EEEE FFRR
ISSUE 1305
EVERYTHING MELBOURNE: MAGAZINE. ONLINE. MOBILE. VIDEO. 01 FEB 2012 online www.beat.com.au email info@beat.com.au telephone (03) 9428 3600 facsimile (03) 9428 3611 print for post publication # 34274800004 cab audited
S INSIDE E IM T G IN Y A L P MAPS &
JORDIE LANE
BRITISH INDIA
EVANESCENCE
UNWRITTEN LAW
100%: MAYER HAWTHORNE
THIS WEEK: PHIL JAMIESON, SCOTT KELLY, JOHN BAIZLEY, THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS, DONOVAN FRANKENREITER, TIM MCMILLAN BAND, BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB, PUBLICIST + NEW METAL COLUMN Thursday 2 February
Friday 3 February
Saturday 4 February
DVS (LIVE)
Resident DJ’s DEAN T, PHIL ROSS & CHRIS MAC every Friday punch out the best of House. Plus JOHNNY M & DJ JAY-J playing sexy RnB tunes in the Mezzanine.
Featuring MR BONGOLICIOUS (LIVE), I AM SAM (SYD), EDLY ROSE, PIERO & PHIL ROSS. Plus JOHNNY M & DJ NOVA playing sexy RnB tunes in the Mezzanine.
Doors open at 9.30pm // Outdoor smoking terrace open on Level 3 from 11.00pm – 6.00am // For functions and guest list enquiries contact 03 9292 5750 or email fusion@crownmelbourne.com.au // To enhance the safety and welfare of all patrons, we kindly request that all customers submit their drivers licence or other photo identification to be scanned upon entry // Personal information collected by Crown will be handled in accordance with Crown’s privacy policy // Management reserves all rights // Photo ID required + 18 years // Dress standards apply // Crown practises responsible service of alcohol.
FNC12685
Resident DJ’s DAMION DE SILVA, FMR, A STYLE, K DEE & SIMON SEZ. RnB, House, Old Skool and Commercial Anthems. For guestlist 9426 0800 or guestlist@restless.com.au
DIPLOMA & DEGREE COURSES IN:
Games Design 3D Animation Graphic Design Games Programming Web Design & Development
ENROL NOW FOR FEBRUARY
Proudly part of the SAE Institute Group CRICOS Codes - 03204G (QLD) 00312F (NSW) 02047B (VIC) 02431E (WA)
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The
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BRUNSWICKHOTEL.NET
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CHOP SQUAD FLOUNDER THE ROSENCRANTS SECRETARY LILY
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THREE QUARTER BEAST SCARAMOUCHE STATIC COLOURS BLANKS FROM 6PM
BLACK AND BLUE X 3 SETS!
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Tues - Trivia Night Wed - $14 Rump Steak
Friday Feb 3rd THE YARD APES THE TEAR AWAYS
Saturday Feb 4th CHILDREN OF THE CORNISH FESTIVAL
FEAT: SID O’NEIL, BOX ROCKETS THE HARLOTS, TESSA AND THE TYPECAST, KITCHEN KNIFE WIFE, IMMIGRANT UNION, GUN BALLADS THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS DJ SET
Sunday Feb 5th TINSLEY WATERHOUSE
HERE’S THE THING FROM 5PM
INDIGO AND THE BEAR DROOLING MOUTHS OF MEMPHIS
THURSDAY FEB 2ND A LITTLE BIT OF JAZZ
JOHN PERRI’S JAZZ QUARTET JOHN PERRI, ANNIE SMITH, LIESETT PAYETE AND ANDREW EAMES DOORS 7.30PM $10.00 ENTRY
THE BRUNSWICK HOTEL’S OPEN MIC NIGHT WITH YOUR HOST BRODIE EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT
MUSICLAND
Monday nights Open Mic Function Room Available Kitchen Open Every Evening
FRIDAY FEB 3RD CHAOS METAL NIGHT
THROWDOWN DRIVEN TO THE VERGE, IN A MEMORY, EMERSON, IKAROTRIAL DOORS 7.00PM $5.00 ENTRY
SATURDAY FEB 4TH ROCK FEAST
UNTIL WE COLLIDE THESE CITY LIGHTS, TRANSISTOR STARTS 7.30PM $10.00 ENTRY
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JAM NIGHT BEST NIGHT IN TOWN, BRING YOUR AXE,
STYX AND VOCALS...BACK LINE PROVIDED FREE ENTRY - 7PM TIL LATE
1359A SYDNEY ROAD FAWKNER 3060 PH: 9359 0006 500M FROM GOWRIE STATION WWW.MUSICLANDONLINE.COM MUSICLAND@LIVE.COM.AU
WEDNESDAY TRIVIA NIGHT FRI 3rd February
AUSTRALIAN KINGSWOOD FACTORY 10.45 - 11:15 ROADRATZ 9.30 - 10:30
SAT 4th February
BITTERSWEET KICKS BURN IN HELL JAMES LEG
9.30-10.15 10.30-11.15 11.30-12.15
SATURDAY 4TH FEB 9.00PM
THE CARTRIDGE FAMILY
SUZANNAH ESPIE, SARAH CARROLL & RUSTY BERTHER PLAY TWO ROCKIN’ SETS OF ORIGINAL, UPBEAT ROOTS.
DONAVAN FRANKENREITER
MONDAY $12 PARMA TUESDAY ALL PIZZAS $6 WEDNESDAY $12 STEAK THURSDAY $12 BEEF OR HALLOUMI BURGER SUNDAY $12 ROAST ALL DAY 420 SYDNEY RD BRUNSWICK, 9380 8667
SUNDAY 5TH FEB 5.00PM
COLLARD, GREENS & GRAVY BELOVED SWAMPY BLUES TRIO: SUPERB HARMONICA, DIRTY GUITAR & KICKASS DRUMS
FACEBOOK.COM/THEPENNYBLACK
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FRIDAY STOMP DOG
FREE ENTRY - 9:30PM
SATURDAY LONGYARD
FREE ENTRY - 4:30PM
OPENING HOURS
FOOD SPECIALS
FROM 6:30
SUNDAY CAYN BORTHWICK (SANS GRAS) $10 JUGS
SUN 5th February MON-THURS FROM 3PM - LATE FRI-SUN FROM 12PM - LATE NOW OPEN FOR LUNCH ON FRIDAY!!
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(BLACK DIAMOND HEAVIES)
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FROM 7:30
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MONDAY $12 STEAK NIGHT FREE POOL TUESDAY
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Places still available for 2012! Limited places are still available to commence study in Semester 1, along with scholarship opportunities in all major study areas.
a degree of difference
For a head start on your creative career, enrol now in the Australian Academy of Design’s Bachelor of Design Arts Degree, offering the following great advantages: s a university-level degree for creative careers s class sizes of 16 or less students s a 4-year degree completed in 3 years s opportunity to study abroad for credit s FEE-HELP and scholarships available 220 Ingles St, Port Melbourne
with major study advertising electives in: fashion design
www.designacademy.edu.au
graphic design photo media visual arts
03 9676 9000 CRICOS No. 02201G
‘When Tex Perkins grabs the microphone and growls:
‘I’m Johnny Cash’ you believe him’
THE AUSTRALIAN
DON’T MISS OUT!!
AN ANGEL ON ONE SHOULDER THE DEVIL ON THE OTHER
THE MAN IN BLACK
THIS WEEK WITH SPECIAL GUESTS A L L B R O O K /AV E R Y
FRIDAY 3 FEBRUARY F O R U M
T H E AT R E ,
M E L B O U R N E
Tickets from Marriner Theatres Ticketmaster Booking L i n e 1 3 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 a n d w w w . t i c k e t m a s t e r. c o m . a u TO U R I N F O R M AT I O N W W W. B I L L I O N S .CO M . AU A R T I S T I N F O R M AT I O N W W W.T H E H O R R O R S .CO. U K
T H E J O H N N Y C A S H S T O RY
Starring TEX PERKINS
DAN SULTAN & ADALITA THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS & THE BOWERS
AT MT BULLER SATURDAY 25TH FEBRUARY - 3PM For accommodation, transport and tickets contact High Country Reservations on 1800 285 537 www.mansfieldmtbuller.com.au Tickets from www.ticketmaster.com.au 136 100
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IN THIS ISSUE...
16
HOT TALK
20
TOURING
22
LAURA MARLING
24
ARTS GUIDE, GOOD PEOPLE, A CHORUS LINE
26
ART OF THE CITY
28
GUILTY PLEASURES
29
CAUTIONARY TALES FOR CHILDREN THE STRAITS
30
PHIL JAMIESON
47
INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH, THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS
DONAVON FRANKENREITER P. 52
48
BEAT EATS
50
EVANESCENCE
51
JORDIE LANE
52
BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB, DONAVON FRANKENREITER,
PHIL JAMIESON P. 30
LANEWAY MAPS AND PLAYING TIMES 54
BRITISH INDIA
55
TIM MCMILLAN BAND, UNWRITTEN LAW, CIRCA SURVIVE
56
SCOTT KELLY, JOHN BAIZLEY
57
CORE/METAL
58
MUSIC NEWS
64
ALBUM OF THE WEEK, CHARTS, SINGLES
THIS WEEK IN 100%:
MAYER HAWTHORNE 3 NEWTON STREET RICHMOND, VICTORIA 3121 Phone: (03) 9428 3600 Fax: (03) 9428 3611 email: info@beat.com.au www.beat.com.au BEAT MAGAZINE EMAIL ADDRESSES: (no large attachments please): Gig Guide: online at beat.com.au email gigguide@beat.com.au - it’s free! Club Listings: online at beat.com.au email clubguide@beat.com.au - it’s free! Music News Items: music@beat.com.au Artwork: art@beat.com.au Beat Classifieds 33c a word: classifieds@beat.com.au
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THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS P. 47
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PUBLISHER: Furst Media Pty Ltd. MUSIC EDITOR: Taryn Stenvei ARTS EDITOR / ASSOCIATE MUSIC EDITOR: Tyson Wray EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Nick Taras SUB-EDITORS: Penny Evangelov, Tash Anderson, Krystal Maynard GENERAL MANAGER: Patrick Carr SENIOR ADVERTISING/EDITORIAL CO-ORDINATOR: Ronnit Sternfein BEAT PRODUCTION MANAGER: Patrick O’Neill GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: Luke Benge, Matt Crute, Patrick O’Neill, Rebecca Houlden, Gill Tucker COVER ART: Patrick O’Neill ADVERTISING: Taryn Stenvei (Music: Bands/Tours/Record Labels) taryn@beat.com.au Ronnit Sternfein (100%/Beat/Arts/Education/Ad Agency) ronnit@beat.com.au Aleksei Plinte (Backstage/ Musical Equipment) mixdown@beat.com.au Adam Morgan (Hospitality/Bars) adam@beat.com.au Kris Furst (beat.com.au) kris@furstmedia.com.au 0431 243 808 Grace Arena (Indie Bands/Special Features) grace@furstmedia.com.au CLASSIFIEDS: classifieds@beat.com.au GIG GUIDE SUBMISSIONS: now online at www.beat.com.au or bands email gigguide@beat.com.au ELECTRONIC EDITOR - BEAT ONLINE: Stephen Forde: webmaster@beat.com.au
ACCOUNTANT: accountant@furstmedia.com.au ADMINISTRATION CO-ORDINATOR: Alice Furst: alice@furstmedia.com.au ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE: Stephanie Mason: admin@furstmedia.com.au RECEPTION: reception@furstmedia.com.au DISTRIBUTION: distribution@beat.com.au Free Every Wednesday to over 1,500 places including Convenience Stores, Newsagents, Ticket Outlets, Shopping Centres, Community Youth & Welfare Outlets, Clubs, Hotels, Venues, Record, Music and Video Shops, Boutiques, Retailers, Bars, Restaurants, Cafes, Bookstores, Hairdressers, Recording Studios, Cinemas, Theatres, Galleries, Universities and Colleges. Wanna get BEAT? Email distribution@beat.com.au DEADLINES Editorial Copy accepted no later than 5pm Thursday before publication for Club listings, Arts, Gig Guide etc. Advertising Copy accepted no later than 12pm Monday before publication. Print ready art by 2pm Monday. Deadlines are strictly adhered to. CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Mary Boukouvalas, Lauren Cass, Ben Clement, Ben Gunzburg, Andrew Gyopar, CC Hug, Tim Hyland, Anna Kanci, Ben Loveridge, Mathew Murphy, Charles Newbury, John O’Rourke, Chris Parkinson, Naomi Rahim, Richard Sharman, Leon Struk, Michelle Tomadin, Peter Tsipas, Amy Wallace, Woodrow Wilson SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR: Christie Eliezer SENIOR CONTRIBUTORS: Christine Lan, Simone Ubaldi,
65
ALBUMS
66
GIG GUIDE
74
LIVE
Patrick Emery, Jesse Shrock. COLUMNISTS: Emily Kelly, Toby McCasker. CONTRIBUTORS: Tyson Wray, Adam Baidawi, Helen Barradell, Matt Bendall, Cam Binger, Graham Blackley, Mary Boukouvalas, Chris Bright, Rose Callaghan, Adam Camilleri, James Carthew, Paige Cho, Stefan Chrisp, Nick Clarke, Talitha Conway, Dave Dawson, John Donaldson, Justin Donnelly, Georgia Doyle, Cam Ewart, Paul Fischer, Lawson Fletcher, Jack Franklin, Danielle Frazzetto, Chris Girdler, Aleisha Hall, Louise Hardwick, Daniel Hedger, Nick Hilton, Lyndon Horsburgh, Briony Jones, Lachlan Kanoniuk, Greg King, Stuart Lynch, Rhys McCrae, Ruth McIver, Adam McKenzie, Kylie McLaughlin, Nick Mason, Tyler Mathes, Anna Megalogenis, Al Newstead, James Nicoli, John O’Rourke, Matt Panag, Jack Parsons, Liam Pieper, Steve Phillips, David Prescott-Steed, James Ridley, Gav Ross, Leigh Salter, Tim Scott, Denis Semchenko, Side Man, Matt Sutherland, Lin Tan, Steve Tauschke, Rene Schaefer, Melanie Sheridan, Jeremy Sheaffe, Kelly Theobald, Andrew Tijs, Alistair Wallis, Etienne Waring, Dan Watt, Rod Whitfield, Katie Weiss, Tom Whitty, Cara Williams, Simon Williamson, Bronius Zumeris, Joshua Kloke, Sean Gleeson, Krystal Maynard. © 2011 Furst Media Pty Ltd. No part may be reproduced without the consent of the copyright holder.
The Thornbury Theatre
859 High Street, Thornbury. Ph 9484 8787
www.thornburytheatre.com.au
~ Friday, Feb 24th ~
~ Saturday, Mar 3rd ~
~ Saturday, Mar 10th ~
~ Friday, Mar 30th ~
HORSE
SWEET ‘N’ HOTT JAZZ JOUST W/ DUCK MUSIQUE & LENOX AVENUE
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MARK WILKINSON
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FREE SHIT GIVERS, PORTUGAL. THE MAN Get ready for a double dose of fun when GIVERS and Portugal. The Man bring their bright breed of psychpop to Australia next week for a co-headline Laneway sideshow at The Corner Hotel on Thursday February 9. We have five double passes to give away.
11 THE ESPLANADE ST KILDA 3182
THURS FEB 2
* FRONT BAR *
BOTTLE OF SMOKE The Charge, Shadowqueen, Virtue. From 9pm
FRIDAY FEB 3 * FRONT BAR *
DONAVON FRANKENREITER
Valley Floor, DJ Whitt. FREE! From 8pm * GERSHWIN ROOM *
ONE
Volytion, Zelorage, Hidden Venture, Virtuvian Man. Tickets $12 at the door. 8pm * BASEMENT *
JOHNNY ROCK & THE LIMITS The Ivory Elephants, Dirty Elvis, The Perfect Strangers. From 9pm
SATURDAY FEB 4 * FRONT BAR *
CITIZENS OF SEX
Head to beat.com.au/freeshit for this and heaps of other, uh, free shit.
PBS DRIVE LIVE SUNDAYS IN THE SUN Heritage Hill will host a new series in 2012 called Sundays In The Sun. The free events will provide a relaxing afternoon of live music, family friendly activities and entertainment in the gardens of this historic building. Sundays in the Sun will feature some of Melbourne’s finest and up and coming talent and will be held on the second Sunday of the month during the warmer periods of the year. Council’s Arts and Cultural Development Coordinator Jamie Dawson said this was an ideal opportunity for everyone to enjoy the beautiful surrounds of Heritage Hill. “We are delighted to launch this brand new series for the people of Greater Dandenong,” he said. “It is a chance to engage families of all ages and backgrounds in a relaxed and welcoming environment featuring great musical talent as well as local artists and entertainers. Sundays In The Sun will be held on February 12, March 11, April 8, October 14, November 11 and December 9 from 12pm to 3pm, in 2012.
On the back of the stellar announcement of artists involved in the PBS Drive Live last week (including Graveyard Train, Howl At The Moon and more) the community station we all know and love has added a slew of new acts to the list including Lost Animal, Bob Log III, Fabulous Diamonds, The Twerps, New War and many others. Three acts, three studios in one Drive Time show for a full week. PBS members have the exclusive opportunity to head down to PBS and witness the mayhem so if you’re not a member, now is looking like a pretty nice time to subscribe. It happens from Monday February 6 through to Friday February 10. For full lineup and schedule, head to pbsfm.org.au.
JOHN BUTLER
THE SISTERS OF MERCY
Share a night of tales and songs with one of Australia’s most iconic singer songwriters. One of Australia’s favourite artists, John Butler returns to his roots to perform a series of solo concerts throughout the country in March and April. Aptly titled Tin Shed Tales, these shows will be a rare opportunity to hear the music of this iconic artist in a raw and intimate setting. John will be bringing his Tin Shed along for the ride, decked out with a collection of personal art pieces, old skool skateboards and vintage guitars, these items are laid out in his shed at home where he draws inspiration for his art and songwriting. John Butler plays The Hi-Fi Bar on Tuesday April 24. Tickets from the venue website.
After swiftly selling out their initial Soundwave sideshow at The Corner, seminal post-punk outfit The Sisters Of Mercy have announced a second headline appearance. Led by the ominous baritone vocals of Andrew Eldritch, with the infamous resident drum machine, Doktor Avalanche, Chris Catalyst and Ben Christo, the 2012 incarnation of The Sisters Of Mercy has proven more than worthy of the legacy. The Sisters Of Mercy perform at The Corner on Tuesday February 28 (sold-out) and now Thursday March 1.
JOHN FOGERTY
UNDEROATH
Do, do, do, lookin’ out my back door. The man, the legend, the rock God John Fogerty was recently added to the huge Bluesfest bill, and it was announced that he will be performing the albums of Creedence Clearwarter Revival at some two hour concerts this March. He plays the Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday March 27 and tickets are on sale at 9am, Monday February 6 from Ticketek. Don't hesitate.
Underoath have evolved and thrived during a decade-long progression that has elevated them into a realm that few bands can lay claim to. Their latest album Ø (Disambiguation) is virtually an artistic rebirth, which empathically surpasses its predecessors. With a reputation for adrenaline charged live performances Underoath will bring the mayhem for an exclusive sidewave with support from Dream On Dreamer to The Hi-Fi Bar on Monday February 27.
ATTACK! ATTACK! British post-hardcore act Attack! Attack! will be joined by The Cab and River City Extension for another sidewave from the festival that just keeps on giving. Attack! Attack!’s latest record, The Latest Fashion, has received some impressive radio play throughout the country since its release in February and has helped the band’s fanbase continue to grow in Australia. With critically-acclaimed albums Symphony Soldier and The Unmistakable Man respectively, The Cab and River City Extension round off another gargantuan Soundwave sideshow lineup. Catch them at The Espy on Monday February 27.
Custard
Scotdracula, Complimentary Headsets, Phil Para. From 6pm
* GERSHWIN ROOM *
BLOOD SUGAR SEX MAGIK Red Hot Chilli Peppers tribute show, Grinny, Backyard Job. Tickets $15+bf, 8pm * BASEMENT *
QLAYFACE
Cads Of Yore, Lunaire. From 9pm
SUNDAY FEB 5
* FRONT BAR *
PAST TO PRESENT Dale Ryder Band, Bad Boys Batucada. FREE! 5PM * GERSHWIN ROOM *
ESPY SHOWDOWN GUNN MUSIC BAND COMP. $14 FROM 1PM
BETWEEN THE BAYS
A ROCKET TO THE MOON
Between The Bays began way back in 2006 and is now a much loved family day out for all to enjoy. Now in its seventh year, the festival organisers have put together their best lineup yet with something for everyone with an eclectic mix of music including Custard, Jordie Lane, The Ooga Boogas, JVG Guitar Method and The Fuzzbirds. Between The Bays takes place at Penbank in Mornington Peninsula on Saturday February 25. For more information and ticketing, head to betweenthebays.com
With a penchant for monstrous sing-along choruses A Rocket To The Moon has firmly established themselves as one of pop rocks most exciting acts. A Rocket To The Moon’s debut album On Your Side showcases their versatility from heartfelt piano ballads to dance floor anthems. Jordan Witzigreuter, the force behind the mammoth pop sound of The Ready Set is taking over stereos and mosh pits across the globe. The Ready Set’s debut album I’m Alive, I’m Dreaming showcases a lifetime of influences from pop, techno and rock whilst displaying Witzigreuter’s abilities – he plays every instrument on the record. At the forefront of the new wave of pop rock bands is Arizona’s The Summer Set whom are consistently evolving and refining their sound. The Dangerous Summer have crafted a throwback to the days when music was charged with hope and contained a much-needed brand of sincerity. And guess what, all of these artistic gems will be coming together on Thursday March 1 at Melbourne’s Hi-Fi bar. Tickets go on sale Friday February 3 so get in quick before they sell out.
FRI 3RD FEBRUARY
D12 (USA/EMINEM) TIX $37
SAT 25TH FEBRUARY
SAT 10TH MARCH
SAT 17TH MARCH
BELINDA CARLISLE
BABY ANIMALS
10CC (UK) TIX $55
GF
A ST
SAT 11TH FEBRUARY
SEL
SEL
LIN
LIN
GF
A ST
CNR SPRINGVALE & WELLS RD, CHELSEA HEIGHTS PH 9773 4453 WWW.CHELSEAHEIGHTSHOTEL.COM.AU
360
WITH BAM BAM & JOELISTICS TIX $27
Beat Magazine Page 16
TIX $63
TIX $37
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TWERPS Melbourne’s favourite lo-fi pop dweebs, Twerps are heading to the US in March for SXSW, and then a five week US tour. To say goodbye, and to raise some much-needed funds for their trip, Twerps are playing an awesome show with besties Lost Animal and Super Wild Horses. The band will have their much-loved debut album available on the night on CD and vinyl. Tickets available on the door only – so get there early. It’s on Thursday February 2 at Phoenix Public House.
BRIAN SETZER’S ROCKABILLY RIOT
JAMES WALSH
Shine up your gun-slinger and pop on your ‘kerchief. Rockabilly’s most iconic ambassador, Brian Setzer, has unleashed a brand new lineup for his upcoming Australian tour, which on top of Bluesfest, now includes a second and final Melbourne show at The Palace on Tuesday April 3. Tickets for this second show will go on sale at 9am, Friday February 3, with pre-sale tickets available from Wednesday February 1. Special guest is Lanie Lane.
EVANESCENCE
In March 2012 James Walsh lead singer, songwriter and frontman of critically acclaimed UK band Starsailor will be performing a series of solo acoustic shows on Australia’s East Coast. In less than ten years Starsailor achieved what most bands can only dream of. In 2001 and then unknown, they were hailed as “the new Coldplay” after only their second gig, then they landed the cover of NME magazine which propelled their debut album – featuring James’s trademark lovelorn voice and epic songs into the spotlight and a million sales followed. Starsailor released three further albums including the Phil Spector produced Silence Is Easy and to date have sold over three million albums globally, had 10 top 40 hits, toured the world with their own sell-out shows, performed at festivals such as Glastonbury, T In The Park and the Isle of Wight Festival, and toured with the likes of the Rolling Stones, U2, The Police and The Killers. Catch Walsh at the Espy on Friday March 23.
After being wildly rumoured for the upcoming Soundwave Festival, Evanescence have announced their own headline tour for this March. The tour will mark Evanescence’s first return to Australian shores since their sold out tour in 2007. Evanescence will be supported by Blaqk Audio, the side project of AFI’s Davey Havok and Jade Puget. Evanescence will hit Rod Laver Arena on Saturday March 24.
BALL PARK MUSIC Off the back of not one, but two entries into last week’s triple j Hottest 100, Ball Park Music announce their most ambitious national tour yet – The 180º Degree Tour. After being officially Unearthed by triple j just over a year ago, Ball Park Music have become one of Australia’s must see musical outfits. With wide spread airplay the catalyst for a touring regime that doesn’t seem to let up, Ball Park Music are the band that the masses are clearly talking about. They play The Corner on Saturday April 14.
Joe Satriani
G3
BLITZEN TRAPPER Flannel-wearing alt-country Northwestern rockers Blitzen Trapper are returning to Australia for Byron Bay Bluesfest and have just announced a Melbourne side show. Praised for their warming harmonies and passionate, energetic live shows, the genre-straddling Blitzen Trapper will perform at The Prince Bandroom on Tuesday April 3. Tickets are on sale today from the Prince website and Moshtix.
Performing some of the most electrifyingly brilliant displays of guitar mastery ever seen, the infamous G3 jam (featuring Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Steve Lukather) predictably sold out their first show before you could say “chek out the mitts on that guitar wizard!”. The good news is a second and final Melbourne show has been announced, so be sure to get in quick when tickets go on sale on Friday February 10 at 9am through Ticketmaster. Air guitars at the ready. Don’t miss the axeman’s night of nights as G3 performs at the Palais Theatre on Saturday March 31 (sold out) and a second show on Sunday April 1.
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
Beat Magazine Page 17
HOT TALK
360
THE BIGGEST IN INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au
Q&A DIEFENBACH What’s your name then? Oh. And the name of your band … I'm Jake Diefenbach for my solo performances here in Melbourne. In band mode, we're Diefenbach (Aidan Arnold on bass and Dan Hirsch on drums).
PUSH OVER Following on from the incredible success of last year’s Push Over, the all ages festival has revealed another stunner of a lineup for the 2012 incarnation. Headlining the day will be none other than Parkway Drive, who will be fresh from rocking the Big Day Out. Rounding out the massive bill will be recent Beat TV and cover star 360, Tonight Alive, Yacht Club DJs, Alpine, Dangerous!, Snakadaktal, Mantra, Redcoats, Eagle and The Worm, Glass Towers, 8 Bit Love, Northlane, Skyway, Hands Like Houses, Mindset, Hallower, This Town A Forest, Awaken I Am, and Boris The Blade. And if that wasn’t enough, nine of the freshest young bands from across Victoria will share the stage in the FReeZA Push Start Grand Final. Push Over 2012 takes place at Abbotsford Convent on Monday March 12. Tickets on sale now through Oztix.
And what do you do? It's dark, pop rock cabaret. Beethoven and Vanessa Carlton had a love child and raised him in a whore house. When did you start doing that? When I got sick of law school. Why did you start doing that? Legally Blonde lied. I'd hoped to sweep through my degree in a montage of sassy one-liners, but sass alone will only get you so far. Do you think you’re good at doing that? Some days. Like most musicians I know, I'm my own worst critic. This can be a good thing, but there's also the danger of paralysis by self doubt. If you weren’t doing that, what would you be doing? I don't know what I'd be doing, but I don't think I'd feel complete. What makes you happiest about what you’re doing? That moment when you've found the right words and the right sound for what you're feeling; that moment when the performer and audience are in perfect alignment. And what makes you unhappiest about what you’re doing? The many major and minor tasks that go into putting on a show that don't actually involve creating and sharing music. Like Facebook. Fucking. Facebook. Meanwhile, ‘like’ Diefenbach on Facebook! What’s your proudest moment of doing what you do? I've been fortunate enough to nab a couple of awards, but
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scoring a Green Room Award for best cabaret for Master of Disguise was a highpoint. I've also had the good fortune of performing alongside some fantastic performers. But I feel proudest of where I'm at now, which is a feeling that I'm coming into my own as a performer and can take my music in any direction I want. It took me a long time to get here and I'm proud of it. And your least proud? Sensitively serenading three half-pissed construction workers in a sports bar. They loved it. When are you doing your thing next? I'm launching my new CD, Missing Person, at The Butterfly Club for the Melbourne leg of my east-coast tour on Friday and Saturday, February 10 and 11 at 9 pm, and Sunday February 12 at 8pm.
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CASS MCCOMBS SUPPORTS Supports have been announced for travelling folk master Cass McCombs, touring Australia with his band for the first time ever in three weeks time. For his Melbourne show at The Corner on Friday February 17, Cass will be joined by The Orbweavers, a band much loved by Melbourne audiences for their David Lynchian inner city folk storytelling and frontwoman Marita Dyson’s hilarious, yet educational stage banter, plus local darling of the loop station and the romantic reverie, Wintercoats. Tickets on sale now from The Corner box office.
PHIL JAMIESON Phil Jamieson has certainly made his mark on the Aussie music landscape. His wildly successful musical adventure has spanned four continents and 14 years. Whilst capturing the audience as Grinspoon’s enigmatic and electrifying frontman, Jamieson has also proven himself as a prolific songwriter, penning tracks on several of the bands albums. Having completed a run of evocative and dynamic Sold Out solo shows across NSW last year, we’re now thrilled to learn that Phil will be gracing the stages across three Victorian stops in February this year. He stops in to the Northcote Social Club on Friday February 10, The Palais in Hepburn Springs on Saturday February 11 and Wheelers Hill Hotel on Sunday February 12.
KARAVAN INTERNATIONAL GYPSY FESTIVAL The lineup has been announced for the Karavan International Gypsy Festival, and it’s a good ‘un. The event will be held at The Corner Hotel on Saturday February 25, featuring the finest international gypsy music from Baro Banda, DJ Click, The Crooked Fiddle Band, The Band Who Knew Too Much and heaps more. Tickets are available from The Corner Hotel box office and website.
OWL EYES
LIVE N LOCAL FILL YOUR WEEK WITH MUSIC, COMEDY, FORUMS, VISUAL ART, THEATRE, POETRY, OUTDOOR CINEMA AND BEACH SPORTS THERE’S OVER 70 OF THE BEST LOCAL MUSIC ACTS INCLUDING THE BATTERY KIDS Ê MOTH ÊJENNY BIDDLE THE GO SET ÊJOHN FLANAGAN & THE BEGIN AGAINS THE MERCY KILLS Ê VOXANGELICA LAUREN ELIZABETH ÊAND MANY MORE… THE BEST BIT Ê MOST OF THESE EVENTS ARE FREE
Visit stkildafestival.com.au for more info
St Kilda Festival Image Design Competition Winner : Vanessa Stewart
Beat Magazine Page 18
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
What a long strange trip it’s been for Melbourne’s sweet bird of youth, Brooke Addamo aka Owl Eyes. Currently writing songs for her debut album due for release late in 2012, and with a new single ready to drop in early February, 2011 ended in a dervish whirlwind of activity with her own triumphant national tour, hitting the road with The Wombats and wowing a capacity crowd at the Pyramid Rock Festival. Somehow the Melbourne songstress rode the storm and awoke to New Year intent on continuing to tick off a list of things to do before she turns 21. Bless. So when the chance to play the same Famous Spiegeltent where Marlene Dietrich sang in the 1930s happened along, Brooke’s trusty red Sharpie got to work. She is presenting a unique show called Owl Eyes & Friends’ Midsummer Mixtape: Songs To Steal Your Heart -a one off performance not to be missed. It’s taking place on Thursday February 23 at The Famous Spiegeltent at The Arts Centre.
THE PAINS SUPPORTS Mistletone has announced supports for self-professed indie-pop nerds The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, who hit town next week for a splendiferous Laneway sideshow at The Hi-Fi on Thursday February 2. Joining The Pains will be equally starry-eyed melody makers Geoffrey O’Connor and his band, playing all the dreamboat hits from his gorgeous new album Vanity Is Forever, along with shimmery guitar-pop idols Pop Singles, plus DJ Twee of Life (Anthony Carew), to keep things hazy and/or fizzy between sets. A swoonsome night of swirling emotions and giddy pop pleasures which must not be missed. Tickets on sale now from The Hi-Fi.
HOT TALK For all the latest news check out beat.com.au
THE BIGGEST IN INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS
The Dirty Three
Geoffrey O'Connor
CHAPTER MUSIC AT THE EAST
YELAWOLF Yelawolf is the incredible Southern rap talent signed by Eminem to his Shady Records imprint. He released his debut album Radioactive in late 2011 after an electrifying run on the mixtape circuit and this week he has announced his debut Australian tour. The hip hop sensation will perform at the Prince Bandroom on Friday March 30. Tickets on sale Friday February 3 from the Prince website.
For the final Friday night at the sadly soon-to-close East Brunswick Club, Chapter Music has curated an amazing lineup, a co-headline show for expansive poetrockers Dick Diver and synthual slink-master Geoffrey O’Connor, who both released fantastic albums on Chapter late last year. They will be joined by relocated Canberra bedroom visionary Jonny Telafone, and upand-coming pop sprites Velcro. It’s one of the last gigs to take place at The East on Friday February 24. Take hankies.
ONE PERFECT DAY Saturday March 17 is the 10th year of Roots Music at Mossvale Park in South Gippsland, just two hours from the Melbourne CBD. And what a stellar line-up. This year the stage is graced by none other than epic Melbourne violin heroes The Dirty Three, plus perfomances from Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires, The Bamboos, Eric Bibb With Stefan Astner, Ben Sollee, Sal Kimber & The Rollin Wheel, Liz Stringer & Van Walker, Kyrstle Warren and Ahab. The super relaxed atmosphere and BYO food and drink policy makes for a superb day out of the city. Tickets from OzTix and more information from lyrebirdartscouncil.com.au.
HARMONY Since formation in November 2010, Harmony have slow cooked skulls across Australia. In just 12 months they have released a 7” and an AIR nominated debut record, collaborated with Marc Ribot, played all over Australia and sold out a bunch of shows and now they are playing their first show of 2012 at the Tote tonight with the magnificently genius Batpiss and guests. Tickets available at the door from 8pm.
60 SECONDS WITH… PAUL MCMANUS & THE MAYBLOOMS
So then, what’s the band name and what do you ‘do’ in the band? Paul McManus & The Mayblooms, and I do the singer/ songwriting/guitaring stuff. Bearing the terrible clichéd nature of this question, what do you reckon people will say you sound like? I've been told we sound like a countrified version of The Drones. If that's possible. I reckon we sound along the same lines as Wilco. What do you love about making music? For me it gives a sense of worth. It's the one thing in life where you can get away with saying what you want and have people give you credit for saying it. What do you hate about the music industry? A lot less than I did a year ago. Maybe when people try to create exclusive clubs within it. There's no need for that. And the lack of Aussie artists on commercial radio. If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why? Warren Zevon. He would take the songs, press his magic button, and make them the most bad arse tunes around. If you could assassinate one person or band from popular music, who would it and why? Madonna for sure. Enough is enough Grandma. What can a punter expect from your live show? They will see a lot of banter that makes sense only to myself, a really amazing bunch of musicians, and a hell of a lot of gratitude. What’ve you got to sell CD-wise? Nothing for sale. Just free copies of the single at the show and online (with a cool b-side). When’s the gig and with who? Friday February 3 at The Wesley Anne in Northcote, with the lovely Kate Walker, and Dear Ale. Anything else to add? Beers at my place afterwards. CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
Beat Magazine Page 19
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Beat Magazine Page 21
TOURING
WHO'S ON TOUR, WHERE AND WHEN
PROUDLY PRESENTS:
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INTERNATIONAL FEIST Palais Theatre February 1 OFWGKTA The Palace Wednesday February 1 SOUNDGARDEN Sidney Myer Music Bowl February 1 LAURA MARLING The Forum February 2 ROYKSOPP The Palace February 2 AUSTRA Northcote Social Club February 2 HALL & OATES Plenery February 2, Rochford Winery February 12 M83 Prince Bandroom February 3 THE DRUMS, CULTS Palace Theatre February 3 YUCK East Brunswick Club February 3 PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART Hi-Fi Bar February 3 LANEWAY FESTIVAL Footscray Community Arts Centre February 4 EMA The Tote February 4 SEETHER The Hi-Fi February 4 CHAIRLIFT The East Brunswick Club February 7 ROGER WATERS Rod Laver Arena February 7, 8, 10, 11 INCUBUS Festival Hall February 8 TORO Y MOI, WASHED OUT The Hi-Fi February 9 GIVERS, PORTUGAL THE MAN Corner Hotel February 9 AA Workers Club February 13 CORNERSHOP Prince Bandroom February 16 ROD STEWART Rod Laver Arena February 17, Hanging Rock February 18 LA DISPUTE Corner Hotel February 18, 19 DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE The Palace January 21 JASON LYTLE The Toff In Town February 22 GAME Festival Hall February 22 ROXETTE Rod Laver Arena February 22 ERYKAH BADU Palais Theatre February 22 DAN MANGAN Northcote Social Club February 22 MURDER BY DEATH Hi-Fi Bar February 23 ATTACK! ATTACK! The Espy February 27 MASTODON Billboard February 27 BAD RELIGION The Palace February 27 UNDEROATH The Hi-Fi Bar February 27 THE SISTERS OF MERCY Corner Hotel February 28, March 1 BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, HELL YEAH, BLACK TIDE AND HOLY GRAIL The Forum February 28 ENTER SHIKARI Billboard February 28
MACHINE HEAD Palace Theatre February 28 FOUR YEAR STRONG, I AM THE AVALANCHE, FIREWORKS AND CONDITIONS Hi-Fi Bar February 28 HATEBREED Hi-Fi Bar February 29 DEVIN TOWNSEND, MESHUGGAH DREDGE The Forum February 29 MAYER HAWTHORNE Corner Hotel February 29 THURSDAY, SAVES THE DAY Billboard February 29 SYSTEM OF A DOWN Rod Laver Arena February 29 STEEL PANTHER, ALTER BRIDGE The Palace February 29 UNWRITTEN LAW, ZEBRAHEAD AND ROYAL REPUBLIC The Espy February 29 MEN Phoenix Public House March 1 SLIPKNOT Rod Laver Arena March 1 NEW ORDER Festival Hall March 1 CATHEDRAL, PARADISE LOST, TURISAS The Espy March 1 HYRO DA HERO Laundry Bar March 1 LOSTPROPHETS Billboard March 1 BUSH/STAIND The Palace March 1 ANGELS & AIRWAVES The Forum March 1 SOUNDWAVE Melbourne Showgrounds March 2 PLAYGROUND WEEKENDER Wisemen’s Ferry March 2 - March 4 LANA DEL REY The Toff In Town March 3 RYAN ADAMS Regent Theatre March 3 ARIEL PINK’S HAUNTED GRAFFITI Corner Hotel March 4 BEN KWELLER The Hi-Fi March 5 URGE OVERKILL The Espy March 6 THE RAPTURE, AZARI & III The Forum March 6 BLACK LIPS Corner Hotel March 7 MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA The Hi-Fi March 7 CHIC Billboard March 7 BON IVER Sidney Myer Music Bowl March 8 URGE OVERKILL The Espy March 8 BONOBO Corner Hotel March 5, 8 ADAM COHEN Regal Ballroom March 9 WILD FLAG Corner Hotel March 9 BONNIE ‘PRINCE’ BILLY The National Theatre March 9 ROOTS MANUVA Prince Bandroom March 10 ENDLESS BOOGIE The Tote March 10 GOLDEN PLAINS Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre March 10-12
BLITZEN TRAPPER Prince Bandroom April 3 FUTURE MUSIC FESTIVAL Flemington Racecourse March 11 REAL ESTATE Corner Hotel March 12 FIRST AID KIT Famous Spiegeltent March 12, The Corner March 14 ROKY ERICKSON Corner Hotel March 13 TAYLOR SWIFT Rod Laver Arena March 13 ST. VINCENT Hi-Fi Bar March 14 AQUA The Palace March 13, March 15 LENNY KRAVITZ, THE CRANBERRIES Sidney Myer Music Bowl March 17, 18 A DAY ON THE GREEN All Saint’s Estate Rutherglen March 17 ONE PERFECT DAY South Gippsland March 17 CHARLES BRADLEY Corner Hotel March 18 BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB Corner Hotel March 20 TIM MCGRAW, FAITH HILL Rod Laver Arena March 20 ELBOW Festival Hall March 21 DURAN DURAN March 21 NICK LOWE The Forum March 22 ELECTRELANE Corner Hotel March 23 JAMES WALSH The Espy March 23 BORIS Corner Hotel March 24 EVANESCENCE Rod Laver Arena March 24 JOHN FOGERTY Rod Laver Arena March 27 WOODEN SHJIPS Corner Hotel March 28 CROSBY, STILLS & NASH Palais Theatre March 29 STEVE EARLE Corner Hotel March 30 G3 Palais Theatre March 31, April 1 DEAD MEADOW Corner Hotel April 1 LUCINDA WILLIAMS Palais Theatre April 2 BRIAN SETZER’S ROCKABILLY RIOT The Palace April 3 BLITZEN TRAPPER Prince Bandroom April 3 THE POGUES Festival Hall April 4 MY MORNING JACKET The Palace April 4 YANN TIERSEN Recital Centre April 4 BYRON BAY BLUESFEST Byron Bay April 5-9 TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE The Corner April 7 NEW FOUND GLORY, TAKING BACK SUNDAY Festival Hall April 8 SUBLIME Palace Theatre April 9 SEASICK STEVE Corner Hotel April 10 JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE Prince Bandroom April 12 PETER HOOK The Palace April 12 LOU BARLOW Northcote Social Club April 17, April 18 HENRY ROLLINS The National Theatre April 18, 19 SUPAFEST TBA April 21 DIG IT UP! HOODOO GURUS INVITATIONAL The Palace April 25 THE EXPLOITED Corner Hotel April 28 CHERRY ROCK Cherry Bar April 29 THE MOUNTAIN GOATS Corner Hotel May 10
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK/BACKSTREET BOYS Rod Laver Arena May 19 FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE Rod Laver Arena May 20 MELISSA ETHERIDGE The Plenary July 15
NATIONAL KASEY CHAMBERS Melbourne Zoo February 4 ST KILDA FESTIVAL St Kilda February 5 – 13 PHIL JAMIESON Northcote Social Club February 10 JORDIE LANE East Brunswick Club February 10 SLEEPMAKESWAVES The Espy February 10, The Evelyn February 11 THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS Melbourne Zoo February 11 GRAVEYARD TRAIN Phoenix Public House February 11 ANTISKEPTIC The Northcote Social Club February 11 MARCIA HINES Melbourne Zoo February 12 THE NECKS Corner Hotel February 13, 14, 15 GENNY B FUNDRAISER Corner Hotel February 16 RIVERBOATS MUSIC FESTIVAL Echuca-Moama February 17-10 ROCK THE BAY The Espy February 18 BETWEEN THE BAYS Penbank Morning Peninsula February 25 LAST DINOSAURS The Toff February 28 LIOR Melbourne Zoo March 3 CHILDREN COLLIDE Ferntree Gully Hotel March 9, Pelly Bar March 10, Karova Lounge March 12 and Corner Hotel April 13 360 Corner Hotel March 10 HOLLY THROSBY Famous Spiegeltent March 11 PUSH OVER Abbotsford Convent March 12 DIRTY THREE The Palace March 16 THE BEARDS Corner Hotel March 16 SNAKADAKTAL Northcote Social Club March 16, 17 CLARKEFIELD MUSIC FESTIVAL Clarkefield March 18 BODYJAR, ANTISKEPTIC, ONE DOLLAR SHORT Corner Hotel March 31 BALL PARK MUSIC The Corner April 14 JOHN BUTLER The Hi-Fi Bar April 24
RUMOURS Azealia Banks, Andrew Bird, The Weakerthans, Morrissey, Silver Jews, Quasimoto, No Doubt.
