ISSUE 1308 22 FEB 2012
EEEE FFRR
AUSTRALIA’S MOST POPULAR MUSIC PRINT MEDIA
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
UIDE G G I G
TONIGHT ALIVE
URGE OVERKILL
THE USED
100%: DANNY DAZE
MEN, VANESSA AMOROSI, INFINITY, STAR WARS BURLESQUE, SMART BAR, THE VAUDEVILLE SMASH, HORSE, PEAR AND THE AWKWARD ORCHESTRA, A FRENCH BUTLER CALLED SMITH
Thursday 23 February
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
Friday 24 February
Resident DJ’s DEAN T, PHIL ROSS & CHRIS MAC every Friday punch out the best of House. Plus JOHNNY M playing sexy RnB tunes in the Mezzanine.
Saturday 25 February
Resident DJ’s TATE STRAUSS & MATTY G play the best House tunes. Plus JOHNNY M & DJ NOVA playing sexy RnB tunes in the Mezzanine.
To enhance the safety and welfare of all patrons, Crown enforces the following conditions of entry: Entry is prohibited after 2.00am. Dress standards apply. Customers must be 18 years or over and submit their driver’s licence or other photo identification to be scanned upon entry. Customers entering prior to 2.00am will receive a stamp which permits re-entry to the venue after 2.00am at Crown’s discretion. Management reserves all rights. Crown practises responsible serving of alcohol. Personal information collected by Crown will be handled in accordance with Crown’s Privacy Policy.
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AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2012 SPECIAL GUESTS
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Friday Feb 24th THE HIGHWATER BALLROOM BAND CHAMPAGNE REGGAE
THE GENERAL MADE IN CHINA FROM 5PM
LEXI DEROCK AND THE SUGARFOOT BLUES BANDS X 3 SETS! SUNDAY THE 26TH OF FEBRUARY - FROM 9PM BUSY KINGDOM SHOTGUN FUNK FROM 5PM
TOMMY AND THE FOG X 3 SETS! MONDAY THE 27TH OF FEBRUARY - FROM 8PM PASSIONATE TONGUES POETRY HOSTED BY MICHAEL REYNOLDS OPEN STAGE READINGS AND SPOKEN WORD WELCOME WITH FEATURE PERFORMERS EVERY FORTNIGHT, $10 JUGS TUESDAY THE 28TH OF FEBRUARY - FROM 8PM
BRUNSWICK DISCOVERY NIGHT GIVING CHANCES TO UP AND COMING LOCAL TALENT! THIS WEEK:
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9PM FREE ENTRY
Saturday Feb 25th ROYAL PARADE
BETWEEN THE WARS (DUO) 9PM FREE ENTRY
Sunday Feb 26th TINSLEY WATERHOUSE 5:30PM FREE ENTRY Monday nights Open Mic Function Room Available Kitchen Open Every Evening
WEDNESDAY TRIVIA NIGHT
FREE ENTRY - 7:30PM
THU 23rd February NATIONAL SLAM GIG
TASH SULTANA MONIQUE BRUMBY BAND
9.00 - 9:45 10.00 - 10:45
FRI 24th February
ROSENCRANTZ LOVERS JUMP CREEK - EP TOUR FLOUNDER - EP LAUNCH
9.30 - 10:15 10.30 - 11:15 11.30 - 12:15
SAT 25th February 9.30-11.30
THE NUDGELS
SUN 26th February 5.00-7.00
ESTEE BIG BAND
OPENING HOURS
SATURDAY 25 FEB 9.00PM TH
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FRIDAY THE STEINS + THE PALMER BROTHERS
TWO MIGHTY INSTALMENTS: FIRST, THE WIDOWBIRDS, ACOUSTIC, BLUES AND SOUL FROM THESE TALENTED SYDNEY LADS; THEN, HIGHLY CHARGED RHYTHM & BLUES ROCK FROM THE ALMIGHTY
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FREE ENTRY - 9:30PM
SATURDAY THE SHARDS + ATLAS MURPHY FREE ENTRY - 9:30PM
SUNDAY MICHAEL PLATER + GOLDENTONE, $10 JUGS FREE ENTRY - 4:30PM
SUNDAY 26 FEB 5.00PM
FOOD SPECIALS
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$10 - 6:30PM
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Northern College of the Arts & Technology.
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Make music. Live Music. Find your rhythm.
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Secure hands on experience through work placements at Maton Guitars Australia. Looking to find your rhythm? College is currently accepting full-time and part-time enrolments in the in Music or in Sound Production programs. This is an intensive year of study in all aspects of music, including production and promotions. Develop a folio of work for tertiary studies or employment.
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IN THIS ISSUE...
12
HOT TALK
16
TOURING
18
THE SPECIALS
20
ARTS GUIDE, INFINITY BALLET
22
ART OF THE CITY
24
SMART BAR
25
STAR WARS BURLESQUE
26
SOFIA COPOLLA
28
EL TARRO
29
JOHNETTE NAPOLITANO
30
COMEDY LISTINGS
47
MEN, THE BAREBONES
48
INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH, KARAVAN! GYPSY MUSIC FESTIVAL
STAR WARS BURLESQUE P. 25
MEN P. 47
50
BEAT EATS
52
VANESSA AMOROSI
53
URGE OVERKILL
54
TONIGHT ALIVE
55
ELBOW
56
CORE/CRUNCH!
57
THE USED
58
MUSIC NEWS
64
ALBUM OF THE WEEK, SINGLES, CHARTS
THIS WEEK IN 100%:
DANNY DAZE 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
32,788 copies per week
VANESSA AMOROSI P. 52
KARAVAN! GYPSY MUSIC FESTIVAL P. 48
PUBLISHER: Furst Media Pty Ltd. MUSIC EDITOR: Taryn Stenvei ARTS EDITOR / ASSOCIATE MUSIC EDITOR: Tyson Wray EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Nick Taras SUB-EDITORS: Krystal Maynard, Tash Anderson 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: Paddington Wray: tyson@beat.com.au
ACCOUNTANT: accountant@furstmedia.com.au ADMINISTRATION CO-ORDINATOR: Jessica Riley: jessica@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 Hua, 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,
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65
ALBUMS
66
GIG GUIDE
72
BACKSTAGE
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, Sean Gleeson, Aleisha Hall, Louise Hardwick, Daniel Hedger, Nick Hilton, Lyndon Horsburgh, Briony Jones, Lachlan Kanoniuk, Cassandra Kiely, Greg King, Joshua Kloke, Stuart Lynch, Rhys McCrae, Ruth McIver, Adam McKenzie, Kylie McLaughlin, Nick Mason, Tyler Mathes, Krystal Maynard, Anna Megalogenis, Al Newstead, James Nicoli, John O’Rourke, Matt Panag, Jack Parsons, Liam Pieper, Steve Phillips, David PrescottSteed, 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. © 2011 Furst Media Pty Ltd. No part may be reproduced without the consent of the copyright holder.
THE TURNTABLIST TA EXTRAORDINAIRE O & FOUNDING N N M MEMBER OF JURASSIC 5 ANDD OOZOMATLI ACK! K! AT IS BBAC DROPPING P HIS MOST AMAZING MAZ N LIVE CUT ‘N’ SCRATCH C AUDIO-VISUAL BLOWOUT LO EVER EEV VEERR
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AUSTRALIAN TOUR MARCH 2012
F I T Z G E R A L D
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Tix from www.thehifi.com.au
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ADRIAN BOHM by arrangement with ARTIST VOICE presents
WED MAY 9TH THE HI-FI, BRISBANE thehifi.com.au
THU MAY 10TH METRO THEATRE, SYDNEY ticketek.com.au
WED MAY 16TH THE HI FI, MELBOURNE thehifi.com.au
FRI MAY 18TH CAPITOL, PERTH
13, 14 & 15 MARCH THE FORUM
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HOT TALK
THE BIGGEST IN INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS
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FREE SHIT Victoria’s longest-running all ages live music festival Push Over returns to Melbourne’s Abbotsford Convent on Monday March 12 and the lineup is all killer no filler, featuring awesome Aussie talent like 360, Parkway Drive, Tonight Alive, Yacht Club DJs, Snakadaktal and heaps more. Beat are proud to be presenting partners and as such, we’ve been lucky enough to get our hands on a double pass. Head to beat.com.au/freeshit and you could be the lucky bugger to take it home.
11 THE ESPLANADE ST KILDA 3182
THURS FEB 23
* FRONT BAR *
VALENTIINE
KAISER CHIEFS The Groovin The Moo sideshows just keep on rolling in! Hot off the back of their Splendour in the Grass appearance last year, Kaiser Chiefs have released their brand new single, On The Run which bears that trademark Kaiser Chiefs sound and has a chorus filled with enough hooks to have you singing along for days. They'll also be joined by Deep Sea Arcade and Loon Lake. Kaiser Chiefs play the Palace Theatre on Wednesday May 16.
HELLHOUNDS (ALBUM LAUNCH) Kellie Lloyd, Woolhouse. FREE! 9PM * GERSHWIN ROOM *
SLABOTOMY
Dirty Little West, Dan Moore & friends. $10, 8PM
FRIDAY FEB 24 * FRONT BAR *
THE CUBAN BROS.
Milk-T, Low Budget, The Psyde Projects, Moonshine, Rusty From Electric Mary. FREE! From 6pm * GERSHWIN ROOM *
DZ DEATHRAYS
JASON ISBELL
Melbourne's favourite raucous flavoured two-piece have announced their debut album and a tour to coincide. Following years of tearing up shady house parties in Melbourne, the duo are expanding their horizons and stretching the globe. Their debut long player, entitled Bloodstreams, will be a 13-track attack on the senses. It'll hit all good record stores on Good Friday, Friday April 6. DZ Deathrays hit The Tote on Friday April 27.
Here We Rest, the first motto of Jason Isbell’s home state got changed in the early part of last century to a Latin phrase translating to 'we dare defend our rights'. Place plays a prominent role in the songs on Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit’s new album, Here We Rest. Taking a break from a gruelling touring schedule, Jason (previously of the Drive-By Truckers) spent significantly more time at home while writing this album. The time off also had an effect on the musical sensibilities that shaped the album. Jason collaborated with more artists (he played on the latest albums by Justin Townes Earle, Middle Brother, Abby Owens and Coy Bowles), broadening his ideas about how he could present his own music and saying “there’s more out and out rock'n'roll on this album”. To see what the resulting album sounds like in a live capacity you can head down to the Northcote Social Club on Friday March 2, tickets are $33 and available from the venue website or on the door if still available.
WAVVES
St Kilda Stomp! feat.
Another GTM sideshow this time with US wunderkinds Wavves. Making their Australian debut last year blistering Golden Plains, the brainchild of San Diego native Nathan Williams is returning down under to ravage Australian audiences with his songs about slacking around and smoking weed. The good life. Wavves hit The Corner Hotel on Wednesday May 9.
KING CANNONS
Kira Puru & The Bruise, My Echo. $13+BF, 8PM * BASEMENT *
THE DEEP END Rocketqueen. From 9pm
RITES OF PASSAGE
SATURDAY FEB 25
The Rites of Passage Tattoo Convention and Arts Festival is a three day arts, tattoo and music festival with a focus on tattoo history and culture held at the Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton Gardens Melbourne. The festival will provide an opportunity to see or be tattooed by some of the world's most respected, renowned and up-and-coming tattooists, showcasing their artwork on living canvas. The 2012 Rites of Passage Festival features performances from tattooing tribes around the world, and internationally renowned tattoo artists including Shige (Japan), Jeff Gogue (USA), Nick Baxter (USA), Victor Portugal (Poland), plus a bevvy of local Australian artists. As well as the Australian Tattoo Industry Awards, seminars, tattoo history museum, tattoo competitions, roving performers, fashion shows, face of Tiki Town 2012, Dr Sketchy & Lars Krutak aka Tattoo Hunter, plus many more to be announced. For tickets visit ritesofpassagefestival.com.
* FRONT BAR *
SASKWATCH
The Messengers, Cactus Channel, Tess & The Typecast, Phil Para. FREE! From 6pm * GERSHWIN ROOM *
KERSER
Fortay, Nymphlow. Tickets $15 plus bf from theespy.oztix.com.au. From 8pm * BASEMENT *
UNDEAD RIDDEMS
featuring Cubist, Ouch, MC Wasp, Neverview, Token, Phatter Than Jesus, MC Moonie, McNally and more. Tickets $15, from 4pm
MISS LIBERTINE CLOSING
SUNDAY FEB 26
* FRONT BAR *
DALE RYDER BAND MARABOU PROJECT, BAD BOYS BATUCADA. FREE! 5.30 * GERSHWIN ROOM *
IAN RICKARD Chris O’Neil, Kieran Christopherson, Alanna
Local indie pop darlings Big Scary are hitting the road once more, with a hometown show to cap things off. Their 2011 debut album Vacation was lauded by critics (including us!), and has since seen them become a regular fixture on triple j and festivals around the country. Big Scary play The Corner on Tuesday April 24.
THE MACCABEES On the back of being announced for the massive 2012 Groovin' The Moo, The Maccabees have slotted in a Melbourne sideshow to the delight of their fans. Touted as ‘the best young guitar band in Britain’, The Maccabees have shot to fame in recent years, following the release of their third studio album Given To The Wild. The Maccabees play The Hi-Fi on Wednesday May 16.
BLUEJUICE As 2011 closed, Bluejuice dropped their third album Company and it turned out to be one of the best reviewed records of the year. The album is a high energy, brilliantly crafted, pop music anthology that stands Bluejuice aside from both their peers and current music trends. It left behind the inconsistency and genre hopping that some felt had compromised their earlier records, and it delivered on the long term live appeal of the band. They've announced their first national tour for the new album, stopping in to The Hi-Fi for two shows on Saturday April 28 – an all ages session from 2pm 'til 6pm and an over 18 session from 8pm 'til late. Tickets are on sale this Friday February 24, $25 from the venue website.
BALL PARK MUSIC It seems demand is through the roof to see Ball Park Music shred stages around the country on their upcoming 180º Degree Tour. They swiftly sold out their first Melbourne show at The Corner Hotel on Saturday April 14 and have announced two more at the same venue – an under 18s only matinee show on Sunday April 15 and another show on Monday April 16. Tickets are on sale now from cornerhotel.com.
