ISSUE 0017 / February 5th - February 11th 2015
IT’S FREE - www.bsidemagazine.com.au
Imogen Brave ALSO INSIDE: Shane Howard, The Timbers, Pond Lost Ragas, Davide Mazzocchetti, BPlus, The Bizzo Plus BOB’s BITS, TOUR GUIDE & LOCAL MUSIC NEWS
AROUND THE TRAPS The newly refurbished Hampshire Hotel, 110 Grote St, has now announced a free entry ‘official’ opening on Sunday 8 February at which Jay Hoad and Chris Finnen will be performing from 2-6pm. The pub also has live music every Sunday from 2-6pm and on Sunday 15 February, catch The Healers from 2-6pm, while Sunday 22 February will boast the talents of Zkye & Damo for the afternoon. The pub opens from 8.30am for coffee and breakfast and boasts all-day dining from noon with vegan options and also has many great drink specials. Ponytail Kink will be making their debut when they play alongside Last Days Of Kali and Black Coral at a free entry show from 9pm on Saturday 21 February at Crown & Sceptre, 308 King William St. Guitarist James Muller, who has worked with Vince Jones and who often plays with Adelaide band The Airbenders, will be showcasing tunes from a forthcoming album at The Wheatsheaf Hotel, 39 George St, Thebarton, from 8pm on Monday 9 February alongside Chris Soole on saxophone, Tim Bowen on bass and Ben Todd on drums as part of COMA Sessions. Tickets at the door. Port Adelaide’s Railway Hotel, 247 St Vincent St, has opened its doors to live music on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons. On Friday 6 February from 5-8pm catch Duke, on Friday 13 February see David Robinson and on Friday 20 February, experience the wonders of Don Morrison. On Sunday 8 February from 4-8pm get along to view The Tonight Show, while Vic Conrad & The First Third will be playing on Sunday 15 February. All gigs are free entry too.
Lazy Eye and Mick Kidd have organised a Blues Cruise for Saturday 7 March which will sail off from 7pm at Fisherman’s Wharf, Commercial Rd, Port Adelaide, and will return at 11pm. Tickets are now available via <trybooking.com/fzis>. After releasing his second album Live Simply in 2014, local singer songwriter Sam Brittain went on the road touring and busking the streets of Australia, Europe and the US but has now returned home with a entire new collection of works, 12 Weeks / 12 Songs, inspired by places, people and new connections. Sam will now launch his latest offering at The Grace Emily Hotel, 232 Waymouth St, on Thursday 26 February at which he will have Melbourne’s Amistat as special guests. Club 5082, a popular, free entry, all-ages event, comes to Prospect Town Hall, 126 Prospect Rd, Prospect, from 7pm until 10.30pm on Friday 6 February and will feature the bands Frontline, Array, Orangutang, Izera and White Collar Heroes with doors swingin’ wide open from 6pm. Boutique bar Nook Nosh, 111 Unley Rd, Unley, will reopen its door at 3pm on Friday 20 February and will have Short & Sweet performing from 5pm on Sunday 22 February and David Robinson from 5pm on Sunday 1 March. Pop in for sips ‘n’ nibbles. More cowbell please. The Dairy Brothers, who now all have lengthy beards, have announced a reunion show that will happen at Jive, 181 Hindley St, on Saturday 28 February and will be joined by Silent Duck and The Tony Font Show. Book quickly at Moshtix. Molting Vultures will play Valentine’s Day Wipe Out! on Saturday 14 February alongside Melbourne’s Wrong Turn and Wild Rocket at the Grace Emily Hotel, 232 Waymouth St. Free entry, of course, and it kicks off at 8.15pm (apparently).
Ronnie Taheny will be undertaking her annual concert at the Governor Hindmarsh, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, on Saturday 7 February with support from Ben Ford-Davies. Book quickly via Moshtix for dinner and show or show only as Ronnie’s annual gig invariably sells out all too quickly.
New Adelaide three-piece Thanes will present their cinematic horror disco musings in the basement of 14-17 Featherstone Place, Adelaide, from 8pm on Thursday 19 February as a free entry affair.
Buffalo Boyfriend will be quite colourful when they launch their EP, In Colour, at the Grace Emily, 232 Waymouth St, on Friday 6 March with guests to be announced shortly. Stay tuned.
Another new Adelaide band, Big Daddy’s Discotheque, will also be making their debut at Pirie & Co Social Club, Pirie St, on Friday 6 February with TommyJR doing a DJ set. Doors at 9pm and $10 entry.
The next AMC (Adelaide Music Collective) Sessions is to be a celebration concert at Mortlock Chamber, State Library, North Tce, from 7.30pm on Monday 9 February and it will feature 14 local acts including The Masters Apprentices, The Twilights, Bev Harrell, Doug Ashdown, John Schumann, Rockin’ Rob Riley, Chris Finnen, Peter Combe, The Timbers, The Beggars, Vincent’s Chair, The Baker Suite and Brillig. The event will also coincide with the SA Music Hall Of Fame’s Yesterday’s Heroes exhibition. Grab tickets very quickly at <trybooking.com112033>.
Shaolin Afronauts will hit Rocket Rooftop, 142 Hindley St, on Saturday 7 February with a hoard of special DJ guests including Edd Fisher, Ben Taaffe, Medhi, Jimmy Caution and Sir Donald Badman.
Adelaide rock band Imogen Brave will fall or fly when they launch their second EP, Fall Or Fly, at Jive, 181 Hindley St, on Saturday 7 February. They’ll likely fly high as alongside them they will have Ice On Mercury as well as The Crown. Pre-sale tickets, via Moshtix, are $12 or you can take your chances at the door for $15. Eight-piece, Adelaide-based reggae and Afro funk outfit Local Revolution have some gigs coming up with the first being from 11pm at Casablabla, 12 Leigh St, on Friday 13 February and another at Worldsend, 208 Hindley St, on Friday 20 February with some special guests. Adelaide punk trio Grenadiers have released their second full-length recording, Summer, and are on a national tour. The tour will, however, have them home for the final night to play Crown & Anchor, 196 Grenfell St, on Saturday 14 February with Melbourne guests My Echo as well as Beaver and Thrashboard. Ghyti has engaged in a February residency on Monday evenings from 9pm at The Exeter Hotel, 246 Rundle St, and each evening will boast a different special guest act. On Monday 9 February he will have Thom Lion, on Monday 16 February it will be Buffalo Boyfriend, while the final night, Monday 23 February, will boast the talents of Tom West. Free entry too!
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One for the music diary. Squeaker, who have recently inked an American deal, will launch a new album on Saturday 21 March at Crown & Anchor, 196 Grenfell St, with guests acts to be announced soon. Local songstress Kelly Brueher is hosting an already successful open mic evening every second week at Café Komodo, 118 Prospect Rd, Prospect, with the next one being held on Thursday 12 February. Registration is from 6pm and the festivities conclude at 9pm. Pop along. Adelaide-based folk rockers The Timbers will undertake a special kind of show, Alone/ Together, at The Jade Monkey, 160 Flinders St, from 9pm on Friday 6 February which will feature a series of solo sets from the band’s array of songwriters, Simon Basey, Joe Man Murphy and Benjamin Roberts. Tickets at the door for $10. Multi-instrumentalist Adam Page has announced another month-long Sunday residency at Crown & Anchor Hotel, 246 Grenfell St, which begins on Sunday 8 February with a surprise special guest each week. Kicks off at 5pm and tickets are $10 at the door every Sunday in February. The irresponsible Little Miss enjoyed a successful launch late last year for their selftitled CD and will now play the Grace Emily, 232 Waymouth St, with special guest Jesse Francis from 8pm on Thursday 5 February. It’s free entry too! Crown & Sceptre Hotel, 308 King William St, will host the free entry Crown & Sceptre Ball from 9.30pm on Friday 13 February and it will feature 12-piece funk band Funk Latin Union, Headphone Piracy and Jupiter. There will also be a bubble show at 10.30pm from Dr Bubble of Bubble Art.
The Saucermen will be flying into the Grace Emily Hotel, 232 Waymouth St, on Saturday 7 February to undertake a free entry gig with The Jamjets. After a big hit out the other weekend, Adelaide band Dirt Playground have another show coming up at Worldsend, 208 Hindley St, on Friday 6 February. Special guests will be Jungle City and Reign and it’s free entry. Local metal band Octanic, whose drummer, Scott, lost the family home along with the band’s room in the recent bushfires, have organised a benefit concert with donations going to The Bushfire Relief Appeal. It happens at Cavern Club, North Tce, on Saturday 7 February at which the band will also be joined by Arcadia, In Case Of Emergency, Behold The Sea and By The Breakwater. It’s an all-ages affair with doors from 7.30pm and tickets at $12. Gaslight Tavern, 36 Chief St, Brompton, is hosting a Battle Of The Bands which will run for a number of weeks. Please contact Pete at the pub for more information about how to register and all that. There is to be a Mods Vs Rockers Vs Swingers Ball to take place at Published Arthouse, 11 Cannon St, Adelaide, on Saturday 7 February which will feature The Fab Four, The Lincolns and Lucky Seven. Tickets are $20 plus booking fee and available now from <stickytickets.com.au> or will be $35 at the door. Adelaide guitar wizard Davide Mazzocchetti (AKA Foxx Qu) will be performing at The Cancer Council Of SA’s Hope For A Yellow Cause Charity Ball from 7pm at Cypriot Community Centre, 5-8 Barrpowell St, Welland, on Friday 6 February alongside illusionist Nicholas Tweedy, singer songwriter Alex Hosking and Hyperdance Dance Crew. For more information, contact The Cancer Council Of SA. Dreamy Adelaide electronica outfit Flamingo have just announced their first ever headline tour. Last year included spots at Groovin’ The Moo and Splendour In The Grass as well as support slots with Rufus, Bonobo and Classix. Flamingo also released their debut EP, Heavy Load, in July so catch ’em drip away at Jive, 181 Hindley St, on Saturday 21 February. Book at Moshtix. East Texas have some upcoming gigs and play The Gaslight Tavern, 36 Chief St, Brompton, from 5pm on Sunday 15 February with The Pumpin’ Piano Cats and The Cadillacs and will also undertake a free entry front bar gig at The Governor Hindmarsh Hotel, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, from 9pm on Saturday 21 March.
OUR PHILOSOPHY Created by veteran Adelaide music guru Rob Dunstan, BSide Magazine is a weekly magazine totally focussed on what’s going on in the Adelaide Music Community. Every week we will be bringing you the latest news, up-to-date information and entertainment through: Regular music news updates Features and interviews Touring and gig guides Local music industry news Awesome competitions Live music and CD reviews Theatre news and interviews Plus, we welcome the return of BOB’S BITS in print. Our goal with BSide Magazine is to help rebuild the Adelaide Music Community, to refocus the emphasis on local music and uniting the different tribes encouraging and further enhancing a prosperous live music industry for all. We want BSide Magazine to be like Gaffa Tape. The thing that will hold everything together.
IN THIS ISSUE Page 2 Around The Traps Our Philosophy Page 4 Heading To Town Page 5 BSide Tour Guide Page 6 Feature Article: Imogen Brave Page 7 Pond The Timbers Page 8 The Clothesline Page 9 Adelaide Fringe Update Shane Howard Page 10 MusicSA CD Reviews Page 11 Bob’s Bits Lost Ragas
Fresh from yet another European jaunt, much-loved bearded Adelaide band The Beards have announced a show at the Governor Hindmarsh, 59 Port Rd, on Saturday 28 March. Tickets via OzTix or at the venue.
Page 13 Davide Mazzocchetti
Shamrocks N Shenanigans will soon be presenting a singer songwriter night every Friday evening at Crown & Sceptre, 308 King William St. Known as The Sceptre Sessions, they will be free entry and kick off will be around 8pm. Stay tuned.