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LAURA MARLING BY CHRISTINE LAN
“You start off on a light foot, fall into a crevasse and then come back up again,” laughs Laura Marling. She’s talking about the journey that unfolds on her third album, A Creature I Don’t Know. It’s Marling’s latest critically-acclaimed composition and further proof that the 21-year-old (22 on February 1) from London is en route to becoming one of the most prolific and respected songwriters in modern folk music. Age has been neither an issue nor a hindrance for Marling: “I try not to think any further than one day ahead.” To say that releasing three acclaimed albums by the age of 21 is a rare feat would be an understatement. Marling’s evolution as a singer-songwriter has led to each album garnering higher acclaim than its predecessor. “I think music is the core of my identity and that was obvious to me from teenage-hood,” says Marling. “I’d much rather be tucked away listening to music on my headphones than doing what other people would do,” she laughs, adding, “I don’t know what they were doing.” Indeed, Marling has always felt different to others. She didn’t relate to her school mates in the way that most are propositioned to. Enraptured by the folk music that her father had introduced to her, Marling moved to London from Hampshire at the age of 16 to make music, humbly and honestly. The singer/guitarist bonded with like-minded musicians who possessed the same love for timeless folk music and inspired what the British music press would later term as the “nu-folk” movement. Marling first came to the attention of indie music fans as a member of Noah And The Whale’s original lineup (she was backing vocalist on the band’s debut album – Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down). However, Marling departed the group and split with lead singer Charlie Fink before the album’s release to focus on her solo career. Her debut solo album – Alas, I Cannot Swim (2008) – would prove why leaving Noah And The Whale was the right decision as it showcased the uniqueness of Marling’s artistic vision. Despite the British press’ interest in both her former relationships with Fink and Mumford & Sons’ Marcus Mumford, Marling has remained as dignified in her expression of personal matters as she is with her craft. In the eyes of Marling, A Creature I Don’t Know (2011) is the first record that she truly put her stamp on as she finally possessed the confidence to do so. How did it feel to find that self-confidence? “It felt like more of a relief, I guess... to know that I could trust my own opinion,” she ponders. On her sophomore album, I Speak Because I Can (2010), Marling explored womanhood and adult responsibility with a sense of gravitas; impressively, A Creature I Don’t Know explores those themes even further and more profoundly as she contemplates the issues of devotion, betrayal, submission, rage, dependency, desire, innocence, guilt, euphoria, despair, angels, devils, family and gender roles. But as Marling demonstrates, the act of asking questions is often more important than finding answers. “I think it was the general idea of not knowing, not
understanding... that was kind of the reason why those themes came up, I guess, because I suppose from a feminine standpoint, those are the things that most people will question or I hope would question in their time. And I think especially on A Creature I Don’t Know, there’s such a lack of understanding,” she laughs. “I’m wondering.” Marling’s love of great writers John Steinbeck and Robertson Davies inspired the tales that weave through A Creature I Don’t Know and triggered her own drive as a writer. “I think I take a bit more from the writers that I read than maybe I should,” Marling laughs. “It’s not necessarily what they’re talking about – it’s the way they talk about it, and that’s why I get stuck in ruts of reading the same writers because I feel so comfortable with the way that they write and I really find myself sinking into it, especially with people like Robertson and Steinbeck, who have a really, really distinctive way of writing. I find that the way someone structures a sentence is really fascinating because it can be the difference between something being conveyed and you understanding it or something being so well conveyed that you feel like no-one could have said it better and there’s no way it could have been phrased in a better way.” Sophia (the name of the ancient goddess of wisdom) was the stunning first single off A Creature I Don’t Know and influenced by Robertson Davies’ The Rebel Angels. Meanwhile, Salinas can be traced to Steinbeck’s East Of Eden. “I do like hearing what people do deduce from them because sometimes I write without really knowing myself until it’s done,” Marling muses. “When I was at school, I always thought that when we were doing English and learning poetry or dissecting a novel, it was terribly unfair that there was one way of taking it in and one way of understanding it and there was a set curriculum of how you would take on this poem or how you would take on this novel. I just don’t think any writer has that much control over how words affect people. Words will affect people differently and I like that people would have their own ideas about things like that. “In art and music, you’re completely unrestricted,” says Marling. “You can do anything to get a point across. There are bits on this album that feel more emotional and intense; there are some bits that I wrote with quite a light heart and lots I wrote with a heavy heart. It’s a nice mix and when we play live, we try and play most of the songs in order or close to being in order.” Marling returns to our shores for the Laneway Festival
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as well as a special performance at The Forum Theatre. As Feist will be joining Marling at Laneway (they released two of last year’s finest albums), I ask her whether Leslie Feist is an artist that Marling derives inspiration from: “Yeah, very much so... I was a huge fan of the stuff that she used to do with Broken Social Scene. She’s amazing.” Marling’s versatility on A Creature I Don’t Know and the timeless quality of her songs have seen her mentioned in the same breath as PJ Harvey, Tori Amos and Fiona Apple. PJ Harvey’s latest album, Let England Shake, was viewed by many as the album of 2011 – how much does Marling draw from such a strong, uncompromising artist? “PJ Harvey set a path and a standard that I find very interesting, and she’s great – actually, I haven’t gotten that far into her music and that’s just because I haven’t got around to it yet,” admits Marling. “And she’s the kind of artist where you have to buy them all – you can’t just try one,” she laughs, “so I’m working on that. “Women singer-songwriters get bracketed into a genre. It happens all the time and I’m really glad that there are stand-out people like PJ Harvey and to some extent, people like Björk who are doing interesting things; you can’t put them in a bracket with straight-down-the-line pop artists because they’re just doing something more exciting.” Infused with both the beauty and darkness of A Creature I Don’t Know, Marling’s guitar playing is more haunting, distinctive and expressive on her latest masterpiece. “I made a conscious effort between the last album and this one to play a different style of guitar,” she relates. “I was playing on a nylon string guitar this time; the first style of guitar that I learnt was classical guitar, so it was quite strange in a way to go back to a Spanish guitar and it’s a completely different tone. The older I get, the more I play the guitar...and the easier it comes.” In the next few months, Marling’s hectic touring schedule will include performing at the Coachella Festival and supporting Andrew Bird. “We toured with him about two years ago,” Marling recalls, “and when I went on tour with him, I think I had two of his albums. And then we were helping him set up his merch after the shows and the guy has like ten albums,” she laughs. “They’re all bizarre and amazing.” As much as she adores Bird, the one artist whom she remains utterly awe-stricken by – even after having the privilege of touring with the music icon – is Neil Young. “It was really, really surreal – you know when someone’s been such a figure in your life that they don’t appear in a justified reality anymore? You can’t really consider them walking around or drinking tea or doing whatever people do,” Marling laughs. “And in a way, I wanted it to remain like that – I only really met him for about five minutes when I toured with him for four shows... on the last day, I managed to summon up some courage and say hello. I managed to let him remain a mythical being in my head.” LAURA MARLING performs at The Forum Theatre on Thursday February 2 (supported by Husky – sold out) and at Laneway Festival on Saturday February 4, where she’ll be joined by Feist, The Horrors, The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, The Drums, Toro Y Moi, Active Child, Chairlift, M83, Pajama Club, Husky, The Panics and more. A Creature I Don’t Know is out now through EMI.
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THIS WEEK: ON SCREEN If you’re a ‘90s kid and haven’t seen Disney’s The Lion King, you suck. When The Lion King was released back in 1994, it captivated all who saw it as it went on to gross almost $1 billion. To stay relevant with kids these days, The Lion King has received a 3D makeover and will be showcased at ACMI on Sunday February 5 at 10.30am and 1pm. It will also screen the week after.
ON STAGE Do you question whether life has meaning and a purpose? The Existentialist Society recommences their free monthly lectures this week for those who desire to transcend the anguish of life’s futility and seek purpose in our absurd world. Existentialism is a diverse philosophy with profound differences amongst its leading thinkers. Consequently, its definition or explanation varies; members of The Existentialist Society simply agree to disagree. Starting in 2012 on Tuesday February 7, Associate Professor Russell Grigg (Philosophy, Deakin University) will present the first lecture of the year – The Trial of Albert Camus. A Q&A will follow the lecture and discussion from the audience is always encouraged. Lectures are on the first Tuesday of every month from 8pm at Unitarian Church Hall, 110 Grey Street, East Melbourne.
ON DISPLAY Jean Lyon’s new oil on canvas works juxtapose disparate objects as she represents the elements of earth, fire, water, air and space to construct dreamlike scenes. Many of these monochromatic pieces, often created by utilising Golden Mean theory (that there is a perfect balance between two extremes) and the intriguing Fibonacci number sequences, thin washes of black and white paint are used to contrast different objects. Trees, rock formations, birds and people inspired by close inspection of found materials along with the artist’s own personal collection of photographs, newspapers and magazines evoke a sense of nostalgia. Earth’s Shadows is on display at fortyfivedownstairs from Tuesday February 7 and runs until Sunday February 18.
BEAT’S PICK OF THE WEEK: The Melbourne Planetarium, at ScienceWorks in Spotswood, is an underappreciated gem in this fine city. The Planetarium is a cinema where you lie back and glance at a dome screen and immerse yourself in the visual wonders provided. Beginning weekly from this Friday February 3 will be Fulldome Fridays – an evening of two separate screenings at the Planetarium featuring a variety of intriguing films. This Friday features Nanocam and Realm Of Light (a beautifully animated 360° production which tells the story of life and its evolution from the Big Bang until the modern age) at 7.30pm and Pink Floyd – The Wall at 9pm. Check out the full program at The Melbourne Planetarium’s website.
FREE SHIT
ST KILDA ARTS & LAUGHS FESTIVAL The St Kilda Arts & Laughs Festival, as part of Live N Local St Kilda Festival, begins this Friday February 3 until Saturday February 11. The festival embraces the thriving local comedy scene and includes established and highly-regarded acts such as Justin Hamilton, Dave O’Neil and more. The St Kilda RSL Upstairs Bar on Acland St will feature A Search For A Funny Bone competition – open to the locals (four heats and a grand final) – as well as Pedi Cab Laughs from 7pm nightly from February 6. There are amazing events on throughout the festival, and we have a few double passes to give away. Clickety-clack onto beat.com.au/freeshit to win.
Beat Magazine Page 24
A CHORUS LINE BY SIMONE UBALDI
“Five six seven eight: turn, turn, touch, down, back step.” A Chorus Line opens on a gruelling dance audition, a cattle call held on the vast empty stage of a Broadway theatre. A mass of young and not so young hopefuls are working hard to keep up with the assistant director, Larry, who is putting them through their paces. The beat is driving, and this group of chorus kids can really dance. They can’t all be in the show, however. Larry’s curt, rhythmic instructions give way to the first memorable number of this classic musical, I Hope I Get It, in which a couple of dozen dancers express their internal anxiety and desperation to get the gig. It’s electric. It’s also kind of depressing. I grew up watching the 1983 film adaptation of A Chorus Line, in which Michael Douglas peers awkwardly from the shadows while theatre actors ham it up on screen. Richard Attenborough’s movie didn’t rank well with the critics, but I loved it. Along with the criminally underrated film version of Jesus Christ Superstar and Liza Minnelli’s star turn in Cabaret, A Chorus Line triggered a somewhat shameful addiction to musical theatre that has dogged me throughout my adult life. I say ‘shameful’ because musical theatre is perceived as a twee, corny, sometimes crass but otherwise non-threatening art form designed for gay men and suburban housewives. I think this perception is partially accurate – a lot of musicals are just unending, rainbow-hued noise – but some of them, a few of them, have a complicated subtext. A Chorus Line is one of
GOOD PEOPLE BY BIRDIE David Lindsay-Abaire’s stage drama Good People may question the American Dream, but given recent world events such as the global financial crisis, it’s just as relevant to Australian audiences halfway across the planet. According to actress Alexandria Steffensen, who plays the character of Kate, at the core of the play lies the question, ‘Does one’s fortune come down to blind luck or hard work?’ “The play is set in South Boston, Massachusetts, and one of the things it looks at is class,” explains Steffensen, “but the biggest theme it looks at is how your history and the choices you’ve made in the past affect you later in life. A brief rundown of the plot is that my character, Kate, is married to a guy called Michael. She’s in her thirties, he’s in his fifities, he’s a doctor with a lot of money who lives in an affluent suburb. So they’re very rich and have this wonderful life together. The main character of the play is Margie who comes crashing into their world. She grew up with Michael and knows things about his past that Kate is not aware of. Margie is also desperately in need of a job because of tough economic times and she’s freaking out because she has a disabled daughter that she also has to look after. So she appeals to Michael asking for work and he tries to help her out, but it gets a lot more complicated than that.” While the character of Margie believes she never had a choice in life, Michael’s stance is the opposite – his argument being that luck is what you make it, not what
those. When I say it’s kind of depressing, I mean that as a compliment. Amongst the barrage of high-power, comical and cute numbers, this show presents the stories of people who are struggling towards a very difficult and yet very humble dream – to be one of the nameless characters that blend in around the stars of a major Broadway production. It’s depressing because despite how hard they try and how much we root for them, most of the people who sing that opening number won’t make it into the show. After the first song, a bunch of dancers are cut and the remaining auditioners are asked to tell the director a little bit about themselves. This becomes an unpacking of the lives and dreams of professional dancers that is the whole purpose of the A Chorus Line. In the new Australian revival, singer/dancer/actor Renee Armstrong (last seen as Amber Von Tussel in Hairspray) plays the ditzy but adorable Judy, who is as desperate as everyone else to get a part. Renee understands the fear and hope of her character because she has experienced it throughout her career. “The scene where you walk into a room and they ask you to tell them a bit about yourself, that still happens,” she explains. “You walk into a room and stand on the cross, a couple of bits of masking tape on the floor, and you have to stand there and sing your song and they say, ‘Thank you’, and that’s it. All of those things are really real, and that’s one of the biggest reasons why dancers want to do this show. It’s so close to home. People don’t realise how much you have to go through for that moment on stage. you stumble upon, according to Steffensen. “Margie just sees it that she grew up in a shitty, low socioeconomic suburb and she never had a choice to make her life better, but the thing is that Michael did as well! Only he got out when he was offered a scholarship, so his point is very different. The play looks at the opportunity for change and how much luck is involved in life. We’ve been discussing this a lot in rehearsal, actually – the whole idea of operating in the world based on what is your own truth. I can guarantee that the audience will switch sides throughout the play, their sympathies will change from one character to the next. The interesting thing about the play is that nobody is really right or wrong, they’re just coming from different viewpoints – and because of that, there is something in it for everyone, everybody will be able to relate.” As an actor, Steffensen claims she especially relates to the themes of Good People. Considering the fickle nature of the entertainment industry, the actress says she’s wondered many times whether the next gig is ultimately down to luck or blood, sweat and tears. “Being an actor, it’s something you’re going to wonder about a lot,” Steffensen laughs. “Personally, I think you create your own luck, even if that sounds like I’m just being idealistic. I just believe that if you work hard enough, things will eventually pay off. But having said that, it’s obvious that sometimes luck has a lot to do with it too. It’s a hard one to answer. I believe in hard work but with an element of luck. I think most people would probably say that, and in that respect, I think this is a play for everyone. I think people especially in Kate and Michael’s demographic would find this play interesting because they’ll be in a position to ask themselves questions such as, ‘Wow, if I hadn’t broken up with that guy back then, would my life be a lot different?’... It’s a little bit like the movie Sliding Doors in that way, too.” Good People also marks Steffensen’s first production for the Melbourne theatre company Red Stitch. An acting graduate from the Western Academy of Performing Arts, Steffensen was the recipient of The Leslie Anderson Award For Acting Excellence, and has performed in productions such as A View Of Concrete, Valley Song, The Crucible,
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They see you up there, or posting pictures of yourself in costume on Facebook, and they think it’s pure fun. It is, but it’s also really hard work. It’s really tough to even make it onto the stage.” First mounted in 1975, A Chorus Line was the longestrunning Broadway show until 1997 (when it was sadly eclipsed by the caterwauling nonsense that is Cats). It played over 6000 times to six and a half million people, and was one of the few musicals to win a Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Despite being a sort of navel-gazing excursion behind the musical theatre curtain, it has moved people. It still moves people. “There are a lot of stories in there that are really, really touching,” Renee agrees. “As an audience member, watching someone wanting something or struggling towards something is really engaging. You can’t help but want to go on that journey with them. Watching them strive for their dream and achieving or failing, it’s entertaining. It’s like sport – you bat for the underdog, you feel for the person that loses and you love the person that wins. The show has a lot of heart.” It’s true, A Chorus Line has lot of heart. That’s why I secretly, somewhat shamefully love it, and why I always will. A Chorus Line takes place at Her Majesty’s Theatre from Friday February 3 until Saturday March 3. For tickets and more information visit achorusline.com.au.
Human Resources, Jet Of Blood, X-Stacy and Live Acts On Stage as part of the Perth International Arts Festival. Most recently, Steffensen appeared in She’s A Little Finch, and her film and television credits have also included Neighbours, CNNNN, Life Support and Happy Feet. “This year has started off really well because this is such a good play, so I am very optimistic about the next 11 months,” says Steffensen. “I’ve done a lot of indie theatre and this play is written so well, it’s such a great script with a beautiful rhythm to it. Being able to work with a really dense, well-written piece is very satisfying as an actor. Red Stitch have been a really great company to work for, it’s a very supportive team. One of the best things about them is that they have their own theatre, and the best thing for an actor doing rehearsals is to be able to do so in the same space where you’re going to perform. And it’s quite rare for a theatre company to be able to provide this, usually you have rehearsals somewhere else externally. The atmosphere is very relaxed and focused and enjoyable, and everybody seems to get along. As a company, it’s really fantastic.” Good People premieres at Red Stitch Actors Theatre on Friday February 3 and runs until Saturday March 3. Visit redstitch.net for more information.
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CAUTIONARY TALES FOR CHILDREN
A musical journey of identity and winking ambition.
An irreverent musical satire of faith, fortune and the mega-church
A lyrical satirical cabaret based on the verse by Hilaire Belloc
1 – 4 February
4 – 7 February
4 – 7 February
1–7 FEBRUARY 2012
Stay back for a Q&A with the artists after each performance
Arts Centre Melbourne, Fairfax Studio TICKETS ONLY $10
This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body.
Book online or call 1300 182 183 artscentremelbourne.com.au
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
Beat Magazine Page 25
THE COMIC STRIP CHECKPOINT CHARLIE COMEDY
With Tyson Wray. Got news, gossip, reviews, thoughts, tip-offs, complaints, hate mail? Email tyson@beat.com.au or send by ESP before Friday.
ALLIANCE FRANCAISE FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL
AUSTRALIA DAY Following on from our national holiday celebrations, MTC is getting set to present the world premiere of Australia Day this April. What can you expect from the performance? Well, you can expect writer of the performance, Australian political satirist Jonathan Biggins, to pull apart the most important date on the Australian calendar as he parodies the politics of Coriole Shire’s Australia Day Planning Committee. But he can’t do it alone. Joined along by Geoff Morrell, Alyson Whyte, Valerie Bader and David James, the cast will put their own comedic spin on everything from solemnised speeches, citizenship ceremonies, sorry business to snags and beer. The Arts Centre will bring Australia Day to audiences from Thursday April 26. For more information, head to mtc.com.au.
THE SEED The Seed, written by acclaimed writer and actor Kate Mulvany, will bring its compelling and tightly-woven storyline to the Fairfax Studio stage. Starring the likes of Max Gillies, Sara Gleeson and Tony Martin, the play tells the story of the long-awaited reunion of a traumatised Vietnam War veteran, Danny, and his ex-IRA father, Brian. Awarded 2007’s Best Independent Production and nominated for Best Australian Work at the Sydney Theatre Awards, The Seed will make its way to the Arts Centre’s Fairfax Stage on Wednesday February 22. Head to mtc.com.au or artscentremelbourne.com.au for booking details.
Welcoming a record-breaking 130,000 attendees to the event in 2011, the Alliance Francaise French Film Festival is getting ready to again make a splash in our country for its 23rd year. As per every year, the festival will host a vast array of fine talent including the likes of Anouk Aimee, Woody Allen, Niels Arestrup and Daniel Auteuil, plus more. Amongst the outstanding 45 films that are to be presented throughout, Declaration Of War will kick off the festival when it heads down under to add that dash of ooh-la-la to our lives for a few weeks. Hosted at Palace Cinemas throughout Melbourne, the Alliance Francaise French Film Festival will run from March 7 – 25. You want details? Head to affrenchfilmfestival.org.
DUE PAESI, DUE CUORI Movies with subtitles – yeah, we know them. But what about theatre performances with subtitles? Believe me, they’re real. Due Paesi, Due Cuori – or what translates to Two Countries, Two Hearts – is Australia’s first ever Italian-Australian subtitled theatre performance. Inspired by a true story of love, hope and dreams, the tale circulates around the journey of young Concettina and her escape from her small Italian village, leaving her mother behind in search of purpose and happiness. Witness the ups and downs of her journey at Moonee Ponds’ Clocktower Centre from February 24 – March 4. Tickets available now from clocktowercentre.com.au.
INDEPENDENT PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL Fancy yourself to be quite the photography maestro? Well, here’s your chance to let your abilities shine with the 2012 Independent Photography Festival. Throughout the first week of April, the festival will utilise the strengths and skills of the photographic community, with all photographs presented set to elaborate on the multi-faceted, far-reaching, diverse and prolific nature of each individual’s captures. Submissions are now open people, so if this seems like your cup of tea – don’t wait. Interested? Submit your entry to independentphotographyfestival.com by March 1. Publications of work will also be on display from
Monday April 2 – Sunday April 8. For more information, head to hardworkersclub.com.
Cheap piss and piss-cheap entry at Checkpoint Charlie Comedy, the city’s premier above-ground underground comedy room. Tonight, come fill yourself with $6 drinks and put your continence to the ultimate test as Joel Creaset hosts a huge lineup featuring Toby Halligan, Simon Taylor, David Male and a special surprise headliner spitting funnies into the business end of a loud stick. Check in 8pm tonight at Eurotrash Bar - 18 Corrs Lane, Melbourne. $5 entry.
DEATHSTAR COMEDY
Deathstar Comedy is back this week with the fantastic Lawrence Mooney as MC! With a great lineup including Daniel Connel, Tegan Higginbotham, Jon Bennett, Ethan Addie, Trav Nash, Lachlan Marr, Lisa Fineberg, Jim Bob, Chimponobo and Spencer Hodges ! Starts at 8.45pm, $5 entry at Caz Reitop’s Dirty Secrets, 80 Smith Street, Collingwood.
FELIX BAR COMEDY ALL THIS INTIMACY What happens when you bed three women in a single week? Let’s ask 30-year-old Ty, who decides that the best way to deal with his recently ex-girlfriend, his married neighbour and his 18-year-old poetry student is to invite them all over for dinner in the same week – and knock them up. Written by Rajiv Joseph, All This Intimacy stars some famous Aussie faces, like Scott Major and Georgia Bolton, and even stars the guy from the RACV “Call Jason” commercials. FYI, his name’s not actually Jason. All This Intimacy opens at Chapel Off Chapel on Friday February 24. For more information, head to allthisintimacy.com.
THE DROWNING GIRLS Northcote Town Hall in association with Turtle Lab are getting ready to present the lung-filling, heartseizing Australian premiere of The Drowning Girls by Canadian playwright Daniela Vlaskalic. Directed by Paola Unger, this true crime story is based on the infamous Brides Of The Baths murders that took place in Britain from 1912-1914. The tale follows the story of the last three women who fell in love with serial killer, George Joseph Smith – an Edwardian bigamist who targeted lonely, wealthy women. The Drowning Girls will be performed at Northcote Town Hall from Friday February 10 – Sunday February 26, with the opening night being held as an official White Ribbon Event in support of those suffering domestic violence. Tickets are available from northcotetownhall.com.au.
AUSTRALIA ON SCREEN It’s our country, our home and our patriotism. We’re a proud bunch, us Aussies, and the Astor Theatre recognises that fact. As Melbourne’s finest film and digital experience, the Astor will present Australia On Screen – a five-week collection of iconic Australian cinema. Spread over five weeks starting in February, each week will feature a different double-feature presentation, including classic films such as Mad Max 1 and 2. Held from Monday February 6 – Monday March 5, Astor Theatre’s Australia On Screen event is one not to be missed by any lover of Australia and its cinema.
TEGAN LOUISE Tegan Louise photography and the Cornish Arms have collaborated and brought together a lineup of Melbourne’s brightest new bands along with a photographic exhibition of live music. Tegan Louise has spent the year touring and photographing Australian bands and now brings together an exhibition that includes photographs of Bluejuice, The Panics, Jeff Martin and Terapi Richmond, The Red Eyes, The Vasco Era, and many more. The lineup of live bands includes Sid O’Neil of The Vasco Era, Tessa And The Typecast, Immigrant Union, The Harlots and Kitchen Knife Wife plus many more and live DJ sets from Dirt Farmer and The Fearless Vampire Killers. The day kicks off at 1pm on Saturday February 4 till late, $15 on the door.
APPLE FROM THE TREE There’s a saying, y’know, that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. This saying can most definitely apply to artists and the creative minds of their children. Footscray Community Arts Centre feels the same way and, as such, has taken it upon themselves to host a family-focused exhibit which will run throughout February and March. Getting to the core of nature versus nurture in the space of creativity, a group of locally engaged artists will create artworks with the help of their youngens. Footscray Community Arts Centre’s Apple From The Tree exhibition will host its opening night on Thursday February 2 at 6pm, and will run from Friday February 3 – Sunday March 18.
After a huge night last week, this Wednesday is looking like another big one, with our headliner being the fantastic Hannah Gadsby! She’s the fastest rising star in Australian comedy, with sold out festival shows and regular appearances on Adam Hills’ In Gordon Street Tonight! Plus another great supporting lineup including Justin Hamilton, Jason Chong, Tommy Little, Luke McGregor and Cam Marshall! In summer, Felix Bar is the place to be on a Wednesday night in St Kilda! It’s all happening Wednesday February 1 at 8.30pm for only $12, at 11 Fitzroy St, St Kilda.
SOFTBELLY COMEDY
A cracker of a night this Thursday at Softbelly Comedy, with our headliner being the award-winning Sammy J and Randy! You’ve seen them on Good News World, they’ve won awards, and they’ll be previewing new stuff from their upcoming festival show! Plus Gordon Southern (UK), Ronny Chieng, Jason Chong, Tommy Dassalo and Pete Sharkey! It’s going to be another awesome night at Softbelly, 367 Little Bourke Street, in the city, this Thursday February 2 at 8.30pm, all for only $12! Get in early for a good seat!
COMMEDIA DELL PARTE
This Thursday Commedia Dell Parte presents yet another great lineup to chase away those five-day-workweek blues. So join us down the dark alley of laughs through the hidden door of hilarity to enjoy the talented Lawrence Mooney, Daniel Connell, Simon Taylor, Luke McGregor, Lauren Bok, Ben Buckley and special guest MC Xavier Toby. This room runs on a ‘pay as you like’ basis, so come along and have a great laugh, then pay what you believe the show is worth on the way out. All profits will be shared with the comedians who performed on the night so if you enjoy the show chuck in a few sheckles and show your appreciation. Commedia Dell Parte runs every Thursday 8.30pm. George Lane Bar, 1 George Lane St Kilda. Get in early to secure yourself a comfy couch.
BREW HAHA COMEDY
Come down to Brew HaHa Comedy Night this Thursday night to see the one and only Dave Callan (Spicks & Specks, Triple J, Rove) perform live. Alongside him we have a wonderful lineup, including Geraldine Hickey, Roland Hoffman and the most beautiful man in Europe, European Man! Doors open at 8pm, and every audience member enters the draw to win 3 jugs of beer, delicious. It all takes place at Gertrude’s, 30 Gertrude St Fitzroy, entry a mere $8.
THE SUNDAY SHOWDOWN
Week 4 of Australia’s newest comedy competition The Sunday Showdown delivers musical superstar duo Anyone For Tennis and resident judge the ‘Fabulous’ Adam Richard. As well as host Dil Ruk, with Xavier Toby and Micah Higbed pitchforking current events. With contestants: Trav Nash, Max Attwood, Liam O’Brien, Hayman Kent and Roland Hoffman. It all takes place at The Portland Hotel, cnr Russell and Little Collins, 2pm5pm. It’s Sunday afternoon, the only day of the week where it’s beer o’clock from the moment you wake up (except for Saturday).
COMEDY AT SPLEEN
Monday nights at red-hot at Spleen, even more so in summer! The room is super-full, the comics are great, and we’re getting more and more special guests coming down.. so don’t blow it and miss out! This Monday we have Spleen favourite Harley Breen hosting, along with great guests like Lawrence Mooney, David Quirk, Cambo, Pete Sharkey and more! That’s why we’re packed full every week, so get in early to guarantee a seat. It’s this Monday, February 6, 41 Bourke St, in the city, at 8.30pm.
TRIPOD
You love them, we love them – everybody loves them. Yep, that quirky comedy trio, Tripod, are back with their new comedy show Men Of Substance. Boys? Men? Men’s men? Lady boys? In their new production, armed with tattered wisdom, cheap scotch and unlicensed firearms, the boys from Tripod will bring to bear their hard-earned chops to show you how and in what way the scorching charismageddon of the new generation has morphed into craggy fugitives with a suitcase of regrets and a glass eye. Confused yet? Don’t be. Catch Tripod in Men Of Substance at the Arts Centre’s Playhouse from February 23-24. They’re only performing two shows, so get in quick ‘cause this is a performance not to be missed.
FOR MEG’S BENEFIT 2
RED GALLERY Red Gallery is kicking in 2012 with a bang, as it opens this new year’s exhibition season with artist Jess Hall’s Swarm Series show. Inspired by her ‘specimen collections’, Jess has combined studies from life with invented birds, referencing scientific illustration and collection, with her entire show consisting of a series of swarm paintings and a series of works on paper. Jess Hall’s Swarm Series will deck the walls of Red Gallery from Wednesday February 1 – Saturday February 18.
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ARTS NEWS, REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS ONLINE – BEAT.COM.AU/ARTS
You know how you always hear those stories about the unsung heroes in our community? Well, Meg Gulbin is one of those people and now, she needs our help. Having suffered from an Acquired Brain Injury 18 months ago, Meg is still miraculously still with us and is predicted to make close to a full recovery over time. But she needs our help. For Meg’s Benefit 2: A Gala Comedy Event will host a star-studded line-up including the likes of Fiona O’ Loughlin and Denise McGuinness. Get in amongst the laughs at Collingwood Town Hall on March 2. Tickets available from webticketing.com.au. It’s all for a good cause, people.
OT GOB I L L
stkilda
artsan
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ST KILDA ARTS & LAUGHS
DAVE O N
GALA
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SPECTACULAR NATIONAL THEATRE
SAT 11 FEB 8PM Bookings from Ticketek
PH: 132 849
WILLI N S A
or purchase tickets online at stkildalaughsfestival.com.au
, UK
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12 0 2 1 1 Y 3 ival.com.au R A U R FEB sfest dlaugh
To see full program go to www.stkildaartsandlaughsfestival.com.au Part proceeds of all ticket sales will be Donated to The Ardoch Foundation
LAUGH YOUR ARTS OFF
8 WORLD CLASS COMEDIANS ROCKIN THE HOUSE
www.knockoutevents.com.au WORLD CLASS COMEDY ROCKIN THE HOUSE A Knockout event
GUILTY PLEASURES BY SIOBHAN ARGENT
The crowd at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) are about to get all loved-up. As part of its First Look program, ACMI will present Guilty Pleasures, a documentary about the world of romance novels directed by Julie Moggan (As The Sun Begins To Set, Waiting For A Lift). While much of the film does inspect the romantic lives of various people, all connected by some kind of interest in Mills & Boon novels, Moggan’s own story is one worthy of romantic introspection. “At the age of 30 I came out of a 13-year relationship. I had a lot of questions about love and romance.” The film itself opens on the idea that every four seconds, a Mills & Boon book is bought somewhere in the world. “I read an article [with this quote] and that set me off on this long journey.” Moggan follows five different stories all tethered together by the unique connection of the romance novel. Three are avid romance-novel readers (Indian Shumita, Japanese Hiroko and English Shirley). Another is an Englishbased, single romance novelist who lives and works in a caravan (Roger, who writes under the pseudonym Gill Sanderson). And then, in a category entirely his own, there’s American Stephen, a Miami-based romance-novel cover model so obsessed with himself that there’s barely any room in his life for a potential lover. How does someone with a camera get the kind of highly intimate information Moggan manages to glean from her subjects? “I deliberately look for individuals who I feel have that ability to be very honest and open about their life, and who understand what I’m trying to do with the film and that I am looking for that level of honesty in the work I do,” Moggan says. “It took me a year to cast the film and because it really takes a very special kind of person who’s willing to open up to that level...I consider that with each one I made a genuine friendship and I shared my life with them just as much as they with me...I think part of that honesty comes out of that.” At some points, even Mills & Boon themselves jump in and help out. “It took a year to cast the film and the Mills & Boon offices in Tokyo were incredibly helpful. I went over there for a research trip and they introduced me to 20 women who they knew were big fans of their books,” Moggan says. “Hiroko stood out to me from the start because I was told before I even met her that one of the readers had a huge love of ballroom dancing...As soon as I met her I really liked her. She was extremely open and warm and just the kind of character I was looking for.” Moggan also mentions that she spent a fair bit of time making friends with these people, sharing her own personal life. To Moggan, it seems quite unusual not to be an active participant in collecting information from her subjects. She’s quite open about her approach to keeping the film on topic.
When life is perfect, what’s to question?
“I DELIBERATELY LOOK FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO I FEEL HAVE THAT ABILITY TO BE VERY HONEST AND OPEN ABOUT THEIR LIFE, AND WHO UNDERSTAND WHAT I’M TRYING TO DO WITH THE FILM”
A new comedy From the creators of The Castle and The Dish
Coarse language and sex scene
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IN CINEMAS FEB 9 ARTS NEWS, REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS ONLINE – BEAT.COM.AU/ARTS
“Even if you don’t speak in the film or ask a lot of questions, just by nature of being there with your camera and switching it on and choosing what to film and what not to film and then what to include in the edit and what not to include, every documentary really is a kind of a fiction. It’s totally mediated through the director’s perspective. I completely see documentary in that way...Some of the scenes are highly directed, hopefully always in collaboration with the contributors, but yes, I had a strong hand in what the audience see at the end of the film. It’s very much mediated through me and my editor and how we see their life.” This mediation and participation becomes hair-raisingly apparent when you find out what really happened during a white-knuckle ride in the back of a Porsche through the streets of Dehli, with Shumita’s husband Sanjay at the wheel. “That was a really tricky scene, actually. Because the reality off-camera was that [Sanjay] was driving so crazily that we actually narrowly avoided missing a cyclist who fell of his motorbike, in front of the car, and we missed him by a quarter of an inch. I actually stopped rolling at that moment, obviously, because we were just freaking out...It’s so disturbing in the film that we had to kind of cheat that scene. We didn’t have the footage to show what really happened, so we had to give it a slightly different ending.” If anything, filming Guilty Pleasures has taught Moggan to be a little more cautious about her own decisions, although there is most likely another reason for this conclusion aside from bad Porsche drivers. Now married, Moggan is kept busy by her husband and her young son, Frank. “I swore that day [in the Porsche] I was not going to risk my life like that again for a film, I don’t think. It’s so easily done though; when you’re hooked up in a story and looking through the camera lens, you’re so involved in the film itself that you don’t always take as good care as you should!” The First Look season of Guilty Pleasures screens at ACMI from Thursday February 2 until Sunday February 5. For program information and session times visit acmi.net.au.