SAT 25TH FEBRUARY
SAT 10TH MARCH
BELINDA CARLISLE
BABY ANIMALS
SEL
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GF
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Deutorum, Hamish Anderson. . Tix 18+bf. From 8pm
One of Beat's favourite venues, Miss Libertine, is set to shut its doors next month. The impending closure was announced through a statement released via the venue's Facebook page, stating: "They say that all good things come to an end. And so, it is with deep sadness that we formally announce the closure of Miss Libertine.....Miss Libertine will rage in the following weeks with a fittingly awesome lineup of events and we invite you all to join us to toast the end of a remarkable era. The story hasn't ended yet... " The final party at Miss Libertine will be Favela Rock on Saturday March 17.
BIG SCARY
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TIX $63
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FRI 16TH MARCH
SAT 17TH MARCH
SAT 21ST APRIL
SAT 28TH APRIL
SAT 10TH MAY
SAT 23RD JUNE
BLACK SORROWS & IAN MOSS TIX $38
10CC (UK) TIX $55
CHOCOLATE STARFISHTIX $30
PEZ TIX $27
STEVENS, BRAITHWAITE & BARKER TIX $37
CADD & MORRIS
Beat Magazine Page 12
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TIX $32
HOT TALK
THE BIGGEST IN INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au
60 SECONDS WITH…
PEAR AND THE AWKWARD ORCHESTRA LADY GAGA Following last week’s confirmation of the Lady Gaga Born This Way Ball tour dates in Australia, the response has been unsurprisingly overwhelming. As a result, promoters Live Nation and Michael Coppel have confirmed additional shows in every major city today with Melbourne dates confirmed as June 27, 28 and 30 at Rod Laver Arena. Tickets are on sale via the Live Nation website and Ticketek. So then, what’s the band name and what do you ‘do’ in the band? My name is Steph Barros Lees, and Pear And The Awkward Orchestra is my solo project. I write and front the band. Bearing the terrible clichéd nature of this question, what do you reckon people will say you sound like? We sound like what pears taste like! We have also had some lovely people say that we sound like Regina Spector meets Bon Iver. We live in the folk/pop world.
THE MEDICS Originating from far north Queensland and now well and truly part of the fabric of the Brisbane music community, The Medics have started 2012 on fire. They were recently anointed as one of triple j’s next crop artists. This places them in illustrious company as a band to watch in 2012. This summer they nailed their intense, guitar-driven performances at Festival Of The Sun, The Dreaming, Woodford, Big Day Out, Laneway and Perth Festivals. The second single, from their forthcoming debut album, is the brutal, live favourite Joseph and is receiving triple j airplay over summer. The You Built Walls tour is designed to celebrate its release. The Medics play the Northcote Social Club on Friday April 13 with tickets available from the venue website.
HUSKY Excellent news for local fellas Husky: Liberation Music have announced that the band have signed a worldwide record deal with famed American label Sub Pop as well as the announcement of an Australian headline tour. Furthermore, the crew will also head overseas for a run of international gigs. Husky will be the first ever Australian band to be signed to Sub Pop, joining talented and highlyregarded acts such as Fleet Foxes, Beach House and Soundgarden. Pretty amazing when you remember they were once winners of triple j Unearthed. Husky play The Corner Hotel on Thursday April 19 and Barwon Club in Geelong on Friday April 20.
SAN CISCO Fremantle’s indie-popsters San Cisco are jumping aboard their rocket ship this April and May for a string of side shows to coincide with their Groovin’ The Moo performances. The San Cisco Rocket Ship will be landing in Melbourne at The Corner Hotel on Wednesday May 2, delighting fans with their lively jangly pop tunes. Check out our album review of their newest EP later on in this here magazine.
MUTEMATH After being announced for Groovin' The Moo, a sideshow has been announced for Grammy nominated New Orleans three-piece, Mutemath. It'll be their very first time in Australia. Since 2004 the genre bending trio have taken it upon themselves to deliver music that is unequivocally and defiantly their own. Since releasing their first EP in late 2004, Mutemath's inherent nature has challenged limitations and expanded parameters. By the time they released their 2006 self-titled debut, their blending of adverse genres into its own innovative sonically adventurous creation earned them a reputation as one of modern music’s most daring young groups. Rooted in New Orleans R&B, fusing elements from psychedelia to traditional gospel to modern electronica, Odd Soul is constructed to live up to its title. Mutemath play the Corner Hotel on May 17, with tickets available from the venue website from 9am, Tuesday February 28.
HEATHEN EARTH As the doomed vessel leaves the harbor for its final voyage, Heathen Skulls will be presenting a Sunday mass mourning of Melbourne bands that'll be delivering an uncompromising soundtrack to the sounds of a sinking ship, aka, another great Melbourne venue that’s lost the war against corporate misunderstanding made up of penny pinching property developers and share holders. On Sunday February 26 at the East Brunswick Club, Heathen Skulls presents an event appropriately titled Heathen Earth, named after Throbbing Gristles swan song. Help eff shit up last time at the East Brunswick Club! The alllocal lineup features Whitehorse, Fire Witch, Coerce and more. Doors 4.30pm and ticket information is on the venue website.
What do you love about making music? Everything. Performing and connecting with people most of all. What do you hate about the music industry? How appearing to be something sometimes seems to be more important than actually being it. If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why? I’d love to sing with/for Ella Fitzgerald, and have her dig my voice because she’s the smoothest of them all. I’d also love to see Kim Deal and Black Francis sitting there getting amongst it, because they’re incredible. If you could assassinate one person or band from popular music, who would it and why? I would never want to assassinate anyone! Ever! What can a punter expect from your live show? Intimacy, honesty, no holds barred, everything I’ve got is what I give live. Handmade sustainable merchandise, and sometimes I also bake. What’ve you got to sell CD-wise? My debut album Smocks! The EP Something Will Come, and the EP Russian Doll. When’s the gig and with who? This Saturday February 25 at the Grace Darling in Collingwood, supported by The Tiger And Me, Nai Palm, and Ainslie Wills. Anything else to add? I’ll be hanging out down here for a while, doing a Friday residency at the Wesley Anne in March and generally kicking it in Melbourne town, so we’re going to be friends.
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Beat Magazine Page 13
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Q&A HORSE GOSSLING Fresh from her main stage performance at Falls Festival and jam-packed Big Top appearance at Southbound, Gossling (aka Helen Croome) has revealed plans for her new single, EP and several live performances in the coming months. As well as supporting Adam Cohen on Friday March 9 and joining the stellar lineup for the Port Fairy Folk Festival on Sunday March 11, Gossling will play a headline show at The Thornbury Theatre on Saturday May 5. Tickets are available from Oztix.
LENNY KRAVITZ
Name/Band: Horse. Define your genre in five words or less: Unique, heartfelt, passionate, catchy, essential. How long have you been gigging and writing? Over 30 years ( I started when I was five). What has been your favourite gig you’ve played to date? Me with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra at the Barrowland – best rock venue in Glasgow. What inspires or has influenced your music the most? The darkest moments, the passionate moments.
What do you think a band has to do these days to succeed? Firstly, for success based on talent, the same as ever great songs and great performance and the ability to work hard. Secondly, based on no talent, sell your soul! Do you have any record releases to date? What? Where can I get it? I am working on my ninth album with a single in a couple of weeks. When are you playing live/releasing your album/EP/ single/etc? The Thornbury Theatre this Friday February 24. Be there or you miss the best gig this year! More info from horsemcdonald.com.
It was announced this week that liquor-licensing approval has resulted in no age restrictions for the Lenny Kravitz F1 shows, which is great news for all Grand Prix goers who can finish off their big day of racing with a big night of rock. Touring Australia for the first time in 18 years, Lenny will be joined by Irish chart-toppers The Cranberries, and Aussie rockers Wolfmother for two huge shows at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Saturday March 17 and Sunday March 18. Tickets from Ticketmaster.
PBS BAND DRIVE This February, PBS 106.7FM is calling on players of all things musical to sign up as a performer member. By supporting the station that supports music, be a part of a gang of music enthusiasts who have a real interest in keeping the local scene ticking. As well as getting all the regular PBS member benefits like giveaways and discounts, Performer members also get thanked on their favourite show every week and go into the draw to win a Launch and Release package with 100 CDs and posters, ten cases of Coopers and a PBS campaign to promote your next big gig. Membership is only $110 for 12 months. Bargain! Bands can sign up online at pbsfm.org.au or give the station a call on 03 8415 1067.
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Name/Band: Marc from The Vaudeville Smash. Ten bands everyone should know about: The Beatles, Earth Wind & Fire, Queen, Todd Rundgren’s Eutopia, Pornland, Cold Chisel, Hall & Oates, Thomas Wynn and the Believers, Miles Davis Band (Kind Of Blue), Steely Dan. Nine food items that you need to make a kickarse dinner party: My mum and nine food items of her choice. Eight possessions that define you: My sax, my copy of Skyrim, my shit van, my girlfriend (kidding!!!), my book collection – I don’t have that many defining possessions. Seven favourite movies/TV shows that go on your mixtape: Office (UK), Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfield, Coming to America, Blood Sport, Breaking Bad, Empire Strikes Back. Six bad habits you can’t escape: Going to bed late, breaking ankles when drunk, caring too much, helping strangers, procrastinating, losing stuff.
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Five people who inspire you: Todd Rundgren, Billy Joel, Art De Vaney, Georges St Pierre, Ricky Gervais. Four things that turn you on: M.J.’s Thriller, singing in tune, killer pop, cruise radio Adelaide. Three goals for your music: Find an amazing manager, record an amazing album, play the Reading Festival. Two live gigs you’ll never forget and why: Our first gig at SxSW – after driving across the USA for three days with no sleep and then having to run around Austin searching for gear (ours didn’t make it through customs) this gig was a release, a relief and fun as. James Brown ’98 – my first ever proper concert and I got to see the Godfather of Soul. I lost my virginity that night too. One day left before the apocalypse and you…: Start believing in God. When’s the gig / release? Northcote Social Club, this Saturday February 25.
FLAP! Flap! are proud to announce the impending release of their second album A Great Day For The Race – which is in stores next month. Lead single Rock In Space hit the airwaves at the end of last year and was an automatic winner, spending a month straight in the top ten most played songs on Australian radio through AMRAP’s AIR IT and receiving rave reviews as a precursors to the upcoming long player. With a huge 2012 planned, including a three month European summer tour in June, national album launch dates for Flap! will be announced very soon, but first up, Victorian audiences are being treated to two special album pre-release shows at Ruby’s Lounge on Thursday March 1 and The Regal Ballroom on Friday March 2.
UTOPIA LANEWAY FESTIVAL
PIETA BROWN A free-spirited beauty who is both self-possessed and disarmingly unaffected, Pieta Brown is being hailed as a modern American troubadour. With a deep abiding saturation in blues and folk beyond her years and a bit of hipster swagger, Pieta continues to bend forms to suit her unmistakable style and mesmerising melodies. She returns to Australia, playing the Port Fairy Folk Festival from Friday March 9 - Monday 12, Bella Union on Tuesday March 13 and the Carnival Of Suburbia in Oakleigh on Wednesday March 14.
This Sunday February 26, the Bendigo Hotel hosts the Utopia Laneway Festival. Utopia aims to create awareness and raise funds for refugees in Afghanistan. Partnering with Hope Afar, they will be donating proceeds from the event directly to communities within these troubled areas. The festival includes live music, food and market stalls, art and fashion. Any donation, no matter how large or small, would be appreciated, and a little really does go a long way. There are many ways to show your support. Even coming down, enjoying the food from one of the food stalls or bidding on an auction piece is a contribution. Bands and DJs on the day include Tehachapi, High Tea, 2 Fuddha, Heavy Innit, The Operatives, Wasab, Dysphemic & Miss Eliza and Treats. It runs from 12pm ‘til 5pm.
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XAVIER RUDD
ZOOPHYTE
After selling out his first show at The Forum on Wednesday March 21, the heartfelt and spiritual Xavier Rudd has announced a second Melbourne show for his Follow The Sun tour at The Hi-Fi on Tuesday March 20. Tickets are on sale this Friday but get in quick.
Touted as one of the more progressive and exciting bands to emerge from the Melbourne independent music scene, 2012 sees Zoophyte return to the stage with a blistering new sound and killer new songs. In 2007, their single Better Days receive spins nationally on triple j, key community stations and commercial radio and after a brief hiatus in 2009, the band are back with a new single this March. They play the Zoo Twighlight concert series this Saturday February 25, plus The Evelyn on Saturday March 17 and their single launch at The Prince Bandroom on Friday April 13.
FU MANCHU As well as headlining the massive Cherry Rock 2012, stoner rock band Fu Manchu will be taking their show on the road with a headline tour across Australia, playing The Tote on Monday April 30, with support from San Francisco sludge metal duo Black Cobra and Matt Sonic And The High Times. Tickets are on sale this Friday from The Tote.
TIN SPARROW Melbourne fans of Sydney four-piece Tin Sparrow are in for a treat this April, as the band has announced they will be embarking on an intimate run of East Coast tour dates to support the release of their highly anticipated second EP. They’ll be stopping in to Melbourne to play the Grace Darling Hotel on Saturday April 21.
PUSH OVER Victoria’s longest-running all ages live music festival Push Over is excited to announce the nine finalists in the FReeZA Push Start Band Competition Grand Final, to go head to head at this year's Push Over Festival on Monday March 12 at The Abbotsford Convent, Melbourne. The nine finalists from across the state includ The Brass Monkeys, Captain Custard, Pete Jones, Altitude, Animaux, Hally, Paper Arcade, Daydream Arcade and Display. Congratulations guys! Playing times are also now available on the Push Over website at thepush.com.au.
60 SECONDS WITH…
DESTROY SHE SAID
So then, what’s the band name and what do you ‘do’ in the band? I'm Youngy, the guitarist in Destroy She Said. Bearing the terrible clichéd nature of this question, what do you reckon people will say you sound like? AC/DC, Rose Tattoo, The Angels, and Soundgarden, with an original modern twist. It's over the top pub rock! What do you love about making music? Creating something out of nothing. It's like a guy's version of giving birth. We have lots of little monsters now. What do you hate about the music industry? We hate lots of the music, and lots of the industry. If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why? Probably John Lennon. John was pretty funny, so I think he'd appreciate the dirty humour. If you could assassinate one person or band from popular music, who would it and why? Deni Hines? Sorry you mean popular music don't you, um The Eagles need to be stopped. They are pure evil, and their songs are too bloody nice! What can a punter expect from your live show? Honesty, we are real and I think people pick up on that. It's also loud and in your face with songs that kick your arse. What’ve you got to sell CD-wise? The current EP Music For Muscle Cars, and some copies of our self-titled debut. Both are available from destroyshesaid.com.au, on iTunes worldwide, or at our shows. When’s the gig and with who? Cherry Bar this Saturday February 25, with The Deep End, and Home To Kelly. Anything else to add? Come down if you like rock 'n' roll that punches you in the face!