Page 15 The Bizzo BPlus: Slick Arnold
Moonlight Cinema has returned to Botanic Park and continues until Sunday 15 February. Expect the screening of new releases as well as classics. Explore the full program at <moonlightcinema.com.au>. Shingleback & Red Knot Wine, 3 Stump Hill Rd, McLaren Vale, have commenced their Sundowners At Shingleback music series which happens as a free entry affair on Friday evenings from 5.30pm until 8pm. Expect acts such as Cal Williams Jr, Mike Bevan, Christian Andrew, Sam Brittain and more to be taking part as it continues until Friday 27 March. Food and wine is also available for purchase so check out the winery’s Facebook page for full details.
Page 14 BSide Gig Guide
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ISSUE #0017 February 5th February 11th, 2015
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HEADING TO TOWN Down On The Plains will feature contemporary folk musicians Kieran Ryan (of Melbourne), Julia Jacklin (of Sydney) and local Delia Obst and will take place at the Wheatsheaf Hotel, 39 George St, Thebarton, on Saturday 7 February from 8pm. Tickets will be $12 at the door. Australian singer songwriter Kim Churchill is celebrating the warm days with a comprehensive tour and will be playing Jive, 181 Hindley St, on Thursday 5 February with Boo Seeka and Pepa Knight. Tickets now on sale via Moshtix or at the door from 8pm. Gwyn Ashton, a Welsh-born, award winning guitar player who spent his formative years in Adelaide before relocating to Sydney and then Europe, has announced an Australian tour. Catch him at The Whitmore Hotel, 317 Morphett St, on Friday 6 February, Old Spot Hotel, 1955 Main North Rd, Salisbury Heights, on Monday 9 February, Gaslight Tavern, 36 Chief St, Brompton, on Tuesday 10 February, The Wheatsheaf Hotel, 39 George St, Thebarton, on Wednesday 11 February and McLaren Vale’s The Singing Gallery (with special guest Chris Finnen) on Thursday 12 February. Gwyn will also be inducted in the SA Music Hall Of Fame during his visit. Following a recent visit to Adelaide in order to launch their debut album, Black Noise, Melbourne rock trio River Of Snakes are set to make a speedy return to play Worldsend, 208 Hindley St, on Friday 6 March with special guests Filthy Lucre and Gun It. Renowned magician Cosentino, recently awarded the title of International Magician Of The Year, will amaze and astound when he does his trickery at Festival Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre, on Wednesday 15 April. Book quickly at BASS before all the tickets disappear. Bass player CJ Ramone, who joined New York’s The Ramones in 1986, has announced that he will be performing at Crown & Anchor, 196 Grenfell St, on Tuesday 10 February. CJ and his band, which includes Steve Soto and Dan Root (of Adolescents) on guitars and Pete Soso (of Street Dogs) on drums, will be playing many of The Ramones’ classics as well as some choice cuts from new album, Last Chance To Dance. Support will come in the form of Adelaide’s Pro-Tools and tickets are on sale now via the usual outlets. Kiwi Marlon Williams, who spends much of his time in Melbourne, has announced an Australian tour with his band, The Yarra Benders, and in Adelaide you can catch them at the Grace Emily Hotel, 232 Waymouth St, from 8pm on Thursday 16 April with tickets on sale now via OzTix. Hurry though as this is sure to be a sold out show given Marlon’s recent successful visits. UK ska legends Bad Manners will hit Australian soil mid-year and on Wednesday 3 June will skank away at the Governor Hindmarsh Hotel, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh. Tickets are now on sale via OzTix or the venue. Renowned Irish group Heartstring Quartet have announced another Australian tour which will have them visiting South Australia to play Fowler’s Live, 68-70 North Tce, on Saturday 28 March. Good news! Johnny Marr has rescheduled his postponed tour for early February and will now be playing The Governor Hindmarsh, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, on Tuesday 21 July. Book via OzTix or the venue if you hadn’t already procured yourself a ticket. Pocket dynamite Leo Sayer is embarking on a tour that will take him to Pt Lincoln, Whaylla and Port Pirie before he hits Grote St’s Her Majesty’s Theatre on Saturday 7 February with local lad Sean Kemp as special guest. Tickets are now available via BASS. Melbourne’s Lost Ragas will use The Wheatsheaf Hotel, 39 George St, Thebarton, at which to launch a new single, Marijuana Mornings, from a forthcoming album. It will take place from 4pm on Sunday 8 February with The Yearlings as special guests and tickets at the door.
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Bass player Peter Hook has seen the light and departed ways with New Order and is coming to town with his own band, The Light. Check them out at the Governor Hindmarsh, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, on Sunday 15 February with tickets on sale at the venue or via OzTix. Best known as the singer with popular homegrown rock band Grinspoon, Phil Jamieson will embark on a string of solo shows in SA in March. Catch him in action at Golden Grove’s Village Tavern on Wednesday 18 March, Ramsgate Hotel, 128 Henley Beach Rd, Henley Beach on Thursday 19 March, Wallaroo’s Coopers Alehouse on Friday 20 March and Royal Oak Hotel, 123 O’Connell St, North Adelaide, on Sunday 22 March. Tickets via Moshtix or at the venues. Underground Fest is a huge, national hip hop touring event that will come to The Governor Hindmarsh, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, on Friday 6 February. Tickets via OzTix or the venue to catch Shorty Main, Casey Jones, DJ Biltz, Eskatology, Sam Paul and a dozen more. Young UK singer songwriter Lewis Watson, who already has two albums to his credit, will have a full band with him when he drops into Fowler’s Live, 68-70 North Tce, on Friday March 13. Book via Moshtix. Melbourne punks Three Quarter Beast will be hitting the band room of Hotel Metro, 46 Grote St, from 9pm on Saturday 7 February to play alongside like-minded Adelaide punks Startakit and Defcon. Hobart-based three-piece Chase City are currently receiving much attention for their sun-drenched pop and have just recorded an album with legendary producer Magoo. Catch ’em in action when they play The Crown & Anchor Hotel, 196 Grenfell St, on Friday 6 February at which they will be highlighting a new single, I Lost Myself. There is to be a special Nashville-style Songwriters In The Round at The Bluebee Room, Pirie St, on Friday 6 February at which three artists will take to the stage together and each take turns in playing their songs one by one. As part of John Flanagan’s Whatever Makes You Happy national tour, he will join forces with two of South Australia’s top singer songwriters in the form of Kelly Menhennett and Cal Williams Jnr. John will also be playing The Exeter Hotel, 246 Rundle St, on Saturday 7 February alongside Emily Davis and Simon Peter. John will also be undertaking a special concert with Sasha Marsh and Kelly Menhennett on Sunday 8 February at McLaren Vale’s The Singing Gallery. One of the hardest partying artists in the US, Lil Jon is making his way back to Australia in March for one of his notorious DJ tours and will hit Red Square on Saturday 7 March with tickets via Moshtix. Party boys The Vanns are set to bring their energetic show full of light, shade and good vibes to Rocket Bar, upstairs 142 Hindley St, on Friday 6 February. The trio have been locked away in the studio recording with legendary producer Mark Opitz (AC/ DC, Cold Chisel, INXS and Bad//Dreems) preparing for their forthcoming EP. Ace news! Ace Frehley, a founding member and original lead guitarist of KISS, is returning for his first Australian shows in five years and will be joined by Richie Scarlet (Sebastian Bach), Chris Wyse (Ozzy Osbourne and The Cult) and Scot Coogan (Lita Ford and Nikki Sixx). Catch the ace guitarist at The Governor Hindmarsh Hotel, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, on Wednesday 6 May with tickets on sale now via OzTix and the venue. Melbourne’s Aaron Thomas will be a special guest when Menagerie, Luke Carlino, Ghyti, Cabin Cults and No Birds & Thee Dub Division play The Promethean, 116 Grote St, from 7.30pm on Friday March 6. Tickets at the door for $10. Brisbane’s Plan Of Attack are heading to town to play a 50th birthday party of a well-known local lad which will take place at Land Of Promise Hotel, 172 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, on Friday 14 February with The Northern Drinking Cult and Soberphobia as special guests. Groovin’ The Moo returns to Oakbank Racecourse on Saturday 25 April and will have A$AP Ferg, Ball Park Music, Broods,
Carmada, Charli XCX, The Delta Riggs, DMA’s, Flight Facilities, Hermitude, Hilltop Hoods, Hot Dub Time Machine, Meg Mac, Northlane, One Day, Peace, Peaches, The Preatures, RL Grime, San Cisco, Saskwatch, Sticky Fingers, Tkay Maidza, Wolfmother and You Me At Six. Tickets are now available via the Goovin’ The Moo website. Sydney blues legends Bondi Cigars will be serving up songs from their new studio album, Child In The Desert, when they play the Governor Hindmarsh, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, on Saturday 7 March. Book via Oztix or at the venue. The quartet, which boasts two lef-handed guitar players, will also play Clarendon’s Old Clarendon Inn on Sunday 8 March. WOMADelaide, which will take place in Botanic Pk from Friday 6 March until Monday 9 March, have added acclaimed reggae, hip hop and dancehall producer Mista Savona, Sydney-based nine-piece brass ensemble Hi Tops Brass Band (featuring Shazza T) and CW Stoneking to its already extensive bill that includes Balkan Beat Box, Youssou N’Dour, The Gloaming, Che Sudaka, Neneh Cherry, Lake Street Dive, Rufus Wainwright, Sinead O’Connor, Toumani Diabate & Sidiki Diabate, The Painted Ladies, Astronomy Class, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Emma Donovan, Robyn Hitchcock, Orquestra Buena Vista Social Club, Emma Swift, First Aid Kit, FourPlay String Quartet, Max Savage & The False Idols and Robert Forster. Book at BASS. Matt Taylor’s Chain and legendary Aussie band Spectrum will hit Semaphore Workers Club, The Esplanade, Semaphore, on Friday 20 February and Bridgeway Hotel, Bridge Rd, Pooraka, from 4pm on Sunday 22 February with $25 tickets at the door or via Moshtix for the Sunday arvo show. Following the release of their much-awaited new album, Melbourne’s Augie March are hitting the road on a huge national tour that will bring them to Grote St’s Her Majesty’s Theatre on Friday 27 March. Book quickly at BASS. Barefooted troubadour Xavier Rudd has announced a new band, The United Nations, and that they will play songs from their Nanna album at HQ Complex, cnr North and West Tces, on Friday 27 March. Canadian DIY band Slates have announced an Australian tour that will bring them to Hotel Metro, 46 Grote St, on Sunday 15 February to play alongside Post War, Speech Patterns and Charlie Monsoon. Tasmania’s rockin’ The Sin & Tonics and Yesterday’s Gentlemen are both heading to town to play the Governor Hindmarsh, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, on Saturday 25 July and have invited local swing band Lucky Seven to be their special guests. Tickets via OzTix or at the venue. Canadian post hardcore pioneers, Silverstein have sold over one million records in their 15-year career and this year their breakthrough album Discovering The Waterfront turns 10! To celebrate such an important milestone, Silverstein will be playing Discovering The Waterfront in full along with their greatest hits at Fowler’s Live, 68-70 North Tce, on Saturday 9 May with special guests Dream On Dreamer and Young Lions. Tickets are now on sale via Moshtix. Sydney hip hop duo Horrorshow recently asked fans, via Facebook, if they’d like an Adelaide acoustic show. Over 600 people responded positively so it’s on. Catch the duo when they bring their acoustic horror show to the Governor Hindmarsh, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, on Sunday 5 April with MC Tuka of Thundamentals as a special guest. Tickets via OzTix or at the venue. Melbourne rock band Empra like to think of Adelaide as a second home and the three-piece band will make another return to perform at The Promethean, 116 Grote St, from 7.30pm on Friday 20 February alongside Angels Of Gung Ho, SuperCaine, Koral & The Goodbye Hores and Filthy Lucre. to raise funds for a planned US venture with an entry fee of $10. CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