CAUTIONARY TALES FOR CHILDREN BY PATRICK EMERY
Serendipitously, a few moments before conducting my interview with Chris Kohn, Artistic Director at the Arena Theatre Company and producer of the forthcoming Cautionary Tales For Children, my 8-year-old son offers an attitude-laden retort to my simple inquiry. After a terse lecture on the importance of civility, I fling a copy of Hilaire Bellocâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Edwardian satire, Cautionary Tales For Children, at him. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Read that, and then youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll realise the importance of being good!â&#x20AC;? I proclaim. Hilaire Belloc was a writer, poet, satirist and politician. Born in France in 1870, Belloc grew up in England and rapidly developed a reputation for his excellent oratory and literary skills. In 1907, Belloc wrote Cautionary Tales For Children, a collection of satirical verses complemented with vivid illustrations that described the activities and cruel fates of children who failed to heed the instructions of authority. While the superficial tone of Bellocâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s writing was consistent with the draconian rhetoric of the Edwardian era, Belloc used the collection to mock figures of authority and to highlight the arbitrariness of punishments meted out to children â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and, for that matter, anyone unfortunate enough to be on the wrong side of the English class system. While Bellocâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name has faded from the average literary collection, the inspiration of his biting satire lives on in the words of Roald Dahl, and the filmmaking of Tim Burton. As a child Chris Kohn confesses to not entirely comprehending the depth of Bellocâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s verse. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think some of the class-based satire escaped me,â&#x20AC;? Kohn says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But the language â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the pomposity â&#x20AC;&#x201C; really came through, and that sense of Englishness. And the over-the-top ridiculousness of these minor infringements being met with such harsh punishments â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the justice is really arbitrary,â&#x20AC;? Kohn says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Even with Beatrix Potter, I find I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t read that to my three-yearold son because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s often so cruel!â&#x20AC;? Kohn laughs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With Belloc itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cruel, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also arbitrary. As a child, justice often seems very arbitrary, and I think Belloc has a very child-like approach in that regard.â&#x20AC;? A few years ago Kohn returned to Bellocâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s verse, and pondered how he could present the material on stage. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m surprised how infrequently itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been performed,â&#x20AC;? Kohn says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I suppose itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quite challenging â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the language is quite dense, so youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to really unpack itâ&#x20AC;?. Kohn enlisted the help of writer Claudia Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Doherty to bring the stories to life. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What we wanted was a way of framing the poems so that it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just a case of reading one poem after another,â&#x20AC;? Kohn says.
THE STRAITS BY ALASDAIR DUNCAN
â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are definitely certain challenges in performing poetry on stage. When you read a poem in a book, often youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll read it again and again to try and understand it, but when theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re performed live, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re read and then theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re gone,â&#x20AC;? he says. The basic concept of Arena Theatreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cautionary Tales For Children is that of a time-travelling, behaviour-changing troupe. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The idea is that teachers and parents bring children along to see the troupe because theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re naughty, but as they go on, you realise itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the adults who are naughty, and not the children,â&#x20AC;? Kohn says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s allowed us to use humour thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s outside the poems as well.â&#x20AC;? Kohn says the production is aimed at families. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not the children who are buying tickets, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the adults, so it has to be enjoyable for the whole family,â&#x20AC;? Kohn says. While itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a challenge to find theatre that appeals to both child and adult minds, Kohn says the production is intended to be entertaining for children, while providing enough subtle satire to amuse adults. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One of the greatest things you can learn from live shows is the thrill of live theatre,â&#x20AC;? Kohn says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And with this show we have something thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s both naughty and fun â&#x20AC;&#x201C; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like going to the circus. When you read it you think there must be more than just moral instruction â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it has to be satirical. And with this show the irreverence is really refreshing.â&#x20AC;? In an era where children are paradoxically exposed to a wide range of graphic material, and prohibited from engaged in so-called dangerous activities of yore, Bellocâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s verse has even greater resonance. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so much around these days about best-practice parenting â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but some times itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s better just to let it go and have fun,â&#x20AC;? Kohn muses. As I put the phone down, my son, having now read Bellocâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s verse, offers his own observation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a story here where a boy accidentally knocks a candle with a balloon, and the whole house ends up falling down. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pretty harsh.â&#x20AC;? Indeed â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and let that be a lesson to you. As part of the Carnegie 18 series, Cautionary Tales For Children â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Based On The Verse By Hilaire Belloc runs at the Arts Centre from Saturday February 4 until Tuesday February 7. Visit artscentremelbourne.com.au for tickets and more information.
Set in the tropics of Far North Queensland, The Straits is a drama unlike anything Australian TV has seen before. It tells the story of the Montobellos â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a crime family who run an empire of guns and smuggling in Cairns and the Torres Strait. The waters, as you may already suspect, are far from crystal clear, and when patriarch Harry Montobello announces his retirement, he sets his children in a war against each other for control of the empire. Queensland â&#x20AC;&#x201C; beautiful one day, meth labs, bikie gangs and brutal revenge the next. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a sunsoaked Sopranos, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just the way creator and star Aaron Faâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;aoso intended. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think that the American network HBO really has to be credited for the great work theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done over the last few years,â&#x20AC;? Faâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;aoso tells me. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve changed the way audiences look at television â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they raised the bar with programs like The Sopranos and Deadwood, and now, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more sophisticated, high-quality TV drama out there than ever. In this country, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had programs like East West 101 and The Slap that have met that challenge, and hopefully, The Straits will join those two with regards to being able to provide highquality drama thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also entertaining.â&#x20AC;? I put it to Faâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;aoso that locally-made television is doing a far better job of telling stories and entertaining than locallymade film right now, and he agrees. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have hit a great patch in this country in regards to television, and unfortunately, it hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t overlapped into film,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It would be great to see more real Australian stories that represent the makeup of Australian society and that come from real voices in cinema. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not saying that hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t occurred, but lately itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s television thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shown the diversity of Australian culture and showcased the voices and stories we have here today.â&#x20AC;? Australians in general seem to be unusually fascinated with tales of crime and malfeasance, a tradition that stretches from the success of shows like Underbelly right back to our ongoing love of Ned Kelly. The Straits fits firmly into this tradition, and I ask Faâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;aoso why, in his opinion, we as a culture are so fixated on such stories. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To be quite honest with you,â&#x20AC;? he says with a chuckle, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think this ongoing interest with crime stories comes back to the fact that Australia was settled as a penal colony. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s from that heritage that these
attitudes have come. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Then thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the fact that, thanks to our colonial heritage with the British, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always been that big brother/little brother attitude,â&#x20AC;? he continues. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That all kind of transfers through areas like sport. Whenever we play against England, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always this feeling that we have to stick it to the Poms. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s that history to take into account, also. At the end of the day, though, I really think people are fascinated with the dark, secret worlds that shows like Underbelly uncover; it can be a real thrill to find out how people get involved in a life of crime.â&#x20AC;? In The Straits, Faâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;aoso plays Noel, the hot-headed heir to the Montobello throne. He leads a fine cast, which includes, not least of all, internationally-renowned actor Brian Cox. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was an absolutely fantastic experience to be able to work with him,â&#x20AC;? Faâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;aoso says of acting opposite the man who once played Hannibal Lecter. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I mean, when someone of that calibre steps on set, you know that what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing is the real deal.â&#x20AC;? Working with Cox, he says, brought out the best in the entire cast of The Straits. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He motivated us to want to do the best we could day-in and day-out,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was the best experience Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever had as an actor, and the hardest Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever worked. It was a gruelling but rewarding experience. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d do anything to work with him again.â&#x20AC;? Cox may be the most high-profile name in The Straits, but the rest of the cast are no slouches. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was fantastic working with all of those people,â&#x20AC;? Faâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;aoso says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We assembled a rather extraordinary team, cast and crew. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll just have to wait and see how itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all received.â&#x20AC;? The Straits begins on ABC1 this Thursday February 2 at 8.30pm.
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Beat Magazine Page 29
PHIL JAMIESON BY DAN WATT
Phil Jamieson is this generation’s first ‘laconic anti-hero.’ He represents an ‘imperfect idol’ who is a role model to an even less perfect youth with both walks of life having become distorted in a period of unparalleled economic boom that has seen many Australians live a life of misspent excess. Having grown up on the sleepy Northern Coast of New South Wales, Jamieson was thrust into Australia’s rock’n’roll scene when his band Grinspoon won the inaugural triple j Unearthed competition which led to him being the pin-up boy for extreme behaviour and consumption in a capacity not seen since Bon Scott (AC/DC 1974 to 1980). Talking to Beat Magazine from his home he shares with his wife and two children, Jamieson reflects on the Grinspoon 1998 Warp tour of Australia where Jamieson, then 22, exhibited odd behaviour like randomly dispersing daises and rose petals from a plastic bag whilst reciting poetry. “I remember that Warp tour fondly, I don’t remember the petals but I do remember it was a hell of lot of fun! “After that we ended up going over and doing the ‘99 Warp tour of the States with little known bands like Eminem and Black Eyed Peas,” Jamieson’s voice cracks into a warm chuckle as he reflects on the dramatic irony of his last statement. However, while Jamieson experienced many good times with Grinspoon’s success, cracks began to form due to over-consumption of drugs and alcohol and in 2007 Jamieson appeared on ABC talk-show Denton where he admitted to a serious addiction to the drug ice, an addiction that had led to a rapture between him and his band members as well as his wife. Since then, Jamieson has worked very hard to kick his drug addiction and be a part of Grinspoon’s sixth studio album Six To Midnight as well as see him become a responsible father to his two children, a loyal husband and, in the last 12 months, start performing as a solo artist, part storyteller part rock’n’roll troubadour. During this interview Jamieson takes a break to tend to his children: “There’s one for you and one for you, enjoy! Excuse me I was just opening some ALDI flavoured chicken snackos!” Jamieson quite frankly discusses his decision to start playing as a soloist by starting with this preliminary statement: “I’m not releasing any product, I don’t have a single, I don’t have a video. When I do play on my own there is no real justification for it except…” he trails off before saying, “I’m essentially unemployable. I can’t get a job at a bakery because my resume essentially consists of, ‘I won triple j Unearthed in 1995 and then started touring the world’ and that’s my employment history. So last year when I was running out of money and the kids needed their chicken snackos I booked seven dates throughout New South Wales and went ahead with it.” While it seems like a fairly gutsy move to go from having three blokes on stage with you to just handssolo, Jamieson did have a pretty experienced mate to call to ask advice. “So before I headed out on the tour I called Tim Rogers [You Am I] and asked what to expect and he told me, ‘You’re either going to love it or you’re going to hate it’ so I knew pretty quickly that if it didn’t go well I wouldn’t keep doing it!” He concludes with a triumphant laugh before letting on why he decided to bring his solo show south.
“LET ME BE CLEAR, IT’S NOT A GRINSPOON UNPLUGGED SET!”
Monday, February 6th
Friday, February 10th
The National Hotel, Geelong
The Corner Hotel
w/ Matt Sonic (solo) Doors: 8:00pm / $30 + BF Tickets from www.oztix.com.au
w/ Matt Sonic (solo) & Blackie (The Hard Ons) Doors: 8:00pm / $30 + BF Tickets from www.cornerhotel.com
“Now, Grinspoon’s manager and Grinspoon’s agent came to one of the gigs and were like, ‘This is really good’ to which I was like, ‘Yeah no shit it’s good!’ So they were like, ‘Let’s do more shows so now I’ve got three shows in Victoria.” However, Jamieson’s solo shows have not all been smooth sailing, with him now recounting some heckling he copped in a Sydney suburb famous for its ‘Bra-Boys’ and race riots. “I had some heckling at the Cronulla show where they wanted to hear Dead Cat, basically I don’t know how to play Dead Cat because I didn’t write it. Now they started singing it and I just let them go until they forgot the words. “Let me be clear, it’s not a Grinspoon unplugged set! It will mostly be made up of stuff I wrote that didn’t make past albums or new songs that I have, for want of a better term, pitched for the next album and also some covers. I mean these new songs are so disparate in their genres I don’t know if they’ll make the next Grinspoon album,” explains Jamieson. One cover that Jamieson has been playing is Bullet Proof by La Roux. “I’ve been doing that for a while, not to anyone else, but I really like the lyrics to that song but I think her arrangements is not my favourite so I like to tweak the chords A-minor D, and F. Some people found it hilarious when I did it but others not so much so I’m not sure it will make my sets when I play Victoria.” However, he does admit that Lana Del Ray’s song Video Games may get played in his set. “I’ve learnt how to play Video Games ‘cause I like the lyrics to that song but on a side note I think she has been treated extremely badly by the media in general and that if she was a guy she would not have been treated this way!” PHIL JAMIESON plays the Northcote Social Club on Friday February 10 with Evil and St Cecilia, plus The Palais in Hepburn Springs on Saturday February 11 and The Whellers Hill Hotel on Sunday February 12.
Beat Magazine Page 30
DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION
INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH MUSIC INDUSTRY NEWS & GOSSIP
with Christie Eliezer * Stuff for this column to be emailed to <celiezer@netspace.net.au> by Friday 5pm IFPI REPORT: GLOBAL MARKET DOWN 3%, DIGITAL UP 8%
BEAT’S HODGSON SPEAKING AT MMF FORUM
Global digital revenue sales grew by 8% last year to the value of US$5.2 billion, up from $4.8 billion in 2010. But the entire recorded music market (physical and digital) dropped by 3% to a value of $16.2 billion. This is according to IFPI’s Digital Music Report, released last week. It’s good news for the biz. It means fans are increasingly turning to legit sites, which are offering more consumer-friendly services. An estimated 13.4 million subscribe to services globally, up from 8.2 million in 2010. An estimated 3.6 billion downloads were purchased globally in 2011 (singles and albums), a yearon-year increase of 17%. Digital album unit sales grew by 24%. The IFPI report listed Australia as having 27 digital music services, although this should reach 30 by end of February. Alas, those were the only Aussie figures in the report. Record companies too are finding new ways digitally to reach audiences; as a result, digital sales now make up to 32% of their total income, up from 29% the year before. In places like China, it constitutes 71% of sales, 53% in South Korea and 52% in the U.S. The report estimates the global digital market (trade value) at US$5.2 billion, up from $4.8 billion in 2010. The labels are calling for a beefing-up of action against piracy, blocking rogue sites and increasing the education of consumers. Anti-piracy legislation in France saw digital albums grow 71% in unit sales, but file sharing and the closure of record stores are also seen as reasons.
Beat writer and new Crunch! columnist (as of this week) Peter Hodgson is one of the panellists announced for the Music Managers Forum’s series. He is in the Metal Forum (Wednesday February 8) and is joined by Ben Ralph (GM Roadrunner Records), Chris Jervis (booking agent at Destroy All Lines) and Gary Carson (co-chair of PBS’s Screaming Symphony metal show) advising metalheads on tips and tricks, how to get better gigs, touring abroad and trends. It’s at Alliance Francaise De Melbourne, Side Entrance 51 Grey Street, St Kilda from 8pm. Tix from trybooking.com. Speakers for the demo assessment session (Tomorrow’s Hits Today) are producer/engineer Craig Harnath who owns Hothouse Recording, musician Kerryn Tolhurst, journalist Nui Te Koha, and Valleyarm Digital’s content manager Matt Campbell. It is held on Tuesday February 7 from 8 pm at Mink Bar, 2 Acland Street St Kilda. In the art and business of image and performance forum (Thursday February 9) Roadrunner marketing manager Hayley Wilson looks at the importance of image and live shows in building a career. From 8pm, Alliance Francaise. The Home Vs Studio forum (Friday February 10) looks at how great sounding records can open doors, the debate on the quality and cost differences between home vs. studio, and tips on making better recordings. Speakers are producer/mixer Michael Letho, engineer/ producer Shaun Rigney and producer/engineer Glenn Scott who co-owns The Wick. Starts at 8 pm at the Alliance Francaise. The two MMF masterclasses on Saturday afternoons – including web career development, creative rights income etc – have now sold out.
VALE OLLIE MC This is a belated tribute to hip hop performer and activist Ollie MC (Call Out To The Nation) who died late December when this column was on a break. He died in a car accident in Wangaratta. Wheelchair bound, Ollie was capsicum-sprayed by cops at a Free The Refugees rally in Melbourne, and was out front at a gas mining protest in the Kimberly, in WA. Milyika Scales of Northern Territory music association Music NT, remembered, “Simultaneously able to charm people and challenge assumptions, he was an inspiring artist not afraid to stand up for his beliefs.”
NEW SIGNINGS #1: UNIVERSAL PUBLISHING INKS REDCOATS Universal Music Publishing Group signed Melbourne’s Redcoats to a world deal. Head of A&R, Heath Johns, said, “Redcoats are one of the most exciting and explosive rock bands in the country… Their blistering brand of rock deserves a global audience.”
NEW SIGNINGS #2: SHOCK PAYBACK DEAL Shock will distribute and export Melbourne footballer Nathan Lovett Murray’s indigenous hip hop Payback Records. This will put Yung Warriors, Mt Morgz and Alter Egoz in stores around the country for the first time.
OTHER SIGNINGS Alberts signed the publishing for Brisbane buzz band The Medics, who’re working on their debut album. While Cloud Control start work on their second album, the debut Bliss Release went into the Japanese stores last week via Hostess, home to Bon Iver, M83 and Arctic Monkeys. Brisbane duo DZ Deathrays release their debut EP in the US on 3|4 Records (Odd Future) in February, and Canada via Dine Alone Records (Alexisonfire, City & Colour) in March.
BEHIND THE TRIPLE J HOTTEST 100 Surprising absolutely nobody, Gotye’s Somebody That I Used to Know topped the triple j Hottest 100 this year. Also included were two of his other songs, I Feel Better (#34) and In Your Light (#87). He was one of 22 artists who had more placing than one, with The Wombats churning up four. There were 36 debuts, including Matt Corby, Lana Del Ray and WA teen act San Cisco who took the afternoon off from recording their debut album in Melbourne to listen to the poll, and were gobsmacked when their Awkward went in at #7. Matt Corby was at a house party in Tamarama when his Brother came in at #3. The whole party erupted and Corby was hoisted up onto the shoulders of his mates. 34 Aussie artists took 44 of the 100 places. Over 1 million votes were cast by almost 160,000 people – 43% from Australia, 27% from the US and 22% from the UK. Dubstep was represented by five entries. 10% of the entries were by acts with animal names. Triple j had great delight in revealing that this was the first poll since 2005 not to feature an entry from a band featuring Birds Of Tokyo and Karnivool frontman Ian Kenny.
FUNDRAISER FOR GENNY B The Melbourne community has rallied around Genny B (guitarist with Your Wedding Night and The Bites, RRR regular and Livewire co-host). She is battling an aggressive cancer and forced to cope with working overtime just to cover her rent. A fundraiser is held at The Corner in Richmond on Thursday February 16 with live sets from Davey Lane, Dan Luscombe, Glenn Richards, and Jess from Teeth &Tongue, and DJ sets by Architecture In Helsinki, Chapter Music and Trifketa Records. Hosts are Alan Brough (Spicks and Specks) and Jess McGuire (RRR Breakfasters). Tix at $25 + booking fee from venue.
THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS BY THOMAS BAILEY
In the ten years that The Beautiful Girls have been delivering their fun-loving mixture of roots, reggae and rock, they’ve played in all sorts of venues. But there’s been one type of venue they haven’t played – until now, that is. With the Melbourne Zoo launching its 150th Anniversary Celebrations with a series of concerts featuring some of Australia’s best performers, Mat McHugh, lead singer/songwriter of The Beautiful Girls will soon be able to say that they’ve played at a zoo! “That’s certainly one thing we have not done,” he admits, laughing over the phone from Sydney. “I’m excited; I love animals! Depending on the zoo, most of them tend to treat their animals pretty well, so I’m hoping Melbourne’s is pretty amazing. I’m definitely going to try to spend as much time there as possible, checking everything out.” This will be a solid return to The Beautiful Girls duties, as McHugh spent much of last year touring for his 2009 solo record Separatista! which was an entirely different beast from his dealings with his regular band. McHugh says that Separatista! was centred on the theme of “separatism” – something he wanted to do outside the “mother-ship.” How did that experience work out? “Oh man, for me personally, I loved it,” he gushes. “You have everyone on the business side of things nagging me, ‘When you gonna come back and do some shows?’ because obviously, Beautiful Girls shows are much bigger than my solo ones. A lot of
the smaller shows were pretty intimate – just me and an acoustic guitar. It was completely fulfilling and romantic… just the idea of travelling around with a guitar and no smoke and mirrors and all that stuff. You know, when I think of music, that’s the idea I had when I first got into music. I was thinking [of] Bob Dylan and that classic kind of troubadour mode is my favourite thing, so I was able to do that for a year and it was awesome!” I ask McHugh whether releasing Separatista! between 2007’s Ziggurats and the most recent Girls’ album, 2010’s Spooks, affected his recording process. “Yeah, Separatista! was done really off the cuff,” he admits. “The Beautiful Girls had a break, and I just wanted to head into the studio; I had some songs, I wanted to get in there with some friends… and it took like three days, with a lot of stuff done on the first go. It was easy and simple and enjoyable. Spooks was the polar opposite.
EAST BRUNSWICK BOWS OUT After seven years, the East Brunswick Club announced its final show will be on Wednesday February 29 with Oscar + Martin, The Parking Lot Experiments and Milk Teddy. Music coordinator and all round tops guy Jason Moore said that the end came after previous operators Pete and Pam Benjamin decided to retire, and sold the building to new owners who have applied to turn it into an apartment complex.
LAUNCHING PAD: SOUNDWAVE PIRATE RADIO Soundwave Festival set up Soundwave Pirate Radio. The 24/7 online station has exclusive interviews, daily news and tracks from the festival’s acts, as well as a twohour metal show Haugmetal hosted every Thursday (8pm to 10 pm) by ex-triple j announcer Andrew Haug. See soundwavefestival.com
MUSICOZ RETURNS The Aussie totally-indie Musicoz Awards return for their 11th year, with heavyweight support from BigPond, YouTube, MTV and Facebook. Entries close March 31 at musicoz.org. Acts who launched through Musicoz are Bluejuice, Art Vs Science, The Jezabels, Cog, Bliss n Eso, Blue King Brown, Radio Ink, Fiona Joy Hawkins and Felicity Urquhart.
THINGS WE HEAR * Gotye’s Somebody That I Used To Know has hit 50 million views on YouTube and last week stayed at its fourth week at #1 in Germany. A cover by Canada’s Walk Off The Earth has notched up 37 million views. * Big Day Out put out a release saying that Kanye West’s 45-minute delay at the Gold Coast show was due to heavy rain ruining the stage equipment. But the Brisbane Courier Mail insists it was because West wanted to be driven the 30-metres to the stage in a limo. It got bogged in the mud, and had to be pushed. Meantime, Daily Telegraph pop writer Kathy McCabe reported that Kanye’s entourage included a huge team of security goons and a hair stylist costing $3000 a day. *Still on BDO Gold Coast, triple j were interviewing Noel Gallagher backstage when he heard The Amity Affliction. “What’s this? It sounds like a dead turd.” The band took it in their stride (“Noel Gallagher hates our band. Mum, we made it!!!”) but their 6,000 Facebook fans lambasted him. * The Kyle Sandiland backlash continues: fast food chain Oporto is reviewing its decision to advertise with Southern Cross Austereo after negative consumers response. * Azealia Banks is dropping hints about an Australian tour. The Maccabees told triple j they’d be here “in a couple of months”. * Megadeth's David Ellefson is studying to become a Lutheran minister. * Rihanna has set a new record with online video site Vevo by becoming the first female artist to reach over 2 billion views (beating Lady Gaga who has 1.8 million). Justin Bieber retains the lead with 2.3 billion views. * Missy Higgins tweeted that she’s become a big fan of the cult novel series The Hunger Games. She read the first book in three days and went to four stores before she found the second. * Tennis fans know their music reports the Newcastle Herald. They chanted at Bernard Tomic ‘Where’s your head band? Tomic where’s your head band?” to the tune of Basement Jaxx’s Where’s Your Head At and “I wish
“[Spooks] was laboured over an insane amount. I put that record together in the basement of my house and it took me a year, ten hours a day. I played everything, but ended up chopping most of it up and rearranging it and approaching it like an electronic or a dance or a hip hop producer would have done. I love the end result, but it was insane! There were moments where I was like a molecule away from insanity. It was just overwhelming, and I needed a breather after that, which is why this last year’s just been: take an acoustic guitar to a stage and plug it in and away you go.” Sounds to me almost as if McHugh, given his druthers, would prefer to record under his own name more often. He agrees. However, he admits, “The Beautiful Girls has been the name I’ve been releasing all my music under, so I’m being encouraged to stick with that. It’s all semantics as far as I’m concerned; it’s just letters on a piece of paper or on a CD cover – it’s all music, and however it gets to people most effectively is how I’m going to do it. I do like the name The Beautiful Girls, too – it’s kind of catchy!” He mentions that he’d originally chosen the name to take the piss out of his fellow surfers growing up in the Northern Beaches region of Sydney. He laughs at the memory, regaling me with some of the outrageously macho and violent monikers of his contemporaries. “I just wanted to have a laugh,” he reminisces. Looks like he’s had the last laugh, I note. He takes a deep breath. “The whole thing’s weird, you know,” he confides. “Every day I wake up in a sweat, waiting for people to tell me that it’s all just one big joke. Like, [mocking tone] ‘Ha ha, we let you believe you were in a band and you played music for a living.’ I didn’t grow up that way, you know. I grew up just being a surfer, and always played music just as something
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LIFELINES Injured: Calling All Cars’ singer Haydn Ing was accidentally knocked unconscious for ten minutes at the Sydney Big Day Out when he leaped into the audience and was hit in the jaw by an elbow. The band abandoned its performance after two songs. Injured: 26-year old Brisbane man Morgan MacManus told media that after he was punched by a drunk at Big Day Out Gold Coast, he was heading for medical attention when cops tackled him. MacManus claims cops dislocated his shoulder and elbow, punched him in the eye when he was handcuffed, and taunted when he pissed in his pants after being hit in the kidney area. Police say he was detained, and later arrested, for disorderly conduct and that MacManus made no complaints about officers at the police station. Injured: Madonna pulled a hamstring and hit her nose with a mic while rehearsing for her performance at the Super Bowl. In Court: a US court told Canadian Valley Regional Hospital in his hometown of Yukon, to return a $500,000 donation to Garth Brooks. He gave the money on the condition they build a women’s centre to honour his mother, who died of cancer in 1999, but he says they reneged on the deal. Threatening: Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker sent a cease-and-desist warning to US gossip website MediaTakeOut.com which posted nude pix of him sent by a fan. The site posted it as an “unnamed musician” but Barker’s instantly recognizable tattoos soon identified him. Died: former music journalist Andrew McMillan, 57, after a battle with bowel cancer. He wrote Strict Rules, about Midnight Oil and Warumpi Band’s tour through remote Northern Territory communities, later moving to Darwin where he wrote novels and radio scripts and played in various bands. Died: John Levy, the first prominent AfricanAmerican personal manager in jazz and pop, 99. The one time jazz bassist managed Nancy Wilson, Ramsey Lewis Cannonball Adderley, Betty Carter, Roberta Flack, Herbie Hancock, Shirley Horn, Freddie Hubbard as well as comic Arsenio Hall. Died: Mark Reale, 56, guitarist and founder of US heavy metal band Riot, after a near lifelong battle against Crohn’s Disease. He went into a coma on Jan 11 with brain haemorrhage, and never regained consciousness. that I had Tomic’s girl” (Rick Springfield’s Jessie’s Girl) while Ashleigh Barty was serenaded with ‘‘We came for Barty!” to Vengaboys’ We Like To Party tune. * Jay-Z spent $10 million on refurbishing his New York nightclub 40/40, but health inspectors closed it down citing 69 violations in the kitchen. *Katy Perry’s dyed her hair bright blue.
MAN DIES AT RAINBOW SERPENT A 34-year-old man from Epping died at the 15th Rainbow Serpent Festival at Beaufort in SW Victoria. Police and paramedics were called to the site at 1.30am, but he was already dead. Police said cause of death was not believed to be suspicious. Police were pleased with the behavior of the 15,000-strong crowd who came to see 100 dance acts. One man was hospitalised with a drug overdose, another thrown off the site for being a nuisance.
fun; I never had a career aspiration – opportunities just represented themselves. I always just did the best I could at each point in time and it’s still kind of rolling along, you know? So if I’m having the last laugh, it’s kind of a nervous one. A nervous giggle! The 2012 Melbourne Zoo Twilights Program has kicked off and features some of Australia’s favourite artists performing under the stars every weekend until Saturday March 17, this is a perfect opportunity to go ape – and we’re not lion. THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS will be performing on Saturday February 11 with The Fearless Vampire Killers. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, or through Zoos Victoria at zoo.org.au/twilights.
Beat Magazine Page 47
Lux Foundry BY RICHARD McCONNELL
You know what it’s like; you want to go out for a bite to eat on the weekend and when you turn up there’s a bloody queue. All of a sudden, you are in a silent battle with a load of strangers to be the first to get a table, and every time the waitress comes out to show somebody to a table, you take it personally when they don’t select you. The problem generally comes back to the size of your premises, and the fact that you probably couldn’t even swing a cat in a number of independent cafes in Brunswick. Fortunately, Lux Foundry doesn’t have this same issue as some of its competitors. Situated in the middle of an industrial estate on Hope St, Lux Foundry has the enviable position of occupying a beautiful renovated foundry (if you hadn’t already worked that out – the waiter took some time to educate me on the history of the premises). None of this ‘three tables cramped into a room and customers strewn all over the place’ business. The décor is modern, but there are constant reminders of the heritage of the building, and a Lux stove takes pride of place by the kitchen. Despite its size, it has a welcoming atmosphere, and the acoustics serve to amplify the murmur of the customers to a
GOT A COMEDY FESTIVAL SHOW? WANT TO GET BUMS ON SEATS? NEED TO GET THE WORD OUT? level that fills the 30ft void above your head. Although I didn’t have to queue to get in, the café had a constant turnover of new customers, and there was barely a table free for longer than a couple of minutes in the whole hour that I spent there. So, to the food, and as it was 11 o’clock on a Saturday morning, I thought it apt to go for the Big Breakfast ($18.50) with a flat white ($3.50). I have to admit, it is not the most imaginative selection, and there is enough on the menu to give you a selection headache, but there was little point beating around the bush. Testament to its quality, I cleared the plate in super fast time. For the price, it was not the largest portion, but it managed to leave me satisfied without the feeling that I had just ingested my own body weight in protein. The ingredients were high quality, with Cumberland Sausage proving to be the highlight, and there was also the nice inclusion of a hash brown (which isn’t usually the case over here). My friend opted for the oat porridge soaked with Jonesy’s full cream milk, poached cinnamon rhubarb with yoghurt and honey ($10), which, despite it always putting me in mind of poverty food, was also very tasty and a nice cheap, filling meal. Lux Foundry is a great café, and although it is a little off the beaten track, it has no issues drawing the punters away from Sydney Rd. Beautiful surroundings, attentive and knowledgeable staff, and quality food and drink…if you haven’t been yet, I have only one question: why?
TELL EVERYONE THROUGH BEAT’S MICF LIFTOUT – THE PROUD PUBLISHER OF THE WEEKLY COMICS IN THE DOGHOUSE COMEDY SECTION.
ON THE STREETS – WEDNESDAY MARCH 28 2012 BOOKING DEADLINE – TUESDAY MARCH 13 2012 Packages include free artwork design, editorials, show listings, images, interviews, reviews, giveaways and heavily discounted advertising rates.
HEAPS OF FREE PROMOS
DIRT CHEAP ADS
• As an advertiser in Beat’s MICF liftout, all of your info will appear both in print & online at the same cost. • These discounted rates apply for any MICF bookings into Beat leading up to, during or after the liftout appearance date. • As spots are limited and it’s a 1st booked best placed booking system, it’s advised to get in quick and you’re LOLing. For more info or to book your discounted package please email
ronnit@beat.com.au or call 03 8414 9700.
Lux Foundry is located at 21 Hope St, Brunswick. Phone 03 9387 8075.
“The Smith has been fitted with a tailored new suit, a new face, a fresh attitude, a savvy team and a fresh start. The Smith is elegantly relaxed not flashy, but smart yet casual, perfect for all occasions planned or spontaneous. Spaces have been designed for lounging about, lingering over tastes and sips or privately entertaining a crowd.”
213 High Street Prahran VIC 3181 (03) 9514 2444 Reservations and Events 03 9514 2444 Open 7 days lunches & dinners 364 Days
BEAT’S GUIDE TO EATING OUT IN MELBOURNE
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Do you want to be added to the menu? Advertising/editorial inquiries - adam@beat.com.au
WE’RE BACK! Beat Eats is back for 2012! This prevalent section of Beat has proven to be a go-to spot for foodies all over Melbourne. With a reputation as the food capital of Australia, Beat Eats is going to shine the spotlight on Melbourne’s greatest places to eat and drink. If you are trying to decide on what or where to indulge your food senses then look no further.
ARCADIA KITCHEN
THE DC3 AND GREAT FOOD Damian Cowell, (who sounds suspiciously like the voice of TISM), joins Douglas Lee Robertson and Henri Grawe in The DC3 – a mind expanding, hilarious mix of poetry, performance art and funky beats – and they’re coming to the Regal Ballroom, supported by… THEMSELVES! That’s right. The DC3’s Regal Ballroom debut will feature, as special guests, the comeback performance of ROOT! – the country rockin’ combo that originally brought the three of them together. So go down to the Regal Ballroom for some fine food and tunes. The Regal Ballroom, 216 High Street, Northcote.
YO-GET-IT Yo-Get-It frozen yoghurt bar is a new exciting concept that has never been seen before in Australia. They are a self-serve frozen yoghurt bar, where everything is purchased according to weight! The lighter your ‘creation’, the cheaper your meal. Plus, if you guess your ‘creation’s’ weight, you get it for free! Yo-Get-It has 8 delicious 99% fat free flavours, and a huge variety of fresh fruit, chocolate and lollies for your toppings. With all that choice, there is sure to be a delicious meal ready to make with your own creative touch! Grab your Yo-Get-It creation from 672 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn.
With a great open air rooftop and a kitchen that is open every day from 12:00pm what’s not to love about Arcadia. If you’re in South Yarra and in need of a good and cheap pizza, do your self a favor, drop in and indulge. Wednesday night steak nights is a must do after work with $12 porterhouse steaks. Arcadia Hotel, 2 Toorak Road, South Yarra
PILSNER SEASON
The Grand Ridge Brewery love beer. So much that they have gone global to source their brewing process and ingredients to make their tasty beers. Situated in the small country town of Mirboo North in the Gippsland region of victoria Grand Ridge Brewery has created a Pilsner called The Brewer’s Pilsner. A great drink for these hot February days so next time you are strolling around the bottle shop trying to decide on what to drink, Brewers Pilsner is the answer.
Michael Lambie from The Smith What do you think about Melbourne’s restaurant scene? Melbourne’s restaurant scene is very diverse and multicultural as well as being on a world class scale. What’s the concept behind the menu at The Smith? The menu reflects Melbourne’s multiculturalism. We are a global eatery. Never been to The Smith before. What should I get? Try our tempura king prawn filled shiso leaves with ponzu, steamed Atlantic scallops with housemade XO, spring onions and fried garlic, kitchen selection of charcuterie or a 400g dry aged, pasture fed rib-eye with hot mustard horseradish.
ALBERT STREET FOOD & WINE
Who or what inspires you when you are creating a new dish? Melbourne’s great produce and trying new cuisines from other countries. What are three ingredients you cannot live without? Olive oil, lime juice and fresh fish.
Albert St Food & Wine is a new all day eatery, wine bar and store in the heart of Brunswick’s Sydney Road. Combining the very best talent, passion and love for local produce, Albert St Food & Wine is a destination for foodies, and wine lovers that embraces the traditions and craft of food preparation in a modern environment that everyone will enjoy. Albert St Food & Wine is inspired by the integrity and abundance of local food from Victoria, and brings the country to the city through sourcing the finest quality produce, distilled through the skillful hands of Executive Chef Philippa Sibley and overseen by founders and managers, Stuart Brookshaw and Ruth Giffney.
What is your favourite meal to prepare? Anything to do with seafood. Finally sum up the dining experience at The Smith? Casually sophisticated and fun. The Smith is located at 213 High St, Prahran. Phone 03 9514 2444.
Harvest ‘N’ Graze Festival The Harvest N’ Graze Festival brings together the best, handpicked delicious and mouth-watering gourmet producers, mixed with the freshest local seasonal growers, blended with demonstrations by celebrity chefs, topped off with a variety of activities, roving performers and children’s entertainment and thrown into one big pot with some of Australia’s most outstanding musical talent. Fisher & Paykel present In The Kitchen At Caulfield – a gastronomical feast for all to enjoy! Watch and learn as an amazing range of chefs inspire and tickle your tastebuds and tantalise your senses. See how the professionals do it, pick up some tricks of the trade and learn some age-old family secrets.
21 HOPE ST, BRUNSWICK VIC 3056 LUX FOUNDRY IS OPEN 7 DAYS MON-FRI: 7.30 AM - 4.00PM SAT-SUN: 8.00 AM - 5.00PM BREAKFAST & LUNCH PRIVATE FUNCTIONS PHONE/FAX: 03 9387 8075 EMAIL: INFO@LUXFOUNDRY.COM.AU Beat Eats Page 48.....................
ADAM D’SYLVA CODA BAR + RESTAURANT Executive chef and owner of Coda Bar + Restuarant, Adam D’Sylva’s foray into cooking began as a child growing up in a mixed Indian/ Italian family in suburban Melbourne where his mother was a major influence on his decision to follow his passion for cooking. Some of Adam’s career highlights include Head Chef under the much awarded and respected Geoff Lindsay at Pearl Restaurant along with a stint as Head Chef at Longrain Melbourne under the guidance of Martin Boetz. Adam has gained culinary experience from working in restaurants in Italy, Hong Kong and New York. Adam won The Age 2008 Good Food Guide’s Young Chef of the Year and has twice been the Victorian winner in the Lexus Young Chef of the Year award. Adam’s support for environmental issues has seen him appointed as an ambassador for Earth Hour Melbourne. Adam is a TV favourite with his appearances on MasterChef, Ready Steady Cook and is a favourite on The Circle.