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Beat Magazine Page 15
TOURING
WHO'S ON TOUR, WHERE AND WHEN
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INTERNATIONAL DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE The Palace February 22 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 THE CUBAN BROTHERS The Espy February 24 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 UNEARTH The Espy 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 BLACK VEIL BRIDES Thornbury Theatre 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 LADI6 Prince Bandroom March 2 SOUNDWAVE Melbourne Showgrounds March 2 JASON ISBELL Northcote Social Club March 2
Beat Magazine Page 16
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 PORT FAIRY FOLK FESTIVAL Port Fairy March 9 - 12 ADAM COHEN Regal Ballroom March 9 WILD FLAG Corner Hotel March 9 BONNIE 'PRINCE' BILLY Regal Ballroom March 8, National Theatre March 9 ROOTS MANUVA Prince Bandroom March 10 ENDLESS BOOGIE The Tote March 10 GOLDEN PLAINS Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre March 10-12 FUTURE MUSIC FESTIVAL Flemington Racecourse March 11 REAL ESTATE Corner Hotel March 12 FIRST AID KIT Famous Spiegeltent March 12, The Corner March 14 PIETA BROWN Bella Union March 13 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, 33 ELECTRELANE Corner Hotel March 23 JAMES WALSH, SARAH MCLEOD 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 29, 30 THE ROYAL BATHS The Tote March 31 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 CANNED HEAT Corner Hotel 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 THE FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS Corner Hotel April 8 SUBLIME Palace Theatre April 9 ZIGGY MARLEY Corner Hotel April 9 SEASICK STEVE Corner Hotel April 10 CANDI STATON Toff In Town 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 MARK LANEGAN BAND Forum Theatre April 26 AN HORSE Corner Hotel April 27 THE EXPLOITED Corner Hotel April 28 CHERRY ROCK Cherry Bar April 29 FU MANCHU The Tote April 30 CITY & COLOUR Palais Theatre May 2 ANDREW W.K. Corner Hotel May 4 WAVVES Corner Hotel May 9 THE MOUNTAIN GOATS Corner Hotel May 10 KAISER CHIEFS Palace Theatre May 16 THE MACABEES The Hi-Fi May 16 MUTEMATH Corner Hotel May 17 NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK/BACKSTREET BOYS Rod Laver Arena May 18, 19 FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE Rod Laver Arena May 20 LADY GAGA Rod Laver Arena June 27, 28, 30 MELISSA ETHERIDGE The Plenary July 15
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NATIONAL BETWEEN THE BAYS Penbank Morning Peninsula February 25 LAST DINOSAURS The Toff February 28 FLAP! Ruby's Lounge March 1, Regal Ball room March 2 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 FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS Toff In Town March 17 CLARKEFIELD MUSIC FESTIVAL Clarkefield March 18 XAVIER RUDD The Hi-Fi March 20, The Forum March 21 BODYJAR, ANTISKEPTIC, ONE DOLLAR SHORT Corner Hotel March 31 YACHT CLUB DJS Prince Bandroom April 5, Bended Elbow April 6, Karova Lounge April 7, 8 THE MEDICS Northcote Social Club April 13 BALL PARK MUSIC The Corner April 14, 15, 16 HUSKY Corner Hotel April 19, Barwon Club April 20 BLEEDING KNEES CLUB Northcote Social Club April 21 TIN SPARROW Grace Darling April 21 BIG SCARY April 24 JOHN BUTLER The Hi-Fi April 24, 25 BLUEJUICE The Hi-Fi April 28 SAN CISCO Corner Hotel May 2 GOSSLING Thornbury Theatre May 5 BOY & BEAR The Hi-Fi May 20 LANIE LANE Corner Hotel May 26
RUMOURS Sisqo, Grimes, new Lana Del Rey dates, At The Drive In, The War On Drugs = New Announcements = Beat Proudly Presents
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Beat Magazine Page 17
THE SPECIALS BY PATRICK EMERY
The Iron Lady portrays an England beset with social, political and economic strife. Strikes, food shortages and racial conflict played against the pomp and ceremony of the Silver Jubilee. By the late ‘70s, with the Winter of Discontent eroding into the English people’s traditional resilience, the Conservative Party swept to power, winding back welfare programs and cracking down on industrial unrest. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher asserted that there was no such thing as society, only the individual. It was into this tumultuous environment that multi-racial ska band The Specials were born in 1977. The Specials came from the same subcultural and political melting pot as punk, first challenging the staid post-war institutions that had come to suffocate English society, and subsequently firing rhetorical bullets at Thatcher’s brutal social and economic policies. Lynval Golding, guitarist and founding member of The Specials, describes it as ‘strange’ to see the events of his youth portrayed on the big screen in The Iron Lady. In fact, Golding says when he thinks back to his early days in The Specials, he’s immediately drawn to the images shown in the movie. “My recollection of that time is seeing part of it on the big screen in The Iron Lady,” Golding says. “We played a gig in 1979 that’s shown in the film, although we’re not actually on the soundtrack – our songs would never be used in that film!” he laughs. “But I can remember the miners’ strikes and all the unrest that’s shown in the film. There can’t be many bands that can go back to their roots in that way!” Golding says. Golding was born in the then-English colony of Jamaica in 1951. A few years later his family migrated to England, where they settled in Coventry. In 1977, Golding, Horace Panter – (also known as Sir Horace Gentleman) – and Jerry Dammers formed The Coventry Automatics, which eventually morphed into The Specials. “Jerry Dammers got the band together originally, and I was the first member,” Golding recalls. “And then Horace Panter joined. But we were the original three members.” The Specials were soon joined by Silverton Hutchinson (who left early in the band’s career), Neville Staple, Roddy Byers and Terry Hall. Dammers had already sowed the seeds of the band’s political stance, which would subsequently become a significant ingredient in the band’s public and musical image. Ska had its roots in the Caribbean islands, most notably in Staple and Golding’s home country of Jamaica. While England wasn’t the only country with colonial interests in the Caribbean, the concentration of post-war Caribbean migration toward England meant that it became the focus for the fledgling European ska movement. “The ska in the band came from me and Neville,” Golding says. “I think The Specials played a huge part in educating people in Europe about ska music, and reggae,” he says. While paying tribute to Bob Marley’s efforts in bringing reggae to the attention of the world, Golding has a surprising nomination for his own favourite band. “When we were touring in Europe we played with AC/DC,” Golding recalls. “They’re my favourite, favourite band! We did a gig with Bon Scott just before he died. It was absolutely fantastic!” The other critical influence on The Specials was The Clash. Joe Strummer had been to see The Specials play in 1977, and suggested them as support act for The Clash shortly after. The tour introduced The Specials to an audience well beyond their Coventry roots, and led eventually to The Specials’ nationwide popularity. “The Clash tour probably gave us our audience,” Golding says. “It proved to us that we could crossover. I don’t think that without Joe Beat Magazine Page 18
Strummer and Mick Jones there would be The Specials. They are just fantastic guys.” Jerry Dammers formed the Tru-Tone label in 1979, which released The Specials’ debut single, Gangsters. The Specials had already adopted the pork pie and suit look adopted partly from the mod subculture – of which Dammers had once been a member – and partly from Golding and Staple’s own Caribbean roots. “Back then when I was leaving Jamaica, you’d have your best clothes on – you’d be wearing a suit and looking very nice. You dressed up in your best clothes,” Golding says. “So dressing up like we did was part of my roots.”
“ENGLAND HAS BECOME A MULTI-RACIAL COUNTRY, AND THERE’S NO DOUBT A MULTI-RACIAL BAND HELPED STOP RACISM.”
The Specials went on to release a series of successful singles, including a re-worked version of Dandy Livingstone’s Rudy, A Message To You (re-titled A Message To You, Rudy), Too Much Too Young and Ghost Town. The Specials also formed a strong bond with Los Angeles girl punk band The Go-Gos during the latter band’s European tour in 1980. Specials singer Terry Hall would go on to write Our Lips Are Sealed with Go-Gos’ guitarist Jane Wiedlin (in addition to becoming The Go-Gos’ most successful single, the song would also be recorded by Hall’s post-Specials band, Fun Boy Three). Golding is circumspect, almost coy in describing the relationship between The Specials and Fun Boy Three. “In this wonderful world we live in we’ve got guys and girls,” Golding says cryptically. “Terry Hall wrote this wonderful song with The Go-Gos called Our Lips Are Sealed – that song says a lot. Let’s just say it was a great combination,” Golding cackles. The Specials were at the forefront of Rock Against Racism, a project instigated in the punk and ska music community to stem the rise of racism, and to counteract
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the insidious influence of right-wing rhetoric in the punk movement. Thirty years on, and Golding says England has evolved since that time for the better, though he’s regularly disappointed with what’s seen as a return racist commentary. “England has become a multi-racial country, and there’s no doubt a multiracial band helped stop racism” Golding says. “England has become the world. I think if we can put together all these people in the one country, then that’s a good thing. England is no longer just white – and that’s a good thing,” he says. “But I’m also very saddened that racism is being used, even on the football field. I’m a big football fan – I follow Chelsea. I’ve gone to games where there’s been lots of racism directed at players on the pitch. I am really embarrassed when there’s this chanting at black players on the pitch – calling them ‘black bastard!’ I was at a game when someone was calling the black players black bastards, and then he turned to me and said, ‘I’m not talking about you – I’m just talking to the players.’ How can it not be about me as well?” Golding asks rhetorically. In the early ‘80s, and with internal tensions rising, the members of The Specials went their separate ways. Hall, Staple and Golding formed Fun Boy Three (including collaborating with the members of Bananarama) while Dammers pursued his own political agenda under the moniker The Special AKA, including chart topping Free Nelson Mandela. Over the next 20-odd years the members of The Specials participated in the occasional part-reunion and oneoff project. Golding says the seeds of The Specials’ 2009 reunion – albeit without Jerry Dammers – began when Golding tried to organise a 25th anniversary tour. With the various members spread around the world – Staple has lived in Los Angeles for many years – logistics proved a significant problem. “I tried getting everyone back together for the 25 year anniversary,” Golding says. “But it took five years to get everyone back together. But once we did manage it, it’s been fantastic to play again.” The ongoing absence of Jerry Dammers – guitarist, principal songwriter and arguably the band’s political protagonist – has been something of a sore point. While Terry Hall was quoted in the English music media a few years ago as saying the door was open for Dammers to return, Dammers has publicly criticised The Specials’ reformation, claiming he had no option but to decline to participate. Golding is disappointed Dammers hasn’t been involved, but says it was unavoidable, given Dammers’ refusal to agree to the other members’ idea for the reunion tour. “Jerry Dammers isn’t playing with this lineup. We couldn’t agree with his idea with what to do with the 30th anniversary tour. There are lots of members in this band, and it’s a democratic decision. That’s the thing about democracy – you have to go with the majority decision,” Golding says. But right now Golding’s immediate frustration is with the change in weather he’s just been confronted with after returning home to his adopted hometown of Seattle. “I was in Jamaica over Christmas, and I’ve just got back to Seattle. When I was in Jamaica, the weather there is absolutely beautiful,” Golding remarks in his Jamaica-via-Coventry accent. “And then I got off the plane in Seattle, where I live now, and it’s raining. It’s absolutely terrible! All this rain reminds me so much of England!” he laughs. “I’m so looking forward to coming back to Australia – I absolutely love it. I’ll make sure I leave all the bad weather behind!” THE SPECIALS play Byron Bay Bluesfest, taking place from Thursday April 5 to Monday April 9. They also play the Palace Theatre in Melbourne on Thursday April 5.
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THIS WEEK: ON SCREEN Wicked Wednesdays at The Astor Theatre are extra wicked this week with a double screening Grindhouse presentation of Tarantino’s Death Proof and Rodriguez’ Planet Terror. The two films – originally presented in America as a double feature to replicate the ‘grindhouse’ cinema culture of the ‘70s – did not receive the same treatment here in Australia, so this is a rare opportunity to see the films back-to-back on the big screen. Wicked Wednesdays are only $10, so for only $5 a movie, if you don’t come then you are a fucking banana. The Astor will also be screening The Breakfast Club/Back To The Future III, Che and Orson Welles’ The Trial/Macbeth this week; visit astortheatre.net.au for the full program.
ON STAGE From the bro that gave us such masterpieces of English literature as Hamlet, Macbeth and Shakespeare In Love, comes a double-bill production of Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 1 and The Most Excellent And Lamentable Tragedy Of Romeo And Juliet. In Henry IV, King Henry IV is beset by strife. His soul is sick, his body faltering and his kingdom is stuck in civil war. His enemy is a killing machine. And his heir is a playboy prodigal #firstworldproblems am I right? So what does he want to do? Start a religious war in the Middle East. Henry you old dog! The play will be showcased in ‘original practices’ – all-male, old school costume. In The Most Excellent And Lamentable Tragedy Of Romeo And Juliet, guy falls in love with girl, girl falls in love with guy, their families fight and shit happens but it’s cool because guy then makes Inception. Also this version features a cast of six young women – one of whom plays Juliet and five of whom play Romeo – in which Shakespeare’s iconic love story is re-imagined within the erotically-charged world of teenage girls. Contemporary and morally provocative, Zoey Dawson’s production tackles Romeo and Juliet’s underrepresented but volatile themes of violence, youth suicide and the sexualisation of children. The plays are on at Fortyfivedownstairs from Tuesday February 28 until March 11…or are they? (they are). Check out fortyfivedownstairs.com for more info.
ON DISPLAY Hola Holga! and Tokyo Crash Hat are two up-and-coming artists with distinct styles who are merging together their mix of natural and unnatural art forms for this one-off collaborative exhibition. The headspace collection from Hola Holga! (Melbourne based artist Amy Bugeja) – influenced by religious iconography, Mediterranean and Latin American culture as well as family histories – Hola works with mixed media, particularly film photography and wood. With a fondness for the lost art of handpainted animation, Tokyo Crash Hat produces a range of peculiar robots which are hand printed and painted onto layered sheets of Perspex giving her work a sense of life, movement and depth of field. Her work bounds into the 3D space with a small selection of cast resin robots. It’s at No Vacancy Gallery Project Space at Federation Square from Tuesday February 28.