SATURDAY 7 MARCH Crash & Burn (Melbourne), Speedmachine, The Menace, Hi Speed Life and Mark Bowley at Bridgeway Hotel Client Liason (Sydney) and Retiree (Sydney) at Prie & Co Social Club Bondi Cigars (Bondi) at Governor Hindmarsh Lil Jon (US) at Red Square SUNDAY 8 MARCH Sunnyboys (Sydney) and Bad//Dreems at Governor Hindmarsh Bondi Cigars (Bondi) at Old Clarendon Inn
THURSDAY 5 FEBRUARY Kim Churchill (Merimbula), Boo Seeka and Pepa Knight at Jive The Gaslight Anthem (US) and Chris Farren (US) at HQ FRIDAY 6 FEBRUARY Laneway Festival at Harts Mill (Port Adelaide) The Searchers (UK) at Her Majesty’s Theatre Chase City (TAS) at Crown & Anchor Hotel The Vanns (Sydney) at Rocket Bar Gwyn Ashton (UK) at Whitmore Hotel John Flanagan (Melbourne), Kelly Menhennett and Cal Williams Jnr at The Bluebee Room SATURDAY 7 FEBRUARY John Flanagan (Melbourne), Emily Davis and Simon Peter at Exeter Hotel Leo Sayer (UK) and Sean Kemp at Her Majesty’s Theatre Kieran Ryan (Melbourne), Julia Jacklin (Sydney) and Delia Obst at Wheatsheaf Hotel Three Quarter Beast (Melbourne), Startakit and Pink Noise Generator at Hotel Metro
Slates (Canada), Post War, Speech Patterns and Charlie Monsoon at Hotel Metro MONDAY 16 FEBRUARY Lindsey Stirling (US) at Fowler’s Live TUESDAY 17 FEBRUARY One Direction (UK) at AAMI Stadium Roxette (Sweden) and Boom Crash Opera at Adelaide Entertainment Centre FRIDAY 20 FEBRUARY Jo Quail (UK) at The Trinity Sessions Aled Jones (Wales) at Her Majesty’s Theatre Matt Taylor’s Chain (Melbourne) and Spectrum (Melbourne) at Semaphore Workers Club Empra (Melbourne), Angels Of Gung Ho, SuperCain, Koral & The Goodbye Horses and Filthy Lucre at The Promethean SATURDAY 21 FEBRUARY Jo Quail (UK) at The Trinity Sessions Harry Howard’s Near Death Experience (Melbourne) at Hotel Metro The Delta Lions (Melbourne) at The Bluebee Room
SUNDAY 8 FEBRUARY Lost Ragas (Melbourne) and The Yearlings at The Wheatsheaf Sting (UK), Paul Simon (US) and Sarah Blasko at Coopers Brewery Shane Howard (Melbourne) and Halfway To Forth at The Trinity Sessions Lamb (UK) at Fowler’s Live John Flanagan (Melbourne), Sasha Marsh and Kelly Menhennett at The Singing Gallery (McLaren Vale)
SUNDAY 22 FEBRUARY Matt Taylor’s Chain (Melbourne) and Spectrum (Melbourne) at Bridgeway Hotel
MONDAY 9 FEBRUARY Gwyn Ashton (UK) at Old Spot (Salisbury Heights)
THURSDAY 26 FEBRUARY Ruth Moody (US) at The Trinity Sessions Deltron 3030 (US) at Governor Hindmarsh Sam Brittain and Amistat (Melbourne) at Grace Emily Break Even (Perth), Hopeless, Endless Heights and Postblue at Enigma Bar
TUESDAY 10 FEBRUARY Gwyn Ashton (UK) at Gaslight Tavern CJ Ramome (US) and Pro-Tools at Crown & Anchor WEDNESDAY 11 FEBRUARY Kenny Rogers (US) and Amber Joy Poulton at Adelaide Entertainment Centre Yngwie J Malmsteem (Sweden) at HQ Complex Gwynn Ashton (UK) at Wheatsheaf Hotel Infected Mushroom (Israel) at Governor Hindmarsh THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY Gwyn Ashton (UK) and Chris Finnen at The Singing Gallery (McLaren Vale) Evol Walks (Hollywood), The Motive, Dusty Lee’s Wasted Wanderers and The Fortunes Of War at The Promethean FRIDAY 13 FEBRUARY The Backsliders (Sydney) and Old Gray Mule (US) at Governor Hindmarsh SATURDAY 14 FEBRUARY Grenadiers (CD launch), My Echo (Melbourne), Beaver and Thrashboard at Crown & Anchor The Veronicas (Brisbane) at Adelaide Entertainment Centre Theatre L.O.U.D. Fest 2015: Dellacoma Rio (US), Love Cream, White Widdow (Melbourne), Sisters Doll (Melbourne), Speedmachine, Sweet Anarchy, Trash City, Odysey, Canephora, Hi Speed Life and more at Bridgeway Hotel Plan Of Attack (Brisbane), The Northern Drinking Cult and Soberphobia at Land Of Promise Hotel Bernard Fanning (Brisbane) at Bird In Hand Winery Chocolate Starfish (Melbourne) at Governor Hindmarsh The Molting Vultures, Wrong Turn (Melbourne) and Wild Rocket at Grace Emily SUNDAY 15 FEBRUARY Peter Hook & The Light (UK) at Governor Hindmarsh
TUESDAY 24 FEBRUARY Angus & Julia Stone (Sydney) at Adelaide Entertainment Centre Theatre
MONDAY 9 MARCH Future Music Festival: Adelaide Showgrounds WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH Macy Gray (US) at Adelaide Convention Centre Adam Cohen (Canada) at Governor Hindmarsh THURSDAY 12 MARCH Tech N9ne (US) at Governor Hindmarsh Dallas Royal (Melbourne) at Surviving Sharks at Royal Oak FRIDAY 13 MARCH Mae (US) at Adelaide Uni Bar Dean Ray (Sydney) at Governor Hindmarsh Kustom Kulture Weekender: The Allniters (Sydney) Fistful Of Trojans and Young Offenders Tequila Mockingbyrd (Melbourne) I Am Mine (Melbourne) and Jungle City at Worldsend Lewis Watson (UK) at Fowler’s Live SATURDAY 14 MARCH The New Dead Festival: Psycroptic (Tasmania) and more at Fowler’s Live Brooke Fraser (New Zealand) at Governor Hindmarsh Kustom Kulture Weekender: Big Sandy (US), Los Straitjackets (US), The Saucermen, The Satellites and Madeleine DeVille Sumeru (Sydney) at Worldsend
WEDNESDAY 25 FEBRUARY Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks (US) at Governor Hindmarsh
FRIDAY 27 FEBRUARY Megan Washington (Melbourne), Montaigne and Greg Chapello at Governor Hindmarsh The Ugly Kings (Melbourne) at Glenelg Backpackers SATURDAY 28 FEBRUARY The Smith Street Band (Melbourne), Pup (Canada), Great Cynics (UK) and Apart From This at Governor Hindmarsh The Ugly Kings (Melbourne) at Worldsend SUNDAY 1 MARCH Cold Chisel and Spiderbait (Melbourne) at Clipsal The Smith Street Band (Melbourne), Pup (Canada), Great Cynics (UK) and Apart From This at Governor Hindmarsh WEDNESDAY 4 MARCH Foo Fighters (US) and Rise Against (US) at Coopers Stadium (Hindmarsh) Greg Koch (US) at Governor Hindmarsh (Fender Guitar Clinic) THURSDAY 5 MARCH DZ Deathrays (Brisbane), Bass Drum Of Death (US) and Hockey Dad at Fowler’s Live FRIDAY 6 MARCH – MONDAY 9 MARCH WOMADelaide: Youssou N’Dour (Senegal), Rufus Wainwright, Neneh Cherry & RocketNumberNine+, The Gloaming, Abdullah Ibrahim Quartet, Balkan Beat Box, Public Broadcasting Service and so many, many more at Botanic Park FRIDAY 6 MARCH River Of Snakes (Melbourne), Filthy Lucre and Gun It at Worldsend Aaron Thomas (Melbourne, Menagerie, Ghyti, Cabin Cults, Luke Carlino and No Birds & Thee Dub Division at The Promethean
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FEATURED INTERVIEW: IMOGEN BRAVE
IMOGEN BRAVE By Libby Parker Local band Imogen Brave will valiantly release their new EP Fall Or Fly this weekend at Jive. Supported by Ice on Mercury and The Crown, the four-piece rock outfit will launch the recording that’s been two years in the making. Frontwoman Stef Crowley says her and fellow members, Mick McClounan (guitar), Andy Cienciala (drums) and Jake Brackenridge (bass), can’t wait for people to hear their new music. “It feels like this music has been in our heads for so long that it’ll be really exciting to finally get it out and have people hear our stuff. It’s so different to be able to hear something recorded than live,” she says. “We’ve got a great little following in our hometown and have friends and fans who know our music, but to be able to upload the songs online and hopefully distribute the music to a bigger circle is what we’re looking forward to.” Imogen Brave started as a two-piece about eight years ago and grew to the lineup that stands currently. “We started as a song-writing project in about 2007. That was Mick and me. He started off writing his own stuff and I just leant my vocals to his ideas initially. After a little while of doing that, I started writing my own ideas and a couple of guys we knew from the cover band we were in at the time jumped on board,” Stef says. Since then, the band have had three bass players, with the third, and current bassist, Jake being a perfect fit for them. “He’s a godsend,” Stef says. “Because he’s such a great guy and really solid as well. He answered an ad we put out once we lost Neil, our old bass player. Jake just came out of the woodwork and blew us away.” Originally from the country, Stef moved to Adelaide and took to singing in bands as a way of meeting people and developing her confidence. “I started a little bit later than some may have with singing. I lived up in the country in Burra for most of my young adult life so I just started doing a bit of karaoke there because there was nothing much else available musically,” she laughs. “So I moved to town, joined a cover band and haven’t looked back since. I was originally a dancer so I was always into performing but when I joined a band, it brought me out of my shell, boosted my confidence and I met people that way too because I didn’t know anyone in Adelaide until I joined the band.” After starting Imogen Brave with Mick, Stef started to contribute to the writing of their songs and has since become the band’s primary lyricist. “I’ve always written poetry, since I was in primary school, so once I started with the
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original music, Mick allowed me to put my stamp on some things and I had the back catalogue of poetry to refer to. I always found writing lyrics easy but melodies developed over a longer period of time,” she says. “What we do now is, I write the melodies and lyrics for 99% of the songs and the guys work collaboratively to write the music.” The group’s new EP Fall or Fly has been a collaborative effort, but the style has been somewhat shaped by the arrival of their new bass player. “We had a few of the songs in the works for a while. The last CD we released in 2011 had Neil on bass and when Jake came into the picture, our style changed a based on his influence,” Stef says. “Generally Mick churns out ideas like there’s no tomorrow so he will put down an idea and we all work on it from there, but over the years, Andy has contributed more and more ideas so it’s kind of almost become 50/50 with the boys writing. When we all come into the rehearsal room, it usually ends up being quite different to how it started.” Stef says the recording of Fall Or Fly happened in a number of different places, and the band are really pleased with the final result. “We had all songs written before we went into the studio. We’d played a lot of them live too so we’d been able to nut them out and really get a feel for them. We ended up doing all the guitars, vocals and bass in Mick’s home studio and then we did drum tracking in another studio,” she says. “We had it all mixed at Mixmasters so it’s been a bit of a collaborative process. We used three different studios and now it’s all done! It’s taken us nearly two years to do, with life getting in the way, but we’re really pleased we’ve got it finished.” Fall Or Fly is ready to launch and Stef reckons there’s no better place to celebrate that achievement than live music venue Jive alongside two other Adelaide rock outfits. “Andy our drummer is also our booking agent and came across The Crown about a year ago and thought they were a really solid band. Ice On Mercury have a really good reputation too. They’ve had some great local success in Adelaide, and touring and released a really good CD. We wanted to have a really strong line-up for this gig that reflected the rock scene in Adelaide and having them on board is a real blessing,” she says. “We’ve been wanting to play Jive since the band first started. It is a fantastic venue; quite an iconic venue. “We’ve played pretty much every other rock venue in Adelaide, so we’re really excited to play Jive,” Stef concludes. Imogen Brave will launch Fall Or Fly by playing it in its entirety on Saturday 7 February with Ice On Mercury and The Crown as special guests. Doors open at 8pm and tickets are available through Moshtix.
