
Itching for an outdoor activity that’s not too expensive and that’ll give you something to take home at the end of it? Fruit-picking, mate. Summer’s a great time for it, and although the cherry season’s just about done, berries are still kicking and then after that it’ll be apples crying out to be plucked off their stems. For a small entry fee, you can pick to your heart’s (or eyes’) content and then simply pay an affordable price for what you’ve picked. Sounds like a good pal/family day out. But beware: after eating fruit this fresh, you might turn up your nose at supermarket stock. Pic by Sandra Foyt
Flavour your water Let berries and apple slices chill out in your water to add that refreshing hint of sweetness. Another idea is to puree berries and freeze in ice-cube trays. Pink lemonade If you happen to get the last cherries of the season, try this one. Chuck pitted cherries, lemon juice and sugar in a blender and puree until smooth. Strain through a fine sieve into a jug, then add cold water or soda/ lemonade. Garnish with lemon slices and cherries. Iced tea Brew your favourite green or black tea and cool in the fridge. Add ice cubes. In a saucepan, boil down some fruit and sugar. Strain the fruity liquid into the tea. Cocktails Freeze your berries. In a blender, whizz four handfuls up with four shots of vodka with a splash of cold water and the juice of one lime. There ya go. Thank Jamie Oliver for this one.
THIS EXISTS ... Franken Berry Artificial strawberry flavour frosted cereal and marshmallow bits. This sounds way too unhealthy to be anyone’s breakfast. See also: Boo Berry, Fruit Brute, Fruity Yummy Mummy Monster Mallows. Berry Pav Gelato Available at Trampoline. Sad Christmas is done for another year? This’ll stretch out the spirit that bit longer. Fruit Kit Kat flavours You can find these in Japan: strawberry, pear Shinshu apple, citrus golden blend. Fruit-scented toilet rolls Another Japanese product; available in peach and grape scents. We know you like to think yo shit don’t stink but...
26 • THE MUSIC • 14TH JANUARY 2015
the guide qld.live@themusic.com.au
INDIE NEWS
CHART WRAP
SNAKING AROUND
TOUCHE EVERY TIME
KEEP ON TRUCKIN
Leanne Tennant brings her front porch folk/blues and horror country to a stage near you on her Black Snake Calls tour, named after the latest single off her debut album Pull Up Your Britches. Catch her live this Friday, Habitat Restaurant & Bar.
Every Time I Die and Touche Amore are coming to The Zoo this Sunday for what is sure to be a full-on night. Ready yourself and maybe bring some earplugs because this is gonna be haaaaardcore.
Swedish rock group Truckfighters are heading our way for their Aussie tour called Tour Of The Universe. Catch them bringing the noise at The Brightside, tonight (Wednesday).
LOCALS ONLY
A LITTLE CLARK BULL
THEIR SECOND
Electronic producer JNGL is headlining a show at the Black Bear Lodge on Sunday. Fellow locals Allthingslost and Grand Pavillion will also be joining the party. A concoction of beats, synth and sample jams will ensue.
Courtesy Red Bull Music Academy (RBMA), UK-via0Germany electronic artist and producer Clark, drawing on a 13-year back catalogue, is coming to Australia for the next RBMA Club Night: Woolly Mammoth this Friday.
Local folk/roots/indie band Elbury are launching their brooding new EP, Demasquerade, this Saturday at Hoo Ha Bar with guests Brissy indiefolksters Ocean Leaves.
POGOING OFF
AWESOME FOURSOME
LOVIN’ IT
Lunatics On Pogosticks have announced east coast shows in support of their latest single Cappuccino, released late-ish last year. See the boys and their brand of scuzzy pop on Friday at Black Bear Lodge.
The Amity Affliction, In Hearts Wake, Antagonist AD and Confession are landing at Coolangatta Hotel on Saturday and anyone who wants to thrash about should head down there.
Love Like Hate have come back from touring Europe and will now launch their debut EP Unnoticed with an east coast tour that takes in The Bearded Lady this Saturday.
DOOM BEAR
NEW TASTE
CHARGING FORWARD
Brisbane’s very own Doom Mountain take over Black Bear Lodge this Saturday for an evening of ‘60s-inspired garage surf-rock with Gold Coast buddies White Lodge.