IN THE KITCHEN TIMETABLE 3pm – 3.45pm: ADAM D’SYLVA 1.45pm – 2.30pm: PATRICK ALDRED 12.45pm – 1.30pm: SONALI PEIRIS 11.45am – 12.30pm: SANDRA BERNARD 10.45am – 11.30am: HIMANSHI SONALI PEIRIS MIRI’S PRODUCTS Miris Products is not just about bringing traditional recipes with exotic flavours into a contemporary and modern world but also teaching the skills and traditions of Sri Lankan cuisine. Sonali Peiris started Miri’s Products from a traditional mustard recipe that combined exotic blends of spices and fresh herbs that had been handed down through four generations of Sri Lankan women, and has now expanded to produce an extensive range of chutneys, dukkahs, mustards, pastes and sauces that not only taste good but preserve the heritage of these traditional recipes. Sonali regularly conducts cooking classes where you are enticed with the glorious aromas and flavours as you cook and eat a traditional Sri Lankan meal where spices are used throughout the cooking process. These classes are held at My Other Kitchen in Bentleigh and at the Brotherhood of St Laurence Training Kitchen in Frankston. SANDRA BERNARD CHATEAU CUISINE Leaving behind Lausanne, an idyllic and rich small city on the edge of Lake Geneva, Switzerland, Sandra Bernard moved to Australia in 2005. It is here she crafted the perfect balance of her native Swiss styling, combined with her husband’s French influence, to create a gorgeous melting pot of culinary culture. She now runs an acclaimed cooking class for children and adults.
BEAT’S GUIDE TO EATING OUT IN MELBOURNE
PATRICK ALDRED SPICE BAZAAR Patrick Aldred’s inspiration was sparked from a very young age by his mother who was born on the Greek Island of Kos within sight of the Turkish coast. Her passion and creative flare for cooking saw her preparing fabulous Greek and Mediterranean fare as well as Middle Eastern and other diverse cuisines and she was the greatest influence on Patrick’s early cooking development. With a love of being in the kitchen and learning new cuisines, Patrick has travelled around the world extensively and continues to travel every year – across Europe, Asia and India meeting chefs, frequenting mainstream, out of the way and street food restaurants in search of interesting and traditional food and techniques. Patrick also researches widely, using a range of media for food trends and traditions. He brings all this together, along with his unique touch, to present exciting menus at the Spice Bazaar Cooking School. Patrick’s enthusiastic style, engaging, patient and approachable manner ensure that every class is a success.
HIMANSHI FOODIE TRAILS What started as a unique culinary adventure to discover the local cuisines and flavours of India has now become Foodie Trails – where Himanshi takes you on a journey to discover the many hidden gems and explore the cultural side of Melbourne – be it the gourmet Indian Masala Trail through the CBD or “Little India” in Dandenong, the vibrant and bustling Sydney Road in Brunswick with its Turkish foods and delicacies or the Soul Food of Africa in Footscray, there’s a taste sensation around every corner. Foodie Trails also offers in home cooking classes, specifically the Thali meal. The Indian Thali is not just a meal or a plate; it is, in fact, a tradition. Within the rim of that plate, many traditions handed down from one generation of cooks to the next abound. The class will talk about the Thali and the culinary heritage behind it that makes every element of it so important to a balanced diet. The Harvest N’ Graze Festival takes place at the Caulfield Racecourse this Sunday February 5. Tickets from ticketek.
EVANESCENCE BY ROD WHITFIELD
Amy Lee from American gothic rock outfit Evanescence turned 30-years-old in December 2011. Her band formed in 1995, so if you do the maths, she was just in her mid teens when she put together the outfit that has gone on to sell records in the tens of millions, win Grammy Awards and gain all sorts of other awards, accolades and successes since. However, she tends not to view this in such pragmatic terms. “Something like that,” the friendly and chirpy vocalist agrees, from on tour in South Carolina, “but it’s weird to put a number on it like that, because the ‘band’ was really just me and Ben (original guitarist Ben Moody) writing together, and working in our parents’ garages and basements, and working on whatever weird recording gear we could find and recording ourselves. It was a band, but it wasn’t like we were running around playing gigs and developing a big following at that point. So yes, that was when it started, but it wasn’t a ‘usual’ band thing at that point.” And it wasn’t like she envisioned the success that they were to have within a few years at that moment, but there was definitely a strong feeling that something was ‘happening’ in those early days. “I wouldn’t say I had a ‘vision’, like I knew it was gonna happen,” she recalls. “I definitely dreamed of it, we definitely dreamed really big from the very beginning. I don’t think that if I hadn’t been dreaming so big I would have put all those strings in our music, and I never thought it was going to be just keyboard stuff, it was going to have to be a full orchestra, that was my vision. Not a cheap thing, not a thing that any band could afford. “So yeah, we were always dreaming big,” she states, “When it really happened it was very surreal, I don’t think I could really understand it all when it was happening, it took a couple of years. And then it was like ‘That’s crazy, that really happened!’” she laughs. Not only has her band succeeded to her wildest expectations and dreams, she herself has become a role model for young rock and goth chicks the world over, and while it’s tough to handle at times, ultimately it’s a responsibility that sits quite comfortably on her shoulders. “I think it’s awesome,” she concurs, “You know, it’s a lot of responsibility for anybody who’s ‘famous’ on any level, where there’s people watching your every move. And it is hard sometimes; I went through a time when it was really hard for me actually. Not to just feel like everyone was criticising me, ‘cause people naturally for some reason, when you’re doing well especially, they’re super interested in what is wrong with you, or whatever they can see in you that’s a flaw. It’s just human nature. That’s why people love crappy reality TV, it’s like, ‘Well I’m better than them!’” she laughs again. “But I got over it in a big way,” she continues. “I love our fans, and they’ve always been there for us. We have fans that started being fans even pre-2003, that are still coming to shows, and inventing fan clubs. We have relationships with people around the world who just have a deep connection with our music, and it’s a big part of their lives...that’s all deeply inspirational for me, I wouldn’t trade that for anything in the world. So I think it’s cool to be a role model, I don’t know if I’ve gotten off track, but I think it’s cool that people out there can see what I’ve done and say, ‘I can do that too.’”
“I love our fans, and they’ve always been there for us.” The band recently released their third full length album, simply titled Evanescence. Once again, it’s a record full of epic, emotional goth rock anthems, and it’s sure to please their legion of fans worldwide. As has been the case with this band it was a long time coming, being five years since their previous album The Open Door, and Amy and the band could not be happier with the final result. “We love the record,” she enthuses. “I would hope that that’s the case for me always, I never want to say something different from that! Really really proud of the record; in many ways I feel it’s the best thing we’ve ever done. I don’t think it’s completely typical of us, I think there’s some really new feelings, and new things we’ve been inspired by since the last record. I think it’s a bit of both. I think it’s a classic Evanescence album, but it’s also for 2012. And it’s been fun playing the new songs live, that’s for sure. I’m not bored with any of them yet, so I guess that’s a good thing!” Evanescence make their long awaited return to Australia very shortly, and Amy can’t wait to get Down Under and show the Aussie fans the new songs and their brand new show, which promises to give punters an even bigger band for their buck. “Yeah, absolutely, it’s been a long time,” she gushes. “It’s been a long time since we’ve been anywhere crazy. We’re doing a big Asian tour and then heading to Australia. Those are the most fun, because it’s a special rare experience. And Australia’s a place that we all love. It’s beautiful, and everyone speaks English, so we can be independent and walk around, and read signs! And everyone’s so friendly too. “We’re playing the longest set we’ve ever played,” she reveals. “I think people will feel they’ve got their money’s worth. We’ve been like, ‘I hope people don’t get bored! Are they gonna want to leave by the end?’ It’s an hour and 20 [minutes], and the songs are really demanding. It’s a great show, we’re doing songs from all three albums, so get ready to rock!” EVANESCENCE play Rod Laver Arena on Saturday March 24. Evanescence is out through E.M.I. Beat Magazine Page 50
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JORDIE LANE BY JAMES W. NICOLI
A farewell within a farewell. That’s what will be happening when Jordie Lane plays his final show in Melbourne before he heads off, like so many of his Australian contemporaries, to the musical hotbed that is the US of A. The show, which will be taking place at the East Brunswick Club, will act not only as a farewell for Lane but also for the venue itself as not long after it will be closing its doors on live music forever. “Yeah it’s pretty sad,” admits Lane on the demise of yet another fine live music venue in Melbourne. “No gigs from the start of March so it’ll be one of the last ones. Yeah I think the press release says it’s a farewell in a farewell.” It’s been quite some time since Jordie Lane has performed with a full band in Melbourne, so the good news is punters will have at least one more chance to see him live before he packs his bags and heads off overseas. “I haven’t done a show with the band in Melbourne I think since August, so it’s really cool to do a full band show. We’ve got some special guests; a couple of little surprises, people are getting up to do duets,” reveals Lane. Primarily, Lane is heading over to the USA to undertake his first proper tour of the country but he will also be sketching out some new ideas and doing some pre-production for which will hopefully be album number three. “The US trips before have more just like been travelling and then maybe record. I did a handful of shows here and there but not really a tour.” This time though Lane will be playing as many shows as possible, although he won’t be accompanied by his band. “It will mainly be solo. I haven’t got a band there yet so yeah I’ll be enjoying (playing) solo and probably just slowly put together a band; (but) yeah mainly solo.” After receiving critical acclaim for his last record, Blood Thinner, which included him receiving a nomination at the Jagermeister Independent Music Awards for best blues and roots album, Lane will again be teaming up with the man who he worked with on that album to slowly begin putting together the follow up. “I’m working again with a guy called Tom Miller who worked with me on the Blood Thinner record, working on new songs, recording sounds, like a pre-production for the next album,” he explains. “Yeah, so it might not be so long there [in the US]. We’re going to nick over to Europe and the UK, do a bunch of shows there and then back to the States again, so I have no idea just yet but I have to be back in Australia in November. There’s a solar eclipse; I want to see it so I told my manager I’ve got to get back for the eclipse,” he laughs. “So we’ll hopefully do some summer shows in Australia; that’s the plan.”
“WE’VE GOT SOME SPECIAL GUESTS; A COUPLE OF LITTLE SURPRISES, PEOPLE ARE GETTING UP TO DO DUETS.” With his touring schedule having increased significantly in size since the successful release of Blood Thinner, Jordie Lane’s been travelling and playing his music far and wide and as a result there have been more than a few memorable shows and tours along the way. “We did a tour of New Zealand. Yeah, that really blew me away. It was bloody awesome,” he admits. “The crowds were really, really fantastic and going there for the first time, you know, travelling through the country side there...that was probably my favourite.” Lane also managed to score supports for USA native Joe Pug, plus Wagons, Jeff Lang and The Moody Blues. It’s that latter tour that he remembers most clearly, even if was a slightly bizarre experience. “I did The Moody Blues tour and that was just a spin out as well. A 25 person crew, a chef, you know, just treated like rock stars, which they are.” For Lane, The Moody Blues tour was a rare chance to get a glimpse of rock royalty and all that goes with it, a far cry from playing the small, intimate pub shows of the local circuit. “Well I was playing solo and I got 12 minutes like each night. Exactly 12. Then you’re getting dragged of the stage,” recalls Lane. “You get walked to the edge of the stage then this little radio mic will announce you, ‘And now only from Melbourne…’” he laughs in his best American accent. “It was fun but trying to pack a show into 12 minutes was a very hard challenge.” Twelve whole minutes. I’m guessing it’s the shortest set Lane has ever done by a long way. So then, how many songs is it possible to squeeze into such a short amount of time? “Well for me, usually just one song and a story. But I got up and got three songs in, just no talking,” he laughs. Now that’s using your time wisely. LANIE LANE plays two farewell shows, one at the East Brunswick Club on Friday February 10 with Ben Salter and Luke Legand as well as special guests Lame Lane, Jarrod Brown (Eagle And The Worm) and Emily Lubitz (Tin Pan Orange) joining him on stage. And one at the Caravan Club on Saturday February 11 with Sweet Jean and Luke Brennan. Tickets available from the venues.
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Beat Magazine Page 51
BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB BY PERRI CASSIE Seven years together and still in their very early twenties, Crouch End’s Bombay Bicycle Club have got all the time in the world, and they’re not wasting any of it. Barely out of high school when they released their debut album I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose, only a year on when they released the acoustic follow up Flaws, and now, only another year on, we have their latest release, A Different Kind Of Fix. The band’s third effort sees them return to the electric-based sounds of their debut, but, combined with the sleek production of indie guru Ben Allen, Bombay Bicycle Club are really taking themselves to another level. The band, travelling through Japan, are unreachable for reasons unknown, causing the interview to be pushed back an hour. When I finally get in contact with drummer Suren De Salem, his youth shines through as he broods into the phone. After some jested stirring, De Salem explains his mope. “Basically we’re just doing some travelling in Japan and we’ve had a bit of an issue with these interviews. Our manager is very angry at us because people haven’t been able to get hold of us”. I feel obligated to apologise for interrupting the band’s attempt at tourism, which he brushes off in a deep laugh, “Don’t worry about it, it’s cool”. BBC will be heading to our shores for the first time this March in support of fellow Brits Elbow, which may seem surprising for a band that have three albums to their name, and De Salem has no idea what to expect. “We’ve had a few people ask us to come on like Twitter or whatever, which is obviously a good sign. Hopefully there will be a lot of people at the gigs jumping around and going crazy. I don’t know why it’s taken us so long, well actually I kind of do; we haven’t really been a big touring band until recently. We’re on
our third album now, but our first two we didn’t really tour all that much at all. We didn’t really get outside Europe. It’s only this latest album that the touring has become more intensive and we’re going to many more exciting places”. We get onto the subject of the band’s latest release, A Different Kind Of Fix, and I suggest it sounds like what would happen if their first two albums were to mate and give birth, causing De Salem to give a hearty British chuckle. “That’s quite a good a description. I’d say that A Different Kind Of Fix is probably my favourite album that we’ve made so far, partly for that reason. Our first albums were so different from each other, and I think this latest one is kind of broadened. You can definitely hear influences from both the previous two albums, and you can recognise certain songs that would fit in on both the previous two albums, but we’ve also tried to introduce a new element too – like the whole electronic kind of sampling thing, as you can hear on a song like Shuffle. That piano loop is from an old jazz song, and there’s kind of other songs where you can hear that electronic influence as well.”
For those that aren’t familiar with BBC, many would find the band’s first two albums to be unrecognisable from each other. One a searing burst of guitar heavy indie pop, the other a folky, stripped back, gentle assortment of lullabies. “[Flaws] was never really meant to be our proper second album. Well at least that’s not how we envisioned it anyway. Jack our singer; he’s the main songwriter. After the first album was released he just happened to get into writing more stripped back acoustic songs, just voice and
guitar”. De Salem continues to detail his surprise at Flaws’ success. “We didn’t expect it to grow into what it did grow into at all, like it went Top 10 in the UK, which was completely kind of hocus seeing as our first album didn’t get anyway near that at all”.
You have talked before about how both music and surfing has helped you out when you’re feeling a bit down or things just aren’t going your way. Have they always acted as a kind of therapy for you in this way? Yes, it’s the one thing in my life that I love doing when things aren’t going good. Music and surfing seem to be such a forever changing fun and pure way for me to escape; I just love them both so much.
acoustic guitar. It was recorded in seven days over December. I am so proud of this new album it has a lot of influences on what happened in the last year of my life.
BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB play The Corner Hotel on Tuesday March 20 and Festival Hall (supporting Elbow) on Wednesday March 21.
DONAVON FRANKENREITER BY JAMES NICOLI Donavon Frankenreiter’s passion for music and surfing is undeniable. For much of the last decade he has travelled the world, playing music and surfing wherever and whenever he could; his love for both never wavering since he first discovered them as a child. Now he has packed his acoustic guitar and his surfboard and he’s getting ready to head down to Australia for a mammoth run of shows which will take in just about every major city and every other place in between. The Californian native, who now calls Kauai home, is arguably excited about the prospect of playing so many shows to his Australian audience as well as getting the chance to surf some of the best waves in the world. Hell, he’s even taken up residence on the Gold Coast for the duration of the tour so he can fit in as much as possible. So on the eve of his Australian tour, Beat somehow managed to pin down the extremely busy singer/songwriter/pro surfer and get him to answer some of our questions via email as getting him for an interview was seemingly impossible. Our guess is he was off surfing. So Donavon, you’re heading down to Australia next month for huge a run of shows. What are you looking forward to most about this upcoming tour? I am really excited that Corona has these concerts going all around Australia. It’s going to be fun to play free acoustic shows for people and drink some great beer. Also I’m looking forward to seeing so much of Australia in such a short time!
It really is a massive tour you’re undertaking playing a number of shows in each city. Was this a deliberate plan to fit in as many shows as possible? It was a schedule that Corona presented to me and it looked like so much fun. We have two to three shows a day, Friday through Sunday hitting up some great pubs and clubs. Now it’s no secret that you are a keen surfer. So I imagine you’re going to try and fit in as much surfing as possible while you’re down here in Oz? Yes, I am living with my family for the next six weeks in Coolangatta. It’s been amazing surfing Snappan Rocks and all the great waves of the Gold Coast. Are there any Australian beaches that you’ve heard about and just can’t wait to surf? I just love surfing wherever I can so any beach that we are able to swim or get a quick surf in before a show is going to be great!
Finally, once you have finished the Australian tour, what are your plans for the rest of 2012? We will be touring with a full band all over the world supporting (Start Livin). We hope to be back at the end of the year for New Years and into January touring with this new record all through Australia.
And living in a place like Kauai, how much has being in that sort of environment influenced your recent songwriting and when are we likely to see a new record from you? It has so much. I have a new album we just finished recording. It’s coming out last week of May, it’s called Start Livin. It has a bunch of ukes and lap steel on it; I just love the sound of those instruments with the
DONAVON FRANKENREITER plays The Deck as part as Corona Sessions on Saturday February 4. He also plays The Espy on Friday February 3 and Penny Black on Sunday February 5. Check out donavonf.com for his full list of shows.
LANEWAY FESTIVAL MAP AND PLAYING TIMES THE WINDISH AGENCY STAGE
EAT YOUR OWN EARS & YOUNG TURKS STAGE
YOUNG TURKS SOUND SYSTEM
9.05 - 9.50
WASHED OUT
9.20 -10.00
SBTRKT LIVE
9.00 -10.00
ONEMAN
7. 40 - 8.30
THE HORRORS
7.50 - 8.35
TORO Y MOI
8.15 - 8.55
THE DRUMS
8.00 - 9.00
BULLION GLASSER
5.30 - 6.30
YOUNG TURKS SOUND SYSTEM
3.50 - 4.35 2.45 - 3.25
LAURA MARLING PAJAMA CLUB
4.45 - 5.25
PORTUGAL.THE MAN
5.00 - 5.40
TWIN SHADOW
4.30 - 5.30
JOHN TALABOT
FEAT. SHARON & NEIL FINN
3.45 - 4.20
ACTIVE CHILD
3.55 - 4.35
GIRLS
THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART
2.50 - 3.20
GIVERS
2.50 - 3.30
AUSTRA
1.55 - 2.25
JONTI
1.45 - 2.25
EMA
1.00 - 1.30
TOTAL CONTROL
12.40 - 1.20
DZ DEATHRAYS
HUSKY
11.45 -12.15
TINPAN ORANGE
OFFICIAL WELCOME
1.40 - 2.20
GEOFFREY O’CONNOR 11.50 -12.20 DRUNK MUMS 12.45 - 1.15
12.05 -12.35
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Beat Magazine Page 53
BRITISH INDIA BY ROD WHITFIELD
The St Kilda Festival is one of Melbourne’s most enjoyable music events, and that’s saying something. One of the big drawcards of the festival for 2012 is Melbournebased indie rock band British India. This four-piece have been treading the boards in venues across Melbourne and the country for eight years now and have attained solid success in that time. Three albums (two of which charted in Australia), many sold out shows and multiple TV appearances are testament to that. Bassist Will Drummond, speaking from the band’s rehearsal rooms in Northern Melbourne, is pretty chuffed with what the band has achieved so far, but at the same time believes the best is yet to come for them. “Every time I stand on stage and there’s people in front of me, we’re ecstatic! When we first started playing we were just four blokes from the suburbs, just playing music because we couldn’t pick up girls, and we needed to try and impress them somehow!” Drummond laughs. “It’s just been a steady increase. We’ve written songs that we thought were good at the time, and people have liked them, which has been great. We’re definitely really happy with what we’ve done; we love recording and we love writing and we love touring, and we want to do that for a long while yet and continue writing songs that people want to come and see us play. “As an artist, you always think the best is yet to come,” he says. “You have to remain optimistic, but you just don’t know. You just write and write. I think the stuff we’re writing at the moment is really exciting. I’m more excited by this than I have been for a long time. It’s not that I wasn’t excited about the last stuff, I’ve really just enjoyed recording these songs. They’re not what a lot of people will be expecting from us. I hope that people will be a bit surprised.” So if people are going to be surprised by the new stuff, exactly what direction is it taking? “To be honest, I find defining music very difficult,” he states hesitantly. “When people ask what kind of band we are, I just say, ‘Well, we’re a rock’n’roll band’, and that’s what we are. The music is very much based around us four standing ‘round in a room jamming out a song and writing a song. But there’s definitely different sounds on there that people haven’t heard before on a British India album, and that’s all I’ll give you! We’ll leave with some anticipation before it comes out.” This will be the band’s first real appearance at the festival. It’s an event that they have always attended themselves and very much coveted playing at. Now that is a reality for them, and they simply can’t wait. “We went there as young kids when we were still in high school. I think Paul Kelly was the headliner back then, and we watched him and since that day...it wasn’t necessarily that it was Paul Kelly, it was just the size of the stage and the size of the festival. For me personally, it’s been a festival that I’ve always wanted to play. “It’s always a great vibe there,” he continues. “I was at a party the other day, and there was this English guy there who moved over here last January. It was the week before St Kilda fest [at the time] and he said, ‘If this happened every week then I can’t wait to live here!’ So it’s definitely a great festival, I love it!”
“AS AN ARTIST, YOU ALWAYS THINK THE BEST IS YET TO COME” Beyond the festival, the band have a very busy year planned for 2012, with a new single to be released shortly, and the band’s fourth full length album to follow, possibly mid-year. There are exciting times ahead for British India’s growing legion of fans across the country. “At the moment we’re just writing and recording the album,” he informs us. “Just after the St Kilda Fesival, once we finalise how and who or what will release this album, we’ll be putting out a single, so I’m sure we’ll be playing a few new tracks alongside our ‘greatest hits’ package at St Kilda Fest. “[The album] is pretty close,” Drummond reveals. “I think it’ll be around June/July. But yeah, it’s definitely taking shape in some form. We’re recording it ourselves, we sort of go in every Thursday into Sing Sing [Studios] and kind of record one whole track. Get everything about 99% finished...that’s in between writing every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday back in the rehearsal room.” It’s a somewhat unusual way to record an album these days, but the band have drawn inspiration from some of their old school idols who recorded this way back in the day. “You read some of the great biographies, like the Neil Young one, some of the great Stones ones, John Lennon even. They’d write a song and they’d go in and record it, and then release it within a week or something. Whenever they had the vibe, they’d record it. That’s what we’re trying to do.” BRITISH INDIA play the St Kilda Festival alongside Boom Crash Opera, Stonefield, Sneaky Sound System and many more on Sunday February 12.
Beat Magazine Page 54
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TIM MCMILLAN BY PETER HODGSON
Australia is well known for breeding kickarse guitarists. Angus Young, Tommy Emmanuel, Brett Garsed….Tim McMillan is up there with the best of them. This dude combines the melodicism of Jeff Buckley with the eclecticism of Frank Zappa, the harmonic creativity of Devin Townsend and the technique of your Stanley Jordans and Chris Brodericks. McMillan is about to release his latest album, Angel, and he kicks off the promotional efforts with a monster set at Rock The Bay at The Espy. For the Rock The Bay gig, his first Melbourne show since last March, McMillan will be joined by Ezekiel Ox of Full Scale/ Mammal fame, and fellow Lan Party alumni Rachel Snow. Snow has been a member of the Melbourne lineup of the McMillan circus for many years. “It will be great to have her onstage again for some Black Messiah covers and Celtic hullabaloo,” McMillan says. “Ezekiel will be taking care of some of the vocals at Rock The Bay and letting our drummer Crute know that the beef from the Full Scale days is not over, eyeballing his every move. I have a lot of respect for Ox and it’s great he can make it back onstage with us this year.” It’s a rare treat to see the band on home soil: McMillan, like David Hasselhoff before him, is particularly revered in Germany, where he and bass player Brad Lewis have been living for the past year, and will continue to do so for the time being. “Our label is from Berlin, and are primarily focused on building our profile in Europe,” he says. “We were lucky to get an arts grant from the city of Dachau as artists in residence so have been based there for the past year in between touring.” McMillan has been holed up for the past three months recording the new album with Lewis and drummer Matt Crute, along with a number of special guests including Al Slavik, Francesca Lago, Randy The Puppet & Shisha PM. “The direction is quite different to the Goblin hype that we’ve been
spruiking in Oz and more in line with the work we’ve been doing in Germany,” McMillan says. “Still very much acoustic guitar based music, but with collaborations on songwriting and vocals with Francesca and Shisha, the overall result has ended up somewhere between Devin Townsend and The Mamas & The Papas. With frequent giggage in Europe, McMillan says the band has found it a bit tricky to tailor for audiences at home and abroad. “Over there we often perform more folk style festivals and jazz clubs, whereas here we seem to fit better with metal and hard rock style lineups,” he says while conceding that they may confuse, “our burly Viking fans from Kananook Creek, but they’re friendly people and I’m sure they’ll give it a listen anyway.” For a player so gifted on acoustic guitar, it may come as a bit of a surprise that McMillan didn’t even really start playing acoustic until after he finished his jazz studies. “The thought of picking up the old Gibson and playing another bebop solo brings back memories of a surly Professor Burke whacking his enormous cane on the wall and demanding I take my Phrygian dominant mode more seriously,” he says. And yes, he claims to still have a nice collection of electrics including a custom BC Rich two-headed Warlock. But these days he endorses Melbourne-made Cole Clark guitars. “I actually really love the Fat Lady 1, the interchangeable pickup system works great
for what I’m doing with the tapping mixed with percussion etc. I have an Angel and this works better for some stuff, but generally for my style the Fat Lady is perfect. I have a few of the same model but all have their own sound which works well for different stuff I’m doing.” McMillan is able to tap into astounding displays of technique when the moment feels right. “Some of the new stuff that incorporates the strings and flute has a wash of nonsensical shred beneath a simple melody over the top,” he says. “I quite enjoy this sort of thing and it is quite natural to create. With the solo guitar stuff, I often place a lot of importance on melody, but I’m also not scared to spend time just having some fun playing something that sounds and feels good. A lot of the CandyRat Records style percussion guitar stuff can sometimes cop flak for being ‘soulless stunt guitar/unmelodic street hype’, but I don’t think a clear, articulated melody always defines what is good music. So often I tend not to think about it when writing.” With such an unorthodox and distinctive style, McMillan stalks the muse thusly: “A lot of the time I will have an idea
in my head – I used to record it straightaway – but nowadays I tend to just leave it and if it pops back later on it’s usually worth keeping. When I put the music to the guitar I sometimes just tune my guitar strings randomly so I don’t use the same shapes I’m accustomed to, and always like to make as much use of the open strings as I can to get that koto-esque/harpy vibe. Also experimentation is a big part of it. Sometimes an idea will lead to some noodling and then out of that a new idea pops.” The rhythmic skullfuckery common in much of McMillian’s material is toned down a little on the new album (“I’m getting old – need to tone down the horseplay”) but he traces its lineage back through assorted power metal, Non Intentional Lifeform, Mr. Bungle and the like. “I often felt guilty making music that wasn’t shifting around all the time,” he says of his pre-rhythmic-restraint self.
own right. We didn’t want any B-sides and I think we pulled that off.” “One of the last songs which was put on the record was Chicken (Ready To Go). I’d written the song, re-written it, but I just couldn’t find the verses I wanted. I’d re-written them around five times and they just weren’t right. I sent the track to Phil from Grinspoon because I thought he might have some inspiration and want to guest on the track, but he couldn’t find the right words either. The solution? Ice Cube’s cousin Teren Delvon Jones, better known as rapper Del The Funky Homosapien. “Del was coming down to my house to work on some other stuff and something in my head just clicked. I played him the track and within about ten seconds he was like, “I wanna rap on that shit! Half an hour later he’d laid down the verses and we just worked the rest of the song over. Chicken was done.” “It was great. That song wouldn’t have been as strong with
anyone else ,not me, not Phil. Del knocked it out of the park. Even though it’s rock and rap together I think it manages not to be a rap/rock song, as weird as that sounds. I think it sounds fresh and original, not forced.” After so much turmoil, that was that. Swan was ready to go, the first Unwritten Law album since Here’s To The Mourning in 2005. And Russo sure is psyched to give Aussie fans a sample of the material. “I fucking love you guys. I’m so grateful for your support down there throughout our career. We’re really looking forward to getting out there to rock with you guys.”
TIM MCMILLAN BAND launches Angel at Rock The Bay on Saturday February 18 at The Espy. Other acts include Dead Letter Circus, FLOATINGME, Twelve Foot Ninja, Bellusira, Ten Thousand and many, many more.
UNWRITTEN LAW BY JOSH FERGEUS
They’ve sold more than one million albums, survived a multitude of record labels and lineup changes, even bomb attacks. They’ve survived. After six long years Unwritten Law are back in the mix with their sixth studio album, Swan. “We were still playing, but everyone was doing their own thing, spending time with their families.” says vocalist Scott Russo, the only original member of the band remaining. “We got together and it was a bit like, ‘What do we do? How do we go about this?’. It was kind of a cool experience really. We decided to do things a bit differently and write a couple of songs each. Try and split the writing duties on the record.” Having been out of the studio so long, the band wanted to push the bar and try to do things differently, but it would prove to be much harder than they expected. “Writing is generally my concern. It was a bit of a load off my back sharing the writing, but we found that some of the songs weren’t strong enough, and we wanted the record to come out and have it be strong at every level. So we went back and spent another 14 or 15 months writing more songs, and Swan ended up being the result of those efforts,” says Russo. “I wouldn’t say it was difficult as such, but it was extremely tedious. We were determined to trump our last record. I rewrote shit like four or five times.” Russo, together with guitarist Steve Morris, bassist Pat “PK” Kim, and drummer Dylan Howard ended up taking years to complete the record. Morris is on the record as saying the band “had all but completely succumbed to the extreme pitfalls of being a band. We had no money left, we owed money to everyone, everyone in the industry hated us, and we were barely hanging on by a thread.” But hang on they
did. Kind of. “There weren’t any moments when I felt like throwing in the towel, because I knew how close we were to creating what I think is our best piece of work. There were moments where I’d do something, send it to the boys, then think it wasn’t quite right and rework it,” says Russo. “They’d come back to me and say, ‘Oh, we liked it the way it was before’. There was a lot of that, but in the end it was up to me to make the final call. Unwritten Law is my baby, you know? In the end we got to a point where we all felt that this was our moment, the end of our six year hiatus.” Late last year, after the album was finally finished, Morris and Kim left the band. The departure of Morris, a founding member of the band, and Kim, after 13 years service, has deeply affected Russo. “Things change, people change. We’d done a lot of touring, and they just wanted to move on. It was saddening, heart-breaking really, but I just had to move on too and find people who wanted to be there. After 22 years of playing together it was just that time. It is what it is. You can’t change how other people feel.” Armed with two new band members Kevin Besignano (exBullets and Octane) on guitar and Derik Envy (ex-Red Light Sky) on bass plus drummer Dylan Howard, Russo is pleased to see how fans are receiving Swan. “With anything you do in life, the more you do it the better you get. The same is true for songwriting. Every song we felt had to be perfect in its
CIRCA SURVIVE BY ROD WHITFIELD
Band names can be funny things, and the way bands come up with them can be just as curious. Sometimes they just appear and everyone in the band agrees (although it’s safe to assume this is pretty rare). Sometimes they come after a drunken night raiding dictionaries, thesaurus and other similar reference works. Occasionally band members throw words into a hat and draw them out. And in the case of a band like Success Will Write Apocalypse Across the Sky, well who knows what kind of drugs they were on when they came up with that... Pennsylvania based indie/alternative rock act Circa Survive had a very different way of going about it, as vocalist and main man Anthony Green explains from his home just outside Philadelphia. “Well the band name came out of a deep, meditative, conscious brainstorming session that Colin [Frangicetto, guitarist] and I had,” he says. “It’s very difficult to describe, but he and I saw the future, and we knew that that was the name of the band. We just knew it was right, we saw it.” So is the word ‘survive’ a philosophical part of the idea of the name, as in, the band is going to survive and prosper in the face of tough times for musicians, and harsh times in general? “I definitely think that that’s part of it,” he agrees. “That’s usually how we remember things in our lives, the times that we got through things, and how we got through them. Maybe a
sense of accomplishment at the end. So I definitely can relate to that type of metaphor.” The five-piece arrive in Australia very shortly for the massive Soundwave tour, a tour which Anthony and the band have been savouring since their last trip Down Under, which was all the way back in 2007 in support of My Chemical Romance. “I’m so excited to come over for Soundwave,” he enthuses. “It’s been too long, it’s been five years or something like that since we’ve been over there. It’s absolutely freezing here! I can’t wait to get into that climate! “We have to be invited,” he explains, regarding the lengthy time in between Aussie tours for the band. “When you try to come over on your own, financially it’s a difficult thing to do. I think we kind of need to sit down next time we tour and figure how we can best utilise our resources so that we can get to
more places like Australia, Europe and Japan. It’s a long way, it’s expensive, and times are really tough for musicians, so you kind of have to do what you can do. But we are so honoured to be invited to play Soundwave, it’s a great opportunity.” With such a long time in between drinks for the band, it’s a fair bet that most of the punters heading to Soundwave will not have seen the band in action, so Green was keen to let us know what we’re in for with a Circa Survive live set. “I mean, we’re a band who’s super proud of who we are,” he states. “I think it shows when we play. There’s a lot of energy in our music and I feel that it explodes when we play live, so I’m really excited to feel that energy, and the crowd again in Australia.” Beyond the Soundwave tour, the band have a new album in the works, their fourth long player, although not before another highly important event occurs in Green’s life. “We’ve kind of extended the time, because I found out I was having a baby in May,” he informs us. “We were excited about going back into the studio, but I feel that I want that extra time, and spend those couple of months with my family, and we should put the record out shortly after that. “It’s too early to say,” he says, regarding the direction that the new music is taking, “just ‘cause we haven’t really started putting the pieces together in a way where we’ll get a sense of it. Some of the songs are a little bit more heavy. Some of them have a new wave feel to them. There’s a very eclectic vibe happening to the songs, and I feel like they’re going to come together in the next couple of months, and really relate to each other.” As far as the longer term future is concerned, Green has intense trepidation when it comes to looking too far ahead. “I don’t know! I mean, I have hopes and I have goals but...I’m
DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION
UNWRITTEN LAW play the sold out Soundwave Festival at the Melbourne Showgrounds on Friday March 2. They also play a Sidewave at The Espy on Wednesday February 29 with Zebrahead and Royal Rebublic. Swan is out now on Suburban Noize Records.
turning 30 this year. I have absolutely no idea what’s going to happen, it’s fuckin’ scary as shit. I hope the band can put out more records. I don’t want to stop putting out records or touring, and hopefully I can find a balance [between band and family]. But having people ask me that question over and over again, it’s fuckin’ scary!” CIRCA SURVIVE play the sold out Soundwave Festival at the Melbourne Showgrounds on Friday March 2. They also play a Sidewave with Thursday and Saves The Day on Wednesday February 29 at Billboard The Venue.
Beat Magazine Page 55
SCOTT KELLY & JOHN BAIZLEY BY JEREMY SHEAFFE
The impending arrival of Scott Kelly and John Baizley, two titans of underground heavy music, will have many metal heads, punkers, stoners and proggers salivating. However, given the nature of their solo work, those with an ear for plaintive, introspective, personal songs played deftly and simply on an acoustic guitar would be wise to get themselves a ticket too. Neurosis’ Scott Kelly is all too aware that his work as a solo artist is not always fully appreciated by fans of his heavier work. In fact, Kelly claims to have “gone closer to a fist fight at a solo show than I ever have at a Neurosis show!” Scott Kelly has been playing music for over two and a half decades, generally heavy, all consuming, shredding and confusing music with his original band, or lately singing on Mastodon records, riffing it up with Shrinebuilder or freaking folks out with Tribes Of Neurot. John Baizley will be familiar as the man from Baroness and the dude who does that Pushead-inspired art for bands such as Kylesa, Pig Destroyer, Torche and even, according to Wikipedia, Flight of The Conchords. And while Kelly has at least a decade of experience playing acoustically, this is Baizley’s first outing as a solo performer. “I’m friends with Scott,” explains Baizley, “and there was a couple of shows in Germany a few years back that he asked me and Pete [Baroness’ other guitar player] to back him up on and it went pretty well. So when he was working on this Australian thing he rang me up. How can you say no to that sort of invitation?” laughs Baizley. “So now I am faced with the prospect coming over with no recorded material but it is a really good outlet for me to premiere some of the
stuff I have had for a while now.” “That is true,” confirms Kelly. “Yeah, we did a Townes Van Zandt song at the end of a Baroness set in Germany and that was kind of, that was the spark for him. I wasn’t aware that he hadn’t considered it before. It’s been 10 years, a little bit more [since] I’ve been doing this now. It’s becoming a little more normal but it is still something outside of my comfort zone.” But how did you get into it in the first place? “First of all the music spoke to me,” begins Kelly. “All the years of travelling in the van and listening to tunes you start to find these things, you start digging into old Hank Williams, old folk stuff and it started to occur to me that there was something there that I should investigate. It occurred to me there was something that would be a real challenge to me as a musician and as a person and as a performer. It is definitely a different sort of craft.” It definitely is a different craft; these upcoming shows from these two renowned underground musicians – being ably supported by Blackie from The HardOns also playing solo – will be intimate and personal, an opportunity to connect with these artists on an individual level. However, Baizley also sees it as an extension of what he is known for. “To me it doesn’t sound very far removed from
“TO ME, GOING OUT WITH AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR BY YOURSELF IS ABOUT AS PUNK ROCK AS IT GETS, IT’S A DEFINITE ‘FUCK YOU’ APPROACH.”
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Baroness but the audience will be 100 percent unfamiliar with the sound and the voice that I have singing acoustically. When Baroness plays it is a guitar band and when you take that out of the mix and add to that the fact that I am an incredibly limited vocalist and a moderately skillful guitar player it automatically becomes a different thing.” Kelly comes at it from a similar point of view, as well. “It’s really not that different for me either,” he explains. “I see it as one thing. It is merely stripping it down to its bare essence, that is what I look to do. To me it still totally fits with my upbringing around music, those things that really appealed to me, like Black Flag or Crass, bands that influenced me when I was really young. To me, going out with an acoustic guitar by yourself is about as punk rock as it gets, it’s a definite ‘fuck you’ approach.” Speaking of influence, it is clear that on one level Kelly has influenced Baizley to pick up the acoustic guitar, but on a different level Kelly has influenced a myriad of other performers through his work over
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the last 26 years. But as Kelly knows, you can’t feed a family of four on acclaim. “That’s cool, that’s the way it is. It’s that old thing of the first one over the wall gets the bloody nose. For us we realise that we have influenced a lot of bands and we totally respect that and appreciate it but we were heavily influenced by a lot of bands too. And bands that got a lot less out of it than we ever did, bands like Amebix and Rudimentary Peni, those bands didn’t get shit for what they did. The amount of significant music they made against the amount of money or the amount of acclaim they got – it was nothing. So you know, you can’t be in this for the money or the fame, not on the road we are on. This is a music thing, this is music first, y’know?” SCOTT KELLY & JOHN BAIZLEY play The Corner Hotel on Friday February 10.