THE TIMBERS
POND By Libby Parker They released an album two weeks ago and this week Pond will be playing some of it for you at St Jerome’s Laneway Festival at Hart’s Mill, Port Adelaide. The psychedelic garage rock band from Perth has just launched their fourth studio album, Man it Feels Like Space Again, the day before jet setting off to Singapore to begin the Laneway run. Joe Ryan, one of the original members of the band known as having fairly fluid line-up, says the response so far to their new work has been positive.
And as for coming to Adelaide, Joe reckons we have a great city, which the band can’t wait to hang out in, especially to eat our unique culinary offerings. “We’ve been to Radelaide many times. We love it. It’s a wonderful, wonderful city. I reckon Adelaide’s the first place I ever had crocodile on a pizza. It was very delicious; like salty, seawater chicken,” he laughs. As well as rocking and writing their own stuff, Pond also share members with fellow Perth guys, Tame Impala. The two are compatible musically, but, as Joe explains, also work well as a touring act.
“It’s been pretty good, I must say. Everyone seems to be digging it. I reckon it’s going pretty well. I’ve been waiting for it to come out so there’s no more secrets and everyone can listen to it at will,” he says.
“It’s certainly amazing working with the Tame guys. I do their visuals at the moment. We’re all friends and have played in different bands together and shared houses together, and all that sort of business. Both bands coexist fairly harmoniously,” he says.
Although Pond’s line-up has changed, their sound and style has stayed consistent since their first album, Psychedelic Mango, which they recorded with a little help from friend Kevin Parker, the maestro behind Tame Impala records.
As well as Pond and Tame Impala, Perth has produced some exceptional Aussie bands, which Joe says is thanks to the economic climate, the distance, and inventing their own fun.
Joe attributes this consistency in quality to the fact that the original band members write the music. “Jay, Nick and I write all songs and we do have a pretty fluid line-up of people coming in and out, but I guess it’s consistent because it’s just the three of us writing and just the styles change,” he says. “But at the moment we’ve gone from a five-piece to a four-piece. Cameron is no longer able to play with us so it’s just Jay, Jamie, Nick and myself, which will be quite interesting to see how it works at Laneway. Just as we get semi-relaxed, we decide to change it up again; just in case there was any chance we were going to do a good show, we threw a spanner in the works!” Despite changes in the dynamics or membership, they guys have evolved since their early days in to working to produce their songs in a musical democracy. “Nowadays I come to the band with fully formed songs and usually a demo track as well, so the rest of the guys can understand what I’m on about. We used to write all together a couple of albums ago, but on the last few, everyone writes songs and everyone gets a say,” Joe says. “Maybe Jay or someone might come up with a better chord progression or something; Nick usually writes the lyrics so everyone has the ability to have their own touch on the songs. But for the most part, we all come in with fully formed songs, which makes it easier to get your point across.” Now Man it Feels like Space Again has been released, Pond are keen to enjoy their time at St Jerome’s Laneway Festivals sharing their new stuff and getting out to see the other bands. “I’m looking forward to catching all the other acts at Laneway. I really want to see Connan Mockasin. I’ve never seen him before but I’m a big fan of his music, so it’ll be cool to see him live. Mac DeMarco, of course, and Angel Olsen - I really want to check out as well. I heard Danny Brown’s going to be there as well, which is sick because we always miss him,” Joe says.
“It’s a strange town, Perth. I love it. We’ve got this mining boom, and everything is really expensive. The city is also really spread out. There’s an urban sprawl. It takes an hour or two to drive from the top to the bottom, so in that sense there’s not really much to do except music and art and having a good time,” he says. Pond’s album, Man it Feels Like Space Again is available now, and the video for the title track, which Joe describes as ‘the Apocalypse Now of Muppet Shows’, has also dropped. The making of the new record has been eloquently described by Nick as, “in the spirit of impulsiveness and lunacy it got shattered and scattered and pissed on and blow-dried in a small studio in Collingwood, Melbourne.” Joe agrees completely with this description and wouldn’t have had it any other way. “That’s actually quite articulate to describe what actually went down. We had two weeks. It was all up in the air. We were hoping it would work. It was all up to fate. Fate said, ‘Go and make an album, boys’, and we did. I can’t really add much to that, except it was a whole lot of fun,” he laughs. Pond play Laneway Festival, Hart’s Mill, Pt Adelaide, on Friday 6 February.
THE TIMBERS By Robert Dunstan
they soon had Sarah O’Brien on fiddle and Craig Atkins on percussion and a new band name.
Adelaide folk rock band The Timbers are excited about undertaking a special gig, Alone/Together, at which each of the band’s three main songwriters, Simon Basey, Ben Roberts and Joe Murphy, will play a solo set followed by a full band performance.
“Yeah, that was that band comp at The Gaslight Tavern,” Simon recalls with a laugh. “And I’m pretty sure we’d not even met Sarah or Craig back then.
Alone/Together is being staged by Shamrock N Shenanigan’s Danny Drummond who’d approached the band with the idea, but initially thought they weren’t interested. “Oh, I don’t think it was that we weren’t keen,” Simon Basey decides with a laugh, “as I think it had more to do with logistically working out when we could do it and where. “All three of us do a lot of songwriting and are always keen to get as many out there as possible and I personally loved the idea right from the beginning,” he adds. “And we all thought it was a great idea – it’s a really unique concept – because not too many other bands could put on a night with three members doing something like this.” Simon goes on to say the night will have each of the songwriters performing their songs solo with the night coming to a fitting conclusion with The Timbers in full band mode. “But we haven’t yet exactly worked out which order we’ll do our solo sets in,” Simon says. “We’ll probably only decide that on the night as a surprise. But it will start off with each of us doing a 20 or 30-minute solo set. And we picked The Jade Monkey because we had a really good time when we launched Lawless there last year. “The venue was also really accommodating and we had a great night,” he adds. “So we’re happy to get back there and it’s also a good sized venue for what we are looking to do.” The Timbers, with Simon on vocals, guitar, bass pedals, trombone and accordion, Benji on guitar, stomp box, mandolin, banjo, tin whistle and vocals, Joe on banjo, percussion and vocals and Kyle Cause on trumpet, percussion and vocals, had a big year in 2014. “A big highlight was finally getting our debut album out and launching it,” Simon states. “That was certainly a big milestone for us and we also had some amazing festival experiences last year. We played Illawarra Folk Festival, [Sunshine Coast’s] Caloundra Music Festival, The Tablelands Festival up near Cairns and did Gorgeous Festival down in McLaren Vale. “And we finished off the year by playing in Elder Park to thousands of people on New Year’s Eve,” he says, “and that was a real buzz. So we played to a lot of people last year all over Australia.” The Timbers’ origins go back to the duo Room 409.
The band, who picked up The Emily Burrows Award in 2013 and won Best Film Clip for Gallantry at Clare Valley Film Festival, have since had a number of line-up changes with Sarah and Craig departing ways but others quickly jumping on board. “And, without a great deal of major planning, everything seems to have fallen into place quite nicely for us,” Simon suggests. “We’re plodding along nicely at the moment.” And what of future plans for The Timbers? “We’ve already recorded a new album,” Simon reveals. “We finished it off last year by hiring out Cudlee Creek church and recorded it with Daniel Lizotte of Halfway To Forth. So the mixing process will soon begin and then we’ll be going through the whole process of putting out singles, the album and doing lots of tours.” It wasn’t until only recently that I discovered that Tasmania’s Daniel Lizotte and Kyle Lizotte of Adelaide duo Halfway To Forth are Diesel’s nephews. “Yeah, so he’s a handy person to have in the family,” Simon laughs. “And we’ve become really good mates with Halfway To Forth as they are great musicians with really good musical brains. And because they recorded their last album at that church in Cudlee Creek and got such a good sound, we thought we’d do our new album that way as well. “And over the next few months we have quite a few festivals coming up,” Simon then says. “We’ve got Yackandandah Festival, Folk In Broke Festival and a little tour in March.” The band scored a spot on The Tablelands Festival due to the recommendation of Tony Hillier, a noted music journalist who will be bringing his band, Kamerunga, to this year’s WOMADelaide. “Tony had been given a copy of our Lawless CD to review and because he quite liked it, he suggested us to the organisers,” Simon reveals. “So we’ll catch up with him again at WOMADelaide.” The Timbers would be a good fit for WOMADelaide. “Ah, we’d love to do that one year,” Simon laughs. “But we’ll be there anyway.” Simon Basey, Benjamin Roberts and Joe Murphy of The Timbers will each present solo sets at The Jade Monkey, 160 Flinders St, from 9pm on Friday 6 February under the name Alone/Together followed by The Timbers. Tickets will be at the door for $10.
“Ben and I had come back from Melbourne together [to Adelaide] and just started playing music together,” Simon reveals “So it’s all come from that.” I recall being a judge on a band competition that Room 409 had entered and while they certainly impressed myself and fellow judges, we did make a suggestion that the duo should recruit more members. Thus,
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THE MISADVENTURES OF MISS BOUZY ROUGE By Catherine Blanch
REBECCA DE UNAMUNO IS OPEN TO SUGGESTION By Catherine Blanch
TAHIR’S THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO BEING A RACIST By Catherine Blanch
Sarah Goussé is presenting her cabaret show The Misadventures Of Miss Bouzy Rouge at La Bohème during Adelaide Fringe
World Improv Champion Rebecca De Unamuno is bringing her 2005 Moosehead Award-winning solo improv show to Adelaide Fringe.
We sent her some entertaining questions. This is what she had to say.
One woman, three characters and no script... Open To Suggestion is based on audience suggestions which will see Rebecca performing a series of monologues until (somehow!) all three characters’ lives are intertwined.
Comedian TAHIR, who is easily recognisable from his roles on televisions Fat Pizza and Houso’s, is coming to the Adelaide Fringe with his new show The Complete Guide To Being A Racist.
What drew you into performing? “I’m not going to lie. I loved the attention. But it ended up being much more than that. It was the best feeling in the world to make people laugh and smile and feel when I performed. There was an overwhelming sense of achievement that I could share this gift and that I didn’t completely suck.” Favourite performer? “Judy Garland.” Performer you would most like to be? “Barbra Streisand in the ’60s and ’70s.” What is your best recovery technique for forgetting a line? “Say anything! It comes to you eventually and the audience doesn’t know you are messing it up.” Most famous person’s number you have in your phone? “Clementine Ford.” Favourite imaginary friend as a kid? “I only had one and his name was Savass. From a reputable source, AKA my mum, we went everywhere together. I insisted there was a place setting at dinner and a spare toothbrush for him.”
First comedy gig; when and where and how did it go? “My first comedy gig was at the University of Sydney. I took part in Theatresports, immediately followed by 5 Minute Noodles the student stand-up competition. My team ended up winning the Theatresports comp that year and I won 5 Minute Noodles. Oh my goodness that was soooooo long ago!” What drew you into performing comedy? “A desperate desire for attention.” Comedian you would most like to be? “Jay Leno. I’d love to be hugely successful, quit, give the job to someone else and then, when they get too popular and my new venture fails, take the job back.” Favourite joke you knew as a kid? “Did you hear Joyce Mayne died? Kelvinator.” Most famous person’s number/s you have in your phone? “Jason Alexander and Elijah Wood.”
Do you have a secret desire to be a movie star? “Yes, and it’s not a secret at all! I will be a movie star!”
Job you currently perform in your alternative life when not performing comedy? “Voice-over work. I’m sure I’ve been on your TV or radio selling you products you don’t need or want!”
What is your hidden talent? “I can tap dance. Just.”
Your porn star name [first pet/first street]? “Toby Oberon.”
Tell us something that people don’t yet know about you. “I’m scared of moths.”
Celebrity meet that left you star-struck? “As a kid I met the St George Bank dragon. Highlight of my young life.”
Celebrity meet that left you star-struck? “I met Mel C after her Jesus Christ Superstar performance and was completely silly. I felt like I was a 13-year-old groupie.”
Secret crush? “John Goodman. I fell in love with him as Dan Connor on Roseanne.”