BEAT’S PICK OF THE WEEK:
INFINITY BY REBECCA HARKINS-CROSS
With a lineage stretching back nearly 400 years, ballet is hardly renowned for its avant-gardism. Since its advent in the Italian Renaissance, this form of dance has retained much classicism up until the present day, an air of the esoteric clinging like soil to its aristocratic roots. But on the anniversary of their 50th year, the Australian Ballet are set to challenge such perceptions with Infinity, a series of three new works focused squarely on the artform’s future. Bringing together some of Australia’s most esteemed choreographers — Graham Murphy (formerly of the Sydney Dance Company), Gideon Obarzanek (formerly of Chunky Move) and Stephen Page of Bangarra Dance Theatre — these innovators will no doubt push ballet’s parameters. The only theme that unites Infinity’s parts is that they are new works, all of which question the way we define ballet in the 21st century. It is only fitting that Graham Murphy would return to the Australian Ballet for its jubilee celebrations — he began his career as a dancer with the company in 1968, going on to become one of Australia’s most stalwart choreographers. In contrast to the narrative-driven works that he has created of late, Murphy’s contribution The Narrative of Nothing is as abstract as its title would suggest. Using minimalistic sets and costumes, Murphy has discarded the opulence and pomp of classical ballet to emphasise its gestural essence. “It’s really about the body and the movement, and I guess when that happens you’re so exposed,” says Brooke Lockett, one of the dancers performing in Murphy’s piece. “Costumes and sets and all that kind of lavish stuff can hide a lot, but when that’s all stripped away you really do just see the movement”. These movements will be set to a score by acclaimed composer Brett Dean (who most recently composed the operatic adaptation of Peter Carey’s Bliss). Cocommissioned by The Australian Ballet, the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic and the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Dean’s ‘Fire Music’ is dedicated to the victims of Black Saturday. As part of his research, he conducted interviews with a fire scientist from the CSIRO, structuring his composition around the motions and propulsion of fire.
FREE SHIT Three brave new works – from Graeme Murphy, Stephen Page and Gideon Obarzanek – come together to form Infinity as part of The Australian Ballet’s 50th year celebration at Arts Centre Melbourne. Graeme Murphy’s choreography offers an emotional new work exploring the extremes of excess and drought, and light and shadow. Bangarra Dance Theatre’s Stephen Page leads a new collaboration featuring dancers from both Bangarra and The Australian Ballet, set to a score by award-winning composer David Page. Gideon Obarzanek’s new work will engineer a marriage between his technologically daring contemporary work and his classical beginnings. Infinity looks to be one of the highlights of Australian ballet in recent memory, so don’t miss it. It’s on at the Arts Centre from Friday February 24 until Tuesday March 6. A post-performance Q & A session follows the performance on Monday March 5, free to patrons who have purchased a ticket to that performance.
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Lockett has worked with Murphy several times in the past, but has found The Narrative of Nothing to be an entirely different experience. “At this point in my career, this is the most definite input as an artist that I’ve been able to have,” explains Lockett. “You have a voice and you feel valued, and every day every individual is growing in the piece in some way… We’re making something really special together and each day it just gets better and better”. This sentiment is echoed by Benjamin Stuart-Carberry, who will be dancing in Gideon Obarzanek’s There’s Definitely A Prince Involved. Having only been with the Australian Ballet since 2010, Stuart-Carberry has also found it challenging to adapt to Orbarzanek’s choreographic style. “He works very differently to a lot of people who come in and make work on us,” says Stuart-Carberry. “[Gideon] might have some idea, but he’ll really just go with the flow and take a lot from the dancers, whereas a lot of other people will come in with a kind of staid movement vocabulary that they want to put across”. It has been over 20 years since Obarzanek made a ballet production, his most recent position as Artistic Director of contemporary dance company Chunky Move. (Obarzanek stepped down from the role in 2011.) In preparation for the piece, he asked friends and colleagues what they knew about ballet, which, to his surprise, was not a lot. Most referred to Swan Lake, but Orbarzanek found that each persons’ recollection of the story was vastly different. “They came up with the themes of love and evil and good kind of thing, so I think he’s taken that and reflected it into our personal lives,” explains Stuart-Carberry. “You often search for this idealised, balletic Hollywood movie
moments and experiences, but in real life its much more messy and tangled. I think people are remembering the story of Swan Lake as a bit more real”. Revising ballet’s traditional narratives is also central to Stephen Page’s Warumuk — in the dark night. Page utilises this European artform to tell an Indigenous story, exploring Aboriginal astronomy and the creation myths that are said to be reflected in the constellations. The piece is based on conversations Page had with Yolngu families last year in Yirrkala, an Aboriginal township North East Arnhem Land. Dancer Jacob Sofer has found the most difficult task is adapting to Bangarra’s style of movement — a world apart from the pirouettes and pliés of ballet. “It’s a whole new way of moving,” he explains. “It’s very grounded. There’s a lot of squatting on your knees. It’s barefoot which we just don’t do a lot. But it’s a lot of fun. “We did a few steps the other day that were kind of breakdance, on your shoulder/on your face handstands, that sort of thing. It was a little interesting to see the ballet boys trying to work those out!” With Infinity’s three works being rehearsed separately, the dancers are anticipating opening night as much as the audience. “We’re like this little family and you’re always such a big part of everything together, but on dress rehearsal and opening night it really will be like going out to watch your friends do a show that you know nothing about,” says Lockett. “I think there’ll be a really lovely, supportive feel”. Infinity will be performed at the Arts Centre from Friday February 24 – Tuesday March 6. For bookings or further information, visit australianballet.com.au.
AVATAR Directed by James Cameron and starring Australian Sam Worthington, sci-fi epic Avatar is the highest grossing film of all time. The film was widely applauded for its groundbreaking and stunning 3D special effects, causing a paradigm shift in the film industry towards an obsession with 3D film. If you missed the majesty of this film on the big screen or would like to revisit the magical world of Pandora, IMAX are showing the film on their colossal screen, and we have a few double passes to give away.
DUE PASI, DUO CUORI HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN Based on a fake trailer from Tarantino’s and Rodriguez’ Grindhouse films, Hobo With A Shotgun is the tale of a homeless vigilante who kills corrupt cops, paedophile Santas, and other lowlifes with his shotgun. Most accurate. Title. Ever. The film – rather surprisingly for its genre – has been praised by critics and has slowly gained cult status. It’s on at Shadow Electric Open Air Cinema this Sunday February 26, and we have a few passes to give away.
Due Paesi, Due Cuori was based on one of those rare true tales told to the director that so captivated him, he had to share. Translating to ‘two countries, two hearts’, Rob Lo Bosco, a practitioner of Chinese medicine, was told the story by a massage client, he said, of an Italian migrant’s journey to reinvent her life. The lead character escaped a life of peasantry manufacturing clothes in an Italian village, but on settling in Melbourne discovered unnerving illuminations which challenged the safety of her previous way of life. Due Paesi, Due Cuori is showing from Friday February 24 until Sunday March 4 at The Clocktower Theatre, and we have a couple of passes to give away.
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GONE Set for release this Thursday February 23, Gone is a chilling suspense thriller starring Red Riding Hood’s Amanda Seyfried as Jill who comes home from a night shift to discover her sister Molly has been abducted. As Jill was kidnapped a year before but escaped, she’s convinced that the same serial killer has come back and taken Molly. Afraid that her sister will be dead by dawn, Jill sets out alone on a nail-biting chase to come face-to-face with the killer. We have a couple of passes to give away.
Long Necks
SmartBar 01.03.12
Melbourne Museum
6-10pm PopUp Bar Taxidermy, ScientiямБc Dissection & DJ Tickets Online
VISIT MUSEUMVICTORIA.COM.AU PH 13 11 02
THE VAULT
With Tyson Wray. Got news, gossip, reviews, thoughts, tip-offs, complaints, hate mail? Email tyson@beat.com.au or send by ESP before Friday.
This is something for everyone. Monthly salon for all things creative, The Vault, is getting ready to hold its first event for 2012 at the end of this month and, as always, it’s going to be worth a check out. Alternating between guest speakers and discussion topics on the last Monday of every month, The Vault aims to gather practiced creative minds and new comers. An enjoyable event for young and old, see what all the fuss is about and head to The Loop on Monday February 27, 6pm.
CATAPULT Is the stage your oyster? Do you love to put on a good performance? Need a foot in the door? Well, my friends, look no further. St Martins Youth Centre is currently seeking applicants for their 2012 Catapult development program – a program that aims to discover and establish up and coming performers. This year, St Martins is looking for eight diverse emerging artists in their first or second years of arts practice that will help change the face and future of Australian theatre. Running from Monday March 26 – Friday December 14, the program will be sure to catapult participants into the very successful next stage of their careers. Apply for St Martins’ Catapult program through stmartinsyouth.com.au. But be sure to get in quick, people. Applications close on Friday February 24.
GLAS Home is where the heart is, is it not? Having worked in Berlin for the past year, award-winning Australianbased artist, Bridget Mac, just wants to settle back down on home turf. Winner of the 2010 National Youth Portrait prize, Mac’s latest exhibition, GLAS, is sure to entrance and entice with its site image manipulation, illusions of vortexes and clever symmetries. With mind-warp imagery and ethereal landscapes which momentarily appear as light reflects and refracts across walls, this is one whirlwind exhibition not to be missed. Welcome Miss Mac home as GLAS opens at Footscray’s Trocadero Art Space from Saturday March 3. For more information, head to bridgetmac.net.
ARREBATO ENSEMBLE You know that you must be doing something right when the Daily Telegraph describes you as “a globetrotting exploration with boundless energy and a lack of inhibition.” That’s exactly the case for the Arrebato Ensemble. Redefining the world of flamenco for contemporary audiences with a combination of flamenco sounds and rhythms, the Arrebate Ensemble are getting ready to bring their fusion sounds to Melbourne for one night of jazz-inspired love. A refreshing and exciting force within the Australian
KAGE Established as one of Australia’s finest dance companies, KAGE is getting ready to celebrate their 15th birthday in style as partners in crime – Kate Denborough and Gerard Van Dyck – present one of their numerous diverse, funny, original and moving bodies of work to audiences. Sundowner will kick start KAGE’s 2012 program as it reflects the experiences and frustrations of younger onset dementia through the combination of dance, drama and original composition. Catch the company’s finest in action – head to the Arts Centre as KAGE presents Sundowner from Tuesday May 8 – Sunday May 13.
FRIDAY ON MY MIND Keen on gaining some insight into all things screen arts and broadcasting from the pros? Well, you’re in luck. The Australian Film Television and Radio School are getting ready to launch their highly respected screen arts discussion forum – Friday On My Mind – for the first time ever in Melbourne this March. Held on every Friday of March, the sessions will bring together practitioners from the likes of film, television, new media and the performing arts to discuss their works and ideas. Kicking off on Friday March 2, AACTA Award winner, Matthew Saville, will make his mark and set the precedent for guests to come. Best part of it all? It’s free. All you need to do is rock up to ACMI every Friday of March from 5pm-6pm.
GUY PHELAN Some call him the modern day Jean Michel Basquati, but Guy Phelan has made a name for himself all on his own. Interested in the way that the world and its facets relate to humans, this painting prodigy identifies himself as a medium, presenting the outside world in its quintessential form. The result? A myriad of paintings abundant with emotional colour and poetic narratives. Experience the heart and soul of Guy Phelan as his eyes see nature, his heart sees colour and we see the beautiful result. Head to Off The Kerb Gallery from Friday March 2 – Friday March 23.
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It’s that age-old problem: you want to see something live but, due to cross-sea issues, doing so is an unlikely feat. Well, with thanks to the beautiful creation of cinema screens, such a task is not as difficultly achieved as once imagined. Gotterdammerung, or The Twilight of the Gods, is the final opera in Wagner’s ring cycle and will make its way to our screens for viewing pleasure – the next best thing to actually being there, no? Embrace in theatrical magic as Wagner’s Gotterdammerung is presented at Cinema Nova on Saturday March 3 and Sunday March 4. For more information, head to themetinaustralia.info.
SYMB*LS & S!GNS The Spice Girls sang about two becoming one and, sure, they had a good thing going…but did they ever wonder what would happen when three became one? Well, they don’t have to ‘cause we have the answer. Utilising the diverse, artistic genius of Chrs Prknsn, Monique Barnett and Chloe Mann, Obscura Gallery’s latest exhibition SYMB*LS & S!GNS explores humanity’s effort to see, interpret and connect. Focused around wordless communication, evaluation of the self through popular culture and our refusal to truly open our eyes, SYMB*LS & S!GNS will make its way to St Kilda’s Obscura Gallery from Thursday March 1.
THERAPIST
JAM WITH THE MSO
Long celebrated for his film compositions, cultural saboteur and noted jazz devil, Barry Adamson, is getting ready to present the Australian debut screening of his first feature film, Therapist. Complete with looping narrative and world-within-a-world structure, Therapist is unashamedly an artists’ film, exploring the contradiction between memory, fantasy, truth and the experience of life itself. With the first screening having already sold out on Monday March 19, snap up a ticket and get amongst it while you still can. Therapist will be shown at Pure Pop Records on Tuesday March 20, 7pm. Tickets available from the venue or on 95255066.
Fancy yourself as a bit of a violin god? Ever wanted to jam with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra? Well, look no further. People of all ages are being invited to join musicians of the MSO and members of the MSO ArtPlay Graduate Ensemble in what promises to be a high-energy pre-concert event. Led and created by one of Melbourne’s most prolific community music leaders, Gillian Howell, young and old are invited to head along to Sidney Myer Music Bowl and to make some noise this Saturday February 20. And don’t feel the need to bring your finest of instruments – just a bit of creativity around what you can pack in your picnic basket.
HEIDE
WILLIAM RICKETTS SANCTUARY
Ah Heide, you always deliver the artistic goods. Known best for its spawning of some of Australia’s greatest contemporary artists, Heide Museum of Modern Art is getting ready to present its exhibition highlights for 2012. Ken Whisson’s exhibition As If will kick-start the year as it makes its into Heide from Saturday March 17. From then on, it’s just one highlight after another. Albert Tucker, Louise Saxton and Danila Vassilieff are just some of the artists that are set to feature on the walls of Heide. For more information on exhibitions, head to heide.com.au.