CORE
CORE GIG GUIDE Wednesday February 1: Soundgarden, The
PUNK, SKA, HARDCORE NEWS, REVIEWS AND GOSSIP BY EMILY KELLY: EK1984@GMAIL.COM
Sweet Jesus, summer’s really kicking me in the balls at the moment. I’m so glad I wasn’t convinced by some enthused soul to attend Big Day Out on the weekend. I could barely string together a coherent sentence while sitting on my couch in my jocks, fanning myself furiously with an old issue of Rolling Stone. Power be to those who endure stifling heat each year to see their favourite bands, they are stronger souls than I. Speaking of festivals and live music, it seems everyone’s out to slag the slew of live shows available to us at the moment and it’s really grinding my gears. The way people are lambasting fresh, wide-eyed promoters is a little disheartening. Sure, their grand plans for world domination are falling flat for the most part, but I find it reassuring more than enraging that people are working hard to bring quality music to our shores. There’s a lot of manpower involved in bringing bands to Australia, and most of all, there’s a fuckload of money to be lost. So if old mate and his bestie want to start their own tour promotion company and bring out bands they reckon are tops, then they should go for it. I don’t think large promoters having an almighty monopoly on touring artists is particularly healthy, so if someone wants to risk their life savings and sanity by touring them themselves then I’m right behind them. The ultimate summer lineup (mostly because of word play, but hey!) will play at The Hi-Fi on March 1 when A Rocket To The Moon, The Dangerous Summer and The Summer Set combine for a Soundwave sideshow. Tickets are available from February 3.
CRUNCH!
Bronx at Sidney Myer Music Bowl Cavalera Conspiracy at Billboard Harmony, Batpiss at The Tote CROSSES
COBRA STARSHIP
Chino Moreno from Deftones and Far’s Haun Lopez have teamed up under the moniker Crosses, and they’ve just released a new EP which is available from their website at crossesmusic.com. Shit is serious too, they’ve just announced a run of tour dates in the US. Next stop Australia?
Cobra Starship have thrown their hat in the Sidewave ring, announcing an evening at The Forum on Monday February 27 with Forever The Sickest Kids and These Kids Wear Crowns. Are these bands just being paired together according to lack of originality in the name stakes? Either way, tickets are up for grabs now.
River Of Snakes, Dead River at Cherry Bar Thursday February 2: The Kujo Kings, Better Than Wizards, The Tabasco Junkies, Chaos Kids at The Tote Untruth, Bear Witness, Bateman, Change Atlantic at Next Friday February 3: Closure In Moscow, Brighter At Night, Exo Majesty, Empire Of Dirt at Bada Bing, Frankston
The rumours are true, Frank Turner has set the wheels in motion to start a hardcore band. He’s recently revealed that his lineup is confirmed and they’ve “been in the rehearsal room..writing songs. It’s noisy, tongue in cheek, aggressive, abrasive stuff”. No release planned yet, he says, but “it’s a lot closer to being a real band now than it has been previously”. Parkway Drive have again underestimated their appeal and have had to upgrade their Geelong venue from the Bended Elbow to Geelong Arena. The show is still scheduled to take place on March 9. Should be a cracker.
Iffy reviews on their last album haven’t deterred Blink-182 from planning their next effort. The band is already writing and compiling tracks for a new album. Mark Hoppus told NME it’s too early to know what it will sound like. I could speculate but that would be Local dudes, The Mission In Motion have been added to the distinctly more Aussie-friendly Soundwave 2012 bill. They’ll play every show except Melbourne, which is sold out anyways so sucks to be you if you want to go. Currently you’ll need to get to Perth or Adelaide if you’re to catch the mammoth Soundwave bill this year.
Saturday February 4: The Bride, Emerson, Storm The Sky at Bang Seether, Black Devil Yard Boss at HiFi Bar Sunday February 5: The Go Set, Ramshackle Army at Prince Of Wales Budd, Wicked City, Sun God, Replica, Slocombes Pussy, Spider Goat Canyon at The Tote
WITH PETER HODGSON NEWS, GIGS, RELEASES, RANTS, WHATEVER - EMAIL CRUNCHCOLUMN@GMAIL.COM
FEAR FACTORY SIGNS TO RIOT
Hi and welcome to the first edition of Crunch. Why ‘crunch,’ you ask? Cause it’s a word that has connotations with brutal metals, as well as crunchy hard rock guitar tones, and ‘cause onomatopoeia kick arse. But mostly because it sums up a lot of what I’m going to try to do with this column: anything from the heavier side of music, from classic rock to hard rock to metal. Expect a lot of local news, a bit of national and international news, and whatever else I think might be interesting.
As I write this I’m currently in sunny LA. While at the NAMM musical instrument trade show I ran into the mighty John Howarth, CEO of Riot Entertainment, who was out here to sign Fear Factory for the Australian release of their new album, The Industrialist. The album will be out later this year. It was co-produced by the band and longtime collaborator Rhys Fulber (Front Line Assembly, Paradise Lost), and mixed by Greg Reely (Front Line Assembly, Paradise Lost, Skinny Puppy). Last year vocalist Burton C Bell was going around town telling everyone the band planned to write “a full-on concept” album, which is great news for those of us who dig the mighty Obsolete. Meanwhile Bell and Byron Stroud have wrapped up work on Trial Through Fire, the second album by their other band City of Fire. It’ll be out in March or April.
BUDDY BLAZE 7-STRING GUITARS Speaking of extra-string guitar goodness, while here in LA I just picked up the very first 7-string guitar ever made by Buddy Blaze, the man behind Dimebag Darrell’s famous lightning bolt Dean From Hell guitar and the Kramer Nightswan for Vivian Campbell (Dio, Whitesnake, Def Leppard). It’s a freaking sweet axe and I love it to bits. Talk about metal pedigree. Buddy’s looking for Australian distribution so everyone can get their hands on the seven - or the polka dot-festooned 25th Anniversary Shredder VC he just announced to commemorate a quarter of a century since he and Campbell started working together. Bookmark buddyblaze.com - info incoming.
MOLLO-MARTIN IN TRENCHES
Melbourne’s In Trenches releases a five-track, 27-minute metalfest called Sol Obscura digitally on March 5, with a limited edition 10” vinyl version expected around the same time. The vinyl will be available in three colour variations. The track Hollow Heart is streaming now at intrenches.bandcamp.com, and you can also download their debut album Relive And Regret there for free if you’d like to catch up. The band says the new stuff is more advanced and more intense than their debut.
GIG ALERT: TRENCH SISTERS WITH DEATH GHAT, AKTION UNIT, THE BUNYIP MOON
Melbourne hardcore band Trench Sisters features members of, as the band explains it, “Extortion, 731, Roskopp, Terror Firma and other shit.” They’re laying waste to the Grace Darling Hotel on February 3 with support from New Zealand hardcore weirdos Death Ghat (it’s their first visit to Australia, so prepare your scariest drop-bear stories for them), as well as Aktion Unit and The Bunyup Moon.
GIG ALERT: AMON AMARTH The band with the coolest Lord Of The Rings-inspired name since Smeagol’s Scrote, which I just made up, Amon Amarth are bringing their Viking might to Australia in April. In Melbourne they’re playing at Billboard The Venue on April 16. It’s an over 18 gig. Supports are Orpheus and Eye Of The Enemy. The Swedish metal lords are touring on the back of Surtur Rising, their eighth studio album, which came out in March of last year.
Tony Martin might be the Black Sabbath singer that everyone forgets, but he made some kickarse albums with the band, including Headless Cross and Cross Purposes. He even made a good one that didn’t have ‘cross’ in the title (Tyr). Martin’s latest collaboration with Italian guitarist Dario Mollo, The Third Cage, is out now on Frontiers Records and it’s a fricken ripsnorter. No less a tough critic than Metal Hammer’s Dom Lawson called it one of the best hard rock albums in years. Check it out if you’re into Zakk Wyldestyle riffage filtered through hints of the Gothenberg guitar sound and Martin’s still totally-on vocals.
GIG ALERT: ANIMALS AS LEADERS’ TOSIN ABASI
The mighty Tosin Abasi of Animals As Leaders will be appearing at a guitar clinic at Five Star Music, 102 Maroondah Highway, Ringwood on Wednesday February 15. Phone 98704143 or email steve@ fivestarmusic.com.au for bookings. Abasi, a wizard on the eight-string guitar if ever there was one, appears courtesy of Ibanez guitars. Rock up, pick his brain, and see if you can wrap your digits around an eight-string and live to tell the tale.
GIG ALERT: SCOTT KELLY (NEUROSIS) & JOHN BAIZLEY (BARONESS) Neurosis guitarist/vocalist Scott Kelly and his buddy John Baizley of Baroness are teaming up for a little acoustic jaunt. Kelly has a few solo albums and various tours under his belt but Baizley hasn’t released anything of a solo nature, much less anything all acousticy, so this show is a rare, nay, unprecedented opportunity to hear something utterly new. The show is on Friday February 10 at the Corner Hotel. CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
Beat Magazine Page 57
MUSIC NEWS
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THE DELTA RIGGS In a foot-stomping frenzy of hair, stick-it-to-the-man attitude and swampy blues, The Delta Riggs feel what you feel and express it exactly how you want it, with frustration and aggression, or joy and celebration. The ‘Riggs shine a light on the reasons why rock‘n’roll shall always be a thing of the people, for the people. Catch them at The Grace Darling this Thursday February 2 with support from Viking Frontier and Hounds.
MUSHROOM GIANT
RIVER OF SNAKES After taking January off to relax and get silly, write some new tunes and enjoy the sun like good snakes do, River Of Snakes kick off 2012 with a residency at Cherry Bar. So every Wednesday night in February (that's right folks it's a leap year so there will be five of them), River Of Snakes will take to the stage to deliver a mindblistering set of scuzz-noise rock’n’roll. Each week they will be supported by a different special guest. It Kicks off Wednesday February 1, with the awesome all girl psych-doom riffs of Dead River. Then next week with Silence Dead Silence. Entry is free, bands start at 9pm.
ANIMAUX On Monday February 6, Animaux will launch their highly anticipated single, Song For Grace, at the Evelyn Hotel. Song For Grace marks Animauxs first independent release since their inception and proves to be their best yet, with trademark horn lines, intertwining melodic and rhythmic aspects, sultry vocal harmonies and heart-warming lyrics. With support from Triple J Unearthed finalists The McQueens and Albert Salt, the show will also launch Animauxs Monday night residency at the Evelyn all through February, which includes appearances from the likes of Poco La Pax, Secondhand Heart, Better Than The Wizards and many more.
Vivid sound-scapes layered with texture and meaning, Mushroom Giant is an Australian band specialising in dramatic instrumental music. Their live performances offer an aural and visual experience exploring a musical realm full of colour and imagery. "The art of simplicity is a puzzle of complexity." This perhaps best describes Mushroom Giant's sound, the pursuit of well defined character in each song using a broad and expressive application of melodies, motifs, beats and effects. They play the Evelyn hotel on Saturday February 4, with support from A Lonely Crowd, Ungus Ungus Ungus, Glasfrosch and Chico Flash. Doors from 8pm.
KAFKA After suffering severe acid casualties at the Tasmania Circus Festival, Kafka are finally ready to talk to each other and play some of the hits. Feat: Lachlan Mitchell, Darcy McNulty, Tom Hinchliff, Dom Hede, Michael Meddlycot Expect: Sax solos, casual attitude, synths, drum whacking, weirdness, jass and cynicism. With DJ Percy Valentine, purveyor of 12 decent Deejay skillz, spinning sum exotica, erotica, sexy stuff and smooch. Get down to the Evelyn this Sunday February 5 from 8pm.
GERRY HALE'S BLUEGRASS SESSIONS That's right folks! The first Monday night in every month (this Monday January 6) at The Old Bar bring yer banjo, mandolin, washboard, fiddle, flatmate and join in the oldtime bluegrass jam session.Or just come down and watch as the Oldie gets transformed to a scene from an Appalachian mountainside. Led by Gerry Hale (Uncle Bill/Guitar Gallery) 8pm start and it's always free.
F.O.G. AND THE BOSS BENEFIT GIG Gavin Lynch from the Labour In Vain has been going through some tough health issues for a number of months so the LIV team, plus a bunch of Gav's mates have donated their time, work and talent to put together a super special fundraiser to assist him in this trying time. Musical offerings include Jemma and The Find Young Ambitious Men, Chris Russel's Chicken Walk, Austin Floyd and 'The Boss Band', honouring Gav's favourite singer, along with a bunch of Springsteen performances by Davey Lane, Danny Walsh, Jeb Cardwell and heaps more. Phew! There's a monster raffle with a huge list of prizes donated by friends, businesses and pubs in the Fitzroy area. Doors are at 1pm, BBQ from 2pm and music from 3 'til 7pm. $20 admission, with advance bookings from the pub or from phoning 9417 5955. All proceeds go to Gav, so get along this Saturday February 4 and support this great cause.
BROKEN GLASS RECORDS Broken Glass Records is your new local band merch shop in Collingwood! Stocking CDs, vinyl, cassettes, shirts, hoodies, badges, and patches from mainly Melbourne bands. The opening day is this Saturday February 4 from midday to 5.30pm, then bands from 6pm in the backyard. The Jackals, Batpiss, and DEAD, plus special guests.
MAGIC MOUNTAIN BAND Magic Mountain Band return to the Toff for their first show of 2012. On the verge of recording their debut album the show provides a rare chance to experience the bands new material before they hit the studio. With special guests Blood Red Bird, a heap of debut performances, some old favourites and even a new face on the bandstand it promises to be an evening not to miss. Don't miss out, this Thursday February 2.
VOLITAIRE Following his highly acclaimed 2010 tour, affable raconteur and darkly comedic songster Voltaire makes his triumphant return to gallop across the expanses of Australia on his Black Unicorn tour this February. Performing tracks from his brand new album Riding A Black Unicorn Down The Side Of An Erupting Volcano While Drinking From A Chalice Filled With The Laughter Of Small Children! as well as old favourites from his extensive back catalogue, Voltaire is a must for fans of Amanda Palmer and The Dresden Dolls. Catch Voltaire in his only Melbourne show on Saturday February 2 at Bar 303 with special guest Rouge Fonce.
SUMMER SOUNDS Head along and enjoy Summer Sounds, a series of free music events at the Rotunda at the Commonwealth Reserve, Williamstown. Sunday January 29 features Vika and Linda with special guests Into The Woods. Sunday February 5 features Wagons with special guests Tracy McNeil and The Cliffords. Bring a picnic, rug, some deckchairs and enjoy.
ROCK-A-BYE BABY PBS 106.7FM is proud to announce that The Rock-A-Bye Baby Music Sessions are back for 2012! First up for this year and straight out of high school is The Cactus Channel, bringing their ten-piece funk orchestra to the Fitzroy Town Hall. With an average age of eighteen, these kids are burning down original funk breaks and breaking down funk originals with a musical maturity way beyond their years. Hear that sound? Raw, loose and nasty funk recorded straight to analogue tape. It’s just like the old days, but so new it’s sporting a badass teenage moustache. Thursday February 2 at Fitzroy Town Hall.
GRIEVE PDE On Sunday February 5, Grieve Pde play one of their final semi-improv post-rocktronica shows of this season at Bar Open before they retire it to vinyl and change genres completely, or break up. Accompanied by Gatorade Slam Dunk Competitions of yesteryear, it's a show not to be missed. Supported by Seth Rees moving your ears with cyclic sonic noise overtures and Skippys Brain adhering to the William Burroughs philosophy of the cut up’s combined with the jazz ascetic of improvisation and industrial minimalism, played with intense feeling and emotion. All in all, no gig or indeed song is ever quite the same. $0 entry and free couches and chairs.
Developing musicianly drumming. Using technique as a means to bring out the best in your drumming.
Free half hour introductory lesson. Upstairs at Greville Records (the coolest record shop in town) 0415 118 390 or asho179@optusnet.com.au
www.ashleydaviesmusicanddrums.com REGISTERED TEACHER VIC ED
Beat Magazine Page 58
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ROCK THE BAY St Kilda is set to explode when the fourth annual Rock The Bay Festival hits The Espy on Saturday February 18 across the entire venue. Brisbane heavyweights Dead Letter Circus will headline the event and join a stellar lineup of Aussie rock acts including triple j favourites Floating Me and Melbourne’s finest in Twelve Foot Ninja, Bellusira, Tim McMillan Band, Ten Thousand, Bugdust, New Skinn and heaps more. Tickets on sale now via saltar.oztix.com.au, The Espy, Polyester (City & Fitzroy), Greveille Records, Fist 2 Face, The Nash (Geelong) and Karova Lounge (Ballarat). Check out rockthebayfestival.com for full lineup and ticketing info.
DANE CERTIFICATE Dane Certificate makes home studio recordings and magic tricks, bringing his innovative and forward thinking to the stage to entertain, stimulate and engage the audience. Dane Certificate Magic is Dane Williams (AKA Dane Certificate) from Melbourne Australia - a solo act utilising magic/ illusion and music, bringing to the world a new genre of music and redefining "live performance". Dane Certificate has another album mastered and is currently being shipped downunder. It's called Miss Imagination and it is weird. The 20-song fourth release has a bonus album Fadeou64 and single Lion. To launch the release Pop Singles, Popolice and Pronoun will join Dane Certificate in the Grace Darling Hotel Basement for a night of noisy pop and magic tricks on Saturday February 11. $8 on the door.
THE KUJO KINGS Personality-packed Melbourne ska septet, The Kujo Kings, are touring the country in 2012 after the release of their second sensual, sexual, and modestly priced EP; Kujo Kuddles. In a career spanning only two years, these youngsters have developed a loyal following and a reputation as lively entertainers with their infectiously catchy songs and energetic live show. They don’t play an eclectic mix of styles – they play ska. And it’s awesome. So catch The Kujo Kings on their upcoming More Bee” tour and they’ll entertain, shock, mock, and arouse you for a night of fun and frothies! $10, 8pm, The Tote, this Thursday February 2.
ROAD RATZ Road Ratz is a relatively new punk/rockabilly band to the Melbourne scene featuring three energetic young blooded boys, playing some old favourite standards with a modern edge, and some of their own punkabilly style originals. Formed in early 2010 they have already played at a list of venues including the Gully hotel, Camperdown and Pyalong to mention a few. Their music influences include the Stray Cats, the Reverend Horton Heat, Go Cat Go and many other bands from anywhere between the '50s 'til the 21st century. See Road Ratz play Friday February 3 at the Penny Black. You know you want to.
TRAPPIST AFTERLAND Trappist Afterland is a collaboration between Adam Cole (Happily Ever Afterland Band, Arossa, Kali,The Pollen Choir) and Adam Casey (The Boy Who Spoke Clouds, Seascapes of the Interior) They make spirit music for the dispossessed. Their debut, burrowing to light in the land of nod will be released in 2012 through Melbourne record label, "The True Vine".this will coincide with a split double album(Tales of Lucifer Mosquito, parts 1 and 2) with happily ever afterland band . They will be touring Europe, the US, Japan and Australia in September 2012. See them before they go on Friday February 3 at The Prague.
SUMMER MUSIC SERIES The City of Boroondara have once again made some pretty big plans for the now annual community event, Summer Music Series. Held over three consecutive Sundays in February, the first concert of the series will see the classic music of Billie, Ella and Nina as well as some modern favourites come alive in Jazz in Canterbury Gardens, kicking off Sunday February 5. Entry is free and gets started from 4pm. Head to boroondara.vic.gov.au/summer-music for more details.
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BUCKLEY WARD Buckley Ward launch the second single from their forthcoming album So Pretend, Into The Darkening Blue, Saturday February 18 at the Buffalo Club. The Melbourne indie-pop quintet spent the last half of 2011 turning heads with the release of first single So Pretend as well as a slew of prestigious support slots opening for the likes of Howling Bells, Oh Mercy and Big Scary to name a few. Joining Buckley Ward on The Buffalo Club stage will be Boats of Berlin (SYD) and Eliza Hull. Tickets are $12 on the door - get there early.
SALTAR HYPE'S 5TH BIRTHDAY BASH On February 23, 2007, event management company Saltar Hype (Rock The Bay, Creepshow Halloween Festival, Showdown At The Corner) launched itself onto the scene with a five band lineup at the Hi-Fi Bar. Five years on and it's time to do it all again! Get down to the Hi-Fi Bar on Saturday February 25 for Saltar Hype's 5th Birthday Bash - featuring some of Melbourne's best live acts in Engine Three Seven, Sleep Parade, Black & White, The Evening Son and Anna Salen. Tickets on sale now at thehifi.com.au.
COOL SUMMER FESTIVAL Three days of music and indulgence, on two stages in the middle of nowhere, with the luxury of everything. Cool Summer festival prides itself on offering a feast of finely tuned music, giving you a festival that is run the way festivals used to be. Featuring Gareth Liddiard, Gossling, Owl Eyes, Graveyard Train and heaps more, the event organisers have promised they've ordered some amazing weather for the event and are now just patiently waiting for you to get involved. This year, camping is offered and it's still BYO during the day at the main stage. Dreamy. It takes place from Friday February 17 - 19. Tickets and full lineup info is at coolsummerfestival.com.
COLLARD GREENS AND GRAVY Acclaimed for their gritty, driving, down home-sound, Collard Greens and Gravy play a mostly original repertoire of foot stomping country blues that would sound right at home in a Mississippi Juke Joint. Featuring Ian Collard (vocals, harmonica and guitar) James Bridges (guitar and fiddle) and Anthony Shortte (Drums), Collard Greens and Gravy have been together since 1995. The trio have received many awards including second place at the 2001 International Blues challenge in Memphis. In the same year the band's second CD More Gravy won an Aria award for Best Blues and Roots Album. Collard Greens and Gravy will play the Union Hotel on Sunday February 5.
BUSY KINGDOM Busy Kingdom are here to change your mind about the Australian music scene. With songs that are more original than your Levis and a sound that will tingle the taste buds of your inner ear. The band's music has been described as "folkternative rock" and they claim their songs are inspired by being young men in the 21st century. The harmonies and guitars of brothers Michael and Brendan Etherington will satiate your deepest desire, while the fancy stick work of Luke Haaja on drums and the bass in your face of bassist Carl Lindeberg drive home the rhythm of the songs. Friday February 3 at Noise Bar.
NOT THE WOLF With history on their side, youth in their hearts and an intriguing approach to music that sucks you into a vortex of Celtic tunes, western swing, jazz, bluegrass, pop, blues and perhaps a little Carlos Santana thrown in for good measure, Not the Wolf will quite probably blow your socks off. Not the Wolf as Paul Monk and Matiss Schubert have been part of many bands in their musical career (Mongolian Fishmongers, McAlpine’s Fusiliers, The Go Set, Tartan Paddy, Full Circle, The Real McKenzies to name a few). But it seems that now together they have come full circle to where they were always meant to be. Writing songs and tunes with their own original angle, but with a foot dangling in the roots of the music they love. See Not the Wolf at The Drunken Poet on Saturday February 4.
RYAN NICO Ryan Nico took the long road in finding his own place within the Australian alt-country genre. Writing primarily on piano and guitar, Ryan performed with a myriad of bands in Sydney and the Illawarra before relocating to Melbourne to craft his own unique style of country-tinged balladry. When playing live with backing band, The Overlanders, his songs move from bluesy folk-rock jams to vulnerable, heartbreaking ballads, ornamented by refined vocal harmonies, plaintive lyricism and Ryan’s disarming tenor. Catch him at the Old Bar on Thursday February 2 with Pines (TAS) and Gutter Parties.
REQUIEM Requiem is Melbourne's newest monthly Gothic night, presenting a fusion of trad-goth, gothic-rock, post punk, (cold/dark/new/grave) wave, ebm, industrial, electro, ambient, new romantic, synth pop, modern/neo-gothic and other associated alternative music, all at one underground venue. Join them at their amazing new home, The Liberty Social; a spacious and unique venue hidden in Melbourne's CBD. Formerly De Biers (now under new management), this grungy Victorian cellar off Degraves is the perfect setting for a night of new and vintage Gothic music alike. The next event is taking place on Friday February 3.
MOONLIGHTING 1AM Phoenix Public House has just announcd a new project titled Moonlighting 1am, a free late night electronica series. The Moonlighting 1am slot features some of Melbourne's finest musical artists in electronic dance side project mode. Weekend nights in February, come down for a late night kick-on with live original electronica from the dance crazed alter-egos of Melbourne's underground music scene. Free entry, from 1am 'til 3am. Dance til you drop.
BODYJAR Melodic punk pioneers Bodyjar are putting aside retirement, re-stringing their axes and getting ready to deliver one of Aussie punk’s great albums live on stage from start to finish with a pretty amazing line up of bands. In a special event to celebrate the release of their landmark album No Touch Red as a limited edition vinyl album, a second show has been announced to ease the demand following the news of a sell-out first show at The Corner. Hitting up The Espy with the same killer line-up, the show will see Bodyjar hit the stage with the highest pedigrees in Australian punk; newlyreformed One Dollar Short, Antiskeptic and Game Over in their first time on stage in over a decade, for two nights of punk nostalgia in a reunion that is bound to send you back to 1998. Bodyjar play The Espy, Friday March 30, and The Corner, Saturday March 31 (soldout). Head to espy.com.au or Oztix for tickets.
ROBERT RICH Ambient music pioneer Robert Rich is touring Australia to support his new album, Medicine Box. Direct from opening the main stage at the Rainbow Serpent Festival, Robert Rich is playing a special gig in Melbourne on Saturday February 11 at Northcote Uniting Church. Drawing from decades of recorded work, his concerts blend composition and improvisation in a fluid continuum, creating a hypnotic atmosphere. Rich's performance will include live electronics with keyboards and computer, along with his signature hand-made flutes and steel guitar.
USURPER OF MODERN MEDICINE Pony are looking forward to an extra special visit from way out west, with the incredible Usurper Of Modern Medicine stopping in for a late show en route the Camp a Low Hum Festival in Wellington, New Zealand. Usurper Of Modern Medicine is a post-rock/ experimental /electronic act from Perth and their Debut EP Acid Chess is available now on Heartless Robot Productions online and in selected record stores...you've probably heard it getting play on RRR and PBS. It's the record that sounds really good. 3am late show at Pony this Saturday February 4.
Glenn Richards
GENNY B FUN RAISER Being unwell, as anyone knows, is a pain in the arse. Suffering from ongoing illness is truly some next level shit. Melbourne’s Genny B – RRR regular and Livewire co-host, guitarist of Your Wedding Night and The Bites – has been in the trenches for the past year battling with an aggressive cancer, and the experience has left her working overtime just to cover her rent in between her debilitating treatments. Thanks to a mighty Melbourne music task force, a one night only show at The Corner Hotel will bring together a cream-of-the-crop collection of the town's finest for a special gig that's not only fun, but with all proceeds being donated to Genny B, will enable her to continue with her treatments into this year and the next. Join Dan Kelly, Glenn Richards, AIH DJs (Architecture In Helsinki), Alan Brough (Spicks And Specks), Teeth & Tongue, Chapter Music DJs, plus Dan Luscombe, Davey Lane and Jess McGuire (RRR Breakfast) and support a worthwhile cause. Tickets for the bigger than life show are only $25 + booking fee, and all goes down at The Corner Hotel, Thursday February 16.
BAD TASTE Just back from their most excellent tour of Australia which included a spot on the Falls festival line-up, Bad Taste are continuing their crusade of debauchery back in their hometown of Melbourne with a night of mayhem at their favorite drinking hole: Pony on Friday February 3. Helping to welcome them back are touring buddies/arch enemies Old Skin and local rapscallions Coins (members of In Tongues). Loved by audiences, loathed by bar staff, Bad Taste have developed a reputation as one of Melbourne’s most energetic and engaging live acts. See them, before they see you. At Pony. Boogie.
eat arepas, drink mojitos listen to
liveusic latin m
RY FREE ENT
wednesday 7:30
jonathan cohen thursday 7:30
the simon hudson duo friday 9:00
la rumba saturday 9:00
santiago son sunday 6:00
jose nieto monday 7:30
santiago vela tuesday 7:30
julian posada
bookings recommended
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
Beat Magazine Page 59
WEEKENDER YAH YAH'S On Saturday February 11, head along to the '90s incarnation of Weekender at Yah Yah's, taking place by popular demand for all of your Brit pop/slacker/shoegaze needs. Blur, Charlatans, The Prodigy, Pavement, KLF, Radiohead, Beck, Pulp, Ride, Dinosaur Jr, Pixies, Happy Mondays, Stone Roses, Sonic Youth, EMF, Ratcat, Primal Scream, Oasis, James, The La's, East 17, REM, Teenage Fanclub, Wonderstuff, Inspiral Carpets, Underworld, Bjork, Edwyn Collins, Stereolab, Menswear, Suede, Placebo, Ash, PJ Harvey, Smashing Pumpkins, Shed 7, Sleeper, Adorable, Lemonheads, Lightening Seeds, Cornershop, Beastie Boys, Boo Radleys, Bluetones, Supergrass, Super Furry Animals,Violent Femmes, Weezer, The Verve, Underground Lovers and so many more.
SCARAMOUCHE
DIRTY CANARY
Majestic rockers Scaramouche, will be unleashing their explosive live show across Melbourne and regional Victoria this month, as the Victorian Cavalcade tour kicks off. The tour will see Scaramouche rocking out at prominent regional cities including Traralgon, Geelong and Shepparton, and will showcase a set of brand new tunes for the band as they prepare to head into the studio to record a new album. The band is also playing a number of dates around town, including the Brunswick Hotel on Saturday February 4, the Evelyn on Thursday February 9, and the Bendigo Hotel on Sunday February 12. For further details, check out their website at scaramoucheband.com.au.
Dirty Canary launch their long awaited CD with supports from The Sunsleepers and War In Arcadia on the Friday February 3 at Gertrudes Brown Couch. It will be also Dirty Canary's last show for three months so it will be a cracker of a gig. Get down to Gertrudes Brown Couch from from 8.30PM. Entry $10.
CHERRY ROCK 2012
ROXY LAVISH Roxy Lavish writes uncomplicated songs in a complicated world giving the listener a chance to exhale, add a bit of folk humour to the mix and you have something very unique. Catch Roxy at Richmond’s Great Britain Hotel on Sunday February 5 from 7pm. Supports come from the boisterous Matt Panag and the delicate Smoky Marigold. Free entry.
SHADOWQUEEN Shadowqueen is a rock band in the true sense of the word. Their sound is bold sexy and fearless, with an irresistible blend of melodic pop sensibility and thunderous riff rock ‘n’ roll.Shadowqueen launch their independent debut single Don't Tell at the Espy on Thursday February 2, taking the stage at 10pm sharp. Entry is free.
MONIQUE BRUMBY BAND The coming together of Brumby and Burgess not only provides some satisfying alliteration, but it will be sure to blow your socks off in a wild night of wicked music, kicked off with the hip and happening Alexis Nicole. A night of great music, Melbourne-style. Get to the Evelyn on Friday February 3 to hear this musical magic.
TWELVE FOOT NINJA, JERICCO It's been a long time coming, but two of Melbourne's prized possessions are finally joining forces for a national coheadline tour this March. Twelve Foot Ninja and Jericco have long decimated Australian audiences with their powerful alt rock, and now the two are hitting the road together for Swarm Tour 2012. They play The Evelyn Hotel Saturday March 24 from 8pm.
TEAGAN LOUISE PHOTOGRAPHY
Californian stoner rock giants Fu Manchu have been announced as the headliners of the sixth annual Cherry Rock. Cherry co-owner, booker and onesie-wearing extraordinaire James Young, was understandably ecstatic releasing the announcement. “It has been a decade since Fu Manchu’s California Crossing tour in Australia" he shared, “In the past when we’ve had The Datsuns, Rose Tattoo and Died Pretty, to a certain extent we were after the best that was available and presented to us. This year we just sat back and said, who would be the best band in the whole world to play Cherry Rock '12? Fu Manchu. Agreed. OK. Let’s go get ‘em!” Also adding to the festivities are Black Cobra, Matt Sonic & the High Times, Bitter Sweet Kicks, Vice Grip Pussies, My Dynamite, The Ramshackle Army and Valentiine with many more soon to be announced. The sixth Cherry Rock takes place at Cherry Bar and in AC/DC Lane on Sunday April 29. Tickets on sale now.
IMMIGRANT UNION Fresh from appearing at the Tamworth country music festival are Immigrant Union, who are playing at Yah Yah’s on Saturday February 4. Immigrant Union features the Dandy Warhols’ drummer Brent DeBoer on guitar and vocals which he also shares with Bob Harrow from the Lazy Sons. Immigrant Union will be supported by one of their favourite local groups, Minibikes. Minibikes’ single Kill To Feel was recently Single Of The Week on iTunes and is lifted from their forthcoming debut album For Woods Or Trail. Opening on the night will be Sherry Rich unveiling her brand new group The New Folk Heroes. Sherry Rich has been a formidable part of the Australian Music Scene since her days as lead singer/songwriter of the infamous all girl garage rock band Girl Monstar. Doors open 5pm and bands start at 9pm.
THE STEINS The Steins play rock'n'roll. They are from a country town called Colbinabbin. They have played five shows in Melbourne and have been asked to play more. They play the Great Britain Hotel this Thursday February 2. That’s about it. Come down for some riff laden rock 'n' roll. Jules Sheldon opens the night at 8pm. Entry is free.
Tegan Louise photography and The Cornish Arms have collaborated and brought together a lineup of Melbourne's brightest new bands, and a photographic exhibition of live music on Saturday February 4. Tegan Lousie has spent the year touring and photographing Australian bands and now brings together an exhibition that includes photographs of Bluejuice, The Panics, Jeff Martin and Terapi Richmond, The Red Eyes, The Vasco Era, and many more. The lineup of live bands includes Sid O'Neil of The Vasco Era, Tessa And The Typecast, Immigrant union, The Harlots and Kitchen Knife Wife plus many more and live DJ sets from Dirt Farmer and the Fearless Vampire Killers. The day kicks off at 1pm till late, $15 on the door.
TI C K E
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COLD HARBOUR Cold Harbour have started up 2012 with a bang, and that continues on Saturday February 4 at The Great Britain Hotel. First up will be rockabilly bad-arses Thee Knockouts, then Cold Harbour hit the stage showcasing their exciting blend of rock and roll, swamp - rock blues, psychedelia and sonic landscapes. The band will be playing songs from their available releases as well as debuting some new material. Come down early, grab a drink and enjoy two of Melbourne's' most exciting rock'n'roll bands.
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Q&A BROOKE TAYLOR Name/Band: Brooke Taylor. Define your genre in five words or less: Acoustic, poppy, bluesy, grunty, la-la-la. How long have you been gigging and writing? Gigging: I’ve been gigging for about six years(ish). Writing: Well, I remember writing a song when I was on grade three camp, but if that isn’t considered ‘legit’, then I’d say about 10 years. Funnily enough, when I got the guitar the writing came along with it. What has been your favourite gig you’ve played to date? I lived in Leeds for about a year and a half in 2007. I made a lot of great friends and it was a really tight knit, loving bunch of musos. My last gig there was as the opener for the annual ‘dirty hippie fest’ where everyone was playing; it really warmed my heart. Which band would you most like to have a battle/ showdown with? Physically? Like fisty cuffs? M-People. I can’t put my finger on it but I f**king hate M-People. What inspires or has influenced your music the most? I think it’s really inspiring as a writer/performer to create songs that are honest. The audience really connect with you, and there’s something really liberating and inspiring about vulnerability and the lack of bullsh*t. From a writing perspective, my top three would be The Black Keys, KT Tunstall and anything Jack White’s ever been affiliated with. Boom.
LET THERE BE NOIZE Let There Be Noize will bring some of Melbourne’s weird arts together for a night at pony that will break the boundaries of contemporary rock. What'll you get? Dumbshit, soon to be touring Brisbane, are a comic noize act. You will love or hate it. Orryelle Defenestrate-Bascule with Amadeus - the esoteric artist, writer and muso is back in Australia and looking to bring you magic and mayhem. Lousy With Mines - sonic influenced amalgams of abrasive noise, tripmatic beats and bottom endelectro pangs of agony. Umbilical Tentacle - brutal noise beats, frightening gloomscapes with extreme dance maneuvers. Matt Bleak - hardcore, noise, industrial, breakbeats, and sampling. White Veins - a solo metal / punk / industrial. So that is Let There Be Noize and it's all happening on Thursday February 2 at Pony.
Do you have any record releases to date? What? Where can I get it? I released my EP in the first week of January this year. Yay! At this point, you can only get it off me, but I’m working on the whole iTunes thing. Watch this space. Why should everyone come and see your band? (Thinks)…I put on a good show? The music’s good (pretty much everyone can relate to it and it’s inoffensive), and I’m told I look like I belong on a stage. I feel like I belong on a stage. I’m comfy and into it, so people get comfy and into it by association, and all is well for all involved. Go team.
LA RUMBA La Rumba is a fresh, exciting and fiery four-piece gypsy flamenco band from Melbourne and the only one of its kind in Australia. Their unique and undeniable style of flamenco is a highly spirited and hypnotic magic, guaranteed to bring any audience to its feet and keep them dancing vigorously all night long! With masterful ability and amazing musicianship, La Rumba whips up a frenzy of infectious flamenco spells from heart-felt melodic ballads to high energy, up-tempo gypsy rumbas that burn deep in the soul and leave a lasting impression. Get some flamenco into your weekend with La Rumba this Friday February 3 at Cruzao Arepa Bar
PHANTOM AGENTS
PAUL MCMANUS & THE MAYBLOOMS
Phantom Agents are a lively indie rock four-piece from the northern suburbs of Melbourne. They have been together for almost seven years and have just released their eponymous EP. Having played so many iconic Melbourne venues over the years notably The Tote, The Espy, Federation Square and The East Brunswick Club, the group have gained a solid and steadily growing fan base, centred around Melbourne’s northern suburbs. Phantom Agents take over Thursdays in February at Bar Open. Supports for their residency include Jackals, Galaxy Folk, The Philistines, The Call Up, Cam Lopez, Alexander Francis and more will be announced. Get down this Thursday February 2 to see Phantom Agents play Bar Open.
Paul McManus, who has previously played around Australia for over five years as front man of the alternative country band Cooper Street Exit, rounded up some musical comrades he has become pals with from various bands (Autumn Gray, and Waverley) and combined them to form Paul McManus & The Mayblooms. The band draws upon influences from some of their musical heroes such as Nick Drake, Justin Townes Earl and Whiskeytown, and their new single Summers Gone, which is lifted from their upcoming album that was recorded over six months at Melbourne’s Sing Sing Studios, is launching at the Wesley Anne in Northcote on Friday February 3.