Secret crush? “Gary Oldman. Delicious.” What’s something from your childhood that you still love and have today? “My mother.” Which performer would you 1. Song? 2. Marry? 3. Avoid? “Tina Fey, Tina Fey and Justin Bieber!” If you were a flavour of ice cream, what would you be and why? “Two scoops of rum ‘n’ raisin because it’s boozy and sweet, and dark chocolate because it’s decadent and naughty yet not entirely bad for you.” Any famous last words? “Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second rate version of someone else. - Judy Garland.” Sarah Goussé performs The Misadventures Of Miss Bouzy Rouge at La Bohème, 36 Grote St, at various times from Thursday 26 February until Saturday 28 February. Book at FringeTIX.
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Time travel; where would you most love to go and why? “Back to St Patrick’s Seminary, Manly in 1984. I’d convince a young Tony Abbott that he should remain a priest.” Has anyone literally wet themselves laughing at one of your shows? “Yes. I used to run a school shows business, performing improv shows for students from K–12. One kindergarten show saw a little boy have to get up and leave because he wet his pants laughing. Best review ever!!” If you were a flavour of ice cream, what would you be and why? “Rocky Road – it describes my career and relationships perfectly.” Rebecca De Unamuno performs Open To Suggestion at Gluttony’s The Piglet from 7.50pm from Tuesday 3 March until Sunday 15 March. Book at FringeTIX.
We sent some silly questions to TAHIR. This is what he had to say. First comedy gig; when and where and how did it go? “Sydney Comedy Store in 1995. It went well as the four mates I brought along with me egged me on.” What drew you into performing comedy? “The fame, the chicks, the drugs and the money!” Favourite comedian? “Akmal.” Comedian you would most like to be? “None... Have you seen how warped they all are?” Comedy duo or trio; who would be your partner/s in crime? “Pauline Hanson. You can’t get any funnier than that!” Favourite joke you knew as a kid? “Why did the skeleton jump out the window? He had no guts! (I won a prize on radio as a kid for that!)” Most famous person’s number you have in your phone? “Mark Bosnich and Anthony Mundine.” Tell us something that people don’t yet know about you. “I love magic and have collected many tricks. I also have a teaching degree.” Celebrity meet that left you star-struck? “Joe Esposito. Elvis Presley’s best friend and tour manager. He had some stories, and it’s the closest you can come to The King.” Secret crush? “My secret crush is this: pineapple, lime juice, apple juice, banana, crushed with ice. So, now you know…” How do you deal with annoying people who insist you tell them a joke once they discover you are a comedian? “Ask them what they do for a living and then force them to perform their profession on the spot. I really want a porn star to insist on a joke.” Has anyone literally wet themselves laughing at one of your shows? “Probably, but one time in Canberra a couple went to the third tier of the theatre to have sex during the interval of one of my shows, only to return back to their front row seats for the second half. My comedy makes people horny!” If you were a flavour of ice cream, what would you be and why? “Frozen yogurt because I’m different.” TAHIR performs The Complete Guide To Being A Racist at Gluttony’s The Piglet from 8pm from Friday 13 February until Sunday 1 March. Book at FringeTIX.
AKMAL By Catherine Blanch Akmal Saleh is an Egyptian-born Australian comedian, although he finds the term comedian to be highly subjective. On open mic night at Sydney Comedy Store in 1990 set him on his comedy journey that has seen him tour both locally and internationally. A regular to the Adelaide Fringe, we sent Akmal some amusing questions. First comedy gig; when and where and how did it go? “I started very early. From the moment I left the womb I started performing to the doctors and nurses, although my material was limited to jokes about umbilical cords and being smacked on the bum etc. My mum heckled me.” What drew you into performing comedy? “It came down to two choices: comedy or drug smuggling. I chose comedy because the hours are better, and you can sleep in in the morning.” Favourite comedian? “Tony Abbott, what a genius.” Comedian you would most like to be? “One day I would like to be Kitty Flanagan. The problem is Kitty is not the least bit interested in being Akmal – not even for a week or two.” Comedy duo or trio; who would be your partner/s in crime? “I would like to have Adam Hills as my partner in crime, because no one would suspect him and we could hide the drugs in his fake leg.” Most famous person’s number you have in your phone? “Russell Crowe. I got it from his phone when he threw it at my head and I caught it with my front teeth – what a night.” Favourite childhood memory? “I remember when my parents told me they just wanted to be friends from now on. And that they wanted to see other kids.” Celebrity meet that left you star-struck? “Russell Crowe, who struck me several times in the head using a drunk George Clooney.” Secret crush? “Secretly I would like to crush Justin Bieber.” What’s something from your childhood that you still love and have today? “I can’t talk too much about this except to say that I’m very attached to it or rather it’s attached to me and has been with me through thick and thin but mostly thin.” Favourite or worse heckle you’ve ever had? “Get Off!” (My wife Cate)… and that’s when I’m comforted by my faithful childhood friend.” Akmal performs at Royalty Theatre, Angas St, at various times from Friday 13 February until Saturday 14 March (Fri & Sat nights only). Book at FringeTIX.
SHANE HOWARD
UPDATE Adelaide-based The Germein Sisters, the internationally acclaimed pop, folk and rock sister band of Georgia (lead vocals, piano and guitar), Ella (electric cello and bass guitar) and Clara (drums and guitar), will perform songs from their latest album, Because You Breathe, which was recorded in Ireland with The Corrs’ and Hozier’s producer, as part of Adelaide Fringe. See them at The Aurora Spiegeltent in The Garden Of Unearthly Delights from 7pm on Friday 6 March with tickets via FringeTix. As part of Adelaide Fringe, Sydney’s legendary power pop band Sunnyboys have announced a huge national tour that will bring them to the Governor Hindmarsh Hotel, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, on Sunday 8 March with soon to be legendary local band Bad//Dreems as special guests. Book quickly via FringeTix. Adelaide’s Gorilla Jones promise an extended line-up and special guests when they launch debut album, Third In The First World, at Arcade Lane on Friday 13 February as part of Adelaide Fringe. It’s free entry prior to 10pm and the CD will set you back a mere $10. Melbourne rockers Dallas Royal are heading over to play a free entry gig as part of Adelaide Fringe and it will take place from 9pm on Thursday 12 March at The Royal Oak, 123 O’Connell St, North Adelaide, with Surviving Sharks as special guests. As part of Adelaide Fringe, Brillig will be presenting A Night In Nashville in story and song at The Grace Emily Hotel, 232 Waymouth St, from 6pm on Saturday 21 February and 6pm on Saturday 28 February. Tickets via FringeTix. Daddy Cool legend Ross Hannaford will bring his guitar to Semaphore Workers Club, 93 The Esplanade, Semaphore, from 8pm on Friday 13 March. Book at FringeTix. Sympathy Orchestra, in conjunction with SoundTeam, will be presenting their progressive musical stylings in quadrophonic sound as part of Adelaide Fringe. It all happens over two nights, Friday 13 March and Sunday 15 March at 8.30pm at The Garage International, North Adelaide Community Centre, 176 Tynte St, North Adelaide. Book via FringeTix. The Audreys have just issued their fourth album, ’Til My Tears Roll Away, on vinyl and you can see them in action on Wednesday 4 March at Aurora Spiegeltent, The Garden Of Unearthly Delights, as part of Adelaide Fringe with tickets on sale via FringeTix. As part of Adelaide Fringe, local singers Tom West, Todd Sibbin, Ryan Oliver and Ryan Hutcheson will be presenting the songs of Neil Young in a show called Helpless at the Governor Hindmarsh, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, from 7pm on Sunday 22 February. Tickets via FringeTix. Courtney Robb and Soursob Bob are set to play a series of Adelaide Fringe shows at the Grace Emily Hotel, 232 Waymouth St, from 4pm on Sunday 15 February, Sunday 22 February and Sunday 1 March along with regional shows in Mylor and Clare Valley. Book via FringeTix. The Port Rocks, now a regular Adelaide Fringe event, returns to various heritage Port Adelaide live music venues on Sunday 22 February and once again boasts as stellar line-up as well as food trucks, retro fashion and classic cars. Come see a
sensational line-up of Adelaide’s hip bands starting off at 11am with Prawnhead in Black Diamond Sq and The Memphis Suns at The British Hotel. Around the corner at 11 Nile St, check out ticketed event The Satellites and The Lincolns at Waterside Worker’s Hall which features a wooden dance floor, stage and bar. Or join the pub crawl and catch Marlene Richards at Newmarket Hotel, The Dirty Roots Band at Port Dock Brewery, The Rustlers at First Commercial Hotel, The Party Cats at Dockside Tavern, In Like Flynn at Lighthouse Hotel and Big Smoke at Railway Hotel. Head to <facebook.com/ThePortRocks> for further information. As part of Adelaide Fringe, Sydney’s The Backsliders and raw US blues duo Old Gray Mule will sliding into the The Govenor Hindmarsh, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, on Friday 13 February. Tickets via FringeTix. Bonobo, a musician, producer and DJ, hailing from Britain, is returning to our shores armed with his fifth album, The North Borders. Catch him at Royal Croquet Club on Sunday 15 March with tickets via FringeTix. Athletic Teenage Joggers will launch their Hello Demons EP with help from Friday’s Fox and Kitchen Witch at the Grace Emily Hotel, 232 Waymouth St, from 9pm on Saturday 28 February as a free entry Adelaide Fringe event. As part of Adelaide Fringe, Motown Connection, who pay respect to the Motown era, will be performing a special show at the Governor Hindmarsh, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, on Saturday 21 February. Book quickly at FringeTix or via the venue as these shows sell out rather quickly. Trinity Sessions at Church Of The Trinity, 318 Goodwod Rd, Clarence Pk, will be busy during Adelaide Fringe as they will be playing host to London-based cellist and composer Jo Quail on Friday 20 February and Saturday 21 February and Ruth Moody of The Wailin’ Jennys on Thursday 26 February. The venue will also have Ireland’s Edwina Hayes performing on Sunday 22 March. The line-up for Kustom Kulture Weekender has just been announced for Highway Inn, Anzac Hwy, Plympton, as part of Adelaide Fringe. On Friday 13 March, it’s Sydney-based ska legends The Allniters alongside Fistful Of Trojans and Young Offenders, on Saturday 14 March it’s Big Sandy and Los Straitjackets from the US with The Saucermen, The Satellites and Madeleine DeVille, while on Sunday 15 March, it’s El Caminos. On Saturday 14 March, The Rememberz and The Jamjets will also be playing in the car park from high noon as part of the Hotrod & Kustom Showdown. Tickets via FringeTix.