Older readers please note – The Taste are fresh out of far north Queensland, not the Irish or Melbourne combos of the ‘60s/‘70s. Touting new EP, Reflections, they introduce themselves to Brisbane lunchtime on Sunday at Bass Espresso.
Sydney electronica/indie-rock Mammals have had a big year, releasing debut EP Animalia and supporting indie juggernauts The 1975 and Of Monsters & Men. They perform this Saturday, Alhambra Lounge.
FOR MORE HEAD TO THEMUSIC.COM.AU
Renowned Aussie hip hop trio Hilltop Hoods have kicked off 2015 atop both the Singles and Albums ladders in the Carlton Dry Independent Music Charts, with Cosby Sweater retaining its poll position and their Walking Under Stars LP reclaiming the top spot from strongly performing Coachella headliners AC/ DC (Rock Or Bust, now #2). The upper echelons of both rankings remain relatively steady in relation to 2014’s end, apart from Chet Faker’s Built On Glass jumping two spots to hit #3, edging out Countdown (#4) and Jimmy Barnes (30:30 Hindsight, #5). Vance Joy’s Dream Your Life Away maintains its place at #6, while another batch of upwardly mobile albums form the back half of the top ten full-lengths for the week: Sia’s 1000 Forms Of Fear (up from #9 to #7), Flight Facilities’ Down To Earth (#12 to #8), Dan Sultan’s Blackbird (#11 to #9) and Sheppard’s Bombs Away (#13 to #10). Timmy Trumpet’s Freaks remains a strong force in the singles stakes, switching spots with Peking Duk’s Take Me Over, featuring SAFIA, this week — the former rising to #2 and the latter dropping to #3, while Will Sparks stays the course at #4 with Ah Yeah. Another switch sees Sia’s Chandelier back up to #5, jumping over Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP’s take on Rodriguez’s Sugar Man (#6). Notably, the rejuvenated AC/DC see three tracks re-enter the singles chart this week — Thunderstruck (#13), T.N.T.(#18) and Highway To Hell (#20). Age ain’t nothin’ but a number after all. THE MUSIC • 14TH JANUARY 2015 • 27
the guide qld.live@themusic.com.au
ALBUM FOCUS
HAVE YOU BEEN TO to find a symphony orchestra warming up to play the full soundtrack. You’ll hear and see each emotion or dramatic climax brought to life by the actors AND musicians.
and places; as artists we are constantly writing/recording. The songs that made it onto Born Free are the ones we feel are the strongest at the time. Was anything in particular inspiring you during the making? We travelled between Oz and Jamaica for the making of this. Our global community of activists/freedom seekers also inspired much of this album.
BLUE KING BROWN Answered by: Nattali Rize
What’s your favourite song on it? I like them all but these two rock my boat a little extra: One People and Babylon A Fall.
Album title? Born Free Where did the title of your new album come from? Our belief is that we’re born mentally free with the ability to live, love, share without restriction or limitation. We are then indoctrinated into a system that only allows a narrow paradigm of thinking and existing.
Will you do anything differently next time? I’m sure we’ll do lots differently and some the same. We will continue to follow the inspiration where it takes us both in the music and approach as well as the style/sound and lyrics.
How many releases do you have now? Four releases. Born Free is our third studio album.
Website link for more info? bluekingbrown.com
How long did it take to write/ record? Writing/recording took place across many moons
STAR TREK LIVE IN CONCERT Answered by: Miranda Cass Why should punters visit you? If you love escaping the real world by watching movies or listening to live music, this event is for you. Film and music merge. You don’t even need to be a ‘Trekkie’ to enjoy it! What’s the history of the event? Star Trek was a 2009 Box Office hit. Now orchestras around the world are bringing it back with live music.