GOTTERDAMMERUNG
It’s one of those picture-perfect destinations, and now perfect pictures will help create a further sense of serenity as a series of meandering photographs are displayed at William Ricketts Sanctuary. Situated in a ferny glade in the Dandenongs, the Sanctuary is a place of tranquillity due to both the natural setting and mystical sculptures that are half hidden amongst the ferns along the pathways. Let these images take you on an enticing journey through the magical flora of the Dandenongs. Visit William Ricketts Sanctuary from Friday February 23.
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RITES OF PASSAGE Music and tattoos? Read on. Held over three days, the Rites of Passage Tattoo Convention & Arts Festival will include – you guessed it – everything tattoo and music, as well as an added focus on tattoo history and culture. Festivalgoers will get the opportunity to see or be tattooed by some of the worlds most renowned tattoo artists, including the likes of Shige and Jeff Gogue. If that wasn’t worth enough persuasion, profits made from the festival will be donated to helping fix old growth forest and agricultural land. Embark on the cultural journey of a lifetime as the Rites of Passage Tattoo Convention & Arts Festival heads to the Royal Exhibition Building on Friday April 27.
WHAT WOULD YOU HIDE TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY?
Strong coarse language and violence
IN CINEMAS FEBRUARY 23
SMARTBAR BY ELIZABETH REDMAN
The Melbourne Museum staff know that if you’re a 20 or 30-something without kids, you probably don’t go to the museum much. It’s open during the day while you’re at work and on the weekends it’s full of children and families. So the programmers have come up with an idea to entice you back there: the SmartBar, an adults-only evening at the museum where you can grab a drink, listen to chilled-out tunes and wander around the exhibits. It’s not without precedent. The Tate in London has held a similar event, as has the Australian Museum in Sydney. Closer to home, ScienceWorks in Spotswood ran an adults evening called Big Kids’ Night Out. Now the Melbourne Museum is trialling the same idea. “You always stand aside for kids,” explained David Perkins, Senior Programs Officer at the Melbourne Museum. But the programmers noticed that the ScienceWorks event was well attended. “So we thought, ‘Oh, there are people who want to come to the museum in the evening. We should do it.’” A whole range of demonstrations and talks are planned, including a taxidermy demonstration. No-one will be actually stuffing animals on the night, Perkins clarified. However, there will be a touchable display featuring foam inserts that go inside skins, rubber death masks and vintage photos. Taxidermy is mostly for research. “They prepare specimens so scientists will be able to look at them for the next hundred years,” he said. In fact, taxidermists helped the war effort during the Second World War by making camouflage nets for soldiers. They were used to making fake leaves and similar items, so they had handy transferable skills. There are lots of challenges in taxidermy. “How do you prepare a whale that’s washed up on the beach?” asked Perkins. “What do you do when someone brings in some roadkill?” These are some questions that scientists will answer on the night. Other demonstrations will happen live, such as python handling and feeding. “One of our galleries has live animals in it,” Perkins explained. “Part of [that department’s] job is to feed all the animals. We’ve got a python who’s due to be fed, so they said, ‘We’ll feed him on the night.’” A dissection will also take place in front of the punters. “It’s incredible that it’s not gory,” Perkins said. “It’s just a scientist at work, and a sneak peek
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into their world.” Plus, there will be a talk on the mating rituals of insects. “Some insects have some really extreme, really interesting mating rituals,” Perkins said. “There’s some that eat the male straight after.” Paleontologist Dr Eric Fitzgerald will give a presentation. “He spends his life going out and finding fossils, discovering new dinosaurs,” Perkins said. “He can take people through one of the galleries and say, ‘Do you know how we got this fossil?’ Or, ‘Do you know what we’re looking at here?’” The idea of these talks and demonstrations is to show the stories behind the exhibitions. Visitors don’t always realise that the museum’s purpose is not only to put on exhibitions; it also houses substantial collections and makes them available for research. “Exhibitions are really the tip of the iceberg in terms of the collections,” Perkins said. “The collection’s main use is, say you’re in Queensland and you’re studying paleontology and you want to access a certain fossil. It might be kept in our museum collection so come down here and work with a couple of paleontologists. There’s all this work that you never see.” Even so, plenty of exhibitions will be open for visitors on the night. There’s Wild (with animals and birds), 600 Million Years (which showcases life in Victoria since it began), Dynamic Earth (featuring minerals and rocks), Marine Life (including a giant squid) and Bugs Alive which showcases live creepy crawlies. It sounds like a lot will be happening but the programmers are careful to make sure it’s not all on at once. Events are staggered so that if one demonstration is busy, something else will be starting in five minutes. Plus, scientists’ areas of expertise overlap. Many of them are happy that the dinosaur talk, for example, might follow the bird dissection, which gives them a chance to refer to each others’ work.
Of course, the talks are optional and visitors can also explore the galleries at their own pace. While all this is happening, a bar will be set up and food and drinks will be available. This event is running as a pilot to see how well it works. Perkins is keen to make these evenings run more often but it will depend on the number of people attending the trial. “We could do them in different galleries. We’ve got social history as well as natural history galleries, and we’ve got touring exhibitions that come through. Mesopotamia is coming in May.”
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Good food and drinks, ambient music, all the hidden treasures of the museum, eminent experts to explain things to you, and no children in your way. The Melbourne Museum SmartBar sounds like a pretty clever idea. The Melbourne Museum SmartBar is on Thursday March 1. Tickets and more information available from museumvictoria.com.au
STAR WARS BURLESQUE: THE EMPIRE STRIPS BACK! BY NICK TARAS
“Basically I’m two things: I’m a geek, and I’m a pervert,” laughs Russall Beattie, on what inspired him to develop Star Wars Burlesque: The Empire Strips Back! The show, which sold out months in advance in Sydney, visits Melbourne this weekend to entertain those who love George Lucas’ original Star Wars trilogy, and wondered what Darth Vader would be like if he was female, wore black latex, and stripped. “Star Wars Burlesque is great because you take everything you loved as a child and combine that with things you love as an adult, ideally people wearing Stormtrooper masks and combining it with sexy ladies. It just kind of works – it’s a fun thing,” explains Beattie, who worked closely with one of the stars of the show – Tasia – who plays Slave Leia and Darth Vader. “Both of my characters are so different and I love the fact that Slave Leia is so empowering – it’s quite a physical role to play and there’s a lot of audience contact with that one…but Darth Vader is just so powerful and it has its own limitations because I am in the full Darth mask the whole time so it’s all about the body in that one and trying to get a reaction from the crowd without them actually seeing my face at all and there’s a great moment at the end of that where I basically leave the crowd wanting a lot more and it’s quite exciting”. Whilst Star Wars Burlesque: The Empire Strips Back! was performed in an intimate venue in Sydney, Melburnians can expect a very different show. “It’s a much bigger show than what we have done in Sydney previously because it’s now moved to theatre spaces. So we’ve had to amp up all the acts and bring in some and redesign the whole show for a new audience. “That’s why we like burlesque because it can work in different formats, so that burlesque is working very much in a cabaret format in Sydney but when we take it to Melbourne [the venue] will be a big theatre…so I can’t put on the same show – I don’t think it’s fair – if you’re in a big theatre you lose the intimacy of being really close to the performer, you need to change that up and give a big stage show,” says Beattie. Tasia adds, “It was great because I think we had a whole new group of people who had never seen a burlesque show before come along. It was a very different audience to play to, we had to warm them up a bit in the start and let them know they’re allowed to whoop and holler. Once they got into the spirit of things, it was a great show and a big success”. Tasia explains what makes burlesque shows, often blends of satire, performance art and adult entertainment, so
intriguing and alluring to perform in. “It’s the crowd interaction, it’s actually having power on stage, being able to invoke a reaction from the crowd and have them totally into what you’re doing even though it’s completely ridiculous. Dressing up as Darth Vader in a latex suit and grinding around in a sexy way would just seem ridiculous to most people but it’s the most fun you can have.” Whilst there have been other Star Wars/burlesque produced in the US, Beattie claims his version differs in several aspects. “I copped a little bit of flak, people say I’ve copied it from a stage even though I’ve been quite honest from the beginning that they were the first to kind of do the concept, but I’ve also been quite honest from the beginning that I thought it was poorly done. I thought you can’t really steal concepts which [are] based off Star Wars; the only person who you can really steal from is George Lucas. “[Star Wars Burlesque: The Empire Strips Back!] differs because it’s a different group of people for one, all the concepts are mine, all the costumes are made by me and my crew, it’s its own kind of beat, it’s got more in line with something like Crazy Horse Of Paris – a lot more focus on lighting, we don’t play for laughs as much. It’s a lot more sexier show”. With so much effort required in production – including the remarkable costumes – what is the biggest challenge of putting on a show like this? “Not being sued,” quips Beattie. “It is a burlesque so it is a satire and a parody and it’s made for fans, by fans. And with the new Star Wars X rated porno coming out, I’m not really that worried about it”. Beattie and Tasia certainly don’t have much to worry about in terms of chemistry, as Tasia expresses the fondness of working with someone with such creativity and passion as Beattie. “I’ve been working with Russall Beattie for six or seven years now and so we’ve done a lot of burlesque shows together and when he came to me with the idea of Star Wars Burlesque it was quite an exciting concept. Russall, when he has an idea, he has a passion for it that’s so infectious. He’s had some amazing concepts that he
comes up with and everybody around him wants to get on board and make that happen. He’s definitely a Star Wars fanatic, and his passion for this definitely shows through. He’s one of the most creative people I’ve met, [he’s] very inspiring”. Whilst certain geeky Star Wars fans may find the extreme creative license adopted by Beattie and his team to be almost insulting to the franchise, Tasia emphasises that the shows in Sydney were taken in the right spirit and were well received by fans of Star Wars and burlesque in general. “The first show was very daunting because we sold out two months in advance and that was obviously the hardcore Star Wars fans that bought tickets to the first
show. So we didn’t know after we came off stage after the first show whether we were going to be pelted with tomatoes or what, but we thought that they may be open to interpretation and to the characters, or they may not. It was received so well, I think the quality of the production shows through and even if we’re not representing the characters exactly as they’d like to see them – it’s a very sexy sensual show – and I think everybody can appreciate that”. Star Wars Burlesque: The Empire Strips Back! is on at The Athenaeum Theatre this Saturday February 25 and Sunday February 26.
FULL FESTIVAL PROGRAM, WITH ALL THE MOOMBA FEATURES YOU KNOW AND LOVE, RELEASED FEBRUARY 2012
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9 –12 MAR 2012
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FREE FESTIVAL 9–12 MARCH 2012
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Beat Magazine Page 25
SOFIA COPPOLA ON FILM BY ELIZABETH REDMAN
“Something for everyone” is the best description of ACMI’s upcoming Sofia Coppola retrospective. It’s a chance to discover Coppola’s films if you’ve never seen them before, to revisit them if you haven’t seen them for years, or to immerse yourself in her cinematic world if you’re already a fan. The films feature personal stories and universal themes, compelling heroines and developed male characters, and a mix of contemporary and historical settings. So, something for everyone. Her four films are The Virgin Suicides (1999), Lost In Translation (2003), Marie Antoinette (2006), and Somewhere (2010). Coppola, an American director and screenwriter, is also well-known for being the daughter of filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather, Apocalypse Now). But with an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and Venice Film Festival Golden Lion under her belt, she’s now a respected artist in her own right. “It’s a mini-retrospective,” explained ACMI Film Programmer Roberta Ciabarra. “Normally our retrospectives would be a bigger body of work, but she’s made four very stylistically coherent films.” “This was a way to give people a chance to see them all in a short space of time – to see one or all four of them, and make those links stylistically and thematically between those four features.” Ciabarra identifies Coppola as an auteur filmmaker – that is, one with a consistent visual style and thematic concerns evident across their body of work. Even though many people collaborate to produce the finished film, auteurs are seen as the primary authors of films that reflect their personal vision. Famous auteurs include Alfred Hitchcock, Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese and Stanley Kubrick. “She’s very selective about the kinds of subjects she’s interested in making films about. And as a director she already has a very clearly established style,” Ciabarra said. “She has a really good eye and a sharp visual sense.” Coppola studied photography and painting before directing films. The Virgin Suicides looks like an Instagram photo, all glowing light and nostalgia, while Marie Antoinette features candy-coloured costumes against an elaborate palace backdrop. Her style is evident in her characters as well. “She’s really interested in that in-between time of her characters,
like the teenage Lisbon sisters in The Virgin Suicides and Scarlett Johansson’s character Charlotte [in Lost In Translation] in her twenties, newly married and feeling really stuck in her life. “I think she’s very much interested in the interior lives and the journeys of these characters,” Ciabarra says. “She creates lots of space for subtlety and nuance. It’s very personal.” Ciabarra also sees Coppola as a feminist filmmaker. “She’s a woman director working in a still very maleoriented industry. She has been able to make pretty much exactly the films she wants to make. She’s exploring subjects that are of interest to her. She’s not a gun for hire.” “She has male characters that are interesting like Bill Murray in Lost In Translation and Stephen Dorff who plays the movie star in Somewhere.” Some viewers might get as far as the pole-dancing scenes in Somewhere and be tempted to disagree, but there’s more going on here. The relationship between male and female characters is particularly interesting in The Virgin Suicides. The film tells the story of five teenage sisters growing up in middle-class 70s America, but not from their perspective. The narrator is a teenage boy, their neighbour and classmate, and the girls are framed through his and his friends’ interactions with them. “The girls are this amazing enigma,” Ciabarra explains. “We’re never meant to really understand everything that motivates them. We can’t. The story doesn’t articulate it. But what we’re left with is a sense of the fascination they exerted on these young boys. “Sofia Coppola is very much engaged with her characters,” she adds, “but she also seems to be able to maintain a kind of objectivity about them.” “We’re given these little windows into their interior
“SHE’S EXPLORING SUBJECTS THAT ARE OF INTEREST TO HER. SHE’S NOT A GUN FOR HIRE.”
states. Often times there’s not a lot of dialogue to go with that… At the end of Lost In Translation, where Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson have their final goodbye, he whispers something in her ear. It’s lovely because we don’t hear what it is and we’re not supposed to hear what it is but it’s enough for us to understand.” Lost In Translation, created from Coppola’s original screenplay, was nominated for four Academy Awards and won one. It tells an unusual story of the friendship between two lonely Americans in Tokyo, a young university graduate and an older actor. Ciabarra attributes its critical success to the film’s personal focus and the strong chemistry between the two leads. But the reaction to Marie Antoinette, which follows the life of the ill-fated queen, was mixed. “Marie Antoinette was premiered at the Cannes Film Festival,” Ciabarra
explains. “It was always going to be a tough ask to have the French media embrace this upstart young American woman who had made a film based on the life of Marie Antoinette, who they see as part of their cultural and political history.” “The soundtrack had The Strokes and New Order and that pop sensibility. It probably didn’t help. Perhaps the French figure that if anyone’s going to make a film about Marie Antoinette it should be reverential and historically accurate and grandiose, whereas Sofia has made this wonderfully personal film.” Sofia Coppola on Film will screen at ACMI from Thursday February 23 – Monday February 27. For more information and bookings, visit acmi.net.au
Inspired by a true story, Due Paesi, Due Cuori, is a warm love story set to entertain Italian and Australian audiences alike. Written and directed by Rob Lo Bosco, it is the story of a young lady, Concettina (Conny), and her hopes, dreams and aspirations. She chooses to escape her simple life in the Italian village, leaving her dependent mother in search for a life of purpose and happiness. But with this comes a revelation that she did not hope for. Along this journey she finds her soul mate, love and ultimately the truth.