SHANE HOWARD By Robert Dunstan Shane Howard, formerly of Aussie band Goanna and writer of their now iconic ’80s hit Solid Rock has just issued his 13th solo album, Deeper South, and is touring it nationally. “I think the world’s falling apart and that’s what the record is all about,” Shane laughs when we speak over a crackly phone line. “We’re in a period of incredible change because Marxism and Capitalism were both constructs of the industrial revolution and didn’t work and we are now in postindustrial era. “Businesses are quickly disappearing, mostly because of the internet, and I don’t think anyone knows where it’s all going to end up because everything is changing so quickly. So this album is about the notion of change and a bit of an artistic attempt on my part to get a bearing on things. And that’s why I used that image of a floating boat in the sky by a wonderful local painter for the cover. We are all just floating along.” Deeper South was recorded at Shane’s home studio with the core live band of John Hudson on guitar, dobro and mandolin and Ewen Baker on fiddle and mandolin and they are both touring with him. Ruben Shannon then added upright bass, Peter Grayling and Rosie Luby added cello, Tommy Carty layed down some bouzouki and Andy Richardson (once known as Howling Wind) added flute. You’re The Love was penned with noted US session drummer Russ Kunkel who has worked with everyone from Bob Dylan through to Neil Young and even The Bee Gees. “I did that tour a while back with Carole King and Russ was her drummer,” Shane says. “And when you look at what he’s done, it’s just amazing because he’s probably on half of my record collection. He’s everywhere. “Anyway, Russ turned up at my dressing room door on the first night of the tour in Canberra and said, ‘Hi, you must be Shane. I’m Russ’. And we got on really well during that tour and had lots of great conversations. And one night we were having a talk about the Sufi concept of that when you die, if your heart is as light as feather, you ascend. “Russ thought it was a great concept and suggested I write a song about it,” Shane recalls. “So I pulled out pen and paper and we started writing it there and then. So it went from there and we kept in touch via email and I sent over a rough knock-up of the song and he had some more input into the lyrics and also sent back a beautiful string arrangement. “And since then Russ has given the song to Keith Sewell, Lyle Lovett’s guitar player, to record,” he continues. “Apparently he’s already done it but I haven’t heard it yet. So we’ll see what happens with that.
older guys have given them, keep wanting to do it,” Shane laughs. “Every generation seems to throw up a new batch of young songwriters who still want to keep on doing it.” Many of them, in this town at least, seem to be rootsy, folk-minded solo musicians. “And that’s probably a consequence of the financial realities on one level because who can afford to tour a full band these days, but I also think we are also on the verge of a reinvention of the folk traditions of the ’60s and ’70s. “We lived through that time in the heady ’80s and ’90s when record companies had huge budgets and, in some ways, it was a healthy time for music,” Shane continues. “But those days are long gone. “And those old ways won’t work now,” he then reasons. “The young crew coming up are going in a completely new direction and in many ways leaving the music industry, as an industry, way behind. And over the last 20 years or so we’ve seen the complete dismantling of the power structure of the music industry. “Oh, incessantly,” Shane responds with a laugh when I ask if he still receives requests for Goanna to reform. “It’s complicated because do you go back or look forward? But I think that, as an artist, you have to keep pushing forward. “Having said that, over the summer break, I was listening to Goanna’s Spirit Of Place album and I heard it differently from how I remembered it,” he adds. “It’s not something I play often – hadn’t heard it for years – so when I heard it again I was quite surprised. “What I heard was youthful exuberance and a bold optimism,” he laughs. “So I think age has tempered me.” Shane turned 60 on Australia Day of this year. “I was actually more scared of hitting 50,” he laughs. “I thought back then, ‘Oh, I’d better get a proper job now and look at paying some form of superannuation’. But that didn’t happen. “So I think that when you turn 60, you realise that you don’t care less what people think anymore. If they haven’t been able to stop you so far, they won’t be able to now. “And that’s also what the new record is about,” Shane concludes. “It’s just a case of, ‘Let’s play on’. This is what I’ve been doing all my life so at 60 it’s best just being who you are, carrying on, and doing the best you can do.” Shane Howard will launch Deeper South at Trinity Sessions, Church Of The Trinity, 318 Goodwood Rd, Clarence Pk, from 6pm (doors at 5.30pm) on Sunday 8 February with Halfway To Forth as special guests. Tickets via <dramatixcom.au>.
“And where songs come from and where they end up is always interesting,” Shane, who has had songs covered by John Farnham and Irish songstress Mary Black, adds. Shane is pleased to hear that that Adelaide music scene is going well with lots of young bands springing up. “Y’know, I think that the next generation of musicians, despite all the warnings us
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CD/DVD REVIEWS
CD REVIEWS
CAPER South Paw Reviewer: Craig Atkins 3/5 Adelaide based Hip-Hop MC/Producer “Caper” has released of his latest offering in the form of ‘South Paw’ – a very generous 18 tracks of hip-hop driven beats and lyrical poetry, also joined by guest vocalists Darren Mullan, Alex McKay, Sophie Metcalfe, Tony Minniecon and Ben Iota. The production quality on the recordings is a perfect balance of samples and beats that allows the vocals to flow throughout the mix, with topics ranging from haters putting him down, the desire to be better and rise up, cultural injustice, domestic violence and the stolen generation, just to name a few. There is no doubting Caper’s lyrical ability to take a tough situation or experience and give it its own identity in the form of a well crafted and produced Hip Hop track, laced with his unique honesty and perspective of “telling it like it is.” Some of the stand out tracks for me include ‘Goodbye’ (feat Darren Mullan), about family and friends who turn their back and put him down, ‘Own Path’ (feat Sophie Metcalfe), about following your dreams regardless of obstacles in the way, and ‘Crazy in Love’ (feat Alex McKay) about domestic violence. Given some of Caper’s achievements to date, he is an artist on the rise and for all Hip-Hop fans this is definitely an album to throw the headphones on and take a listen.
LESER Get That Reviewer: Savvy 5/5 So do you like the Prodigy? Yes? Well what if I told you that we have our very own equivalent right here in Adelaide? It’s true. Say hello to LESER! This guy pushes the industrial / big beat sound to whole new horizons, and uses samples, and his synth skills to a high and accurate level. His use of sound is mind blowing, and the combinations he has come up with on this EP are phenomenal. Pinning down just one track from this EP and calling it my “favourite” was very difficult because all four tracks are equally as good. If I must be choosy, I nominate the opening track “Get That”, as it instantly sums up what Leser is all about. It starts by leading you into a false sense of security - and then bam! - the energy, the grit, the attitude…. it all instantly hits you like a freight train. I love it. The EP instantly lets you know “Hey, this is Leser!” It’s like the perfect introduction to an amazing local artist. Track 4 on the EP, “The Choice” has an oriental sound to it, but then Leser adds his own spice of big beat to the mix and the result works extremely well. Definitely check that one out. My comments do not do this EP justice. You must hear it, so make sure you “GET THAT” EP! (Pun well and truly intended). I look forward to hearing more from Leser.
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Music SA and BSide Magazine proudly bring you reviews of new releases by South Australian artists. If you’re a local act and have a new single, EP or LP, visit musicsa.com.au for details on how to submit it. Reviewers Wanted! We’re looking for talented writers with a passion for SA music. Interested? Email info@musicsa.com. au with your contact details and a sample of your writing.
THE DUNES Bad:Lands Reviewer: Craig Atkins 4/5
THE MOTIVE Self Titled Reviewer: Phil Catley 4/5
The Dunes have been on the Adelaide scene for a few years now, originally as a 2 piece consisting of Stacie Reeves (vocals) & Matt Reiner (guitar). Incidentally, Reiner is one of my favourite local songwriters stemming from the days of ‘The Aunt Sally’s’ through to this current project.
The Motive is a hot 4-piece band delivering classic ‘90s style original rock with a hard hitting rhythm section and an atomic twin guitar assault. This self titled EP of 5 songs is their first release.
Since late 2011, The Dunes have expanded to a 5 piece with Dan Fernie-Harper (drums), Adam Vanderwerf (bass) and Jess Honeychurch (keys); their inclusion has resulted in a great and unique sound that has evolved, and I’m sure will continue to grow in texture and layering. Their recent double A side single “Bad:Lands” was released in September 2014 and features 3 tracks (at 24+ minutes total) of psych dream pop. From the opening synth notes of “Badlands” the first thing that becomes evident is the sensational mood and vibe these musicians have created. The sound production is excellent, a quality mix allowing all instruments their respective space. They have captured the hypnotic repetition of the guitar, keys and rhythm parts, and allowed the reverb-drenched vocals to float above, weaving a haunting sonic tapestry. This is a definite must listen for fans of the psych, dream pop, shoe-gaze fuzz sound. I for one am certainly keen to keep both eyes peeled and earholes open for the next chapter of this band’s story.
The band comprises Heath Weber (Vocals, guitar), Chad Howard (Drums), Daniel Cava (Guitar), and Michael Petkovic (Bass). They formed in early 2013 when Michael joined the other 3 members of what was left of “Your Motive For”. After dropping a keyboard player they shortened the name and focused on producing solid guitar driven rock. Heath leads the charge and really has a great voice for this style of rock, which can be described as post-Nirvana ‘90s rock. While The Motive doesn’t really sound like the Foo Fighters, it is in that style if you want a reference point. This EP’s opening track “Livin” does enough to set the scene for what’s to follow. A wall of uncompromising drums and guitars, chord driven yet harmonic, this is a relentless statement about what a rock band should be, and its echoes can be heard across the next 4 tracks. I enjoyed the CD cover too, which shows vintage black and white photographs of what appear to be Mexican soldiers on a train. Fully armed, ready for battle, and just like The Motive, ready to rock!
LOST RAGAS
The show must go on. LOST RAGAS By Robert Dunstan Melbourne’s Lost Ragas are heading back to town armed with a new single, Marijuana Mornings, which they’ve issued as a free download from a forthcoming second album, The band, Matt Walker on guitar and vocals, Shane Reilly on pedal steel, mandolin and piano, Simon Burke on drums and Roger Bergodaz on bass, released Phantom Ride to much acclaim which they will now follow-up with Trans Atlantic Highway. I first came across Matt Walker in the late ’70s when he ventured over to play Goolwa Folk Festival and undertook a late night event in the football club with Chris Finnen as part of that event. “Wow, I was just a pup then,” Matt laughs. “I would have been about 18. And on that tour I would have had a cassette for sale. My first couple of solo albums were on cassette.” In the late ’90s, Matt teamed up with drummer Ashley Davies as a duo and their 1997 debut offering, I Listen To The Night, was well-received while Soul Witness three years later went on to win an ARIA award. They released several more recordings before Matt formed The Necessary Few (with Roger Bergodaz on drums, Simon Burke on piano and Squire on bass), played gigs and recorded with Broderick Smith of The Dingoes and then embarked on a solo career before getting Lost Ragas together. “Looking back, I can only say I’m still getting away with it,” Matt chuckles. ‘It’s probably a bit of a cliché, but as you get older you start to get a few runs on the board even it it’s only in your own backyward. And I’ve got a studio now [The 8-Track Shack] at home and I’m starting to get a few people here to record. “Brod Smith is here at the moment recording his next album and I’ve just done a record with Jimmy Dowling,” he says. “It’s just that music and the process of making it is still what I want to be doing. So it’s a mix of working with other people on their stuff and going out on the road with Lost Ragas.” Matt Walker and I then both struggle to recall if Lost Ragas had ever made the trip to Adelaide before. I remembered seeing Matt a couple of years ago, at least, but we both think that would have been for the launch of his last solo album, In Echoes Of Dawn, at the Wheatsheaf Hotel. “Yeah, that was a solo thing although Shane [Reilly] did come over with me for it,” Matt says. “So it’ll be good to get back to The Wheatsheaf. “Ah, yes,” he then adds. “Lost Ragas have been over to Adelaide. We came over to do [2013’s] Deep South Festival at the Governor Hindmarsh after I’d been over for the launch of In Echoes Of Dawn.” Wasn’t it the recording of In Echoes Of Dawn, which came with a bonus instrumental disc called Lost Ragas, that lead to the formation of Lost Ragas. “Sort of,” Matt considers, “because basically I hadn’t done an album for a few years and I just isolated myself and made that record on my own. But when it came to playing some shows for it, I didn’t want to just play solo.
become known as ‘the piano man’, so I got a few people together. And one of them was Simon [Burke] who was a pianist who’d just started to play drums. So he was keen to be on the kit and it just kind of became a band. “And because it really clicked we then recorded an album, Phantom Ride, and are just putting the finishing touches on a new one. So we’ve put out a single, Marijuana Mornings, as a free download – or pay what you feel like – and when we do the launch shows we’ll be playing quite a few songs from the new album.” “So the new album is all done and we nowjust have to navigate through doing the artwork and putting it together,” Matt continues. “And we’re also looking at doing a vinyl pressing. “And doing vinyl is an extra cost,” he sighs. “It’d be great to do – we almost got the first one out on vinyl but it didn’t happen – but we’re certainly going to try and do it. “But, rather than wait for all that to happen, we thought we’d put a song out and then do a launch tour,” he adds. “We just wanted to get out there and play some of the songs.” Adelaide duo The Yearlings will venture over to Melbourne to take part in Lost Ragas’ hometown launch after also playing with the band in Adelaide. “I’ve known them for a few years now,” Matt says of Chris Parkinson and Robin Chalken. “And I’ve loved all their albums. And the new album [All The Wandering] they’ve just done with Mick Wordley is one of my favourite records of last year. “It’s such a beautiful, beautiful recording,” he adds. While Matt has his own studio, Lost Ragas’ new offering was recorded at bass player Roger Bergodaz’s home studio. “We tend to do the band stuff at his place,” Matt reveals, “because when I am playing as well as singing I just like someone else to be engineering. And Roger is heaps good at engineering and playing bass at the same time.” Lost Ragas will launch new single Marijuana Mornings at The Wheatsheaf Hotel, 39 George St, Theabrton, SA, from 4pm on Sunday 8 February with The Yearlings as special guests. Tickets at the door.