Do you have any plans for the event in the future? QSO loves performing in front of the big screen. Recent concerts included The Lord Of The Rings I and II and the Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular. Watch this space for more special events to be announced in the future! When and where for your next event? Opening Gala on 14 February at QPAC features a dedication to pioneering mathematician Alan Turing alongside Beethoven’s epic 9th Symphony. Website link for more info? qso.com.au/star-trek
Any advice for f irst timers who want to visit the event? Imagine going to the cinema
YOUR NIGHT STARTS HERE S
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28 • THE MUSIC • 14TH JANUARY 2015
S U P P O R T I N G
I N D E P E N D E N T
A U S S I E
M U S I C
CAFÉ - BAR
321 BRUNSWICK STREET MALL, FORTITUDE VALLEY
WED 14TH JAN
NO HAY BANDA (10:00PM) + GUEST (9:00PM)
THU 15TH JAN
LULU AND THE CUTTHROATS (10:30PM) + THE HALLS (9:30PM)
FRI 16TH JAN
THE CASSINGLES (9:00PM) + THE FLANGIPANIS (8:00PM)
SAT 17TH JAN
TROPICAL ZOMBIE (9:00PM) + GUEST (8:00PM)
SUN 18TH JAN
NIKOLAINE MARTIN (9:30PM) + GUEST (8:30PM)
MON 19TH JAN TBC
TUE 20TH JAN
TERENCE BOYD THALLON (9:30PM) + GUEST (8:30PM) FREE LIVE MUSIC AND INDIE DJS
WANT TO PLAY? EMAIL BOOKINGS@RICSBAR.COM.AU
WWW.RICSBAR.COM.AU
THE MUSIC • 14TH JANUARY 2015 • 29
the guide qld.gigguide@themusic.com.au
THE MUSIC PRESENTS Guy Pearce & Darren Middleton: QPAC 12 Feb
65daysofstatic: The Hi-Fi 11 Mar
Earth Frequency 2015: Ivory’s Rock 13-16 Feb
DZ Deathrays: The Brightside 13 Mar
The Gooch Palms: Crowbar 13 Feb, Great Northern 14 Feb
Mojo Burning Festival: New Globe Theatre 21 Mar
Seth Sentry: The Hi-Fi 20 Feb, Solbar 21 Feb
Bluesfest Byron Bay: Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm 2-6 Apr
Real Estate: The Zoo 27 Feb
Mavis Staples: Brisbane Powerhouse 8 Apr
Sharon Van Etten: The Zoo 4 Mar
Urban Country Music Festival: Caboolture 1-3 May
London Grammar: Brisbane Riverstage 7 Mar
WED 14
2Cellos: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (Plaza Room), South Bank The Zouk Social: Chalk Hotel, Woolloongabba
Jam Night + Various Artists: Capalaba Tavern, Capalaba Reign Havok Final feat. Pyre & Ice + Worse For Wear + Motion + Xens Arrival + Dead Zephyr: Crowbar, Fortitude Valley
Trivia: Glenmore Tavern, Norman Gardens
Stand Up Comedy + Various Artists: Dog and Parrot Tavern, Robina
Big Jam with+Chris Ramsay: Manly Hotel, Manly
Karaoke: Glenmore Tavern, Norman Gardens
The Naked Sessions with +Steve Lucas + The Rared + Hanny J: Mick O’Malley’s (The Bunker), Brisbane Open Mic Night+Various Artists: Solbar, Maroochydore Matt Stillert: The Bearded Lady, West End Truckfighters: The Brightside, Fortitude Valley Frikstailers + Honky Kong + Sabrosa: The Zoo, Fortitude Valley
THU 15
Karaoke: Alderley Arms Hotel, Alderley Lambda - The Disney Thing feat.+Bareback Titty Squad: Alhambra Lounge, Fortitude Valley Open Mic Night + Various Artists: Bay Central Tavern, Pialba Lunatics On Pogosticks + Skeggs + The Missing: Black Bear Lodge, Fortitude Valley Jef Neve: Brisbane Jazz Club, Kangaroo Point Boy&Girl 2: Brisbane Powerhouse (Powerhouse Theatre), New Farm