Beat Magazine Page 26
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Beat Magazine Page 27
EL TARRO BY KATE MCCARTEN
Claudia Escobar and Jorge Leiva are a couple of Columbian ex-pats who, like so many artists of the world, found themselves in Melbourne five years ago and have been here ever since. In 2008, Jorge, son of an art dealer, and Claudia, a graduate in Performance Creation, began the adventure that was to be El Tarro (translates to “the tin can”). In between their full time jobs in marketing and teaching, they’ve sacrificed any spare hours they can find in the name of art. Their goal: to bring an organic creative experience to not only Melburnians, but to audiences all over the world. Like all of the best things in life, El Tarro had very humble beginnings. Shortly after arriving in Melbourne, Jorge and Claudia moved into an old building in Carlton. Consisting of four flats, the building had a shared roof area and a lot of space within their flat that Claudia felt had a huge amount of potential. “We always went in and out of our building, and always thought the space was just perfect. I had a dream, and it [told me], ‘You have to create this space’,” she remembers. But unlike the billions of dreams that are dreamt and lost every night, Claudia and Jorge decided to make theirs become a reality. Luckily, their neighbours were a like-minded and creative bunch, and before long the couple were hosting performance evenings in their makeshift theatre – using the structure of the building to hang drapes and decorations – while their kitchen became the backstage area. “So we started putting little things on there every
month. People would come – friends and neighbours – and then all the artists would start showing their stuff: visual arts, theatre, performance, music, whatever. We just wanted to create space where it’s not always about the final thing. Experimentation is very important. Artists can sometimes do that in their own studios and can share work with their peers, but not with an audience. There’s that idea that art you present needs to be finalised before people can enjoy it.” El Tarro attempts to destroy that misconception. They describe it as an artist’s studio that has an audience there, bearing witness to the process. “We focus a lot on people just being creative. Not everybody needs to be called an ‘artist’,” Claudia argues. “There are people who just have amazing ideas and don’t have a place to share it with others. Our whole organisation is about ‘people, art, people’. People connecting with each other using art, and that’s the way that we see El Tarro. It doesn’t matter if you’re an ‘artist’ or not.” And so we come to the age old question, what
is art? El Tarro doesn’t discriminate. From puppets, to jugglers, to actors, singers, painters, sculptors, the list is limitless. Everyone who has an idea is welcome to share it in whichever forum they may choose for their next event. “There was one event we did in Melbourne,” Jorge remembers, “and we had the band all spread out through the gallery. The guitarist on one side, the drummer on the other side. Plus there was performance, and an installation, plus a little bit of circus and visual art. So it’s a lot about crossing over different art forms.” The building that birthed El Tarro has been demolished now, like a lot of the spaces El Tarro have worked in since, but El Tarro has remained, moving from space to space, finding its feet as it goes. “It began as the ‘smallest performing space in the world’ because the original space was miniature, but since then we’ve bought El Tarro to San Francisco, Buenos Aires, Berlin, Sydney,” Jorge recalls. “Because it’s a moving space, we can take it anywhere”. And this Saturday, they’re taking it to a huge old school building in Abbotsford, in one of El Tarro’s biggest events to date: The Summer Revolucion. Inspired by, no prizes for guessing, the spirit of the revolution – a spirit that is alive and well in South America. “The revolutionary spirit, it’s a different way of presenting where we come from. But you can still sense the
Melbourne element there. We’re interested in mixing and combining, and of course opening a space for any type of artist who feels inspired by what we throw out. It’s always an experiment.” So, what can one expect of El Tarro this time? “Loads of bands will be playing including LABJACD, Madre Monte and Abbie Cardwell and the Chicano Rockers. There’ll be a ‘dance in the dark’ room in the upstairs hall. We’re going to have a protest march around the field. There’ll be games, piñata and Latin American food. We have a visual art space called the Church of the Revolutionary Spirit with installations and sound scapes. There’ll even be a Mexican wrestling match.” They’re excited, and the passion they feel for their events is contagious. “The experience is going to be awesome. The actual experience of going into this space...you’re coming into a new world.” And what a world it promises to be. Whether you’re an art connoisseur or a little kid who likes getting their face painted, this is an experience unlike any gig or gallery you’ve been to. Jorge makes the ambition clear: “We just want the audience to be inside the art.”
“THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO JUST HAVE AMAZING IDEAS AND DON’T HAVE A PLACE TO SHARE IT WITH OTHERS. OUR WHOLE ORGANISATION IS ABOUT ‘PEOPLE, ART, PEOPLE’.”
El Tarro’s Summer Revolucion is on at Schoolhouse Studios this Saturday February 25.
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Beat Magazine Page 28
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JOHNETTE NAPOLITANO BY JACK FRANKLIN
There were a number of signature looks and sounds of the early ‘90s. Sure, there was flannel and grunge, but in my mind there were also girls that looked like Winona Ryder and the sound of Concrete Blonde. This may just be due to a tangle of associations, given Winona was in Heathers with Christian Slater, who was in Pump Up The Volume which featured Concrete Blonde covering Leonard Cohen’s Everybody Knows on the soundtrack (remember kids – talk hard). But there is no mistaking Concrete Blonde’s lead singer Johnette Napolitano’s signature voice; you know when you are listening to one of their tracks. And you sure know when she is making a point on the phone, as she litters laughter around the conversation as if it were punctuation. “I will never in my life be the person that sits down and says, ‘I gotta write a song today’. No, no, no,” she says laughing. “That is not the way it works; without inspiration it just becomes a job. That is just like having sex when you don’t feel like it. I didn’t have the words to Joey until literally the cab ride on the way to the studio, and it was the last song we recorded. I knew what I wanted to say but I knew it was going to be difficult to sing. I only do things if they really hit the truth bone, and that can be not so comfortable. So I will wait to the last minute, I only want to record it once or twice and that should be it. It is like zen preparation for one good take, just like the Japanese painters do – you prepare your ink, you prepare all day for one good take.” After visiting Australia last year for the 20th
THEATRE REVIEW
anniversary of their album Bloodletting (“We didn’t play it from start to finish. I think that was a trend for a couple of ‘80s bands or whatever but it’s not a good idea. For us, we didn’t have a hit until our third album, so us going out and playing a whole record would be fucking off”), Johnette is coming back solo to play The Famous Spiegeltent. “The show is called Self Portrait 2012,” she explains. “Everyone keeps talking about how 2012 is the year the world ends and all that crap which is funny – it’s supposed to be this big scary year and I don’t feel that at all, so it will be me taking stock. It’s not a retro show by any means, it is a self portrait, this is what I have been, here is part of the book, here is a story behind some of the lyrics that people have always wanted to know over the years and I have never really talked about.” I can see that this is all very arty and the like but it doesn’t sound all that entertaining and thankfully Johnette feels the same. “I am going to do all the things that people know and like and want to hear the most,” she says once gain laughing at her self. “If you are a fan I think
Rebecca Harkins-Cross
TRIBES
“The limits of my language mean the limits of my world”. So wrote philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, discussing the relationship between language and reality in 1922. This quote could well be the epigraph to Tribes, a new family drama that explores the correlation of language and identity, and the power of words to divide people as much as they unite. Written by upcoming British playwright Nina Raine, Tribes is the story of a garrulous intellectual family who each struggle to be heard amidst the cacophony of their living room where the play is set. Sister Beth (Sarah Peirse) is trying to find her voice as a fledgling opera singer. Brother Dan (David Paterson) is wrestling with a PhD on, unsurprisingly, language and the self. Mother Ruth (Julia Grace) is writing a novel whose plot changes in accordance with each family squabble, most often about a disintegrating marriage. Patriarch Christopher (Brian Lipson), an established author, is the only family member apparently assured of his words, vocally caustic about any work that is not his own — even if it is written by his kin. (His fondness for obscene similes is a particular highlight of the script.) Amidst this din is deaf sibling Billy (played here by hearing impaired actor Luke Watts), who, having returned home from university for the holidays, silently watches on in dismay. Ruth and Christopher have raised him as if he could hear, refusing for deafness to become a defining part of his selfhood. He thus never learnt to sign, becoming an expert lip-reader instead. But when he begins
a relationship with Sylvia (Alison Bell), a young woman gradually going deaf through a hereditary condition, she makes him feel, for the first time, as if someone is truly listening. The play explores themes of belonging and exclusion, examining the way language can (both wittingly and unwittingly) make us identify with certain social groups. It is also about the failures of communication, demonstrating that speaking and being heard are not concomitant. Alison Bell is magnetising as Sylvia, struggling to find her place in a liminal world between the hearing and the deaf. David Paterson is also excellent as the troubled Dan, whose gradual retreat into psychosis makes communication as difficult for him as it is for Billy. What begins very promisingly in the first act, however, descends into family melodrama by the second. A series of life-changing events come one after another, leaving no time for their weight or consequence to be processed. The actors become increasingly histrionic to compensate this strange change in pace. Indeed, the final exchange between the two brothers is like the signing equivalent of E.T.’s renowned finger touching scene. Tribes tackles issues that are too rarely seen on stage, but the desire for finality sees them resolved with an overwrought sentimentality that belies its nuanced beginning. Tribes is now showing at Melbourne Theatre Company until Wednesday March 14. For bookings or further information, visit mtc.com.au.
PROUDLY SERVING OTHERS
that you are going to get more than you have ever had. I am never out to disappoint people because I am too cheap myself, I never go to shows because it’s expensive and I know they are never going to be as good as I want. I never want to stop touring and I never want to stop having a good time when I’m on the road.” Johnette’s passion is still the art of the song, a passion she believes in so strongly she has never questioned her own band’s name. “Michael Stipe thought of Concrete Blonde and I never asked him what it means,” she says quite simply. “The way he puts things together, he’s not literal, everyone knows that about R.E.M. and Michael’s stuff, he is a very visual writer, abstract. So the minute I heard the name I thought, ‘I like it’ and the relationship between the two words, the softness and hardness about it applies to us very well. It applies to my music very well and it applies to me very well. So I never asked because that is what art is all about anyway. One person will hear a song and say it’s about one thing, somebody will hear evil, somebody will hear love, somebody will hear a good song, somebody will hear a bad song, a good singer, a bad singer. That’s what art is. Is this a good painting or a bad painting? You can’t tell people how to perceive art. If it makes you feel something, if it touches a memory, that is yours. That is what it’s all about. Art would exist without the beholder. A performer wouldn’t exist if there was no audience. One doesn’t exist without the other.” Johnette Napolitano’s Self Portrait 2012 will visit The Famous Spiegletent from Thursday March 15 Saturday March 17.
THEATRE REVIEW
Kate McCarten
TWO BY TWO
Imagine Melbourne has been raining for weeks, flooded so intensely that our beloved cultural city is submerged in water. Not too far a stretch of the imagination, considering its notorious reputation for having the most unreliable weather patterns in the country. But what if the floodwater kept rising, and Melburnians were scrambling to evacuate via boats, or take their lives to avoid a bleak end drowning? Descend the steep staircase to catch the award-winning play, TWO BY TWO, at fortyfivedownstairs off Flinders Lane and you will be swept into a damp, apocalyptic world of panic and survival. The little independent theatre is the perfect venue to create a tense and claustrophobic setting in the two main characters’ tiny, urban apartment as water slowly enters their room and they must decide whether to sink or swim. The characters – Jack the slightly camp artist and Karl the doctor – are married, even though the law in the country still doesn’t recognise their civil bond in this futuristic scenario. The overarching dilemma in the play is that the two have to reconcile that they will be turned away from the emergency boat, which is apparently more likely to take families, because of their nonheterosexual relationship. Left behind by family and friends who supported their relationship and attended their wedding, the couple break down everyday discrimination they face as they finally discover how far the rejection of marriage equality can impact on a gay couple’s love for each other. If you’re dying to catch a quality play where the stage and the actors draw you into another realm, you don’t need to head to one of the major blockbusters to have
that experience. Up-and-coming local wordsmith Dan Giovannoni won last year’s Best Emerging Writer award at the Fringe, and you can see why. With only three actors in the tiny space, the play is raw but captures the audience throughout the short, one-hour performance. Actors Zahra Newman (Clybourne Park), Gary Abrahams (Acts of Deceit) and Paul Blenheim are also ones to watch out for. Abrahams plays Karl, the solemn and almost defeated doctor who waits patiently for the water to reach their apartment floor while having the occasional breakdown. Blenheim is Jack, the flighty painter who prances and twirls across the stage, sometimes in a bit of a hammy way. The two characters get a little intimate (Disney-style kids, don’t get too excited), which worked but I wasn’t fully convinced the actors really were into Dick, Tom or Harry in real life. Hard roles to nail down - especially because there are no fancy lights or zany stage props to compensate for poor acting - the two delivered their lines excellently and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. Newman also oozed with talent on stage, delivering an outstanding performance playing an unpredictable American survivor with a few screws loose. A patient of Karl’s, she comes into the apartment, cradling baby she happened upon in a wave of floodwater outside. “Sorry about the mess, it’s not usually so apocalyptic,” Jack says to her as she enters. An underground gem, apocalyptic Melbourne never looked so good. TWO BY TWO played between Thursday February 9 until Sunday February 19 at fortyfivedownstairs.