KASEY CHAMBERS SATURDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2012 ZOO TWILIGHTS – a Summer of music at Melbourne Zoo BOOK NOW! Part of
ONLINE: zoo.org.au/twilights or ticketmaster.com.au PHONE: 1300 ZOOSVIC or 136 100
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MUSIC NEWS
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LA BASTARD
Kim Salmon
KIM SALMON & SPENCER P JONES Kim Salmon & Spencer P Jones! Many thought it wouldn't happen. Seeing these two greats share the stage again. Well here it is suckers. Every god-damned Sunday in February at The Old Bar you'll be able to witness two of the best get up on stage at The Oldie and show you why they're the best. Damn I'm excited. This is going to be something else. Solo sets, guests and who knows? They might even play some songs together. You're gonna have to be here to find out. This Sunday January 5, and every following Sunday in February. 8pm, $8 at The Old Bar.
UNIFIED GECKO Masters of Middle Eastern Boogie Unified Gecko performing at Fitzroy’s Bar Open on Friday February 3. Hotted up Turkish tunes collide with reggae vibes and gypsy rhythms in an exhilarating east meets west fusion of music. Unified Gecko features musicians from Melbourne’s best jazz, reggae and hip hop scenes together with traditional Turkish musicians. Put your dancing shoes on and join the mayhem. Expect the unexpected as they mix it up from gypsy, funk, reggae, jazz, hip hop and more. Doors 10pm. Free entry.
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On Friday February 3, the Retreat Hotel is set to host the most outrageous happening night on your social calendar this year! Surf-rockabilly-country rockers La Bastard, renowned for their explosive and highly interactive live show that at its best has involved performing on every piece of furniture in a venue, pillow fights and inviting the entire crowd up on stage with them, are sure to have something special up their sleeves for this launch of their self-titled debut album. Be prepared for an earful of reverb drenched dance tunes and a night on your feet! Joining them for this super special occasion are super special guests, the awesome country-bluesmen (and ladies) The Death Rattles. Get in early to stake your position on the dance floor. The gig is free but this is still one hot ticket you sure don’t want to miss! From 9pm.
ONE Melbourne rock act, One, have gone from obscurity to a powerful Melbourne headline act. Catch One perform at The Espy Gershwin Room on Friday February 3 as part of a massive five band bill. Supported by Volytion, Zelorage (SA), The Hidden Venture and Vitruvian Man. Doors 8pm.
DIG IT UP! One of the most influential Australian bands have pulled out something more than a little bit special for their 30 year anniversary, with Hoodoo Gurus inviting an incredible roster of international talent for a run of celebratory minifestivals. Garage rock progenitors The Sonics, seminal Australian outfit Died Pretty, US hard-rock outfit Red Kross, Japanese rock and rollers (and Tarantino favourites) The 5.6.7.8's, US garage icons The Fleshtones, filthy Aussie punk legends The Hard-Ons, local psychedelic rock outfit The Lovetones and more will join in on the bill which will see Hoodoo Gurus celebrate their 30-year recording career by performing Stoneage Romeos in full (plus other hits). It's a bash that surely supersedes whatever's happening at the 'G on Anzac Day. Dig It Up! The Hoodoo Gurus Invitational takes over The Palace on Wednesday April 25.
LEEK & THE WAR WICK TRAGEDY Fresh from a whirlwind tour of New South Wales and a welcome break from the tiring task of being confined to the four walls of Flower Press Studios recording his upcoming 24-track album, Melbournian Luke Humphries, better known as Leek together with his band The War Wick Tragedy will showcase tracks from their debut LP with a show at Yah Yah's on Sunday February 5 with special guests, three-piece jazz funk fusion trio, Granston Display. One of the relatively few darker composers emerging from today, Leek draws influence from great classic artists such as The Beatles, Leonard Cohen or Brian Jonestown Massacre. See Leek & The War Wick Tragedy at Yah Yah's on Sunday February 5. Doors from 5pm and bands start at 8pm. Free entry.
SIDETRACKED
CAYN BORTHWICK
Sidetracked is bringing another stellar line up of sizzling live acts and DJs to this year’s Grand Prix on Saturday March 17 and Sunday March 18. Headlining this year’s trackside festival is the pioneer of rap, hip hop, and a Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, Grandmaster Flash. Flash joins some of Australia’s biggest bands and DJs including Art vs Science, The Potbelleez, The Stafford Brothers, Grant Smillie, Ruby Rose and many more to be announced. Sidetracked tickets include full general admission access at the 2012 Formula 1™ Australian Grand Prix. Ticket prices start from $90. For details visit grandprix.com.au or futureentertainment.com.au.
Sans Gras front man Cayn Borthwick will play originals and covers in the tranquil setting that is the Victoria Hotel beer garden. An Absinthe Heart may also be in company for a song or two as your Sunday evening evolves. See Cayn Borthwick at the Victoria Hotel on Sunday February 5 from 5pm. Free entry.
JON ASHLEY Tonight will see Bar Open host a night of awe inspiring and transfixing music. Jon Ashley (of Brer Mouse), Ildiko and Wiley Red Fox are talented song writers and performers... plus they're all Adelaide ex-pats now residing in Melbourne. Come along and share this special night with them. Doors open 10pm. Free entry.
THREE QUARTER BEAST 3/4 Beast is a four piece wild rock band from the eastern suburbs of Melbourne Australia that formed in 2010. They have just recently emerged onto the scene here over the past year and so far they have already played some iconic venues such as the Espy and the Hi-Fi. With songs that deal with mystic themes such as werewolves, vampires, reincarnation, and the end of the world they have developed a cult following of fans that come to see their crazy theatrics and howl at the moon with them on Saturday February 4 at the Brunswick Hotel.
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LONGYARD A Melbourne based four- piece, Longyard is all about the old-style rockin’ boogie blues. They fly the flag of a gritty electric beat to an audience brainwashed by artists of decades past. This will entertain. This will be blues. Longyard play the Victoria Hotel on Saturday February 4 from 10pm. Free.
WAZ E JAMES BAND Waz and his band, bassist Scooter Owen and percussionist Dave Major plus guitar regulars Peter Fidler and Dave Moll, have established themselves as one of Melbourne's more popular pub bands, rocking venues with their own blend of country rock. The bands popularity has been growing steadily over the last two years and their high energy acoustic driven country blues has been catching the attention of punters throughout Australia. See them play on Sunday February 5 at the Standard Hotel.
THORNBURY RECORDS With retail in a slump and independent record stores being considered for the endangered species list, it might have seemed a little crazy to consider opening a new one at the start of 2011, but never underestimate the power of the independent music community! This little record store is feeling the love of the local music community and is excited about what 2012 will bring. Come down and help Thornbury Records celebrate their first year on Sunday February 5, with prize giveaways, birthday cake, and DJs.
STOMP DOG Down right musical ability make Stomp Dog one mighty band of bluegrass behemoths. With new material to unleash, this cohesive four- piece will send you home with lines and melodies running round your head for days! Catch them on Friday February 3 from 10pm at The Victoria Hotel. Free entry.
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TWELVE FOOT NINJA VS NEW SKINN
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Twelve Foot Ninja
ANTISKEPTIC It was almost 12 months ago when Melbourne trio Antiskeptic came out of a two year retirement to play a very special reunion at the Arthouse. After finding their passion still lay in Antiskeptic, they are back for good as a four piece and will be playing the Northcote Social Club as part of their Back In The Game tour on Saturday February 11 with guests Move To Strike (SA), Emporers (WA) and The Miracle Is Now.
THE DAVIDSON BROTHERS In recent years, the Davidson Brothers have toured extensively throughout Australia and America, which included representing Australia at the IBMA’s World of Bluegrass in the USA in 2004 and 2009. They were later invited to present at the 2010 International Bluegrass Awards held at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. In June of last year, the brothers completed their first European tour and performed at the 2011 European World of Bluegrass in the Netherlands. The Retreat Hotel Brunswick is stoked to bring you The Davidson Brothers, performing two sets on the Retreat's brand new beer garden stage, from 4pm every Sunday in February.
THESE HANDS Now that the name has been shortened and the album is being pressed, These Hands are back in action for the first time since early October last year. This is their first ever show as These Hands and The Ovals, Flyying Colours, and The Nest Itself will fill the gaps and ensure there will actually be some people there for this once in a lifetime event! This Saturday February 4 at The Old Bar. $8, foolz.
FINGERBONE BILL Fingerbone Bill are a Melbourne four-piece, with members swapping between box guitar, resonator guitar, mandolin, double bass and banjo, and a harmonica player happy to just play harmonica. A powerful mix of country and blue grass which instantly draws the attention of any room. Come and check them out this Friday February 3 at The Gem.
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THE SECRET WHISPER Brisbane’s Secret Whisper is a band full of diversity, mixing indie with a solid alternative rock. The Secret Whisper’s style of female vocals over rock guitar, drums and synth with occasional male backup vocals could be compared to Paramore but they have developed a solid sound of their own and use a musical structure that breaks the usual soft rock / pop writing mould.With a heart full of colour and wanderlust, Morgan Joanel (Syd) is gonna get you high. Music, fashion and art come smashing together for an electrifying trip you'll wanna be on board for. Thnikr are an electronic indie band who formed in early 2011 from all parts of greater Melbourne. The guys and girl from We Disappear have a brand-new two track release hitting the social media scene as we speak, displaying a catchy, rock-driven sensibility and simplicity. Get yourself down to Yah Yah's on Thursday February 2 and lap up the awesome mix of live music. Doors open 5pm. Bands start at 9pm.
TEN CENT PISTOLS This Friday February 3, Ten Cent Pistols will launch their seriously rocking first single, When The Stars Align, from their forthcoming EP at Yah Yah's. Ten Cent Pistols play a style of blues rock that will win you over in a second, and have been described as sensational, and as a reminder of Oasis in their glory days. Supports on the night are The Groves, and Coal And The Darts, and the first 100 payers score themselves a free single.
New Skinn
CHRIS (NEW SKINN) QUESTIONS STEVE (TWELVE FOOT NINJA) On the first couple of listens to any TFN song, just when the listener thinks they have it figured out, you turn it on its head. How do you go about writing in so many styles? I have always listened to contrasting genres of music (comparatively), and I enjoy attempting to analyse what defines those genres and implementing those principles into my own music... AND I like the red herring way House episodes start and I wanted to replicate that in music form.
STEVE (TWELVE FOOT NINJA) QUESTIONS CHRIS (NEW SKINN) Apparently you are playing bass in about 19 bands and 3 of those are hitting the stage at Rock The Bay: Fisker, Freestate and New Skinn. How do you get time to watch so much pornography AND have cool hair? Haha. I'm looking forward to it! Gonna be an epic day/night! To maintain this hectic lifestyle (and hair), one must become a master of time management and sacrifice. This essentially means I don't sleep.
You are an insanely accomplished guitarist. What made you pick up a guitar? I got into guitar when I was around seven after seeing my cousin and uncle playing the 12 bar blues in my grandparents lounge room – as soon as I heard that, I had to learn how to do it.
I’ve always found New Skinn to be a good bunch of blokes. Are they? Bastards the lot of them! Probably why I get along with them so well. They're great guys and great musos.
Explain the dynamics of Twelve Foot Ninja. What does each member bring to the plate? Dynamics. Everyone brings something to the table – Nik has been writing complete songs on his iPhone which actually sound awesome. He is also an excellent lyricist and vocal arranger. Russ is a hedonist that lures you into doing shit with his enthusiasm and swearing. Damon gets things done – he’s a doer of things. As a team we work well. You've played some big shows and tours. Got any good stories? Highlights? Disasters? Do you know the Colonels 11 herbs and spices recipe? Tell me?! I draw a blank with that question and I can see Crutey staring at me through the window tapping his watch because this was supposed to be done already! AHHHHH . . . The singer from the Galvatrons tried to kiss our manager at Pyramid Rock Festival! If you were to put together an all star jam with members of the Melbourne music scene! Who would you have? And no... You can't use TFN members! Ted from Circles and I have discussed doing some stuff as well as Tom Fitzgerald and Kazz from Ennis Tola. I’d start with them and my good mate Juddy from China Vagina.
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How many times have you looked at the giant picture of the chick from Magic Dirt near the ATM at the Espy? You haven't lived until you've stared longingly at that poster when all your efforts to pick up that night went down in flames. Keeps you warm on the long cab ride home. Have you seen Fergus Hunt’s knife? I haven't... Not sure if that's a good thing or not. I just don't want the first time I see it to be while he's chasing me! If you were Lindsey Lohan’s character in a real life ‘Freaky Friday’ and Matt Crute was Jamie Lee Curtis’s character, what would you do in the first 24 hours? (Just to be clear: I am askingwhatyouwoulddoifyousuddenlybecameMattCrute). If I was Matt Crute I'd immediately ring Chris Miller and offer him my first born and tell him how amazing he really is! Then I'd find E37's Casey and spend all night doing our best Scatman impressions while destroying my liver with jager bombs! TWELVE FOOT NINJA and NEW SKIN play Rock The Bay Festival at The Espy on Saturday February 18, alongside Dead Letter Cricus, Floating Me, Ten Thousand and more. Go to rockthebayfestival.com for more information.
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BUCK CREEK
GRAVEYARD TRAIN Six-piece Melbourne-based collective Graveyard Train have had a wild summer, making appearances and rocking crowds at festivals including a fearsome set at Pyramid Rock over the new year. And to cap it all off comes a homecoming gig at the Phoenix Public House to show off their eclectic, wonderfully-uncategorisable brand of folk, punk, psychedelic and more. With a new album on the way as well, they’ll be taking the opportunity to give some of their spooky new sounds an airing alongside all of the classics you know and love. With fellow Melbournians Jackals joining them, Graveyard Train hit the Phoenix Public House on Saturday February 11.
MR JIMMY Mr Jimmy are launching their self-titled second album in an intimate and theatrical show at the Old Council Chambers at Trades Hall on February 9, 10 and 11.Drawing from a whole palette of styles, early rock'n'roll and striding blues included, there’ll be plenty of unheard of sounds for those familiar with the band as they open up from their folk and country roots into the humming ambience of electric improvisations.
HOWL AT THE MOON Continuing to bring their visceral strum and drang to Melbourne’s live venues, Howl At The Moon take to the Northcote Social Club stage to launch their highly anticipated debut album Squalls. Showcasing the breadth of the band’s musical largesse, the album is an at times turbulent journey over emotional high seas. From the sonic violence of first single Let The Mainsheet Down My Love to the more reflective tone of second offering Just A Kid like its name suggests, Squalls is unrelenting and enveloping. They launch it at the Northcote Social Club on Saturday March 24.
ISIYM Fresh from their fiery debut on Melbourne's underground punk scene, ISIYM are carefully carving out their own hardcore niche and rocking out with their exponentially expanding fan-base. Born in the sunny South Eastern suburb of Springvale, ISIYM started out playing garage covers of Fugazi and Tool and ended up brewing an addictive blend of Punk, Metal, Pop and weirdness. Gearing up to tour behind the release of their debut EP in late March, ISIYM are fast making inroads in a fickle and diverse music scene. Catch them while you can at The Evelyn Hotel on Wednesday February 1 from 9pm! Oh, and ask them what ISIYM means after the gig.
4TRESS This will be a night of punk rock and rock 'n' roll. Headlining is 4tress who perform punkrock with a hint of rockabilly surf and rock'n'roll. 4tress have an all girl front line and don't fail to please any audience. They will be teaming up with punk rockers The Bombardiers - they rock out with influences of The Living End, The Cure and stray cats. They always get the crowd rocking and dancing. Also on the night will be The Battery Kids who have moved from Adelaide and have taken the Melbourne music scene by storm. They released their debut EP Ouija in 2011 and this will be on sale on the night. And first up are high energy rockers Firefight. This is a night not to be missed so get down to The Evelyn Hotel on Thursday February 2 from 8.30pm.
UNTIL WE COLLIDE This melodic rock band plays with colour and shade. With grooves you can't help but get into and melodies you'll be singing along to after the first listen. In October of 2010 they recorded their first EP. Most of this six song 'mini album' was recorded at home with limited facilities but with the engineering assistance of Sammy 'Big Bucks' Lowe of Salt Studios, they were able to find a sound that pleased the very diverse ears of all band members. 2011 began with the intent to pick up the pace and put the show on the road. See Until We Collide play live this Saturday February 4 at Musicland.
Since the dawn of time, Buck Creek have been destined to play a gig at Pony. Their noisy, aggressive style of bluegrass and rock is the perfect accompaniment to the bar, with raw, whiskey-fuelled vocals and the fastest banjo-picking this side ofAustralia. In honour of this occasion, Tom Veitch (virtuoso cellist) will be joining usual culprits Brayden Ryan (banjo), Andrei Eremin (guitar) and Aidan McDonald (drums) on stage for the loosest set ever. There'll be classic old-time tunes, original tracks taken from 2011's fast-selling debut album Buck Creek Stud and maybe even a new song. All will be rude and out of control. If there's only one gig you go to this year, make it this Buck Creek late show at Pony. Buck Creek Stud will be available to buy on the night for $10.
THE MORRISONS Gearing up for a big Saturday night? Finding that a few quiet drinks down the road just doesn’t cut it? Well, ladies and gentlemen, now there’s a solution. The Morrisons! Appearing at The Tote every Saturday in February at 5pm, they’ll start your night with something fast and loud. hey’ll raise your blood pressure, get your feet dancing and get you pumped for a night of boozing, moshing and stealing people’s mail. So get down to the Tote and get stupid with a bunch of lying, cheating, stealing, no good miscreants commonly referred to as The Morrisons this Saturday February 4 (with guests Red Rockets Of Bornero).
LADYDREAMS This Friday February 3 at The Tote, Ladydreams takes the stage. With members of Pets With Pets and Witch Hats, Lady Dreams are sure to pleasure your ears and seduce you with saucy subsonic freakiness. Jackals are going to take you on a little trip. Cun*z will captivate you with their putrid existence. And Straw King Eye will kick things off at 8.30pm. Free BBQ from 5pm, doors at 8pm, $8 entry.
BECKY LEE & DRUNKFOOT Becky Lee & Drunkfoot are back at The Retreat Hotel Brunswick this Sunday February 5. Becky Lee (aka Becky Lee And Drunkfoot) is a one man/woman/girl/body/ whatever you want to call it band. She plays guitar, kick drum, floor tom and a snare with a foot pedal. Becky will be supported by local country rock outfit Moosejaw Rifle Club. Free entry and show starts at 7pm.
DUET DUET is a new project for Edwina Preston and Harry Howard sharing vocals. It's not a simplified NDE show but they try new material and songs just for DUET with occasional NDE tune. This is their very first one. They are planning an EP in the near future. Through unhinged guitar lines and intense brooding vocals, Crystal Thomas and Benjamin Bunting are set to perform in acoustic mode: sparse swagger-noir, supporting DUET in the Retreat Hotel's front bar tonight from 8pm.
THE RIPE LAUNCH PARTY Tehachapi and Private Life will be supported by some of Melbourne's best emerging live music acts on Saturday February 18 at Phoenix Public House to celebrate the launch of a new Melbourne based music network, The Ripe. Red Leader, Indian Summer DJs and Art Van Delay will also join the bill with other support acts; Blue Jays and Acolyte. Tickets are $5 through MoshTix. You can find more information at theripe. tv The Ripe aims to cut through the clutter to provide a place to discover, listen and share the best new music in and beyond Melbourne.
EVELYN MARKETS The Evelyn is hosting markets on the first Saturday of every month! Clothes, handmade pleasantries, random things for you to buy and beer or Bloody Marys, depending on what you did the night before. Unlike other markets, they're sheltered from the upcoming winter weather. Do pop in this Saturday February 4! Everything kicks off at 12pm. Email evelynmarket@gmail.com for information regarding stalls and general inquiries. Stalls are cheap, so get to it!
THE BOMBAY ROYALE The Bombay Royale is a Melbourne band dedicated to honouring and reviving the funky, bizarre and mysterious music of vintage Indian cinema. Dusting off near-unheard relics, smashing out Bollywood classics and putting down surfadelic Hindi originals is all in a day's work. This band brings the sound of the Golden Age of Bollywood back to the future, where it belongs. They play the Evelyn hotel every Tuesday in February, with special guest DJs spinning tunes throughout the night! Free entry! CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
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ALBUM OF THE WEEK
AIRIT NOW CHARTS
THE BIG PINK
1. Sword To A Gunfight CHILDREN COLLIDE 2. Tattoo THE RUSTY DATSUNS 3. Blind GEORGIA FAIR 4. The River DRAWCARD 5. Like You Could Have It All (Whyte Fang Version) THE GRATES & WHYTE FANG 6. Madboy WILLIAM STREET STRIKERS 7. Cheap Gin THE BROKEN NEEDLES 8. THE OVERFLOW Miss Little 9. In A Tee Pee We Shall Lay JASON & THE LYREBIRD 10. Ancient Love GOSSLING
Future This (Remote Control)
WEDNESDAY 1 FEBRUARY
ISIYM
YUKO NISHIYAMA ENTRY $5, 9PM
THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY
4TRESS
THE BOMBARDIERS THE BATTERY KIDS FIREFIGHT ENTRY $8, 8.30PM
FRIDAY 3 FEBRUARY DOUBLE HEADLINE
MONIQUE BRUMBY BAND ROSIE BURGESS TRIO ALEX NICOLE ENTRY $15, 9PM
SATURDAY 4 FEBRUARY
EVELYN MARKETS
WE’RE BACK! COME BROWSE & DRINK BEER! ENTRY 12PM
EVENING
MUSHROOM GIANT A LONELY CROWD UNGUS UNGUS UNGUS (SYD) GLASFROSCH CHICO FLASH ENTRY $12, 8PM
SUNDAY 5 FEBRUARY
In a courageous sophomore effort three years in the making since their buzzed debut, A Brief History Of Love, The Big Pink bring Future This; an equally big-sounding release full of driving melodies and loaded beats that make for a worthy foray into pop anthem territory. The first track Stay Gold is the leading single, and also the strongest of a bunch of genre-defying and very well thought-out tracks that refuse to be pigeonholed. Early on in the album, a subtle hip hop influence seeps its way into almost every melody, creating a strong backbone of propelling beats that pack a punch. Once noticed, the hip hop imprint can be found in a number of incarnations throughout the album, from the cover art (an ode to graffiti street art), to a taste in tracks like Give It Up and album closer 77, which show off the band’s experimentation with samples. Live drums in the recording process have become almost obsolete, with the Pink’s Milo Cordell and Robbie Furze having seemingly spent considerable time playing with new techniques in beat-making with producer Paul Epworth (Friendly Fires, Florence And The Machine, Adele) before adding guitar almost as an afterthought to the electroheavy second offering. While they have clearly taken a new direction in their approach, tracks like 1313, along with the softer title track Future This, leave a welcome glimpse of what remains of The Big Pink’s somewhat signature sound of expansive synth and a tendency for ‘big’ echoey choruses generously dripping in reverb and drawn-out guitar fuzz. Furze’s distinctive vocals remain a highlight throughout, with tracks like Lose Your Mind and second single Hit The Ground (Superman) showcasing his resounding and freshly-trained vocal styling’s and yearning, yet refreshingly positive lyricism that make for an almost retrospective feel to the release. What rounds out Future This, is the positive upbeat balladry of tracks like Jump Music and strong single contender Rubbernecking. With the ability to get dance floors moving with almost orchestral synth and chanting hooks for the standard soaring chorus, these tracks bring a sense of immediacy to the record that indicates an evolution for the band wanting to move into more chart-topping heights. Future This may certainly do just that; bring The Big Pink into a more accessible musical sphere with a new brand of catchy, sing-along indie-electro pop that has been dished out with their second full-length. The release is very carefully constructed, and at times feels somewhat
DJ PERCY VALENTINE
MONDAY 6 FEBRUARY
JAY Z AND KANYE WEST
ENTRY $5, 8PM
SINGLE LAUNCH
ANIMAUX
THE MCQUEENS ALBERT SALT DJ THOMA ENTRY $8, 8PM $10 JUGS!
TUESDAY 31 JANUARY
Niggas in Paris (Universal)
Just when you thought all the beats were used up, here come these two wise guys, with their slow rocking boom crunch opera, to show you something different. Doing so much with so little is a wicked kind of genius. The Blades of Glory sample they chunk into the otherwise straight-faced gangsta rap flow is kind of hilarious, and I didn’t even like that movie. It’s just a spastic little out of place joke to wink through the all the drama.
RESIDENCY
RIZZLE KICKS
DJ RICHIE MADAN
Produced by Fatboy Slim, this hip hop hoe-down by UK up-and-comers Rizzle Kicks blends Wham-like pop guitar samples with dancehall beats, banjo and upbeat yet bluesy backing vocals. This kind of high energy, tongue-in-cheek rap follows on from The Streets and seems idiosyncratically British – it has more in common with Supergrass and The Specials than Snoop Dogg. But anyway, it’s tinny but fun and the kids will love it.
THE BOMBAY ROYALE FREE ENTRY 9PM $10 JUGS!
COMING UP: (TIX AVAILABLE THRU MOSHTIX)
ANIMAUX (MON IN FEB) THE BOMBAY ROYALE (TUES IN JAN) FRIENDLY YEN – SINGLE LAUNCH (9 FEB) RADIO STAR – FAREWELL SHOW (10 FEB) SLEEPMAKESWAVES (SYD) (11 FEB) AFRO BONGO DANCE - SINGLE LAUNCH (12 FEB) STAR ASSASSIN ACOUSTIC SPECIAL (15 FEB) BLIP FESTIVAL (17 + 18 FEB) RAW COMEDY (19, 21, 25, 26, 28 FEB)
Mama Do The Hump (Universal)
TOMMIE SUNSHINE & DISCO FRIES Don’t Look Back (Universal)
The PR team got out ahead of the storm with this one, describing Don’t Look Back as One More Time meets Lola’s Theme by The Shapeshifters. If the youth of today weren’t such a bunch of ignorant, feckless guppies they would realise this tune is a pale imitation of the Daft Punk classic and consign it to the reject bin for musicians of limited imagination. But no, it features on the most recent Ministry Of Sound Annual and it was the Number 10 most added track on Australian radio last week. For christ’s sake.
contrived in an attempt to recreate the unexpected success of 2009’s Dominos. Furze’s lyrics are always hopelessly poetic and honest, but perhaps it is the lack of drawling, fuzzed-out guitars and more emphasis on electronic sounds that make the effort seem shallow and formulaic. In comparison to A Brief History Of Love, with its resounding vocal harmonies, loud, ambient guitar riffs, subtle moments of light and shade and its ability to have created an addictive and emotive soundtrack, Future This simply lacks ‘heart’. With each and every one of the ten tracks trying hard to stand alone as possible chart contenders, the album’s journey is almost frantic and dare I say it, generic. However, in what may be easy upon the first listen to write off as an uninspired attempt to comply to an imaginary hitsong formula, Future This is an insight into a new direction for a band that are yet to really define their sound. Identity issues aside, this album is definitely a more focused output that hints at an ever so adventurous and risk-taking side to The Big Pink. Perhaps no longer experimental in sound, but definitely in attitude, Furze and Cordell should be commended for simply making music the way they want to. TEGAN BUTLER Best Track: Stay Gold If You Like These, You’ll Like This: THE STONE ROSES, THE BRAVERY In A Word: Climatic
LEONARD COHEN The Darkness (Sony)
Old smoky throat has a new album out on February 3 called Old Ideas, his first new record in eight years. The lead single is slinky and jazzy – maybe a little too jazzy, to be honest, but let’s forgive him his geriatric foibles and bathe in the still shiver-inducing romantic decay that he weaves with his words: “I caught the darkness / It was drinking from your cup / I said is this contagious? / You said, just drink it up.” Yowser.
THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS Don’t Think (EMI)
This Friday, for one spectacular night, The Chemical Brothers 2011 performance at Fuji Rock will be aired at selected cinemas in 7.1 Dolby Surround Sound. (What the fuck is Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound, you ask? I have no idea, but don’t it sound awesome?) Don’t Think is the title of the doco and also this here supporting single. Originally composed for the Black Swan soundtrack, it’s a belting C/B classic with a lot of sizzling cymbal sounds. It sounds dirty and alive, on a grand festival scale.
JASON MRAZ
I Won’t Give Up (Warner)
I wanted to take a shower about two bars in. This is the ickiest crap load of cheeseball piano pop romantica I have ever heard. It sounds like Boys II Men, and not in a good way. I don’t know if there is a good way. I think I have hives now. Damn you, Mraz.
GRINDERMAN
Bellringer Blues - Nick Zinner Remix (EMI) Yeah Yeah Yeah’s Nick Zinner has worked some serious magic with the Grinderman two track Bellringer Blues – part of a Grinderman remix album due out in late March. Zinner’s interpretation strips the warped and stuttering original down, creating a near-acoustic, minimalist render with a slight electro edge.
LADYHAWKE
SINGLE OF THE WEEK
I am so easily distracted. For example, not caring much about Ladyhawke myself, I just remembered seeing Jane Gazzo on Channel [V] last weekend, talking about how much she was looking forward to the new Ladyhawke album. The interesting thing about that is that Jane Gazzo is radically less annoying than she was in the mid ‘90s. I guess time heals all wounds. Coincidentally, Black, White & Blue is also radically less annoying than previous Ladyhawke singles. It’s full of static noise, groovy, poppy and plaintive, and it has a chorus that sulks and kicks. Good stuff.
CAGE THE ELEPHANT
Black, White & Blue (Modular/Universal)
Beat Magazine Page 64
WOOLY BULLY RECORDS TOP 10
SINGLES BY SIMONE How’s this for hilarious: I found out last weekend that my oldest brother leaves a Christmas card on the front porch every year for our dad, who died about 15 years ago. Not really hilarious, no. ‘How’s this for heartbreaking’ didn’t seem quite as eye-catching.
KAFKA (QLD)
TOP TENS
Aberdeen (Sony)
I like Cage The Elephant, they know how to write a song. Aberdeen has Pixies-like mountains against the whine-pitched pop punk landscape, especially around the chorus. The Frank Black-style vocal welts that Matt Shultz musters are a gentle kind of mind-bending. Makes me wish I saw them last week when I had the chance.
FOR MORE REVIEWS GO TO BEATTV.COM.AU/REVIEWS
1. Woollen Kits LP WOOLLEN KITS 2. Carrion Crawler LP THEE OH SEES 3. Mark Twain’s Autobiography 1910 -2010 (book) MICHAEL KUPPERMAN 4. Royal Headache LP ROYAL HEADACHE 5. The Frank Book (book) JIM WOODRING 6. File Under Sacred Music: Early Singles 78-81 7” Box Set THE CRAMPS 7. Let’s Go Eat The Factory LP GUIDED BY VOICES 8. Lost And Found (book) BILL GRITTITH 9. In My Dreams 7” LOVE OF DIAGRAMS 10. Tin Boat 7” FOLDED SHIRT
OFF THE HIP 1. 10x7” Boxset THE CRAMPS 2. Fabulous Sounds CD LA BASTARD 3. Dead Grass 7” PUTA MADRE BROTHERS 4. Let’s Go Eat The Factory LP GUIDED BY VOICES 5. S/T CD BRAT FARRAR 6. Houserockin’ LP THE GORIES 7. ‘65 LP SHANGRI-LAS 8. Singles 2xLP THE PRETTY THINGS 9. Move It On Over LP DEL SHANNON 10. Physical Education CD RUSSIAN ROULETTES
COLLECTOR’S CORNER MISSING LINK 1. Woollen Kits LP WOOLLEN KITS 2. 8 Tracks LP KROMOSON 3. Ice Cream 12” BATTLES 4. Issue $345 MAXIMUM ROCK N’ ROLL 5. West LP WOODEN SHJIPS 6. Mazes/Mazes Remixed 2CD MOON DUO 7. Singles 2007-2010 LP TY SEAGALL 8. Vinyl Conflict LP box set SLAYER 9. Issue #32 NEGATIVE GUEST LIST 10. The Hunter LP MASTODON
THORNBURY RECORDS 1. El Camino LP THE BLACK KEYS 2. So Many Things LP EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING 3. Royal Headache LP ROYAL HEADACHE 4. Bad As Me LP TOM WAITS 5. Siamese Dream (reissue) LP SMASHING PUMPKINS 6. Woollen Kits LP WOOLLEN KITS 7. Singles 2007-2010 LP TY SEGALL 8. Glorius Barsteds LP COSMIC PSYCHOS 9. Ashes & Fire LP RYAN ADAMS 10. New Album LP BORIS
SYN TOP 10 1. Blues Funeral MARK LANEGAN BAND 2. Awkward SAN CISCO 3. Cynthia VELOCIRAPTOR 4. Nothing To Do BLEEDING KNEES CLUB 5. Louise THE LOVE JUNKIES 6. Wayooy N’FA JONES FT ROOTS MANUVA & MPHAZES 7. No Sleep DZ DEATHRAYS 8. Into The Darkening Blue BUCKLEY WARD 9. We All Buy Stars THE CAIROS 10. Barcelona TINPAN ORANGE
PBS TIPSHEET 1. Hellfire JOE LEWIS WALKER 2. Long Way To Meximotown PUTA MADRE BROS 3. HyperParadise HERMITUDE 4. The Lions Roar FIRST AID KIT 5. The Bridge Schools Concerts 25th Anniversary VARIOUS ARTISTS 6. The Fabulous Sounds of La Bastard LA BASTARD 7. Onwards To The Wall A Place To Bury Strangers 8. Let It Burn RUTHIE FOSTER 9. Lore and Testament Vol. 1 TAV FALCO & THE UNAPROACHABLE PANTHER BURNS 10. Ester TRAILER TRASH TRACEYS
BEAT’S TOP TEN SONGS ABOUT LANEWAYS, STREETS AND AVENUES 1. Streets Of Your Town THE GO-BETWEENS 2. Street Halo BURIAL 3. Down In The Alley ELVIS PRESLEY 4. On The Road Again CANNED HEAT 5. Gasoline Alley ROD STEWART 6. Wide Open Road THE TRIFFIDS 7. Sweet Avenue JETS TO BRAZIL 8. Sweet Road ANIMAL COLLECTIVE 9. Backstreet’s Back - BACKSTREET BOYS 10. Betty Baby LANIE LANEWAY FESTIVAL
ALBUMS
THE TIGER AND ME
The Silent City EP (Vitamin Records) FOR MORE REVIEWS GO TO
BEAT.COM.AU/REVIEWS
ANI DIFRANCO
Which Side Are You On? (Righteous Babe/Shock Records) After three years, her longest gap between albums ever, Ani Difranco releases Which Side Are You On?, an album with two sides of its own. The New Orleans-based wife and mother (hard to fathom for some long-term fans) and the provoked politico seem like they would butt heads, but instead flow side-by-side in this complex, fulfilling album. With 16 other studio albums to compare to, Which Side Are You On? plucks inspiration from 1999’s To The Teeth onward. The title track is the classic folk standard made famous by Pete Seeger, which Ani performed at his 90th birthday in 2009. Updated with her own verses, the pulsing anthem features a New Orleans chorus, brass band and Pete himself, and shows off the stronger side of Ani’s vocals. Also on the political team are the mesmerising Splinter, which examines the age of hyper-consumerism (as does the final track Zoo) and our disconnection with nature. J is a reggae-tinged look into the New Orleans oil spill, marijuana laws and her feelings of disillusionment towards the Obama administration (‘The dude could be FDR right now / Instead he’s just shifting his weight’). There is a softness to this album not seen before, with the sweetly sung Albacore offering literal lines like ‘When I am next to you / I am more me / Inside me is a room to which you hold the key’. Mariachi brings in her famed lyrical metaphors (yes, together they form a mariachi band) and the tinkling Hearse explores the complexity of love and death. The more hard-edged guitars of Promiscuity and If Yr Not are refreshing against the occasional twee-ness of her love songs. It seems the personal struggle has at last been won, but Ani’s Best Track: Which Side Are You On? prominent revolutionary drive will always bring interest If You Like These, You’ll Like This: Let England Shake PJ to her tunes. HARVEY, Fight SongsBILLY BRAGG In A Word: Overdue GEORGIE BRYANT
Yet again The Tiger And Me have managed to create a musical beast that encapsulates a veritable host of genres without batting an eyelid. A dark and brooding energy pulsates through The Silent City, the second installation in the series of EPs the band is midway through releasing, and its sweet but menacing nature is intent to seduce the listener. Opener The Smoke is a melancholic folk pop number that builds gradually – mournful horns waft in and out, while keys tinker moodily. The atmosphere builds throughout, a choir of voices eventually bringing The Smoke to a resplendent climax against the back drop of a marching snare and lonely trumpet, closing the song in a powerfully subtle but poignant manner. Next up is Red Road, driven only by a few notes on the piano and some electric guitar woven surprisingly well together. It’s amazing how The Tiger And Me are able to arrange their music to utilise the most basic of instrumentation to maximum effect. Ghostly backs ups create a sense of uneasiness within the smoky cabaret jazz of Red Road, and triangles and chimes help build a soundscape akin to one you might hear in the background of a Tim Burton movie for the gothic pre-teen set. Once again the song reaches a momentous peak but crashes down and ends with a whisper. Looking Around, is an earthy, more traditional folk number that ebbs and flows, sincere and evocative one minute, buoyant and optimistic the next, while The Watchmaker sways from side to side in a wistful manner conjuring the image of a motely group of miscreants coming for your soul at a slow but steady pace. Further displays of beautifully crafted arrangements and talented musicianship continue on throughout the last two tracks, Love’s A Fire and Trick Or Truce. The Tiger and Me’s The Silent City EP is a musical display of grace, passion, mystique and allure. It may not have the rollicking gypsy good times of their previous EP The Howling Fire, but it’s intent is clear, sinister and Best Track: Red Road If You Like These, You’ll Like This: The Dresden Dolls THE decidedly darker. DRESDEN DOLLS KRYSTAL MAYNARD In A Word: Alluring
VINTAGE TROUBLE RICH DAVIES AND THE DEVIL’S UNION Rich Davies And The Devil’s Union (Gretson Records)
Back in the day, rock’n’roll was denounced as the devil’s music. It was hardly an original condemnation – Robert Johnson famously (and almost certainly gratuitously) suggested he’d sold his soul in exchange for prowess on the guitar – while the tight bond between church, state and high art in centuries past provided a convenient opportunity to marginalise any proletariat musical form as the work of the devil. Notwithstanding the marked decline in religious observation, the overt invocation of the devil’s image with rock’n’roll can still have a significant effect. Whether Rich Davies And The Devil’s Union are playing the devil’s music is moot; what is clear is there is little sunshine and insipid pop happiness to be found on the band’s eponymous debut album. This is an intense record, equal parts sparse and brutal, blessed with a thick atmosphere replete with confronting imagery. Superficially, I Died In The Morning Sun takes its cues from Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds; on a deeper level it’s heir to a southern American blues tradition. Buy Me A Pony is down and dirty in the gutter, A Blood Red Waltz revels in its gypsy-like take on death and all its perversely intriguing tentacles while the light touch of Heavy Red defies the song’s heavy lyrical content. The classic bar room feel of God Hates The Westboro Baptist Church takes aim at certain denominations’ mutation of biblical verse to denounce anything and everything as the work of the devil; Christian Image is the companion piece, its focus the self-proclaimed Christian with a litany of human failings. Religious discourse is a complex beast, used and abused in the name of vested interests and skewed visions for centuries. Rich Davies And The Devil’s Union have Best Track: Buy Me A Pony found something where others fear to tread. If You Like These, You’ll Like This: NICK CAVE, LITTLE JOHN, HUGO RACE PATRICK EMERY In A Word: Death
I had high hopes for this record; talks of ‘juke joints’ and the ‘essence of the original soul movement’ got me quite excited. The dapper looking cats who make up Vintage Trouble certainly look like they could belt out some soulful sounding vintage rhythm ‘n’ blues but unfortunately what’s on offer on The Bomb Shelter Sessions is some standardised blues rock with a, dare I say it – ‘funky’ edge. Blues Hand Me Down retains none of the hysteric energy that sent everyone wild on the Jools Holland Show, it’s produced rock guitar tones funkin’ it up are revealed for what they are, and Ty Taylors’ James Brown-esque screams seem constrained somehow. Cleaner guitar tones work better for Vintage Trouble on their second track Still And Always Will, the funk rock barometer dropping down a few thankful notches but still the over produced engineering leaves the song sounding flat. Gracefully marks the start of one of the many softer songs on the album, a heart felt and soulful number in which Taylors ‘vocals take precedent momentarily, before a cheesy melodic rock solo permeates the track unnecessarily. Then it’s back to bar room blues-rock for You Better Believe It, cue harmonica, sigh. Not Alright By Me draws the listener into some earnest lyrical content and it starts to become clear that the slower soulful songs on The Bomb Shelter Sessions are getting closer to hitting the mark, Taylors’ pipes appear more at home crooning like some kind of modern day Sam Cooke rather than attempting to front a white man blues band. The production is far too clean on The Bomb Shelter Sessions, blatantly so on the rock numbers and the soul/rock combo fails to work in this scenario. It’s not an easy task combining the two genres, The Bellrays pull it off with style but Vintage Trouble have struggled on their debut album. All accounts point to them being a killer live act but on The Bomb Shelter Sessions their sound is overproduced, inconsistent and the few gems that do shine through have their sheen dulled profusely by the mediocrity of the remaining tracks. Best Track: Gracefully If You Like These, You’ll Like This: THE BELLRAYS, THE KRYSTAL MAYNARD DIRTBOMBS In A Word: Overproduced
BARRY ADAMSON
NIGHTWISH
I Will Set You Free (Central Control)
Imaginaerum (Roadrunner) I am an unabashed fan of Nightwish, and indeed many of their female-fronted contemporaries. Their incredible 2004 album Once is an absolute landmark release in the genre, it’s the one where everything came together for them compositionally, and it broke them on a worldwide scale as well. 2007’s Dark Passion Play was an extremely strong follow-up as well. It’s been another lengthy wait for Imaginaerum. It’s a concept album based upon the memories of an old composer who is facing his death. There is also an accompanying movie to go alongside the album’s release. Needless to say it’s a ridiculously ambitious and dramatic undertaking in true Nightwish style. This, however, may be the album’s downfall. In reaching for more of a ‘music theatre’ type of feel, they may have overreached themselves slightly and sacrificed a little of the sheer, over the top bombast that they do best. That’s not to say there’s not a solid wack of pomp and ceremony going on here. A first time listener probably couldn’t help but be blown away by the sheer size, scope and ambition of the record. Bands regularly suffer in comparison to themselves though, and Imaginaerum falls a little short. In constructing an album that is also a story, they have come up with a bunch of songs that maybe aren’t quite as fully realised as they were on Once since they’re having to serve the storyline as opposed to simply standing alone. Listening through to the end of Imaninaerum, there are far fewer moments that make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. Viewed in isolation, this is an excellent symphonic metal concept album. Once, and to a slightly lesser extent Dark Passion Play, set the bar insanely high for these Finnish masters Best Track: Storytime however, and Imaginaerum comes up slightly short. If You Like This, You’ll Like These: EPICA, LACUNA COIL, EVANESCENCE ROD WHITFIELD In A Word: Overreaching
When Howard Devoto decided to pick up the dog-eared pages of Magazine a few years ago, Barry Adamson was there to help recreate the classic Magazine sound. Adamson’s subsequent departure was lamented by fans, but did have the positive outcome of allowing Adamson to continue exploring his own über-cool solo activities. Adamson is, to quote the psychotic Dennis Hopper in Blue Velvet, one suave fuck. As soon as Adamson slides into action on Get Your Mind Right, the opening track from his latest album I Will Set You Free, everything is slick and sexy. Black Holes In My Brain is sweet funk on a razor-sharp stick, and when the heavens break on The Trigger City Blues, Adamson takes us down the darkened streets of rock-noir to a world only the very talented understand. That all said, Adamson has his stumbling moments – Turnaround suffers from a nasty dose of ‘80s-itis, labouring through the vacuous corridors of post-new wave production before finding the door back into the Graney-esque attitude of The Power of Suggestion and the soft-top speed rock of Destination. Looking To Love Somebody is as mushy as a bowl of over-cooked peas; I Will Set You Free, in contrast, packs the sartorial splendour and seductive attitude of a would-be Casanova. If I Love Her reverts to Adamson in romantic mode; Stand In channels Bowie before indulgent hubris overtook talent. The only bad thing you can really say about Barry Adamson is that he shows the rest of us up for the flatBest Track: Black Holes In My Brain If You Like These, You’ll Like This: JAMES BROWN, DAVE footed bogans we are. GRANEY, BURT BACHARACH, LAVA LAMPS AND VODKA IAN GOULD MARTINIS In A Word: Suave
STEVEN WILSON
Grace For Drowning (Shock)
BLACK TIDE
Post Mortem (Spinefarm) This is exactly the type of run of the mill stuff that American metalcore audiences lap up with a voracious appetite, if the amount of bands out there doing the style is anything to go by. These Miami-based guys have been around for seven or eight years, and this is their second record. It’s certainly competent enough, it’s heavy where it needs to be, there’s plenty of melody to be found and the playing and production is pretty top notch. All the things you would expect. There is also a little variation from the theme here and there, especially on That Fire, whose intro has somewhat of a Latin feel to it, before it opens out into quite an exhilarating all-out rocker. Undoubtedly the album’s best cut, it’s just a shame they follow it up with their blatantly obvious attempt at a radio hit Fight ‘Til The Bitter End. Black Tide slots right in alongside 30 or 40 other bands doing this type of stuff, it’s no better, no worse. One can’t help but think that there are several Aussie bands doing it a lot better, with more passion, and more commitment to the Best Track: That Fire If You Like These, You’ll Like This: BULLET FOR MY cause. Check out the latest from Dream On Dreamer or The Amity Affliction, if this type of sound is your bag. VALENTINE, ATREYU, AS I LAY DYING
In A Word: Generic
The Bomb Shelter Sessions (Shock)
ROD WHITFIELD
Similar to his main band Porcupine Tree, Steven Wilson’s solo works take a while to get your head around. Once again, his new solo album Grace For Drowning is far from instant gratification music, and like most musical geniuses, the man has his quirks. As I sit here typing this, I must have listened to the album at least a dozen times, and I feel as though I’m still ingesting it and trying to get inside it. Apart from the odd grandiose moment, it’s mostly acoustic guitar and piano driven mellow progressive ‘rock’. There are passages that have you saying ‘man that sounds like Steven Wilson’, and yet it’s far removed from the Porcupine Tree sound and style. So if you’re looking for the expansive, bombastic prog of PT you may be disappointed. But give it a spin anyway. There are also moments of truly wonderful melody, such as the outro of Deform To Form A Star, and of moodiness that sends shivers down your spine (No Part Of Me). Index builds slowly to an extravagant and atmospheric climax, while at over 23 minutes, Raider II is a strange, mind bending epic. Wilson is undoubtedly one of the true musical visionaries. Every entry into his discography is a unique and fascinating work, every new album breaks new ground and has something unique to say, musically, lyrically, theatrically and thematically. Grace For Drowning is another piece of this man’s immense musical puzzle, and is well worth the Best Track: Index If You Like These, You’ll Like This: PORCUPINE TREE, patience required to fully appreciate. PINK FLOYD, KING CRIMSON ROD WHITFIELD In A Word: Ambitious
FOR MORE ALBUM NEWS AND REVIEWS GO TO WWW.BEAT.COM.AU
Beat Magazine Page 65
GIG GUIDE SARAH CARNEGIE Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8pm.