Karaoke: Imperial Hotel, Beenleigh Karaoke: Manly Hotel, Manly Casey Fogg + Diva Demolition + Sister’s Doll + Stacy V + Path of Destruction: New Globe Theatre, Fortitude Valley
GIG OF THE WEEK FRONT END LOADER: 17 JAN, PRINCE OF WALES
Doom Mountain + White Lodge: Black Bear Lodge, Fortitude Valley Boy&Girl 2: Brisbane Powerhouse (Powerhouse Theatre - 7.30pm & 9.45pm), New Farm Hot Ice: Brothers Leagues Club, Manunda TGIF+Various Artists: Buderim Tavern, Buderim Various Artists: Capalaba Tavern, Capalaba Loa: Cardigan Bar, Sandgate Le Groove: Chalk Hotel, Woolloongabba Holistic + Undermine The Supremacy + Initiate Jericho + Nescient + Art of Difference + Wartooth: Chardons Corner Hotel, Annerley Various Artists: Commercial Hotel, Nerang Various Artists: Coomera Tavern, Upper Coomera
Karaoke: Prince of Wales Hotel, Nundah
Various Artists: Dalrymple Hotel, Garbutt
Lulu & The Cutthroats + The Halls: Ric’s Bar, Fortitude Valley
Leanne Tennant: Habitat Restaurant & Bar, South Brisbane
The Sunny Coast Rude Boys: Solbar, Maroochydore
Various Artists: Hinterland Hotel, Nerang
Trivia: Springwood Hotel, Springwood The Matches + We Set Signals + Drawcard: The Brightside, Fortitude Valley Creature Kind + Tin Can Radio + Meredith: The Milk Factory Kitchen & Bar, South Brisbane Hemingway + Daryl James + The Rambovas: The Zoo, Fortitude Valley
FRI 16
Red Tendrils + The Dead Ringers + Junkyard Diamonds: Beetle Bar, Brisbane
Various Artists: Irish Finnegans, Condon Karaoke: Kedron Park Hotel, Kedron Park Ace DJs: Manly Hotel, Manly The Cassingles + The Flangipanis: Ric’s Bar, Fortitude Valley
Multiple Man + Cuntz + Occults + Workshop + 100% + Excess: The Bearded Lady, West End Jesse Leach (DJ Set) + Torn Asunder + Among The Vanished: The Brightside, Fortitude Valley Triffid Seeds feat. The Before Party: The Triffid, Newstead Caligula’s Horse + Interim + Orsome Welles + Rise Overrun: The Zoo, Fortitude Valley Clark: Woolly Mammoth, Fortitude Valley Me and Jodi Lee: Wynnum RSL, Wynnum
SAT 17
DJ Indy Andy: Albany Creek Tavern, Albany Creek Mammals: Alhambra Lounge, Fortitude Valley Kry Wolf: Alhambra Lounge, Fortitude Valley Ultra Ego + Rook + Monkey Island + The Keepaways: Beetle Bar, Brisbane Watch Your Step + Various DJs: Black Bear Lodge, Fortitude Valley Boy&Girl 2: Brisbane Powerhouse (Powerhouse Theatre - 7.30pm & 9.45pm), New Farm Karaoke: Brook Hotel, Mitchelton Big Jim: Brothers Leagues Club, Manunda
Robertson Brothers: Royal Mail Hotel, Goodna
Karaoke: Capalaba Tavern, Capalaba
Tropical Zombie: Solbar, Maroochydore
Noble Few + Recharge DJs: Chalk Hotel, Woolloongabba
Spirit Of Akasha + Andrew Kitchen: Soundlounge, Currumbin
Stay Down + The Scam + Obserd + Kombi Killers + Witch Fight + Dump Chook + Rogue Scholars: Chardons Corner Hotel, Annerley The Amity Affliction + In Hearts Wake + Confession + Antagonist A.D: Coolangatta Hotel, Coolangatta Army Of Champions + Cold Hearts + Greyface + The Larch + Jud Campbell + Ash McIntyre + Hanny J: Crowbar, Fortitude Valley Fish Out of Water + Izania: Eat Street Markets, Hamilton Various Artists: Ferny Grove Tavern, Ferny Grove Elbury + Ocean Leaves: Hoo Ha Bar, South Brisbane Various Artists: Manly Hotel, Manly Ace DJs: Manly Hotel, Manly Irish Sessions+Ger Fennelly: Mick O’Malley’s, Brisbane Front End Loader + Giants of Science + Six Ft Hick + Grieg: Prince of Wales Hotel, Nundah Tropical Zombie: Ric’s Bar, Fortitude Valley Monster Guitars - Adam Hole & Mark Easton: Royal Mail Hotel, Goodna Velociraptor + The Ninjas + Tongue Tied Thieves: Solbar, Maroochydore Love Like Hate: The Bearded Lady, West End Weezers Greatest Hits covered by + Dope Nose + Burning Brooklyn + A Direst Desire + Cellar Door: The Brightside, Fortitude Valley