I note with interest that Leo Sayer is currently traipsing around the South Australian countryside with Adelaide musician Sean Kemp in tow on a regional jaunt that will eventually bring the wayward pair to Grote St’s Her Majesty’s Theatre on the evening of Saturday 7 February. And I noted this with interest as I’d first come across the name Leo Sayer when I bought a vinyl copy – I searched and searched everywhere at the time but couldn’t find it on CD anywhere – of The Who’s singer Roger Daltrey’s first solo album, a self-titled affair from 1973, and duly noted that someone called Leo Sayer, along with someone else called David Courtney, had penned nine of the album’s 11 offerings.
It might have been around this time that I read somewhere that the lovely, bookletsized black and white booklet that came inside the Just A Boy vinyl album was being discontinued so, for reasons that are now rather unclear, I took it from the actual album and, for safekeeping and to possibly aid my retirement fund, placed the now valuable and rare black and white booklet in that special safe place I can no longer remember.
Some time later that year I spied a copy of an album called Silverbird and noted that it was the debut solo album by Leo Sayer. “Hmm, I wonder what this clown is like as a singer,” I thought to myself and knew that the only way I’d find out was to purchase it and spend some time with it spinning on my turntable. Anyway, I found it to be a most enjoyable album at the time and kind of loved the vintage musical hall feel of such songs as The Show Must Go On and Oh Wot A Life. I was also intrigued by the fact that Leo was managed by Adam Faith, an English pop singer from the early ’60s whom my mum quite liked and whom I quite liked in his role as self-taught, minor criminal Budgie in the relatively short-lived ITV British television series of the same name.
Anyway, I then purchased Leo’s next album, 1975’s Another Year, and, once again, found it an engaging offering with songs such as Bedsitter Land, Streets Of Your Town (no, not The Go-Betweens’ song of the same name) and it’s charming hit single, Moonlighting.
It wasn’t until Leo’s second album, 1974’s Just A Boy, however, that he began to score any notable hits such as with the songs One Man Band and Long Tall Glasses which both sailed up the charts.
So, with three fine offerings under his belt, It was almost a no-brainer not to grab Leo’s next offering, Endless Flight, sight unheard. But, if only we had the internet back then, I could have checked before making the purchase and found out through various fan forums that it marked a stark change of direction for our Leo.
And due to the success of those songs in this country, Leo toured and I fondly recall seeing him in performance mode at the now long-gone Apollo Stadium in the stillstanding suburb of Richmond.
Endless Flight was a disco-influenced album recorded in the US under the helm of producer Richard Perry and a host of American session players such as guitarists Earl Slick, Lee Ritenour and Larry Carlton.
From my hazy memory of some 40 years ago, it was a nice evening out with Leo being in a very energetic and entertaining mood.
As such, it was not too much to my liking as my ears were then beginning to bend towards the earthy sounds of the pub rock bands emerging from the UK such as Dr Feelgood, Brinsley Schwarz and the like. And perhaps the only good thing about grabbing a copy of Endless Flight when it was first released is that the album version of When I Need You didn’t have the saxophone solo that later featured on the huge hit single of the same name. And future pressings of the vinyl album replaced the original sax-less version of the song with the sax-filled version. So the original pressing of the Endless Flight album is now quite a rare and possibly a valuable thing. So, upon hearing this news, for safekeeping and to possibly aid my retirement fund, I also placed the now quite rare album in that special safe place I can no longer remember. Anyway, fast forward about 40 years to 2013 and I somehow ended up meeting Leo at Adelaide Cabaret Festival and having my photograph taken with him – and which is now also in that special safe place I can no longer remember – and found him to be a most funny and very witty kind of musical clown.
“And I’d written most of the album on piano and didn’t want to lug a piano around and
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DAVIDE MAZZOCCHETTI
DAVIDE MAZZOCCHETTI By Robert Dunstan Adelaide guitar wizard Davide Mazzocchetti (AKA Foxx Qu) was invited to take part in black tie event Hope For A Yellow Cause and immediately agreed. Davide has since helped promote the now sold out concert that will raise funds and awareness for a cancer-free future. “I don’t think there are too many people who haven’t been touched by some form of cancer,” he begins. “It’s a very band disease and I’ve known a few people who have died from having it. It’s so sad to see comrades go that way. “I’d been chosen to take part in Hope For A Yellow Cause by Marie Tantis who is a representative of the Cancer Council Of SA,” he says. “So I put my heart and soul into it in helping them out. “And I’ve donated about $3,000 worth of guitar gear to the cause ]to be auctioned on the night] and also invested a lot more money towards promoting the event to try and raise as much money and awareness as we can.” “And there are some big organisations behind it,” Davide adds, “because Origin Energy have donated $10,000.” The self-taught guitarist, who founded Adelaide band Figjam in the late ’80s – and not to be confused with the current Figjam –, says it was his early love of both classical and rock music that led to him picking up a guitar as a youngster. “I picked up guitar at age 12 after listening to my first Black Sabbath track,” Davide readily recalls. “And I was also listening to Deep Purple and then I started listening a lot to Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath and thought, ‘This is amazing!’. “So because I come from an Italian family with three children, every day after school I would grab my guitar are just start practicing by mimicking my idols And at the age of 14 I won an award for Guitarist Of The Year from John Reynolds Music City.
illusionist Nicholas Tweedy and dance crew Hyperdance. “I think Nicholas Tweedy is just amazing,” he says of the bearded American illusionist who can bend metal forks with the touch of his finger, make playing cards fly around the room and seemingly read peoples’ minds. “So I can’t wait to see him again,” he then says. “And Alex Hosking is as great up and coming new talent. She has the voice of an angel. “And for the show I’ll be playing a very, very new piece that I have especially written for some very, very sick people I know who have cancer,” Davide reveals. “It’s a very dynamic and quite spectacular piece and when I’ve played it to people I’ve had them in tears. It’s a very full-on, very moving piece. “So I shall open with that and then play Pachabel’s Canon In D, probably some Bach as well and then The Australian National Anthem done in the style [Queen’s] Brian May might do it, and then finish off with something equally spectacular. “I’ll also be doing a mind-blowing version of The Bee Gees’ Spicks & Specks done in the style of Yngwie Malmsteen,” he adds. The musician was also quite excited as earlier that day he’d dropped off his Flying V guitar at Fretco in Gilbert St in the city to have it customised. “I’ve now had a few custom guitars done at Fretco,” he says. “They’re really, really good. I use Seymour Duncan pickups and the guys at Fretco are really, really good at that.” Adelaide guitar wizard Davide Mazzocchetti (AKA Foxx Qu) will be performing at The Cancer Council Of SA’s SOLD OUT Hope For A Yellow Cause Charity Ball from 7pm at Cypriot Community Centre, 5-8 Barrpowell St, Welland, on Friday 6 February alongside illusionist Nicholas Tweedy, singer songwriter Alex Hosking and Hyperdance Dance Crew. For more information, contact Marie Tantis via <hopeforyellow@outlook.com>
“So it all went from there and I have been blowing people away with my playing ever since,” he proudly continues. “I can’t really tell you how I do it, I just do it. And if it sound good, I just play it. “So I play a style a bit like [Sweden’s] Yngwie Malmsteen,” Davide then says of his favourite guitarist who will be in Adelaide next week to perform at HQ on Wednesday 11 February. “I incorporate the neo classical style – I love the music of Bach and Vivaldi and lots of other baroque music – with the heavy sounds of Black Sabbath,” Davide quickly continues. “I have a tune in my head and then my fingers just explode at a million miles per hour. “I also play cello, bass and drums but they are all self-taught,” he adds. The upcoming event boasts an interesting line-up of Davide alongside up and coming singer songwriter Alexandra Hosking (who recently performed as one of the local acts at the Handpicked Festival alongside Sheppard and Jessica Maubouy), master
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HEADING TO TOWN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 Guitar legend Greg Koch is heading to town to conduct a Fender Roadshsow. Presented by John Reynolds Music City, the event will take place at The Governor Hindmarsh, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, on Wednesday 4 March.
FEBRUARY 5TH - FEBRUARY 11TH THURSDAY 5 FEBRUARY Arkaba - Quiz Thursdays Crown & Anchor – Quaint Attraction plus guests Crown & Sceptre – The Engineers, Treason Revolution Of Rhyme and Atticus Exeter – Honor Davey, Scum Vegas and Ocean Shift Gaslight Tavern – Groove Factory Jam hosted by Funky Fingers Governor Hindmarsh – Front Bar: Gumbo Room Blues Jam with host Billy Bob Grace Emily – Little Miss and Jesse Francis Hotel Metro – Daystarr, Bushkill Park and The Fyoogs HQ – The Gaslight Anthem (US) and Chris Farren (US) Jive – Kim Churchill (NSW), Boo Seeka and Pepa Knight Whitmore – Rainbow Jam FRIDAY 6 FEBRUARY Arkaba - Sean Robertson Crown & Anchor – Chase City (Hobart) plus guests Crown & Sceptre – Sons Of ZUKO, The Raging Monkeys and Puritan Exeter – Spacetrash plus guests Governor Hindmarsh – Saloon Bar: Irish Sessions Front Bar: Appalachian Sessions Gaslight Tavern – ’60s and ’70s music night Grace Emily Hotel – Crackling Static Fuzz and The Systemaddicts Harts Mill (Port Adelaide) – Laneway Festival Her Majesty’s Theatre – The Searchers (UK) Hotel Metro – Disparo, Powerchuck, Terania, Uncle Geezer, Wounded Pig and Found Drugs DJs Marion Hotel - Graham Lawrence Railway Hotel (Pt Adelaide) – Duke (from 5pm) Ramsgate Hotel – Live Bands Rocket Bar – The Vanns (Sydney) Semaphore Workers Club – live blues The Bluebee Room – John Flanagan (Melbourne), Kelly Menhennett and Cal Williams Jnr Tonsley Hotel - One Planet, Brash, Mr Buzzy Wheatsheaf – The Sloe Ruin (EP launch) and Cosmo Thundercat Whitmore – Gwyn Ashton (Wales) SATURDAY 7 FEBRUARY Arkaba - Tempus Vex Crown & Anchor – Fresh Kills, The Villenettes and The Aves Crown & Sceptre – Owls & Crows, Dawn Of Man and Oxymoron Exeter – John Flanagan (Melbourne), Emily Davis and Simon Peter Gaslight Tavern – ’80s and ’90s music night Governor Hindmarsh – Main Room: Ronnie Taheny and Ben Ford-Davies Front Bar: Dom’s Garage (free) Grace Emily – The Saucermen and The Jamjets Her Majesty’s Theatre – Leo Sayer (UK) and Sean Kemp Hotel Metro - Three Quarter Beast (Melbourne) and Startakit Hotel Royal (Torrensville) - Greg Wain Jive – Imogen Brave (CD launch), Ice On Mercury and The Crown and then Gosh! with DJ Craig Marion Hotel - Franky F Tonsley Hotel - The A-Team Wheatsheaf Hotel – Down On The Plains: Kieran Ryan (Melbourne), Julia Jacklin (Sydney) and Delia Obst
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SUNDAY 8 FEBRUARY Arkaba Hotel – Vogue Duo Coopers Brewery – Sting (UK), Paul Simon (US) and Sarah Blasko Crown & Anchor – Sunday Rubdown, Adam Page & Paul White (5pm) Exeter – Magnetic Garden Fowler’s Live – Lamb (UK) Franklin – Craig Atkins Gaslight Tavern – The Jazz Hands and special guests Grace Emily Hotel – Fleur Green & The Keepers and Southie Hampshire Hotel – Jay Hoad and Chris Finnen (CD launch from 2pm) Railway Hotel (Pt Adelaide) – The Tonight Show Semaphore Workers Club – live blues The Singing Gallery – John Flanagan (Melbourne), Sasha Marsh and Kelly Menhennett Tonsley Hotel - JR Acoustic Wheatsheaf Hotel – Lost Ragas (Melbourne) and The Yearlings MONDAY 9 FEBRUARY Crown & Anchor – Ben David plus guests Exeter – Ghyti and guests Grace Emily Hotel – Billy Bob’s BBQ Jam The Old Spot – Gwyn Ashton (Wales) Wheatsheaf – COMA Winter Sessions: Jazz with James Muller and guests TUESDAY 10 FEBRUARY Crown & Anchor – CJ Ramone (US) and Pro-Tools Exeter – Bitches Of Zeus DJs Gaslight Tavern – Blues Lounge Blues Jam with special guest Gwyn Ashton (Wales) Gilbert St Hotel – The Airbenders Governor Hindmarsh – Adelaide Ukulele Appreciation Society Hotel Metro – Acoustic Club Tuesday Torrens Arms Hotel - DJs Ryley & Apex WEDNESDAY 11 FEBRUARY Adelaide Entertainment Centre – Kenny Rogers (US) and Amber Joy Poulton Exeter – DJ Oisima Gaslight Tavern – Midweek Melt Governor Hindmarsh Hotel – Main Room; Infected Mushroom (Israel) Front Bar: Open Mic Night Grace Emily – Matt Ward and Matt Hayward HQ – Yngwie Malmsteen (Sweden) Kensington Hotel - Uke & Play