WEDNESDAY 1 FEB ROCK/POP CAVALERA CONSPIRACY Billboard, Melbourne CBD. 8pm. $66. FEIST Palais Theatre, St Kilda. 7:30pm. $79. HARMONY + BATPISS Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8pm. ISIYM + YUKO NISHIYAMA Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 9pm. $5. JON ASHLEY + ILDIKO + WILD RED FOX Bar Open, Fitzroy. 10pm. KINGS OF THE NORTH + COPSE + JK RUFF + LE BELLE Espy, St Kilda. 8pm. MATT CHURCH & THE GOLDEN APPLES (ALBUM LAUNCH) + THE CLOAKS Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 7:30pm. $15. POPE’S ASSASSINS + THE D-GRADES + DOGS OF THOMAS PARK Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $7. RIVER OF SNAKES + DEAD RIVER Cherry Bar, Melbourne CBD. 8pm. SEAN SIMMONS Standard Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. SOUNDGARDEN + THE BRONX Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne. 8pm. TWIN SHADOW & ANNA CALVI Corner Hotel, Richmond. 7:30pm. $47. TYSON SLITHERS & THE PHAT CHICKS + BJ MORRISZONKLE + THE OL’ FAITHFULS Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 8pm. $8.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK BATTLEGROUND Espy, St Kilda. 8pm. DAVIDSON BROTHERS + JERRY SALLEY + KRISTY COX (ALBUM LAUNCH) East Brunswick Club Hotel, East Brunswick. 7:30pm. $17. DUKSEY & THE HAZARDS Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 9:30pm. GOLD GULL Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 7pm. GREG WALSH Laika Cocktail Lounge, St Kilda. 8:30pm. HARRY HOWARD & EDWINA PRESTON + CRYSTAL THOMAS & BEN BUNTING Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:30pm. MIKEY MADDEN Kent St, Fitzroy. 9pm. OPEN MIC Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8pm. OPEN MIC Dancing Dog, Footscray. 7pm. OPEN MIC Thornbury Local, Thornbury. 8pm. OPEN MIC & JAM NIGHT Grind N Groove, Healesville. 8pm. THE HEMINGWAY COLLECTIVE Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. THE PUTBACKS 303, Northcote. 8pm. WINE WHISKEY WOMEN - FEAT: JENNY BIDDLE +
JAZZ/WORLD MUSIC BOPSTRETCH Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8pm. DIZZY’S BIG BAND Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8pm. $14. FROCK Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $15. JONATHAN COHEN Cruzao Arepa Bar, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. THE JACK PANTAZIS GROUP Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne CBD. 9pm. $15.
THURSDAY 2 FEB ROCK/POP 4TRESS + THE BOMBARDIERS + THE BATTERY KIDS + FIREFIGHT Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $8. ASAMI + TOM MILEK + MARK JOSEPH Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 8pm. $8. AUSTRA + KOOL THING Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm. $38.50. BOTTLE OF SMOKE + THE CHARGE + SHADOWQUEEN + VIRTUE Espy, St Kilda. 8pm. BRAVO JULIET + SON OF SET + SOMEONE ELSE’S WEDDING BAND Noise Bar, Brunswick. 8pm. $5. BRUCE KULICK + SIX HOURS Corner Hotel, Richmond. 7:30pm. $46.75. CHK CHK BOOM + VAN MYER + CHRIS O’NEILL Red Bennies, South Yarra. 9pm. $10. CHOP SQUAD + FLOUNDER + THE ROSENCRANTS + SECRETARY LILY Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9pm. FEATHERED FRIENDS Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 9:30pm. HALL & OATES Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, South Wharf. 8pm. LET THERE BE NOIZE - FEAT: DUMBSHIT + UMBILICAL TENTACLE + WHITE VEINS + MATT BLEAK + ORRYELLE + LOUSY WITH MINES Pony, Melbourne. 8pm. METAL FEAST - FEAT: CORPOREAL + CREATE/DESTROY + DOT THE EYE + MYRIDIAN The Prague, Thornbury. 8pm. MISTRESS MONDAYS & SHERIFF Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 8pm. NEXT - FEAT: RDZJB CBD Club, Melbourne CBD. 10pm. $10. PHANTOM AGENTS Bar Open, Fitzroy. 9pm. RYAN NICO & THE OVERLANDERS + PINES + GUTTER PARTIES Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $8. STEP-PANTHER + ROSS DE CHENE HURRICANES + VALLEY GIRLS Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8pm. THE DELTA RIGGS + VIKING FRONTIER Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 9pm. $10. THE IMPRINTS Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. THE JUNGLE GIANTS + SAN CISCO East Brunswick Club Hotel, East Brunswick. 7:30pm. $15.
Girls
LANEWAY FESTIVAL One of those things integral to Melbourne culture is the sprawling alleyways and sidestreets of the central business district. Coffee shops, tiny little bars, everything your wildly beating hearts could possibly dream of. Not to mention our beloved Laneway Festival, back for another year with the likes of M83, Feist, Laura Marling, Washed Out, SBTRKT and plenty more. It all goes down at the Footscray Community Arts Centre on Saturday February 4.
THE KUJO KINGS + BETTER THAN THE WIZARDS + TABASCO JUNKIES + CHAOS KIDS Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8pm. $10. THE MAGIC MOUNTAIN BAND + BLOOD RED BIRD Toff In Town, Melbourne CBD. 7:30pm. $8. THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART + GEOFFREY O’CONNOR The Hi-Fi, Melbourne. 8pm. $45. THE SECRET WHISPER + MORGAN JOANEL + THNKR + WE DISAPPEAR Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 9pm.
GAURAV AHLUAWALIA & JULIAN ABRAHAMS DUO Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury. 6pm. TIM NEAL TRIO 303, Northcote. 8pm. $10. WOMEN OF SOUL - FEAT: DEEP STREET SOUL & CHELSEA WILSON + KYLIE + AULDIST + CLAIRY BROWNE + FLORELIE ESCANO Cherry Bar, Melbourne CBD. 8pm. $10.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK
A LITTLE BIT OF JAZZ - FEAT: JOHN PERRI’S JAZZ QUARTET Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm. $10. ALLAN BROWNE & JULIEN WILSON Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8pm. KATE LUCAS QUARTET Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8pm. $14. OSKAR & BEBRA Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. ROMANIA REBOP Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne CBD. 9pm. $15. WHITESPLOITATION Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $15.
EDDIE JAMES & SIB Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. FOLDING FOR AIR + NICK HUGGINS + EMMA HEENEY Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 8pm. $10. JIMMY TAIT + STRAW KING EYE Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 9pm. JULES SHELDON + THE STEINS Great Britain Hotel, Richmond. 8pm. LAURA MARLING + HUSKY Forum Theatre, Melbourne. 8pm. $67.95. OPEN MIC Acoustic Cafe, Collingwood. 7:30pm. OPEN MIC Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8pm. RUBY’S SHOWCASE Ruby’s Lounge, Belgrave. 7pm. SAMUEL MASON + ELK & THE WHALE Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6pm. THORNBURY THEATRE SUMMER NIGHTS - FEAT:
Song Writers in the Round
Fri 3 February Round 1 @ 7pm
Peny Bohan Jacob Loughridge $5 Miguel
JAZZ/WORLD MUSIC
FRIDAY 3 FEB ROCK/POP 2AM LATE SHOW - FEAT: BUCK CREEK Pony, Melbourne. 2am. ACOUSTIC BEATLES Beaumaris RSL, Beaumaris. 8pm. BAD TASTE + OLD SKIN + COINS Pony, Melbourne. 9:30pm. BENEFIT FOR DIMITRA BUCCOLO - FEAT: AKTION UNIT + LOWER PLENTY + SILK EARS + NTH WHEEL + MAD NANNA + DJ DOWNPAT + DJ SPECIAL AWARDS Old Bar, Fitzroy. 7pm. $10. CHAOS METAL NIGHT - FEAT: DRIVEN TO THE VERGE + IN A MEMORY + EMERSON + IKAROTRIAL Musicland, Fawkner. 8pm. $5. CRASS - FEAT: BABYMACHINE + DJ BLABERUNNER + DJ COMMISION FLATS Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8pm. $10. DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR + MERRYGOROUNDS + SORDID ORDEAL + TRANSISTOR Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9pm. DIRTY CANARY (CD LAUNCH) + THE SUNSLEEPERS + WAR IN ARCADIA Gertrudes Brown Couch, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10. DISTANT WRECK + LANDSHARK + THORNS + DECLARATION + BEAR WITNESS Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8pm. $10. DONAVON FRANKENREITER + VALLEY FLOOR + DJ WHITT Espy, St Kilda. 8pm. ELECTRIK DYNAMITE + DEAD STAR RENEGADE + DE LA CRUZ Cherry Bar, Melbourne CBD. 8pm. $13. JADE LEONARD + CAMP CAMP REVOLUTION Rice Queen, Fitzroy. 8pm.
entry
Round 2 @ 9pm Josh Forner Ariela Jacobs Jake Kelly
123 Smith St, Fitzroy
l:
For more info or to get involved emai info@meltingpotonline.com
Open Mic Mondays @
Bertha Brown
returns February 6th meltingpotonline.com info@meltingpotonline.com
Beat Magazine Page 66
SUBMIT YOUR GIGS TO GIGGUIDE@BEAT.COM.AU
SEETHER I don’t think Seether are quite as angry as their band name seems to suggest. They might be serious about their take on post-grunge and alternative metal, but it’s really quite pleasant to listen to, I find. You can catch them doing their thing at the Hi-Fi Bar this Saturday, February 4.
LAURA MARLING Laura Marling’s debut album Alas, I Cannot Swim really resonated with me - mostly because I, too, lack the ability to deal with water more than a metre high. I suspect that she wasn’t being quite as literal as I am when coming up with that title, but whatever, her gorgeous, folksy tracks are a delight and if you manage to miss her at Laneway, you might see her play the Forum on Thursday February 2 if you were lucky enough to grab a ticket before they sold out. LADY DREAMS + THE JACKALS + STRAW KING EYE + CUN*Z Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8pm. $8. LOCAL BAND NITE - FEAT: WHITE SUMMER Ruby’s Lounge, Belgrave. 8pm. MANNERS + TRAPPIST AFTERLAND + DAISY BUCHANAN + BODIES The Prague, Thornbury. 8pm. ONE + VOLYTION + ZELORAGE + HIDDEN VENTURE + VIRTUVIAN MAN Espy, St Kilda. 8pm. $12. ROADRATZ + AUSTRALIAN KINGSWOOD FACTORY Penny Black, Brunswick. 9:30pm. SEPTEMBER FALLS + THE COMPLIMENTARY HEADSETS + THE KALAHARIS Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 9pm. $8. SMALL NIGHT IN - FEAT: THE BUSKETEERS + DANCING MONKEY + AARON HILLIER Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:30pm. $25. STRAIGHT JACKET Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully. 9:30pm. TEN CENT PISTOLS + THE GROVES + COAL + THE DARTS Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 9pm. THE DRUMS & CULTS Palace Theatre, Melbourne CBD. 8pm. $59.90. THE HORRORS Forum Theatre, Melbourne. 7:30pm. $52.45. THE IVORY ELEPHANTS + DIRTY ELVIS + THE PERFECT STRANGERS + JOHNNY ROCK & THE LIMITS Espy, St Kilda. 8pm. THE MONIQUE BRUMBY BAND Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 9pm. $15. THE TV SET Town Hall Hotel, North Melbourne. 10pm. THE YARD APES + THE TEARAWAYS Cornish Arms, Brunswick. 8pm. TRENCH SISTERS - FEAT: DEATH GHAT + AKTION UNIT + THE BUNYIP MOON Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 9pm. $5. YUCK + EMA + STEP-PANTHER East Brunswick Club Hotel, East Brunswick. 8:30pm. $38.50.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK BUSY KINGDOM + BYE BYE JACK + SALUBRIOUS Noise Bar, Brunswick. 8pm. $5. CHRIS WILSON Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9pm. FINGERBONE BILL Gem Bar, Collingwood. 8pm. JOHN BACON BLUES Mount Dandenong Hotel, Olinda. 9pm. JOHN WILLIAM’S DOUBLE SHOT OF BLUES + FREELOADER Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 8:30pm. $10. LA BASTARD + THE DEATH RATTLES + DJ WOLD Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 9:30pm. MATT GLASS Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 6pm. OLEANDER KISS Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:30pm. PAUL MCMANUS & THE MAYBLOOMS (SINGLE LAUNCH) + DEAR ALE & KATE WALKER Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8pm. $8. RICK STEWARD 303, Northcote. 8pm. RONIT GRANOT Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6pm. SAL KIMBER & THE ROLLIN’ WHEEL + THE STETSON FAMILY Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8pm. $20. STOMP DOG Victoria Hotel, Brunswick. 9:30pm. THE MONIQUE DIMATTINA QUARTET Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne CBD. 9:30pm. $25. THORNBURY THEATRE SUMMER NIGHTS - FEAT: MUSTERED COURAGE Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury. 6pm. TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC SESSIONS - FEAT: DAN BOURKE Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 6pm.
CHAIRLIFT To employ corniness to the nth degree, Chairlift will pretty much sweep you off your feet with their sweet electronic pop tunes - all tambourines and synthesisers and boy-girl duets. Chairlift will be taking off with a Laneway sideshow at The East Brunswick Club on Tuesday February 7.
JAZZ/WORLD MUSIC BRAZJAZ + DANIEL GASSIN Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 7pm. LA RUMBA Cruzao Arepa Bar, Fitzroy. 9pm. LACHLIN DAVIDSON & GIANNI MARINUCCI Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8pm. LOUNGE DETECTIVES + SOUL MINISTRY + HENRY BANKS Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 9:30pm. MADRE MONTE Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. SOL NATION (SINGLE LAUNCH) + KING KADU & THE SUNSHINE SISTERS + ANIMAUX Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm. $12. UNIFIED GECKO Bar Open, Fitzroy. 10pm. YVETTE JOHANSSON & THE JOE RUBERTO TRIO Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $25.
SATURDAY 4 FEB ROCK/POP (HED) P.E. (HED 2 HEAD AUSTRALIAN TOUR) + JEFFREY NOTHING Prince Bandroom, St Kilda. 8pm. $49. 3/4 BEAST + SCARAMOUCHE + STATIC COLOURS + BLANKS Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9pm. 3AM LATE SHOW - FEAT: USURPER OF MODERN MEDICINE Pony, Melbourne. 3am. ATTACK OF THE MANNEQUINS (SINGLE LAUNCH) + GRAVEYARD ROCKERS + EMPRA Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 8:30pm. $7. BANG - FEAT: THE BRIDE + EMERSON + STORM THE SKY Royal Melbourne Hotel, Melbourne CBD. 9pm. $20. BLACK JESUS + THRALL + EMBODIED + HORDES OF THE BLACK CROSS Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. $10.
BLOOD SUGAR SEX MAGIC (RED HOT CHILLI PEPPERS TRIBUTE) + GRINNY + BACKYARD JOB Espy, St Kilda. 8pm. $20. CLAMPDOWN Rochester Castle Hotel, Fitzroy. 9pm. CLIP CLOP CLUB George Basement, St Kilda. 5pm. DAN BRODIE Pure Pop Courtyard, St Kilda. 6pm. DEATH BY DEATH RAY + BABY MACHINE + THRASHER JYNX + BOY RED + DJ DEATHMETAL The Prague, Thornbury. 8pm. EMA + TEETH & TONGUE + NEW WAR Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8pm. $30. F.O.G. AND THE BOSS BENEFIT Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 2pm. GIMME SKELTER (THE ROLLING STONES SHOW) + BEST OF THE BEATLES Dutch Club, Carnegie. 8pm. $20. HOUSE OF ROCK - FEAT: NAT COL & THE KINGS Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 9pm. $15. JAMES LEG + BURN IN HELL + BITTERSWEET KICKS Penny Black, Brunswick. 9:30pm. KILL ‘EM ALL - FEAT: BRITISH STEEL + COWBOYS FROM HELL East Brunswick Club Hotel, East Brunswick. 8pm. $20. KING PARROT + FRANKENBOK + COCKFIGHT SHOOTOUT + SWIDGEN + ODIOUSEMBOWEL + MOTH Pony, Melbourne. 8:30pm. MUSHROOM GIANT + A LONELY CROWD + UNGUS UNGUS UNGUS + GLASFROSCH + CHICO FLASH Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8pm. $12. QLAYFACE + CAD OF YORE + LUNAIRE Espy, St Kilda. 8pm. ROCK FEAST - FEAT: UNTIL WE COLLIDE + THESE CITY LIGHTS + TRANSISTOR Musicland, Fawkner. 8:30pm. $10. SAL KIMBER & THE ROLLIN’ WHEEL + JOHN FLANAGAN & THE BEGIN AGAINS + BOBBY & THE PINS Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm. $15. SEETHER + BLACK DEVIL YARD BOSS The Hi-Fi,
Melbourne. 8pm. $46.20. ST JEROME’S LANEWAY FESTIVAL - FEAT: ACTIVE CHILD + ANNA CALVI + AUSTRA + BULLION + CHAIRLIFT + CULTS + THE DRUMS + DZ DEATHRAYS + EMA + FEIST + GEOFFRY O’CONNOR + GIRLS + GIVERS + GLASSER + THE HORRORS + HUSKY + JOHN TALABOT + JONTI + LAURA MARLING + M83 + ONEMAN + THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART + PAJAMA CLUB + THE PANICS + PORTUGAL THE MAN + SBTRKT + TORO Y MOI + TOTAL CONTROL + TWIN SHADOW + WASHED OUT + WU LYF + YUCK Footscray Community Arts Centre, Footscray. 12pm. $145. THE CHURCH OF HYSTERIA Sticky Institute, Melbourne. 3pm. THE DEEP END + DEAD CITY RUINS + ROCKET QUEEN Cherry Bar, Melbourne CBD. 8pm. $13. THE MORRISONS + RED ROCKETS OF BORNEO Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 5pm. THE SECRET WHISPER Baba, East Brunswick. 9pm. THE SECRET WHISPER Pure Pop Courtyard, St Kilda. 3pm. THESE HANDS + THE OVALS + THE NEST ITSELF + FLYING COLOURS + DJ DEL AMP Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $8. THORNBURY THEATRE SUMMER NIGHTS - FEAT: DAVE JENKINS Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury. 6pm. TROPICAL SPACE LAB - FEAT: CUMBIA COSMONAUTS + DJ MEL Bar Open, Fitzroy. 10pm.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK 64 FALCON Town Hall Hotel, North Melbourne. 10pm. ACOUSTIC REVIEW - FEAT: DAN ROLLS + NICOLETTE FORTE + THE GATHERERS Chandelier Room, Moorabbin. 8pm. $10. BEN CARR TRIO Wesley Anne, Northcote. 5:30pm.
74 JOHNSTON ST FITZROY 9417 4155
www.theoldbar.com.au OPEN EVERY NIGHT 12PM - 3AM FREE WI FI
wednesday 1st february
POPE’S ASSASSIN’S THE D GRADES DOGS OF THOMAS PARK
8PM $7
thursday 2nd february
RYAN NICO & THE OVERLANDERS PINES (TAS) GUTTER PARTIES
8PM $8
friday 3rd february
BENEFIT FOR DIMITRA AKTION UNIT LOWER PLENTY SILK EARS, NTH WHEEL MAD NANNA DJ DOWNPAT DJ SPECIAL AWARDS
8PM $10
saturday 4th february
THESE HANDS THE OVALS THE NEST ITSELF FLYING COLOURS DJ DEL AMP
8:30PM $10
sunday 5th february
F.O.G. AND THE BOSS There’s nothing the Melbourne music community love more than helping one of their own in a time of need. Gav Lynch has been working through some tough health for some time and it has prohibited him from working, so with contributions from his friends, coworkers and local Fiitzroy businesses, the good folk at the Labour In Vain are opening their doors and hosting a fundraiser gig for him this Saturday February 4 themed around his favourite artist - Bruce “The Boss” Springsteen. It’s only $20 entry to see a plethora of local Melbourne music types perform and all proceeds go to the man (Gav, not Bruce) himself. Pre-buy your ticket to this one.
KIM SALMON SPENCER P JONES DJ TREVOR BLOCK
8PM $8
CRY BABY SESSION
2PM $5
monday 5th february
GERRY HALE’S BLUEGRASS SESSIONS 8PM FREE
tuesday 6th february
MATT CHURCH THE CLOAKS GRIZZLY JIM LAWRIE
8PM FREE
band bookings: bandbookings@theoldbar.com.au
SUBMIT YOUR GIGS TO GIGGUIDE@BEAT.COM.AU
Beat Magazine Page 67
60 SECONDS WITH…
THE DEEP END So then, what’s the band name and what do you ‘do’ in the band? The Deep End, I’m Dale the lead singer. What do you reckon people will say you sound like? Over the years we’ve heard all sorts of names, but the ones that pop up most are The Poor, Airbourne, AC/ DC and Rose Tattoo. What do you love about making music? The best part about making music is when you get to show it to everyone else. Playing a new song live for the first time is a scary experience, but when you get an awesome reaction it’s bloody awesome! What do you hate about the music industry? The narrow mindedness of commercial radio stations. There are so many great artists in our own backyard that if given the time of day would have the potential to be extremely successful and make a lot of everyday people happy, yet none of the commercial stations have the balls to take such a risk in swaying away from BLACK & BLUE Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 6pm. BOB MARLEY BIRTHDAY BASH - FEAT: RAS JAHKNOW + JUMPDRED + CHANT DOWN + DJ PAPA DALTON + DJ STICK MAREEBO + DJ BOSS MAN Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8pm. $15. BOB MARLEY’S MUSICAL CELEBRATION JAMAICAN DANCE PARTY - FEAT: PIECE O’ PIE + WILEY J + DJ INABO + DJ WADADA Noise Bar, Brunswick. 10:30pm. $20. BRAD MARTIN BAND + DJ XANDER Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 10pm. BRUNSWICK BLUES SHOOTERS Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:30pm. CAZI GALE + ASAMI + EMMY BRYCE Wesley Anne, Northcote. 7pm. CHILDREN OF THE CORNISH FESTIVAL - FEAT: SID O’NEIL + BOX ROCKETS + THE HARLOTS + TESS & THE TYPECAST + KITCHEN KNIFE WIFE + IMMIGRANT UNION + GUN BALLADS + THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS DJS Cornish Arms, Brunswick. 1pm. $15. GEOFF ACHISON & THE SOULDIGGERS Ruby’s Lounge, Belgrave. 8pm. $5. IMMIGRANT UNION + MINIBIKES + SHERRY RICH & THE NEW YORK HEROES Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 9pm. JAMES BLACK & THE MOONEE VALLEY DRIFTERS Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm. JIMI HOCKING Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9pm. JIMI HOCKING The Bay, Mordialloc. 4pm. JOSH JAKQ + POPPY + DJ NO LIMITS Toff In Town, Melbourne CBD. 8pm. $15. KASEY CHAMBERS + BILL CHAMBERS Melbourne Zoo, Parkville. 8pm. LONGYARD Victoria Hotel, Brunswick. 9:30pm. MIDNIGHT CALLER + CABIN INN Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 8:30pm. $5. MUNGO MEN + VIM + PARTY CRASHERS Gertrudes
Beat Magazine Page 68
the same playlist day in day out. If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why? Bon Scott – I think that everything he stood for in rock’n’roll, from the way he had to capture the audience to the way he would contribute to writing the music, is just spot on. I’d love to be more like that bloke and just get some straight forward inside tips on how to do it! If you could assassinate one person or band from popular music, who would it and why? There’s a fair few but one really sticks out in my mind after being on tour. As much as I think she is talented and deserves to be as successful as she has been, I have to say Shania Twain. All the other guys in the band have grown a sickening obsession towards her and they haven’t been able to go more than an hour in the van without Shania’s greatest hits getting a spin. They have made me absolutely despise her. What can a punter expect from your live show? Their expectations to be massively exceeded by the ridiculous amounts of energy on stage and their ears ringing the next three days! What’ve you got to sell CD-wise? This is the final show of our Your Shout Tour supporting the release of our Your Shout EP, so there’s still a fair few of those to get around! Also our 2010 release Can’t Brown Couch, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $5. NOT THE WOLF Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 9pm. PERCH CREEK FAMILY JUGBAND + THE MERRI CREEK PICKERS 303, Northcote. 8pm. $6. SIMON HUDSON Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 5pm. THE CARTRIDGE FAMILY Union Hotel, Brunswick. 9pm. THEE KNOCKOUTS + COLD HARBOUR Great Britain Hotel, Richmond. 9pm. VELVET CAKE GYPSIES Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 4pm.
JAZZ/WORLD MUSIC CLAIRY BROWNE & THE BANGIN’ RACKETTES + STELLA ANGELICO Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8pm. $20. JOE CHINDAMO + ANDREW REID Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 7pm. JULIE O’HARA QUINTET Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne CBD. 9:30pm. $25. PAUL WILLIAMSON NEW QUARTET Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8pm. SANTIAGO SON Cruzao Arepa Bar, Fitzroy. 9pm. THE NINA FERRO BAND Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8pm. $35.
SUNDAY 5 FEB ROCK/POP BABERHAM LINCOLN + SIMON WRIGHT TRIO + THE BURDEN Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 9:30pm. BECKY LEE & DRUNKFOOT + MOOSEJAW RIFLE CLUB Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7pm.
Say No is still available but there’s not a lot left. Hit up thedeependrock.com for hard copies or iTunes for digital versions. When’s the gig and with who? The gig is on this Saturday February 4 at Cherry Bar and we’ve got our good mates Dead City Ruins and Rocket Queen playing the show with us. There’s three of the best Melbourne band’s in one sitting so you’d be mad not to come. Anything else to add? Not only is it going to be a ripper show that will have people talking for ages but it’s our guitarist Jazz’s birthday that night. The bloke is a bloody legend and started this band so make sure you buy him a beer. BUDD + WICKED CITY + SUN GOD REPLICA + SLOCOMBE’S PUSSY + USURPER’S OF MODERN MEDICINE Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 3pm. DEAD ALBATROSS + HERE’S THE THING Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9pm. EMMY BRYCE + JENNY BIDDLE Pure Pop Courtyard, St Kilda. 4pm. INDIGO & THE BEAR + DROOLING MOUTHS OF MEMPHIS Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 5pm. KUJO KINGS + AFRO JUNK VS KOALA GRUNGE Palais, Hepburn Springs. 3pm. LOTEK (DOUBLE CD LAUNCH) + THE HIGH SOCIETY + BACKLASH BREW Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 7:30pm. $12. THE BATTERY KIDS + I A MAN + LOST WEEKENDS + YOUNG MAVERICK + THE UNIVERSAL GH Hotel, St Kilda. 3pm. THE GO SET + THE WORKINGHORSE IRONS + THE RAMSHACKLE ARMY Prince Bandroom, St Kilda. 8:30pm. THE LARGE NUMBER 12S Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 5pm. TONY BARNAO + INPUT/OUTPUT Kent St, Fitzroy. 6pm.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK ALISON FERRIER + ROESY Bar Nancy, Northcote. 6pm. AROWE 29th Apartment, St Kilda. 4pm. CAYN BORTHWICK Victoria Hotel, Brunswick. 4:30pm. CHRIS RUSSELL’S CHICKEN WALK + DEAN MULLER + DJ MAXWELL VON CRAWDADDY Cherry Bar, Melbourne CBD. 2pm. COLLARD GREENS & GRAVY Union Hotel, Brunswick. 5pm. DONAVAN FRANKENREITER Penny Black, Brunswick. 5pm. FALLOE & THE BASTARD CHILDREN Rainbow Hotel,
SUBMIT YOUR GIGS TO GIGGUIDE@BEAT.COM.AU
KIM SALMON AND SPENCER P. JONES What?! Could it be true? Oh holy mother of all things good. These were the thoughts I had upon receiving the Old Bar gig listing for this week and feasting my eyes on a certain duo of known names. Yes ladies and gents, for the first ‘real’ and ‘official’ time in many, many moons, local treasures Kim Salmon and Spencer P. Jones will be gracing the same stage. Naturally, only the holy lure of The Old Bar could make this happen, so head there on Sunday February 5 for the kick off of their joint February Sunday residency. It’s almost too good to be true. Fitzroy. 4pm. HELEN DAVEY TRIO Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8pm. $15. JAM NIGHT Musicland, Fawkner. 7pm. KIM SALMON & SPENCER P JONES + DJ TREVOR BLOCK Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8pm. $8. LIVE & LOCAL SESSIONS Sorrento-Portsea RSL, Sorrento. 5pm. MONIQUE DIMATTINA + MARTY KELLY & AUBURY MAHER Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 5:30pm. MOTHER JACK + STEVE WARD Noise Bar, Brunswick. 1pm. OPA 303, Northcote. 8pm. $5. OPEN MIC Chandelier Room, Moorabbin. 5:30pm. PAPER CRANE Wesley Anne, Northcote. 4pm. SAMMY OWEN BLUES BAND Ruby’s Lounge, Belgrave. 8pm. SHANNON BOURNE Mentone Hotel, Mentone. 3pm. SINGER SONGWRITER SESSIONS - FEAT: BARRY MCALLISTER + EWEN MEE Chandelier Room, Moorabbin. 4pm. SMOKY MARIGOLD + MATT PANAG Great Britain Hotel, Richmond. 7pm. STEPHEN O’PREY + THE STETSON FAMILY Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 4pm. TED GALLON HEAD Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 5pm. THE DAVIDSON BROTHERS Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 4pm. THE MERCURIALS Town Hall Hotel, North Melbourne. 6pm. THE PUGSLEY BUZZARD BAND (LIVE RECORDING) East Brunswick Club Hotel, East Brunswick. 2pm. $15. TINSLEY WATERHOUSE Cornish Arms, Brunswick. 8pm. WAZ E JAMES BAND Standard Hotel, Fitzroy. 7pm.
JAZZ/WORLD MUSIC JOSE NIETO Cruzao Arepa Bar, Fitzroy. 6pm.