Freakin’ Fridays+Rotating Residents: Springwood Hotel, Springwood
S U P P O R T I N G
I N D E P E N D E N T
A U S S I E
M U S I C
the guide qld.gigguide@themusic.com.au Hoedown Showdown 3 feat. Suicide Country Hour + Corn Liquor + Midnight Son & The Crime Scene + The Loveless Union + Big Iron + Emma Smith: The Milk Factory Kitchen & Bar, South Brisbane
Trivia: Irish Finnegans, Condon
Children of the Revolution: the History of the Protest Song with +Jackie Marshall + Luke Peacock + Sahara Beck + Kahl Wallis + CKNU + Lucy Star + Celestino: The Triffid, Newstead
Performing Illmatic + Nas + Dusk: The Tivoli, Fortitude Valley
Trivia: Kedron Park Hotel, Kedron Park Trivia: Manly Hotel, Manly Trivia: Prince of Wales Hotel, Nundah
Helm + Glass Ocean + Self Is A Seed + The Royal Artillery: The Zoo, Fortitude Valley Kaz James: Wharf Tavern (The Helm), Mooloolaba
THE FLUMES: 18 JAN, THE TRIFFID
Hurricane: Wynnum RSL, Wynnum
SUN 18
JNGL + Grand Pavillon + Allthingslost: Black Bear Lodge, Fortitude Valley Funky Love Tank: Brothers Leagues Club, Manunda Sunday Session + Various DJs: Capalaba Tavern, Capalaba Locky: Chalk Hotel, Woolloongabba The Amity Affliction + In Hearts Wake + Confession + Antagonist A.D: Coolangatta Hotel, Coolangatta Marduk + Inquisition + Spire: Crowbar, Fortitude Valley Ravi Welsh Trio: Habitat Restaurant & Bar, South Brisbane Chris Shermer: Harrigan’s Drift Inn, Jacobs Well Take Me Home: Irish Murphy’s, Brisbane Various Artists: Manly Hotel, Manly Karaoke: Manly Hotel, Manly Irish Sessions + Ger Fennelly: Mick O’Malley’s, Brisbane The 1975 + Circa Waves: RNA Showgrounds (The Marquee), Bowen Hills The Imprints: Solbar, Maroochydore The Busymen + Thee Hugs + King Kongo: The Bearded Lady, West End
The Muggy River Ramblers + Daryl James + Jye Whiteman: The Milk Factory Kitchen & Bar, South Brisbane Triffid Roots feat. The Flumes + Steve Grady: The Triffid, Newstead
TUE 20
Trivia: Australian National Hotel, Woolloongabba
Trivia: Alderley Arms Hotel, Alderley
Sweet K: Brothers Leagues Club, Manunda
Trivia: Allenstown Hotel, Rockhampton
Trivia: Buderim Tavern, Buderim
Every Time I Die + Touche Amore + Marathon: The Zoo, Fortitude Valley Nick Waters: Wynnum RSL, Wynnum
MON 19
Karaoke: Australian National Hotel, Woolloongabba Trivia: Belmont Tavern, Belmont
Prayer for Peace Concert with+Deva Premal and Miten + Tenzin Choegyal: Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm Trivia: Kallangur Tavern, Kallangur The Amity Affliction + In Hearts Wake + Confession + Antagonist A.D: Lake Kawana Community Centre (All Ages), Bokarina Trivia: Mick O’Malley’s, Brisbane Uncle Bob’s Music Club+Various Artists: Prince of Wales Hotel, Nundah
S U P P O R T I N G
I N D E P E N D E N T
A U S S I E
M U S I C
32 • THE MUSIC • 14TH JANUARY 2015