Being a PSO stands for a lot. It gives you a special standing in your community. As a Protective Services Officer, you help keep our train stations safe. And in helping others, you might even discover something more satisfying than a 9 to 5 job for yourself. Apply to become a PSO today. P.S. Your community needs you.
PROTECTIVE SERVICES OFFICERS Help keep our train stations safe. Become a PSO. Visit policecareer.vic.gov.au or SMS “proud” to 132 001. POL0090
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Beat Magazine Page 29
SOFTBELLY COMEDY Every Sunday, Softbelly Comedy has an early evening special show where Adam Hills drops in to muck around and try out stuff for his show on the ABC, “In Gordon Street Tonight”! Plus we’ve always got heaps more awesome names, with the list this week including Tommy Dean (Good News Week) and some special surprise guests! It’s the hottest ticket in town, so get down early, because it will sell out again! All at the early time of 6.30pm! It all happens at Softbelly, 367 Little Bourke St, in the city, this Sunday, February 26, at 6.30pm. It’s only $12!
CHECKPOINT CHARLIE COMEDY Cheap piss and piss-cheap entry at Checkpoint Charlie Comedy, the city’s premier above-ground underground comedy room. Tonight, Charlie has a special treat with two-time Emmy award winner Jeff Stilson (Letterman, The Tonight Show) headlining. Plus Lehmo, Ben Lomas, Pete Sharkey and more! So come fill yourself with $6 drinks and put your continence to the ultimate test from 7.30 tonight at Eurotrash Bar - 18 Corrs Lane, Melbourne. $5 entry.
FELIX BAR COMEDY Glenn Robbins hosts Felix Bar Comedy this Wednesday night! One of Australia’s most loved comedians comes down to St Kilda to MC some of the best comics in Melbourne and beyond! Glenn will bring on Joel Creasey, Fox Klein, Mike G, Kate McLennan, Jonathan Schuster and more! In summer, Felix Bar is the place to be on a Wednesday night in St Kilda! It’s all happening Wednesday, February 22 at 8.30pm for only $12, at 11 Fitzroy St, St Kilda.
DEATHSTAR COMEDY Deathstar Comedy is back this Wednesday with another great line up including Matt Keneally, Murphy Mclachlan, Adam Millar, Dilruk Jayasinha, Hammertime & Biggish Al, Sean Bedlam, Liam Ryan, Bobbi McCumber, Tom Ward, Milky T, Steele Saunders and Jaymie Wilson. Starts at 8.45pm, $5 entry downstairs at CR Dirty Secrets, 80 Smith Street, Collingwood!
COMMEDIA DELL PARTE At Commedia Dell Parte this week Bart Freebairn will be taking the reins of another fantastic lineup. This week we have for your laughing pleasure Harley Breen, Steele Saunders, Karl Woodberry, Catherine Hall, Sean Bedlam, Chris Dewberry and more. 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 from 8.30pm at the George Lane Bar, 1 George Lane, St Kilda. Get in early to secure yourself a comfy couch.
JIM BREUER Imagine Bill Cosby in a Metallica t-shirt and, ladies and gentlemen, you have Jim Breuer. With many an accolade under his belt, including being named as one of Comedy Central’s 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time, it is with great pleasure that we announce the funny man is heading our way for a national tour during this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Whether you known him through his SNL work or as the ultimate stoner in Half Baked, it’s hard to forget the face and the humour of Mr Jim Breuer. Jim will perform two jaw-aching performances at Capitol Theatre on April 20 and 22. Tickets on sale through Ticketmaster or comedyfestival.com.au.
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 hardearned 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.
COMEDY AT SPLEEN Mondays have been amazing at Comedy At Spleen.. huge crowds, big guests.. in the last couple of weeks, we’ve had Pete Helliar, Glenn Robbins, Charlie Pickering and more! And apart from that, we’ve always got the best in up-andcoming local Melbourne comedy! This week we’ve got Nick Cody hosting, plus Anyone for Tennis, Harley Breen, Karl Chandler, Steele Saunders and surprise guests! It’s the hottest room in town, and seriously, you need to get down super early just to get in the front door! So get in early to guarantee a seat. It’s this Monday, February 27, 41 Bourke St, in the city, at 8.30pm.
On Arts Centre Melbourne presents
Tripod Men of Substance Photo: Lynton Crabb
23 – 24 February
Arts Centre Melbourne Playhouse
“Sometimes five stars just aren’t enough” The Scotsman
Book online or call 1300 182 183
artscentremelbourne.com.au Beat Magazine Page 30
ARTS NEWS, REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS ONLINE – BEAT.COM.AU/ARTS
MEN BY MIKI MCLAY
Whether it’s through her work with electroclash goddess Peaches, Dykes Can Dance or Le Tigre, as a social justice activist, or a filmmaker and artist, JD Samson remains the unapologetically inimitable voice of left-wing, queer-girl politics in the contemporary music industry. Since the natural conclusion of Le Tigre’s output after the release of This Island, Samson’s been busy at work with old band mate Johanna Fateman and a fresh lineup of new collaborators in disco-punk outfit Men – and with one album under their belts and a second due for release very soon, Samson is ready to bring the crew to Australia. Samson’s roots in feminist experimental film and queer studies have had an undeniable impact on the projects she’s been involved in to date. The difficulty she found in accepting her identity came not from external sources, but an internal struggle, as she explains. “It’s complicated, because I was lucky enough to live in a community of very supportive and liberal people… it was harder on myself to be honest,” she muses, offering sage advice to other girls facing a similar struggle to accept their identity. “I found myself being very critical of myself as queer, and most of the bullying was from me to me. I would say that that is
probably the one thing that I think kids who are coming out should be careful of – don’t abuse yourself for being different. You are beautiful just how you are.” It hardly needs pointing out, the kinds of struggles that LGBT teenagers face, even today – intolerance and structural disadvantage are a common theme that far too may other queer teens deal with, but the politics of tolerance and acceptance are one of the most distinctive and moving themes to shine through her work, and she’s pleased to have made such a positive impact on this community. “It’s rough out there and sometimes people in the public eye
are met with criticism for being who they are, and it’s pretty easy to forget how you have helped so many people,” she says. “I’m so lucky to be able to have emails and letters and Tweets and Facebook messages from people thanking me for giving them support, when I didn’t even know I was. I never intended to be a voice of a community or to be an activist through the idea of how people see my body. But I’m very, very lucky to have been so meaningful to so many kids. It keeps me alive, I’m telling you.” Men’s first full-length album was well-received for its personality-laden take on everything from infectious dance to punk, which I point out to her and suggest that the group must be particularly pleased with how Men have done so far. “We’ve had a great response, but I do think that we have had a very limited reach,” she replies. “As queer artists, it’s
hard to branch out from that community, and I think that is partly our fault for being so insular and perhaps selfreferential with our lyrics. We are putting out a new EP and are trying harder to speak to and with a larger audience in our next conversation. In the next record we talk more about money, and more about love, and more about bodies, and more about identity. It’s a little bit more of a mix of the controversial, but also love-song heavy. Who knows how it will all come together, but we are working with poppy producers (Alex Suarez from Cobra Starship, XXXchange, Santigold, Willy Siegel from Ponytail) as well as producing some tracks ourselves.”
to work?’ And I don’t know if I reconciled because look at the title!” My Love is about a fight, but inspired musically by Ben Kweller. And finally Overcome bares a bit of a Rolling Stones influence, with some Everly Brothers and The Beatles thrown in. “I listened to a lot of pop rock and the time and that’s how it came out,” Simmons says. “I wanted a colourful song that would deal with heartache.” The EP will be launched on Saturday March 3 at the Phoenix Public House with a few like-minded bands. “It will be pretty special. I was looking at our lineup as I was preparing for this interview, and I realised that if you put
the lineup together you’ve kind of got a good sense of The Barebones. You’ve got gospel, country garage with Fraser A Gorman, then kind of Abbey Road, twisted, playful pop of Wilding, and then Leena And The Bones are more of your singer-songwriter thing, and then DJ Sean M Whelan is a very lively retro DJ. And when you get all of that together, you’ve kind of got The Barebones! I don’t know what more I can tell you other than it’s going to be awesome!”
MEN play the Phoenix Public House on Thursday March 1 with guests A Gender and Plast Her Ov Paris.
THE BAREBONES BY PETER HODGSON
Like superheroes, every band needs their origin story. So, from which crucible did Melbourne’s The Barebones burst forth? Why, from the remnants of much-missed guitar pop-rock combo The Suits, who had a pretty decent run indeed. “We were fairly successful,” singer/guitarist Matt Simmons says. “Then we split up and I went away for a few years. I just wrote and wrote and wrote. And then I met the keyboard player, Luke. We started timidly showing each other our songs, because it’d be a while since he’d played in a band as well, and then we started to connect and gradually grow this thing.” Once the realisation dawned that a band was happening, the search began for a drummer. Matt decided he couldn’t go past his brother Mike, who he played with in The Suits. “I had his drums in my head, and he was quite happy to be involved,” Simmons says. The bass player slot has been a bit of a revolving door for the band, until now. “Our first bass player was Ben Gook from Deloris. Then it became Andy Nolan from The Suits, but then he got tinnitus.” Simmons says it took a lot longer than he would have
hoped for the band to settle in to a comfortable lineup – but sadly they’re about to be thrust into turmoil once again. “Our keyboard player is going to be going overseas, so the launch of the EP on March 3 will be his last gig with us. I won’t say indefinitely but for some time anyway. He’s going to Berlin to live, so we’ve got to find someone new!” The tracks on the EP tell a bit of a story about the frailties of human relationships. Strangely Alone is about the amplifications and intensifications that happen within a relationship. “It was after some pretty intense talks with my girlfriend about different perspectives about how we see men and women – trying to empathise with her point of view while at the same time having my own point of view, and going, ‘Hang on… how the heck is this thing supposed
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THE BAREBONES launch their self-titled EP on Saturday March 3 at the Phoenix Public House.
Beat Magazine Page 47
INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH MUSIC INDUSTRY NEWS & GOSSIP
with Christie Eliezer * Stuff for this column to be emailed to <celiezer@netspace.net.au> by Friday 5pm NEW SIGNING #1: 360’S PUBLISHING TO UNIVERSAL MUSIC
NEW SIGNING #8: INERTIA DISTRO DEAL WITH RICE IS NICE
Melbourne rapper 360 has signed his worldwide publishing to Universal Music Publishing Group. His platinum Falling And Flying went Top 5, his single Boys Like You featuring Gossling sold over 100,000 copies, and he’s about to head to London to do some writing. Heath Johns, director of A&R at UMPG, said, “In Falling And Flying 360 has crafted a defining moment in Australian hip hop and a record that is thoroughly deserving of its critical and commercial success. We believe 360 is an artist with serious international potential.” Mr. Sixty is managed by Rae Harvey of Crucial Music.
Inertia will distribute Sydney label Rice Is Nice through Australia and New Zealand. The first two releases under the new deal are singles by Shady Lane (Dumb Hope) and Richard In Your Mind (She Took The Sun Away), both given away on their respective Facebook pages. Rice Is Nice is distributed in other territories through USA’s Red Eye and the UK’s State 51.
NEW SIGNING #2: GREY GHOST AT EMI EMI Music Australia signed Melbourne’s Grey Ghost, releasing a self-titled EP and single Space Ambassador. Formerly with beat experimentalists The Melodics when he was Jeremedy, he became Grey Ghost after the band split last year.
NEW SIGNING #3: HUSKY FIRST AUSSIES AT SUB POP Melbourne’s Husky signed a world deal with Seattle’s Sub Pop label for outside Australia and NZ where they are with Liberation Music. Sub Pop of course launched Nirvana and Soundgarden, and later Fleet Foxes, Beach House and The Head And The Heart. Husky are the first Australian act on the label. Their debut album Forever So will be released globally through Sub Pop over coming months. The band are touring through Germany with European duo Boy to 20,000 people over 15 shows. They then head for North America for gigs at SxSW in Texas, Canadian Music Week, New York and LA.
NEW SIGNING #4: DAMN TERRAN AT PREMIER ARTISTS As they prep the release of their next single Rebel, Melbourne trio Damn Terran have joined booking agency Premier Artists. One of its agents, Frankie Kimpton, who became a fan after catching a set at the Espy, said, “They have this bunch of cool kids following them from venue to venue,” (including various members of Beat Magazine's staff).
NEW SIGNING #5: BARTON TURNS LARRIKIN Didgeridoo player and multi-instrumental composer, William Barton, signed his publishing to Larrikin Music. Barton said, “Signing with Larrikin is an important stepping stone in my career.”
NEW SIGNING #6: SAM SPARRO AT EMI After a lengthy silence, Sam Sparro is returning to the spotlight. He has signed to EMI Music Australia. His album Return To Paradise revisits ‘40s fashion fused with ‘70s groove and ‘80s dance.
NEW SIGNING #7: MODULAR INKS KINDNESS Modular’s latest isigning is British buzz act Kindness, aka Adam Bainbridge. His debut album World, You Need A Change Of Mind merges leftfield disco, urban funk, pop and ‘80s R&B, and was produced with Phillipe Zdar in Paris.
THINGS WE HEAR * The Grammys might have got their second highest ratings ever with 39 million American viewers tuning in. But organisers were getting pissed on from a great height regardless. First a petition with 23,000 signatures was delivered to their offices protesting their dropping of 31 music categories. Then there was a backlash that they had asked violent thug Chris Brown to perform. They also had to contend with the Catholic League getting pissed with Nicki Minaj’s performance using Catholic symbols. Minaj arrived wearing a red Versace nun’s habit, accompanied by an old man dressed as the Pope. * JB Hi Fi will start selling musical instruments in some of its stores. * Liv Tyler recorded a cover of INXS’s Need You Tonight as part of her campaign promoting the Givenchy Electric Rose scent. * Queensland’s country fest Gympie Muster is even setting up its own chapel in case fans want to get married, renew vows or have their babies named. * Is there a link? New statistics prove that Australian country music capital Tamworth is also the gun capital of NSW. There are 2,963 licensed gun owners in Tamworth and almost 6,000 in the neighbouring region. * Spotify’s communications manager Jim Butcher was in Sydney last week to oversee plans for its Australian launch. He was mum on the exact launch date, offering a “sooner than later” comment. * Sydney live music venue, the Annandale, is officially not for sale any more. Recently it launched a ‘Buy a Brick’ campaign, offering inscribed plaques mounted on the building in exchange for funds. Owners Matt and Dan Rule are enthused enough by the early response to take it off the market. Alas, Adelaide’s Heaven has gone into administration. * Archie Roach told The Age his autobiography is put on hold as he gets over three tragedies in his life — the death of wife Ruby Hunter, a stroke and losing a lung to cancer. * Adele reckons reports about her giving up music for five years is a load of horse pellets. She’s heading back into the studio this week. Meantime when Adele does go on tour, Australia might well have a push from someone in her inner circle. Adelaide songwriter and bassist Sam Dixon (who collaborates with Sia) is in her band. * Builders digging up the site of a former Midland bank in Manchester to build chef James Oliver’s latest restaurant discovered rare Joy Division and New Order master tapes alongside £1.1 million jewellery, gold and guns.