YOU’LL FIND US AT 99 SMITH STREET FITZROY PH: 9419 4920 YAHYAHS.COM.AU BOOKINGS: MARY@BAROPEN.COM.AU
FRI 3 FEB
SAT 4 FEB
TEN CENT PISTOLS THE SECRET WHISPER MORGAN JOANEL THNKR WE DISAPPEAR 9.00PM
9.00PM
9.00PM
THE SWEATERS THE IVORY ELEPHANT DIRTY ELVIS FRI FEB 10:
STRAW KING EYE SAT FEB 11:
WEEKENDER THU FEB 16:
SHAKY MEMORIAL
TUNES: LATE / FREE ENTRY AFTER MIDNIGHT
TASTY CAKES
TUNES: LATE / FREE ENTRY AFTER MIDNIGHT
THE GRAVELTONES
UK
FRI FEB 17:
OPEN TIL 5am
OPEN TIL 5am
SUN 5 FEB
KITCHEN KNIFE WIFE SINGLE LAUNCH
THE DEAD SHADES THE CHEATS SAT FEB 18:
LEEK & THE WAR WICK TRAGEDY
BRAT FARRAR THE MEANIES MESA COSA
CD LAUNCH
THU FEB 23:
OPEN TIL 3am
8.O0PM / FREE ENTRY
OPEN 317 BRUNSWICK STREET FITZROY WWW.BAROPEN.COM.AU 03 9415 9601
THU FEB 9:
MINIBIKES SHERRY RICH & THE NEW FOLK HEROES
THE GROVES COAL THE DARTS
GRANDSTON DISPLAY
BAR
COMING UP
IMMIGRANT UNION
CD LAUNCH
THU 2 FEB
OPEN THU, FRI, SAT, SUN, 5:00PM TO LATE WITH DJs SPINNING YOUR FAVOURITE SOUL, 60s, ROCK’N’ROLL, SURF & GARAGE ALL NIGHT
NATIONAL SLAM RALLY DAY W/ HARMONY
WED 1 FEB
SAT 4 FEB
MON 6 FEB
JON ASHLEY
TROPICAL SPACE LAB: CUMBIA COSMONAUTS
SCREEN SECT FILM CLUB
ILDIKO WILD RED FOX 10PM / FREE
THU 2 FEB
PHANTOM AGENTS (THURSDAY RESIDENCY)
+ GUESTS 9PM / FREE
7PM
DJ MEL
TUE 7 FEB
10PM / FREE
MAKE IT UP CLUB
SUN 5 FEB
GRIEVE PDE
7PM
SETH REES SKIPPYS BRAIN
WED 1 FEB
HARMONY BAT PISS THU 2 FEB
THE KUJO KINGS
BETTER THAN THE WIZARDS THE TABASCO JUNKIES CHAOS KIDS THE PAPER STREET SOAP COMPANY FRI 3 FEB
LADYDREAMS THE JACKALS STRAW KING EYE CUN*Z
SAT 4 FEB FRONT BAR RESIDENCY 5-7PM
THE MORRISONS W/ GUESTS
RED ROCKETS OF BORNEO
SAT 4 FEB ON SALE NOW
7.30PM / FREE
EMA TEETH & TONGUE
FRI 3 FEB
UNIFIED GECKO
USA
NEW WAR
10PM / FREE
SUN 5 FEB FROM 3PM + FREE BBQ BOOKINGS: LUKE@BAROPEN.COM.AU
“Shout ‘til you’re a little horse” 68-70 LIL’ COLLINS ST. MELBOURNE WWW.PONY.NET.AU 03 9662 1026
Rockin ‘til 7:00am! BOOKINGS: ANDY FANTAPANTS@BAROPEN.COM.AU PH: 9417 2326
BUDD WICKED CITY SUN GOD REPLICA
SLOCOMBE’S PUSSY USURPER’S OF MODERN MEDICINE SPIDER GOAT CANYON TUE 7 FEB FRONT BAR RESIDENCY 5-7PM
THU 2 FEB
“LET THERE BE NOIZE” DUMBSHIT UMBILICAL TENTACLE WHITE VEINS MATT BLEAK ORRYELLE LOUSY WITH MINES FEAT.
8.00PM
FRI 3 FEB
BAD TASTE OLD SKIN COINS
9.30PM
BUCK CREEK
2.00AM FREE TUNES:
WHITE RABBIT
3.00AM FREE
SAT 4 FEB
KING PARROT FRANKENBOK COCKFIGHT SHOOTOUT SWIDGEN ODIUSEMBOWEL MOTH
8.30PM
USURPER OF MODERN MEDICINE
WA
3.00AM FREE TUNES:
MR SHARP
4.00AM FREE
COMING SOON THURS 9 FEB: SON OF SET, BRAVO JULIET, ACETONE FRI 10 FEB: IDLE MINDS (DEMO LAUNCH), SOMA COMA, HEADLESS DEATH, CUNTZ FRI 10 FEB (LATE SHOW): UNDERCOLOURS FREE ENTRY SAT 11 FEB: THE FOURFRONT, CULT FICTION, MATTE BLAC, NOTHIN SUSS SAT 11 FEB (LATE SHOW): MAJOR TOM & THE ATOMS FREE ENTRY THURS 16 FEB: CHICO FLASH, CHARM, SYSTEM OF VENUS FRI 17 FEB: THE DARTS, PROJECTOR, THE VIRGINS, IVORY ELEPHANT FRI 17 FEB (LATE SHOW): CASSINI FREE ENTRY SAT 18 FEB (LATE SHOW): HIGH FANGS FREE ENTRY
THE LEGENDARY PONY LATE SHOW / THE LATEST GIG IN TOWN / FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS / 2:00AM / FREE ENTRY SUBMIT YOUR GIGS TO GIGGUIDE@BEAT.COM.AU
THE BOWERS & FRIENDS
TIX ON SALE NOW FROM TOTE FRONT BAR & OZTIX.COM.AU: EMA (USA) SAT 4 FEB ENDLESS BOOGIE (USA) SAT 10 MARCH COMING SOON: TUESDAYS IN FEB: THE BOWERS & FRIENDS FRI 10 FEB: BUNNY MONROE SAT 11 FEB: AU GO GO RECORDS REUNION PARTY THURS 23 FEB: NATIONAL SLAM DAY
TOTE MERCH ON SALE NOW / AVAILABLE FROM FRONT BAR: 2012 CALENDARS / T-SHIRTS / STUBBY HOLDERS / STICKERS 71 JOHNSTON STREET (CNR WELLINGTON ST) COLLINGWOOD PH: 9419 5320 BAND BOOKINGS: AMANDA@BAROPEN.COM.AU WWW.THETOTEHOTEL.COM
TOTE OPEN: WEDNESDAY - SUNDAY 4.00pm ‘TIL LATE
Beat Magazine Page 69
60 SECONDS WITH…
+ BEAT PRESENT...
ZELORAGE
So then, what’s the band name and what do you ‘do’ in the band? We are called Zelorage, and we’re made up of Sam Brand (vocals/guitar), Rowan Brand (bass) & Mark Polst (drums). Bearing the terrible clichéd nature of this question, what do you reckon people will say you sound like? A lot of people say that we sound like early Korn and Deftones mixed with a bit of early grunge. What do you love about making music? The ability to create something we all love playing. We all gel well together and think alike, so when we come up with new material it’s always easy because we are all on the same page. Also, playing music to crowds of people. There is no greater thrill then showing people your music. What do you hate about the music industry? The people that spend minimum time in the industry, and get further then anyone who has been working hard all their life. If you could travel back in time and show one of your THORNBURY THEATRE SUMMER NIGHTS - FEAT: CONSPIRACY 3 Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury. 6pm. KAFKA + DJ PERCY VALENTINE Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8pm. LEEK & THE WAR WICK TRAGEDY + GRANDSTON DISPLAY Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 8pm. THE NICK HAYWOOD QUARTET (ALBUM LAUNCH) Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $15. THE NINA FERRO BAND Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 2:30pm. $35. DAIMON BRUNTON QUARTET Open Studio, Northcote. 4:30pm. GRIEVE PDE + SETH REES + SKIPPYS BRAIN Bar Open, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. SANTIAGO VELA Cruzao Arepa Bar, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. THE MELOTONINS Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm.
MONDAY 6 FEB ROCK/POP ANIMAUX (SONG FOR GRACE) + THE MCQUEENS + ALBERT SALT Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8pm. $8.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK GERRY HALE’S BLUEGRASS SESSIONS Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8pm. SARAH & THE KING BEES Iddy Biddy, St Kilda. 9pm.
whatson@thepush.com.au
musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why? John Bonham. Just because he is such a major influence and inspiration on everything I’ve learnt musically. If you could assassinate one person or band from popular music, who would it and why? Refer to question 4. What can a punter expect from your live show? Lots of stage energy. We take great pride in putting on a live show and giving not only the punter, but also ourselves, the best times of our lives. What’ve you got to sell CD-wise? We have two full length, independent albums. Silent Threat recorded at Capitol Sound Studios in Adelaide (2008), and Body Of Her recorded at North Studios,
JAZZ/WORLD MUSIC BENNETTS LANE BIG BAND Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $15. ENTROPY QUARTET Open Studio, Northcote. 4:30pm. SYZYGY Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm.
TUESDAY 7 FEB ROCK/POP ALEX & EVE Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 8:30pm. CHAIRLIFT + ELIZABETH ROSE East Brunswick Club Hotel, East Brunswick. 7:30pm. $38.50. PLAYWRITE + PATINKA CHA CHA + THE GOOD CHINA Toff In Town, Melbourne CBD. 8pm. $10. TALL STORIES + MILLINGTON + THE PIERCE BROTHERS + THE SCARECROWS Espy, St Kilda. 8pm. THE BOMBAY ROYALE Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8pm.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK CHRIS RUSSELL’S CHICKEN WALK Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:30pm. EATEN BY DOGS Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. JIMMY TAIT + JOE RANSOM & THE BIG SMOKE Habitat HQ, St Kilda. 7:30pm. JOHN FLANAGAN & THE BEGIN The Vineyard, St Kilda. 11pm. KLUB MUK 303, Northcote. 7:30pm.
Loxton (2010). Both albums are available at all our shows or at bigcartel.com When’s the gig and with who? Friday February 3 at the Espy Gershwin Room with ONE, Volytion, The Hidden Venture & Vitruvian Man and then Saturday February 4 at the Prince Bandroom supporting (Hed)PE, and Nothing (feat Jeffrey Nothing from Mushroomhead). Anything else to add? We have big plans for 2012, including talk of a new album on the way, and an East Coast tour towards the end of the year. You can check out all upcoming news, tours, photos and music at reverbnation.com/zelorage or on Facebook.
MATT CHURCH + THE CLOAKS + GRIZZLY JIM LAWRIE Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8pm. OPEN MIC Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 7:30pm. THE WINTER MIGRATION Republica, St Kilda. 7pm. TRISTEN BIRD Readings, St Kilda. 7pm.
JAZZ/WORLD MUSIC CLEVERHORSE Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $15. JAZZ CATS Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8pm. $14. JULIAN POSADA Cruzao Arepa Bar, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. TIM MINCHIN VS THE MSO Palais Theatre, St Kilda. 8pm.
CLASSIFIEDS 33c PER WORD PER WEEK (INC GST) • Send your classified listing information to Beat Magazine at 3 Newton St, Richmond 3121 with a cheque, money order or credit card number (including expiry date and name on card, NOT AMEX or DINERS) (1.5% surcharge on Visa and MasterCard) OR deliver it yourself with cash OR you can email your classifieds to us - classifieds@beat.com.au with credit card details • DEADLINE IS THURSDAY 5pm, prior to Wednesdays publication • Minimum $5 charge per week. We do NOT accept classifieds over the phone - sorry.
MUSICIANS WANTED
ACCESS ALL AGES WITH RUTH MIHELCIC Where does the time go? January has just finished and it’s the first week back at school. Yep it’s time to get into the new school year and bunker down and try to study harder than last year. Remember how you promised yourself that at the start of every year? Well we know you’ll need some sort of excuse as to why you’re slacking off already and we just happen to have plenty for you! First up we have Soundgarden playing the Sidney Myer Music Bowl tonight from 6pm, in case you missed the Seattle legends at the Big Day Out. If your musical tastes are a little more indie and Canadian, then check out Feist at the Palais Theatre in St Kilda from 7:30pm. Or expand your musical tastes even further by exposing your ears to the delicate English folk songs of Laura Marling on Thursday at the Forum in Melbourne. Ticketmaster has what you need for all these gigs, so hit up their website or find your nearest outlet. The Fairfield Summer Concert Series is happening every Sunday during February. It’s like getting to know your multicultural neighbours while watching live music and dance from neighbouring countries around the world. This weekend features sweet Italian folk songs by the Italian women’s choir La Voce De La Luna with Kavisha Mazella, the Dusha Balkana Dance Ensemble (from Sydney) and upbeat gypsy music from Croatia, Macedonia and beyond by the Sljivovitz Orkestra. In other news, Moonee Valley Youth Services’ Step Off Dance Crew is now taking entries for their Youth Week competition to be held on Saturday 14 April. Last year over 400 dancers competed in this massive event! This year’s categories include school, junior, varsity and open divisions. Download a registration form at http://youth. mvcc.vic.gov.au by 5pm Thursday 1 March, or contact Moonee Valley Youth Services on 9243 8888 for more info. Don’t forget to keep sending us your all ages news to whatson@thepush.com.au by 10am Thursdays.
ALL AGES TIMETABLE FEB 1 – TUES 7
BANDS & PROMOTERS WANTED. Any style for Collingwood venue. First gigs welcome, live CD recording available. Contact Jane after 12pm on 0425 796 828. BANDS WANTED for artist showcase in the Espy Gershwin room. A great step towards bigger shows. Contact mark@gunnmusic.com.au EXPERIENCED DRUMMER with a commitment to practice and regular rehearsals required for alternative rock band. Influences QOTSA, Foo Fighters, Nirvana etc… www.myspace.com/mollydredd 0411 372 469. EXPERIENCED KEYBOARD PLAYER SEEKS BASSISTS/ DRUMMERS/VOCALISTS/GUITARISTS to express interest and audition for a new originals/covers band. I write melodic rock/pop songs, but need reliable and proficient vocalists and players to help me present new material live. Open to working on original material with others and keen to play live as soon as possible. Influences: Cold Chisel, Steely Dan, The Police, Peter Gabriel, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Steve Windwood. Contact Grant on 0413 807 900 or synthmax@ozemail.com.au * LOOKING FOR ACOUSTIC ACTS to perform in COCO’s monthly competition in Smith Street, Fitzroy. $100 Cash PRIZE. Phone Sandra or Michelle 9417 3937 or drop in at COCO - 129 Smith Street, Fitzroy. VOCALIST WANTED for Hallam/Rowville based metal band. Contact Brad 0402 786 369. www.myspace.com/tokenofruin
TUITION
Soundgarden
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 1 Soundgarden w/ The Bronx, Sidney Myer Music Bowl, King Domain Gardens, Melbourne, 6pm, $95.40 – $130.75, ticketmaster.com.au or 136 100, AA Feist, Palais Theatre, Lower Esplanade, St Kilda, 7:30pm, $79, ticketmaster.com.au or 136 100, AA
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 2 Daryl Hall & John Oates w/ Icehouse and Michael Paynter, The Plenary, Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre, 2 Clarendon St, Southbank, 6:30pm – 10:45pm, $262 (platinum), $130 (gold), $99 (silver), ticketmaster.com. au or 136 100, AA Laura Marling, The Forum, Corner Russell & Flinders Streets, Melbourne, 8:30pm, $67.95, ticketmaster.com.au or 136 100, AA
DRUM LESSONS with Crutey from Full Scale/Tim McMillan Band. Rock, funk, hip-hop or metal styles. Or learn how to play your favourite songs! All areas. All ages welcome. Email matt@saltar.com.au. DRUM TUITION. Jazz, Rock, Hip-Hop (and more). Beginners welcome! All ages. Brunswick West. Contact John on 0437 873 488 or john.milton@gmail.com
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 3
EXPERIENCED DRUMMER LOOKING FOR WORK with an original or covers band. For enquiries phone Paul 8786 3421.
The Horrors, The Forum, Corner Russell & Flinders Streets, Melbourne, 8pm, $52.45, ticketmaster.com.au or 136 100, AA
MAN WITH A VAN. Best value movers in Melbourne. Now with trucks!!!! Equip with 1 or 2 experienced men, trolleys and removal blankets. Available 7 days. Check out www.manwithavan.com.au or call us on 9417 3443. PROFESSIONAL VIDEO PRODUCTIONS SERVICES for musicians & businesses from conception to upload. Highly creative, 2D & 3D option, unique style and experience in the industry. Talk to the pros at the screaming eagle filmco. “Live your passion” Ph: 0415 100 444 www.screamingeaglefilmco. com THINK MOVING SUCKS? Think Little Red Trucks! Moving Melbourne everyday. Call 9380 6444 or head to www.littleredtrucks.com.au.
EMPLOYMENT FLAUNT IT. Internationally acclaimed producer of profeminist erotica looking for confident, adult women to smash the stereotypes and earn good money ($500 and up). Don’t overlook this til you’ve found out more about it. Rebecca 9495 6555 or www.feck.com.
Beat Magazine Page 70
The Horrors
SERVICES
SUBMIT YOUR GIGS TO GIGGUIDE@BEAT.COM.AU
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 5 Fairfield Summer Concert Series Na zdravje! w/ La Voce De La Luna with Kavisha Mazella, the Dusha Balkana Dance, and the Sljivovitz Orkestra, Fairfield Amphitheatre, Fairfield Park, Heidelberg Road, Fairfield, 5pm – 7:30pm, Free, Andrea Makris on (03) 9188 3681 or events@multiculturalarts.com.au, AA
MONDAY FEBRUARY 6 Ronan Keating, The Regent Theatre, 191 Collins St, Melbourne, 8pm, $109.90 – 139.90, ticketmaster.com.au or 136 100, AA
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 7 Roger Waters, Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, 5pm, ticketek. com.au or 132 849, AA Ronan Keating, The Regent Theatre, 191 Collins St, Melbourne, 8pm, $109.90 – 139.90, ticketmaster.com.au or 136 100, AA
GS T GI TS A L AL VEN GB ! E E & THE FRE E AR
FRIDAY FEB 3RD
Wed. Feb. 1st: (Wine, Whiskey, Women)
FINGERBONE BILL
8pm: Sarah Carnegie 9pm: Jenny Biddle
SATURDAY FEB 4TH
Thurs. Feb. 2nd:
8pm: Open-Mic Poetry, Storytelling & Song Fri. Feb. 3rd:
6pm: Traditional Irish Music Session With Dan Bourke & Friends Sat. Feb. 4th:
9pm: Not The Wolf Sun. Feb. 5th:
4pm: The Stetson Family 6.30pm: Stephen O’Prey
GREAT BRITAIN HOTEL THU 2ND FEB
THE STEINS + JULES SHELDON
TUNES BY OLD HANDS
FROM 8PM
SAT 4TH FEB
COLD HARBOUR + THEE KNOCKOUTS
COMING UP
FROM 9PM
THURS 9TH
SUN 5TH FEB
SIME NUGENT
ROXY LAVISH + MATT PANAG + SMOKY MARIGOLD
RAISED BY EAGLES
FROM 8PM
FRI 10TH
MON 6TH FEB
SAT 11TH
BOOZER SOUL (DJ’S)
SAT NITE FISH FRY
FROM 8PM
WEEKLY ASSORTMENTS MonDAYS
FREE POOL ALL NIGHT
Tues. Feb. 7th:
8pm: Weekly Trivia
“All Shows Always Free” The Drunken Poet, 65 Peel Street (directly opposite Queen Vic Market), Phone: 03 9348 9797. www.myspace.com/drunkenpoets
289 WELLINGTON ST COLLINGWOOD 94195170 WWW.THEGEMBAR.COM.AU
$10 PIZZA & POT
TueSDAYS
MRS SMITH’S TRIVIA $10 PIZZA & POT 9PM
WEDNESDAYS
OPEN MIC NIGHT FROM 9PM
KITCHEN OPEN 6 NIGHTS
447 CHURCH ST RICHMOND 9429 5066 www.greatbritainhotel.com.au
• • • • • WEDNESDAY • • • • •
COMEDY TRIVIA QUIZ MEISTER
FROM 8PM. GREAT PRIZES & GIVEAWAYS.
FRIDAY 3/2, 10PM
THE TV SET SATURDAY 4/2, 10PM
64 FALCON SUNDAY 5/2, 10PM
THE MERCURIALS FORTRESS OF NARZOD
ACOUSTIC RESIDENCY FEB RESIDENCY FROM 8.30PM
SATURDAY FEB 4TH
DREW HARRISON FREE ENTRY ALWAYS!
TOWN HALL HOTEL
CHECK OUT DERBY THURSDAYS ON FACEBOOK.
FRIENDS OF GAV BENEFIT
• • • • • FRIDAY • • • • •
ALTERNATE FRIDAYS
HUGE DAY OF MUSIC, BBQ, PRIZES FOR OUR MATE GAV FROM
2 - 7PM
Tix $20. Book on 9417 5955 or at The Labour
SUNDAY FEB 5
LARGE NUMBER 12’S - ROCK ‘N’ ROLL FROM 5 - 7PM
TUESDAY FEB 7TH
SUNDAY 12/2, 6PM
DERBY THURSDAY
EDDIE JAMES & SIB
TH
SATURDAY 11/2, 6PM STACKFUL, then at 10PM
• • • • • THURSDAY • • • • •
THURSDAY FEB 2ND
EATEN BY DOGS - ACOUSTIC SHOW FEB RESIDENCY FROM 8.30PM
3RD FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH ALTERNATE FRIDAYS ARE ERUPTING. CHECK IT OUT!
EE Y FRNTR E
• • • • • SATURDAY • • • • •
SHE BAR FROM 9PM
EE Y FRNTR E
• • • • • SUNDAY • • • • •
ROCKABILLY SUNDAY LIVE BANDS, 2 DANCE FLOORS.
33 ERROL STREET, NORTH MELBOURNE (03) 9328 1983 FOR BAND BOOKINGS PLEASE CONTACT MILES: TOWNIEBANDS@GMAIL.COM SUBMIT YOUR GIGS TO GIGGUIDE@BEAT.COM.AU
Beat Magazine Page 71
w
DO YOU WANT YOUR STORE, STUDIO OR MUSIC SERVICE FEATURED IN BACKSTAGE?
BACKSTAGE THE PLACE FOR MUSICIANS
CONTACT ALEKSEI ON 9428 3600 OR MIXDOWN@BEAT.COM.AU TO FIND OUT HOW.
for more information or ad bookings call Aleksei on 9428 3600
STORE PROFILE 18 Duffy street Burwood 3125
s
s
10 large and identical 30m2 rooms Air-con and ventilation in PA/foldback combos at 1000w Storage and every room Acoustic Engineer-designed soundproofing amp/kit hire
s s
s
PH: (03) 903 88101 M: 0417 000 397 Email: hydrastudios@bigpond.com
Become a part of our Musical Community
6 hour rehearsal from $35 Rehearsal Studios - Licensed Bar Emporium - Cafe - Venue www.soundrehearsalstudios.com.au 91 Cochranes Road, Moorabbin Vic 3189 Tel 9532 2288
FIVE STAR MUSIC
Established: 2006 Location: 102 MAROONDAH HWY, RINGWOOD, 3134 Main brands and products you specialise in: Marshall, Hughes & Kettner, Laney, Vox, Orange, Randall, Line 6, Gibson, G&L, Yamaha, ESP/LTD, Ibanez, Maton, Martin, Cole Clarke, Washburn, Universal Audio, Sennheiser, Native Instruments, Neumann, KRK and more! Not just a great selection of guitars and amps, but alsodrums, hi-tech, PA and keyboards. Services offered: We offer guitar, bass and keyboard lessons every weekday until 8pm. Guitar servicing, including pickup installations and rewiring. We also offer valve replacement and biasing for valve amps, so you can be sure your new tubes are giving you their best tone. We’ll even make you a cup of coffee if you ask nicely. Your point of difference: Five Star Music is open until 8pm every weeknight, so you can always get your late night shopping sorted. Open seven days a week, there is very little time we get to rest. And by we, I mean Steve, Rob and Lee. We are here to help with all your musical needs. Any upcoming events: On Wednesday February
Toyland Recording Studio Live Bands, Demos, Albums Digital or 2” Analog Tape Live room for a big natural sound Neve preamps, Urei Compressors
www.toyland.com.au
THIS SPACE COULD BE YOURS FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL ALEKSEI ON 9428 3600
T-Bone Tunes Recording Studio, St Kilda www.tbonetunes.com Albums • EPs • Singles • Demos Former London-based EMI Studio Engineer • CALL TODAY! • 03 9005 5946
•
0437 244 371
BAND REHEARSAL STUDIOS ROOMS FROM $55
p r o d u c t i o n s
-
Daytime rates available 11 Fully-equipped rooms Storage available Drive-in loading & parking Only 5min from Spencer St All amenities provided 100% green energy
for bookings ph: 9687 0233 cnr whitehall & harris st yarraville
Beat Magazine Page 72
BACKSTAGE: BEAT’S ONE STOP SHOP FOR MUSICIANS
15th starting at 7.30pm, we have the amazing 8 string guitar god and Ibanez endorser Tosin Abasi holding an in-store clinic not to be missed. For only $10 come join in and pick up all the tricks of the trade. E-mail steve@fivestarmusic.com.au to book your place now. Plus there will be huge Ibanez discounts on the night. Phone: (03) 9870 4143 Website: www.fivestarmusic.com.au
REVOLVER REHEARSAL STUDIOS & MUSIC TUITION *Under New Ownership & Management* Brand New World Class PA Systems Clean studios with storage available Drum Practice Room On Site - Guitar, Amp & Drum Tech.
SESSION TIMES: Mon - Fri Day Session: 11am-5.30pm Night Session: 6pm - 11.30pm Saturday: 11am- 5.30pm LATE NIGHT ACCESSORIES STICKS, STRINGS, SKINS.
MUSIC TUITION: All teachers are professional performing musicians with qualifications. Lessons available in Drums, Piano/Keys, Guitar, Vocals, Bass and Ensemble.
Ph: 9529 1123 24 Maquarie St Prahran www.r2revolverrehearsals.com
PA HIRE “A fresh mix for your recordings” Production, Mixing and Mastering services With D’Opus/Ross Garrett
Vintage, New & Second Hand Amps, Effects Pedals & Rigs
Specializing in Electronic, Indy-Dance and Hip-hop
Huge Selection – All major Brands
Pro Tools HD, Avalon, UA, Analog outboard gear, drum machines and synths. By Appointment only, Email: info@mercuryswitch.org
Ph: 0413 321 244
Comprehensive PA systems delivered, set up and operated with crew. Compact, easy, sound systems you can pickup and assemble yourself.Components such as microphones, speakers and effects are also available separately. Lights also available. For details phone Mark Barry on 03 9889 1999 or 0419 993 966
www.bssound.com.au bssound@bigpond.com
571 High Street Preston VIC 3072 Tel (03) 9471 1023 Fax (03) 9471 1919 Internet: www.jamhutstudios.com
Guitars and Amps wanted Top CA$H Paid
Clean and fully ventilated rooms with professional equipment. Complimentary tea & coffee.
REHEARSAL
Expert Guitar & Amp Repairs Mods & Restoration Fast Turnaround Affordable Rates Technicians on site
3 hr sessions from $40 6 hr sessions from $65 RECORDING
$60 per hour, ProTools HD with engineer
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LIVE MISTLETONE FRIGHT NIGHT The Corner, Friday January 13 For a dude that’s done nothing but incredibly cool shit over the past year, Sydney’s Jonti still possesses one hell of a dorky disposition. Performing from the Swan St side of the bandroom (what’s usually The Corner’s DJ booth was transformed into a full-on second stage for the evening), Jonti crafted a fine set of dance jams with his vintage synth-led setup. Signing off, he played the intro to that Skrillex song. But instead of dropping da bass, he dropped a rickroll, which left some (myself included) with a case of dubstep blueballs. Rat Vs Possum played a song that sounded a lot like Gang Gang Dance’s MindKilla. Inviting that comparison works for the Melbourne outfit, as they ruled The Corner in a way the Brooklyn collective could not when they performed late in 2011. Lead singer Daphne Shum’s enthusiasm was infectious, culminating in a heaps decent crowdsurf. There was an eerie calm right before the haunting synth tones of Quantum Leap penetrated every orifice of The Corner. It wasn’t a backing track, it was the actual album cut relayed through a sampler. John Maus didn’t attempt anything that resembled singing, choosing to project cathartic shouts, all the while perpetually chest-clenching, face-punching, fist raising in acts of auto-flagellation. This is pop music at its most Cronenbergian, proving to be the only
instance (apart from a few dickheads [legends - ed] in skeleton facepaint) that the Fright Night motif was upheld. Pseduo-anthem Rights For Gays became so shrouded in shrieks that its pragmatic message was inaudible within the darkness. John Maus is not so much a pop singer, but a monster with a shit haircut and shit shoes. One of the most remarkable and affecting sets I’ve ever witnessed, and I won’t be forgetting it any time soon. Harking orders from behind the veiled main stage in a very Wizard Of Oz-like manner, Dan Deacon virtually hypnotised the crowd under his lull – those who disobeyed were blown kisses by those who did. Then it was on. The trippy green skull was in effect, people danced, danced, danced their arses off. Paddling Ghost was a triumph. Man, what a feel-good night. LACHLAN KANONIUK
LOVED: The all-star lineup. HATED: Being barely fit enough to survive a Dan Deacon set. DRANK: Tequila shots for no reason. Dumb.
JOE ROBINSON Wednesday January 11, Bennetts Lane In 2008 a 16-year-old Joe Robinson took out Australia’s Got Talent with his humble charm and impressive guitar playing, his victory clinched with a performance of the Tommy Emmanuel arrangement of Classical Gas. But rather than cashing in on his notoriety and youth with a rushed album of covers, Robinson relocated to Nashville, where he has spent the last few years refining his style and building up an international cult following on YouTube. The Joe Robinson that took the stage at Bennetts Lane last week clearly wasn’t under any illusions about his past, and fleeting, notoriety. Rather, he seems prepared and willing to win Australia over again from the grassroots level. And this time, he’s got more in his arsenal than just guitar chops. With his just-released album Let Me Introduce You, Robinson has begun balancing his guitar virtuosity with a singer-songwriter sensibility, as well as broadening his style to incorporate the blues and jazz side of the spectrum. His set was nothing if not diverse, with the slick licks of songs like Lethal Injection balanced against mellow ballads, and with well-choreographed fingerpicking blitzes finding their antithesis in the gutsy blues improvisation of songs like Barely Hangin’ On. Robinson had some capable backing musicians behind him in the form of drummer Marcus Hill and bassist ‘Snoopy’ Clark, but didn’t always need to use them. Taking another leaf out of Tommy Emmanuel’s book, Joe broke one of his solo guitar
pieces down into rhythm, chord and melody parts, before playing them all as a whole. Then, with a wink, he raised the bar on his mentor by doubling the pace. Moments like this seemed to be fuelled, not by ego, but by a desire on Joe’s part to really throw down for the audience. Indeed, even after most of us seemed ready to leave satisfied, Joe unexpectedly returned with the most ripping songs of his entire set; the swingin’ jazz jive of Uli’s Jump and (naturally) that iconic arrangement of Classical Gas, reworked just enough to distinguish the ‘kid prodigy’ Joe of the past from the auteur Joe of today. It’s not all perfect. Some of Joe’s soloing, while always impressive, feels a little too measured and symmetrical, and his vocals, though quite listenable, aren’t yet strong enough to carry the attitude of songs like Hurricane. Still, ‘Joe from the fuckin’ boondocks’, as he describes himself, has come a hell of a long way. And with his skills as an entertainer now matching his skills as a virtuoso, I’m betting he’ll go a lot further yet. JESSE SHROCK
LOVED: A reality show winner playing Bennetts Lane. HATED: Nothing. DRANK: Pipsqueak Apple Cider.
CSS Thursday January 5, The Corner Hotel Cansei de Ser Sexy might translate as ‘tired of being sexy’ but last week’s show at The Corner proved CSS are far from it. Visiting our shores for the first time as a foursome since the departure of Adraiano Cintra in November, the curtains of the Corner open to reveal the Brazilian party crew in a pose and ready for action. Lead singer Lovefoxx sets the tone, asking the audience to ‘scream with me!!!’ before encouraging us to ‘Get dirty. Ass on the floor, get low, get low’. And who are we to argue? Perhaps the result of New Year festival sideshow fatigue, the attendance was surprisingly modest. However, the crowd make up for their size with boundless enthusiasm. Girls were on shoulders for Music Is My Hot, Hot Sex and Move while a gentleman fan cried, “You go girl!” after Lovefoxx gyrated her way through Off The Hook. Lovefoxx is flamboyant as ever, a large toy spider adorning her blonde wig until half way through the show when the arachnid is swapped for a glittery cat mask and cape. Her haphazard costume changes are in direct contrast to her flawless performances - the front woman launches herself into the crowd for Let’s Make Love And Listen to Death From Above and is back on stage dancing and singing without missing a beat. Lovefoxx is supported by a trio of rock babes in fellow members Luizi Su, Ana Rezende and Carolina Parra who hold their own against the effervescent lead singer. Not that it ever felt like a competition, playful arse slapping is commonplace throughout the show Beat Magazine Page 74
and Lovefoxx carries Ana around the stage at one point; “She pays me $10 per show, and she gives me email access,” the frontwoman explains. Material from latest album La Liberación showcase the group’s range, from the funky Hits Me Like a Rock to the punky Fuck Everything. This all from a woman wearing a Grinderman t shirt. Nick Cave is clearly not the only Australian Lovefoxx is admires; shouting, “Congratulations Melbourne, you are amazing!” as the crowd beg for more. CSS return to the stage for encore Art Bitch, with Lovefoxx stripped down to a bra and denim shorts, the words ‘lucky motherfucker’ handwritten on her stomach. Tired of being sexy? I’m not buying it. NICOLE RYAN
LOVED: Hearing Lovefoxx recount the band’s visit to the Celine Dion concert a few nights earlier after their tour manager mistakenly told them Mariah Carey was in town. HATED: The couple next to me who took the sexy vibe too far and spent most of the show groping each other and pashing against a wall. DRANK: Beer. Until Lovefoxx began chanting ‘how many beers can you drink before your breath starts to stink?’ and I started to suspect that’s why I wasn’t pashing anyone in the corner.
BLOOD ORANGE Wednesday January 11, Northcote Social Club It was this time a year ago that Devonté Hynes last visited our shores under his old moniker, Lightspeed Champion. What was touted as being a full show with backing band turned out to be a solo gig, a rather baffling one at that. At its worst it was glorified karaoke, in retrospect, the shy, wooly-jumpered indie kid that attempted to rouse a near-empty East Brunswick Club was one in a phase of transition. Jump to 12 months on, and several blocks away to the Northcote Social Club, and Hynes is a man in a more assured mode. Namely as Blood Orange, his new musical guise that turns back the clock on the lush, baroque pop of Lightspeed Champion to the slick '80s funk and soul that scored the neon-lit discos and bars of nocturnal New York City. First spotted pre-show, mingling front-of-stage during the psychedelic rock slashes of support act Tehachapi, Hynes was bedecked in tattered jeans, a leather bomber jacket and matching cap. Looking like a cross between an outcast from The Warriors and Marlon Brando in The Wild One, his stylistic references are as much cultural as they are musical. His tales of lovesick frustration, delivered with a sticky, soulful croon and a pared-back rhythmic bottom-end, are far-better suited to his oneman shtick of laptop, mic and modest guitar-shredding. Swiftly forgetting an awkward start, Hynes soon broke the stage/audience boundaries by diving into the crowd –
mic-stand and all – to continue his set. A slightly shocked audience, splayed at having the fourth wall so clearly shattered, are filled with nervous respect, as if afraid to interrupt his performance. By Forget It, with its breathless pace and catchy refrain of “I am not your saviour” they’re back to treating the room like a dancefloor and less like a space the artist has breached. Flitting between stage and audience, Hynes sequences crisp backing beats, the firm backdrop to his feathery falsetto while throwing faux-oriental shapes across his guitar on the loping Sutphin Boulevard and the slick and sultry Champagne Coast. Even stripped of the pulsing kaleidoscope projections, it is essentially a glorified performance of one guy overcoming his introverted ways for showmanship. A knees-bent, needling guitar solo to finish the hour-long set was an indulgence too far, but the Blood Orange live show lends his swollen grooves a robust edge with Hynes; the vaguely reluctant lightning rod literally at the centre of it all. It’s a spectacle that is nothing if not interesting. AL NEWSTEAD LOVED: Everyone freakin’ out when Dev got crowdbound. HATED: Too short really. DRANK: Dirty Granny cider.
SO FRENCHY, SO CHIC IN THE PARK Sunday January 15, Werribee Park As the sun sets on my 20s and I find myself creaking towards middle age, small changes in my tastes let me know that I am, for better or worse, getting older. Things like developing an appreciation for country music, the realisation that I’ll probably never get into dubstep, or the simple joy of a perfectly curated music festival. The So Frenchy So Chic brand, which regularly hits community radio station and record stores with a hit of Gallic style, made an effortless switch to a live event. Making the most of the idyllic Werribee Park Mansion grounds, the few-thousand strong crowd milled in front of the stage or flopped down on the grass to enjoy the food (delicious and French) and wine (French and delicious) on offer. The atmosphere was breezy, sophisticated and unhurried, a world away from Harvest Festival, recently held at the same venue. By contrast, So Frenchy 2012 was a perfect day of music
in the sunshine, with a handful of carefully chosen acts providing beats (Fefe), campy troubadour folk (Moriarty) and more. Standouts were the soulful aural smoke of Parisian-Nigerian Asa and the impeccably dressed, impossibly cool Nouvelle Vague. For a band whose schtick is reinventing pop single in a bossa nova style, they pack an extraordinary amount of swagger and je ne sais quoi into their show. Elegant, suave, sexy and a dozen other words that English must borrow from the French, they were worth the price of the ticket alone. LIAM PIEPER
LOVED: The sunshine. HATED: The sunburn. DRANK: The finest wines known to man.
TUNE-YARDS Sunday January 15, The Corner From the moment Merril Garbus walked out on stage and started things off by warbling, sideways-yodeling and growling a meandering a capella soliloquy in that inimitable deep tribal timbre, before looping said voice over itself in the same vein to kick-start opener You Yes You, it was fairly apparent this wasn’t going to be your typical ‘buzz-band’ show. For starters, Ms Garbus’ tUnE-yArDs isn’t really a band, per se; more of a collective. Dribs and drabs of whatever’s needed and whoever’s around. Secondly, the talent apparent in the bubbly little mistress’ puzzlingly infectious and cerebral compositions is impossible to lend hyperbole to. Call that hyperbole if you like, but I find it hard to sufficiently praise this stuff. Garbus manages as much as she can on stage herself, from looped drums, vocals and whatever else she decides to whack, to an either beautifully picked or wildly strummed ukulele which also doubles as a percussive loop tool when the mood suits. Bass duties were left to the fantastic Nate Brenner, who had a fair bit to do with recent album w h o k i l l as well; the two read each other well, and their polyrhythmic stick work was an absolute treat, as was the crowd’s eruption when Brenner stepped to the mic late in the set to sing a couple of cute lines before slinking back to his own little slippery bass groove
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world. Two saxophonists rounded out the party (who doubled as ad-hoc percussionists as well), and were especially effective in bits like the opening melody in Bizness, working in tandem with Garber’s self-layered vocals to create the sense of controlled chaos, when what in fact is happening is a collage of melodies playing hopscotch with one another, every bar absolutely stuffed to the brim with creativity and joy. All in all, a tUnE-yArDs show is an exercise in rhythmic precision, ‘hearty’ savant-esque vocals, both as loops and purely as something to both marvel and bounce at/to, all the while proving that technical proficiency, smiling with ridiculous abandon and getting the fuck down are not mutually exclusive. Please see this woman do her thing ASAP! MATT PANAG LOVED: Every minute, especially Killa, which basically showcased amazing examples of everything I just wrote about. HATED: Leaving. DRANK: Fat Yak.
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FESTIVAL SUNDAY IS 12 FEBRUARY. COME AND SEE ALL OF THESE FOR FREE…
SNEAKY SOUND SYSTEM Ê STONEFIELD BRITISH INDIA Ê BOOM CRASH OPERA BLUE KING BROWN Ê MIAMI HORROR DJS WORLD’S END PRESS Ê ALPINE HARRY JAMES ANGUS BAND Ê BIG SCARY BUSBY MAROU Ê LADY LASH Ê OWL EYES THE VAUDEVILLE SMASH Ê ARCHIE ROACH THE RECHORDS Ê AND MANY MORE THE ST KILDA FESTIVAL PRECINCT IS A DRY ZONE. ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION IS ONLY PERMITTED WITHIN DESIGNATED LICENSED AREAS.
St Kilda Festival Image Design Competition Winner : Vanessa Stewart
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