Popular American punk outfit Against Me!, joined by Californian band Joyce Manor, will return to Australia to play Adelaide Uni Bar on Friday 5 June. Welsh post hardcore act Funeral For A Friend have announced a tour to promote new studio album, Chapter & Verse, that will bring them to Fowler’s Live, 66-68 North Tce, on Thursday 23 April at which Sydney’s Vices will be their special touring guests. Tickets on sale now via Moshtix. Melbourne bands Tequila Mockingbyrd and I Am Mine are getting together to head over the border and hit Worldsend Hotel, 208 Hindley St, on Friday March 13 at which they’ll have Jungle City as special guests. Hard rockin’ Aussie band Evol Walks are now based in Hollywood, USA, but are coming home for an extensive tour that will bring them to The Promethean, 116 Grote St from 7.30pm on Thursday 12 February where they will be joined by a top local line-up of The Motive, Dusty Lee’s Wasted Wanderers and The Fortunes Of War. Tickets will be $10 at the door. Aggressive Sydney punks Hellions have announced a national tour to coincide with the release of Indian Summer and they will play Enigma Bar, 173 Hindley St, on Friday 20 March. Sumeru are a five-piece rock band from Sydney featuring members of Blkout, Lomera, Firearms, Shake Your Blood and No Apologies will hit Worldsend Hotel, 208 Hindley St, on Saturday 14 March. Stayed tuned for special local guests bands. The date for the next Blues On The Parade has been announced for the Norwood Hotel, Norwood, and it’s to be held from 4pm on Sunday 12 April with US act Donavon Frankenreiter as the super guest headliner with Dusty Lee’s Wasted Wanderers, Gab Hyde, Craig Atkins and China Doll also on the bill. Tickets via Moshtix or at the venue. Folk rockers The Rumjacks are about to go out on a national tour which will take them everywhere before they wind it all up at Crown & Anchor, 196 Grenfell St, on Saturday 18 April. Here’s an interesting one for all you fallen down monsters out there. The Baby Animals and The Superjesus will be playing The Governor Hindmarsh, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, SA, on Friday 19 June with tickets on sale now via OzTix or at the venue. Boasting a huge line-up of international, national and local glam rockers and hard rock bands, L.O.U.D. Fest 2015 will feature Dellacoma Rio (US), Love Cream, White Widdow (from Melbourne), Sisters Doll (Melbourne), Speedmachine, Sweet Anarchy, Trash City, Odysey, Canephora, Hi Speed Life and more at The Bridgeway Hotel, Bridge Rd, Pooraka, on Saturday 14 February. Megan Washington has announced that she will have Montaigne and Greg Chapello as special guests when she brings her There There album tour to the Governor Hindmarsh Hotel, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, on Friday 27 February. Book via OzTix or at the venue. Harry Howard is set to return to town with his band, Near Death Experience, which features Dave Graney and Clare Moore, and they will once again play Hotel Metro, 46 Grote St, with The Dunes as special guests on Saturday 21 February. Melbourne rock band Crash & Burn will hit Bridgeway Hotel, Bridge Rd, Pooraka, on Saturday 7 March with doors at 6.30pm and a stellar line-up of Speedmachine, The Menace, Hi Speed Life and Mark Bowley.
Germany’s premier post metal act The Ocean are returning to Australia to play their highly acclaimed record Pelagial in full for the very first time in this country. Get set to experience The Ocean when they play Jive, 181 Hindley St, with Caligula’s Horse on Thursday 16 April. Book at Moshtix. Melbourne-based blues rockers The Ugly Kings are returning to town and will play Glenelg Backpackers with special guests on Friday 27 February and Worldsend, 208 Hindley St, on Saturday 28 February also with special guests. Melbourne punk rockers The Bennies are out on a national tour to further promote their Heavy Disco EP and will hit Enigma Bar, 173 Hindley St, on Thursday 19 March. Atlanta-based hardcore act Norma Jean will visit Australia for the first time in a couple of years and are set to play Fowler’s Live, 68-70 North Tce, on Saturday 11 April with special guests to be announced soon. Israeli psytrance act Infected Mushroom have nine albums to their credit and are known for legendary live shows. Catch ’em at the Govenror Hindmarsh, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, on Wednesday 11 February. Book via OzTix or at the venue. Much-respected Melbourne-based hip hop artist Seth Sentry will be making his way to the Governor Hindmarsh, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, on Saturday 21 March with tickets available at the venue or via OzTix. American electronic violin sensation Lindsey Stirling is set to return to Australia next year. Picking up the violin at five-years-old, classically trained Lindsey has created a futurist world of electronic big beats and animation, garnering huge attention with more than half a billion views on YouTube and with Billboard chart-topping hits and sell-out world tours. Catch her at Fowler’s Live, 68-70 North Tce, on Monday 16 February for a licensed all-ages affair. The Getaway Plan will spend time finishing off a new album, Dark Horses, at Melbourne’s Sing Sing Studios before embarking on a huge national tour that will bring them to Fowler’s Live, 68-70 North Tce, on Friday 29 May. Tickets via OzTix. Noel Fielding, star of multi-award winning comedy duo The Mighty Boosh, will return to Australia for a national tour in April of 2015. Expect a magical mix of his unique brand of stand up comedy, live animation, music and some of Fielding’s best-known television characters including The Moon and Fantasy Man. There will also be muscular support from the loose stylings of Mike Fielding of Naboo/Smooth. Catch all the action at Thebarton Theatre on Friday April 17 with tickets on sale now via <ticketmaster.com.au>. After recently taking home their second ARIA for Best Heavy/Hard Rock Release, Brisbane thrashers DZ Deathrays will hit the road again next year. See ’em at Fowler’s Live, 68-70 North Tce, on Thursday 5 March with US band Bass Drum Of Death as well as Hockey Dad. Canada’s Adam Cohen, son of Laughing Lenny, has announced a tour that will bring him to the Governor Hindmarsh Hotel, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, SA, on Wednesday 11 March. Book at Oztix or via the venue. American soul singer and Daptone Records recording artist Charles Bradley, who wowed people at Adelaide Festival earlier in the year, has announced that he will be performing at the Governor Hindmarsh Hotel, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, on Monday 30 March. Tickets via OzTix or at the venue. Legendary UK progressive rock band Uriah Heep will play the Governor Hindmarsh Hotel, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, on Wednesday 25 March with tickets now on sale via OzTix or at the venue. Megadeth’s bass player and founding member, David Ellefson, will amuse fans with tales from the road and studio as part of a spoken word tour that will bring him to the Governor Hindmarsh Hotel, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, on Sunday 22 March. Tickets via OzTix or at the venue.
THE BIZZO
THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATING COMMUNITY By Corey Stewart Having a sense of community in our lives is a very important aspect of being human but it’s an even more important asset for indie artists and bands. This is because forging our own path in this music business can be very a tiring occupation and we need all the support and encouragement we can get. At the moment, the efforts of the individual are cherished way above the endeavors of the collective group and I think this is a very sad symptom of modern society. Underneath all of our technological advances and progress, we are still social creatures. We need other people around us. Especially at our gigs. In this music industry it’s so important to understand the power of networking and knowing the music business from the inside out.
BPLUS: SLICK ARNOLD
My experience working within the Adelaide Music Community is that it’s a wonderful community of people; bands and networks that we can all tap into and expand upon. My goal with BSide Magazine is for it to play a substantial role in growing the Adelaide Music Community so here’s my invitation to you. If you have anything to say, feedback to impart, a story to tell, a gig to advertise or you simply want to say hello, email us at info@bsidemagazine.com.au or give us a call on 8346 9899. Remember, we’re all in this Adelaide Music Community together and we want to be part of your network too. Just imagine, if the music industry worked on this foundation of inclusion rather than competition there would be a multitude of networks all helping each other reach the same goal which is to be seen, to be heard and to be noticed. That would be very cool indeed.
BPlus: SLICK ARNOLD By Libby Parker This week’s feature BPlus band are Slick Arnold and although they have all graduated from high school, they spoke to BSide to offer their advice to prospective young rockers. Slick Arnold formed in primary school, started jamming and they’ve been playing music together ever since. Comprising of members Jack (guitar and vocals), Mitch (bass and vocals) and Peter (drums), Slick Arnold have been making a name for themselves by gigging around town, playing supports and headlining. All three of the guys went to Faith Lutheran Secondary School in the Barossa, but were in different year levels. All very recently out of school, Jack graduated in 2013, Peter in 2011 and Mitch graduated last year, which he said was sometimes a challenge when the band were building their career.
The ongoing aim of all of your networking and market research is to build you own community around yourself and your music.
“It was difficult at first to find the balance between school and the band. I had to make sure that I managed my time wisely and that I’d always have enough time for my studies,” Mitch says.
A community of fans, like minded individuals, businesses and organisations that can help you, support you, encourage you and inspire you to become whatever you want to be in the music industry.
“There were a few occasions where we would have to reject offers for gigs because I had an assignment or a test in the next few days.”
In fact, this is the very thing, which we all have in common with each other – COMMUNITY.
Despite the challenges, Slick Arnold have worked hard to build a following and a reputation in the Adelaide music scene.
“When we first started out, we were just doing support acts, mainly for bands we already knew personally. As we started to become more recognised, we were asked to play more by pubs and larger Adelaide bands, even headlining a few of our own gigs,” Mitch says. As well as playing regular gigs, Slick Arnold have been recording, and Mitch says they have plans to hit the studio again in the near future. “Our most recent recording was One which is a five-track EP that we recorded ourselves. We recently won a University Battle Of The Bands competition at Fowler’s Live. It included a recording package from Fat Trax which we intend to use in the next couple of months,” he says. Having been a part of keeping a successful band together while all three band members completed high school, Mitch has the following advice for anyone wanting to undertake the same pursuit. ”My advice for young artists trying to juggle school and their music is: try to always put schoolwork first. If you don’t think you can play a gig the night before a major assignment is due, then don’t do it. You can play as many gigs as you want once school is finished or in holidays, but try to stay focused on your studies,” he says. If you want to check out Slick Arnold, keep your eye on the upcoming BSide Gig Guide; coming up though, they’re playing a show presented by Bakehouse on Saturday 28 March with Relying On Luck at The Producers, 235 Grenfell St.
Wether we know it or not, we all have our own communities and at the same time, are part of someone else’s community. The secret is realising this fact and using this to your (and everyone else’s) advantage. I believe that everyone in this world has some sort of skill that they can offer you (even if it’s just words of encouragement). If you happen to find people that can do wonderful work for you then utilise them as much as you can. Ideally you’d want the people that you work with to grow and prosper with you. This is community; it’s a place where everyone wins.
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BSIDE MAGAZINE MAKING MUSIC LOCAL AGAIN www.bsidemagazine.com.au