CONWAY, SMART, ON MUSIC BOARD
have been appointed to the Music Board of the Australia Council for three years. They join existing board members, sound artist Lawrence English, Community Broadcasting Association GM Kath Letch, jazz composer and band leader Johannes Luebbers, singer songwriter Shellie Morris and Board chair, composer Matthew Hindson.
McKERN JOINS PBS AS PROGRAM MANAGER Former RRR and MBS announcer Owen McKern takes over as new Program Manager of PBS 106.7FM from February 27. He said, “This radio station has long been a champion for music rarely heard elsewhere and I very much look forward to working with PBS’ volunteers and staff to build on the station’s phenomenal connection with our myriad musical communities and sub-cultures.” He is contacted at programs@pbsfm.org.au.
MONK SETS UP MUSICIAN’S INDEPENDENT COLLECTIVE Community TV producer, community radio presenter and musician Anita Monk has set up the Musician’s Independent Collective (MIC) as a lobby group for independent musicians. “We all have to work together to get our voice heard,” she says. “There are many things we can change as a group that we can’t change on our own.” Obviously there are others who are as passionate about it as she. Monk targeted 1,000 members for MIC; she got 300 in its first four weeks in existence. MIC is initially targeting two issues that will hopefully get more royalty payments for local indie acts — keeping the 25% Australian quota on commercial radio, and getting APRA to accept more data from community radio and TV. A petition can be found on musicianscollective.com.au. Monk is at themic@optusnet.com.au.
TRAPS FOR YOUNG PLAYERS - FREE WORKSHOP Gi & Sanicki Lawyers will be counting down the Top 10 legal issues faced by artists, managers, bookers and others in the music biz. It’s held Wednesday March 7 at the Workers Club, Fitzroy, from 7pm-9pm. It’s free but you must RSVP. Email moira@gisanicki.com.au or call 03 9824 2244 to book.
WANt TO PLAY CHERRYROCK12? The sixth Cherry Bar and AC/DC Lane street rock’n'roll festival, CherryRock012, is on Sunday April 29 from 12pm to 9.30pm. California’s Fu Manchu will headline a bill of 15 bands over two stages. This year they’re offering an up’n’coming band the chance to play. Enter here: tonedeaf.com.au/win.
GROOVIN’ THE MOO BENDIGO SELLS OUT… Groovin’ The Moo’s Bendigo show at Prince of Wales Showgrounds in May has sold out. It’s the third sell-out show there in a row, but promoter Stephen Halpin of Cattleyard Promotions says, "I was pretty confident that we had a good lineup this year, but I never expected Bendigo to sell out so quickly!”
Two musicians who’ve been hailed for festivals they have run, Melbourne singer songwriter Deborah Conway and Adelaide classical pianist and lecturer Gabriella Smart
LIFELINES Dating: Lana Del Rey and Barrie James O’Neil of Scottish band Kassidy. Dating: award winning dubstep producer Skrillex and singer Ellie Goulding confirm they’ve been an item for the past few months. Dating: British rapper Professor Green and Millie Mackintosh from reality show Made In Chelsea based in the posh London suburb. Born: daughter for Pete Doherty and South African model Lindi Hingston, whom he had a short fling with. He has been unable to travel to South Africa to see the kid as he’s currently on bail for cocaine possession. Split: US hip hop mogul Russell Simmons and Australian actress Melissa George, citing their inability to keep a long distance relationship going. Recovering: Robin Gibb told an audience he has almost got rid of his colon cancer. Suing: Adele takes action against a French magazine which ran a photo on its front cover purporting to be from a sex tape featuring her. She denies it’s her. Died: Clive Shakespeare, 62, cancer. The guitarist cofounded Sherbet, co-writing early hits as Summer Love, Cassandra, You’ve Got The Gun, Slipstream and Silvery Moon. He was ousted in 1975, and produced records for Paul Kelly and Carol Lloyd among others. Died: Michael Davis, bassist of influential 1960s Detroit rock trio MC5, liver failure, 68. MC5’s debut album Kick Out The Jams remains a seminal release. Davis later became a producer, and co-founded nonprofit Music Is Revolution Foundation, dedicated to music education programs in public schools. Died: US film composer Dory Previn Shannon (Valley of The Dolls, Last Tango In Paris, Pepe), 86, from natural causes. Died: ABC Radio Sydney executive Russell Stendell, from cancer. Starting out at Double J in 1976 , as head of radio development and head of ABC Radio’s technology and digital radio planning, he played an integral role in its development. He was also a great supporter of the Sydney Film Festival.
M83 HIT BACK AT TEENAGE MOTHERS M83’s Anthony Gonzalez has responded to Melbourne band Teenage Mothers labelling them “the meanest band in the galaxy” after they were thrown off M83’s Melbourne and Sydney shows. Gonzalez told triple j, “I didn’t really like the way he (their singer) behaved in front of my audience – offering whippets on stage and almost setting the stage on fire. You don’t do that when you open for bands. I had tonnes of respect for all the bands I was opening for and I just wish the bands opening for me would have the same respect.” He added, “It’s not that I’m against punk and rock’n’roll, I love that. It’s just not professional... I mean this is my career we’re talking about and I want to make sure everything is under control and it wasn’t, unfortunately.”
…MORE SELL-OUTS FOR ZOO TWILIGHTS After the opening night of the 2012 Twilights Concert Series at the Zoo (with Washington and Big Scary), organisers revealed that last Saturday’s set with Daryl Braithwaite and James Reyne was also sold out. So is the final show of the season, Rockwiz, Salute to the Animals on March 17.
…AND FOR RIVERBOATS MUSIC The inaugural Riverboats Music Festival in Echuca Moama on the weekend was also a sell-out. Over 3,000 folks flocked to the natural amphitheatre overlooking the Murray River and chilled out to nature while listening to Mark Seymour, Colin Hay, Tex Perkins, Lanie Lane, The Audreys, The Bamboos and Vika and Linda Bull. BARO BANDA
KARAVAN! INTERNATIONAL GYPSY FESTIVAL BY JAMES W NICOLI
2012 will mark the third year that the Karavan! International Gypsy Music Festival – Australia’s premier festival which covers all types of gypsy music both old and new – will roll into Melbourne’s famous Corner Hotel. The festival has been expanding in size every year since its inception and so too has the lineup. This year’s event will again showcase the very best international bands as well as the finest local acts. For the festival’s director and curator, Murat, the challenge of putting together an international music festival, one which is expanding every year, is something that he is still trying to get the hang of. of the game. For a comparatively small, niche festival “Definitely, it’s a big challenge,” he says of the problems like Karavan!, Murat has continued to look for ways he faces as director to such an event. “It’s always a challenge when you’re booking international bands he can improve and expand his festival each year, and the results seem to be paying off nicely with it now and you know, sometimes the language if they don’t speak good English and if I don’t speak their language – receiving increased global exposure. “Now I have bands from all over the world approaching me to play sometimes it’s frustrating. It’s always a challenge.” the festival which is amazing,” he says excitedly. “That From its humble beginnings which began in Melbourne to now taking in the east coast cities of sort of... shows how it’s expanding in Australia.” The growth in both size and popularity is no more Sydney and Brisbane, the Karavan! International Gypsy Music Festival has steadily grown in both size evident than in the lineup for 2012. This year the festival will be headlined by Baro Banda from Istanbul; and popularity. And according to Murat, there are a band that combines the best of underground gypsy no signs of slowing down with his sights set firmly on continuing to expand the festival to eventually roots music with more modern electronic sounds. include the other far corners of the country. “It They’re also a band that consists of Turkish, Romany started in Melbourne and the last few years it’s been and Australian members, making them a truly global in Brisbane and Sydney as well,” he confirms. “It will band. Murat is confident that Baro Banda will be one keep expanding every year. That’s the idea.” of the most exciting additions in the festivals so far. In the current climate of Australia’s almost “Definitely a highlight will be the band from Istanbul, overcrowded summer festival season, directors and Baro Banda. They’re a very unique sounding band organisers have to continually work on improving and and it will be something really fresh, amazing and adapting the format of their festivals to stay on top surprising for Australia and that’s what I’m looking Beat Magazine Page 48
forward to,” he exclaims. Playing alongside Baro Banda, will be DJ Click from Paris as well as a host of local acts such as The Crooked Fiddle Band, The Band Who Knew Too Much and plenty more. Murat is adamant that the Karavan! International Gypsy Music Festival is one of the truly unique festivals currently doing the circuit and it’s one that has a vibe and atmosphere that sets itself apart from a lot of other events. “Well the great thing about this festival is, it is a very diverse type of people that go to the festival and everybody seems to be in great spirits, and a lot of dancing, a lot of foot
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stomping and it’s just a happy party really.” So as soon as the doors to The Corner Hotel are flung open you had better be ready, because according to Murat the party doesn’t waste any time getting into full swing. “Yeah it’s amazing actually, like we start [the festival] pretty early, one o’ clock, and people do come early and it’s amazing.” The KARAVAN! INTERNATIONAL GYPSY MUSIC FESTIVAL rolls into The Corner Hotel on Saturday February 25. Tickets available from the Corner Box office.
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Hunky Dory BY HARRISON OTTAWAY Hunky Dory is a relatively new fish and burger bar in South Yarra. Its owner, Greg Robotis, also runs its highly successful sister restaurants in Port Melbourne and South Melbourne and has a background in commercial fishing. My first experience of Hunky Dory was on a pleasant summer afternoon. My date had bailed on me, so I was accompanied by the next readily available unemployed person: my little brother. Upon arriving I was immediately impressed by the spacious outside seating area. The pavement in front of the shop was decked out with a dozen large wooden tables and received ample sunlight all throughout afternoon, making it the perfect spot for a lazy summer bite. Pot plants on the end of each table also added a nice touch. Inside the décor was simple yet tasteful, with hues of blue and white suiting the restaurant’s theme. A long glass case displayed the fresh produce on offer and a long panel overhead set out the menu, reminding one that Hunky Dory is, essentially, a modern revamp of the time-honoured fish-and-chip shop. Due to its location, Hunky Dory enjoys an eclectic mix of clientele, and on this day it was bustling with Chapel St fashionistas, suit-clad power lunchers and young couples. Despite this, seating was readily available, and service was quick and attentive. The menu itself was expansive, mixing fish-and-chipshop favourites (flake, dim sims, potato cakes) with more sophisticated offerings (grilled fillet marinated “African Style” with chermoula spices and lemon). As my brother and I were both somewhat hungover from St Kilda Festival revelry the night before, we went for the more traditional options. He ordered
the “Hunky Dory Special,” with the fish of the day, a potato cake, dim sim, chips, lemon and tartare and I ordered the “Ocean’s Eleven” with king prawns, fish bites, calamari rings, a potato cake, seafood sticks, chips, lemon and tartare. Such dishes are the staple of any fish and chip shop worth its salt, and to their credit, Hunky Dory do them very well. The fish was cooked to perfection and tasted fresh and flavoursome. The chips were also excellent, golden and crispy with a fluffy potato filling. Particularly delectable were the king prawns – covered in a light salty batter but still juicy and bursting with flavour on the inside. Both plates were accompanied by Hunky Dory’s own tartare sauce, which provided a tangy and delicious supplement to the meal. Everything at Hunky Dory is cooked with heart foundation tick approved oil, meaning that nowhere was the heavy, bloated feeling one often experiences after a visit to the local chip shop. Also, serving sizes were very generous, making them great value for money. While these salty, crispy dishes were excellent, it should be noted that Hunky Dory also emphasises healthier
variations of traditional fish and chip shop classics. Indeed, casting an eye around the restaurants cool interior I noticed that majority of the patrons, unlike myself and my seedy companion, had gone for the wholesome options – particular scrumptious looking was the chargrilled calamari served on Greek salad with brown rice. Healthier fish and chips is a concept that evidently works well, and the popularity of the Port Melbourne restaurant is clearly a testament to this. Importantly, all produce comes from local fisherman and is delivered fresh on a daily basis. Robotis’ connections with the commercial fishing world evidently help him source out the best Melbourne’s fishing industry has to offer and Hunky Dory is all the better for it. Overall Hunky Dory is an unpretentious, breezy and tasty experience, and a great new addition to the river end of Chapel St. Hunky Dory, Shop 17, 670 Chapel St, South Yarra Ph: 9826 6875. Hunky Dory is also located at 252 Clarnedon St, South Melbourne and Shop 3, 181 Bay St, Port Melbourne.
HOLGATE BREWHOUSE Holgate Brewhouse is an independent craft brewery with a team that is passionate about creating unique, great tasting beers. Holgate beers are available in draught and bottles at the brewery and through other liquor outlets, bars, pubs and restaurants. The Holgate range of beers is brewed with 100% malt, real hops and sparkling fresh Macedon Ranges water, and the Brewhouse is located a short 45 minute drive from the Melbourne CBD. People are able to visit their brewing operations, which can be found inside the restored 19th century hotel, with its own popular restaurant and distinctive accommodation. Like the original travellers, a stay at Holgate Brewhouse is a refuge from your hard days touring! 79 High St, Woodend. www.holgatebrewhouse.com Open daily from 12 noon
CACAO GREEN Being the sister company of international brand Red Mango, Cacao Green offers a diverse range of delectable and healthy desserts. Not only is Cacao Green’s yoghurt low-fat, they also use organic and all natural ingredients in their products! With four flavours of frozen yogurt and endless choice of toppings, Cacao Green lets you create and personalise your dessert for your palette. Their frozen yogurt contains around 100 calories per 100 grams, which makes their frozen yogurt the perfect guilt-free choice! If you are after a more filling version of frozen yogurt, Cacao Green also offers a choice of parfait – layers of frozen yogurt, crunchy granola and fresh fruit. Perfect for your healthy lunch alternative! Also, don’t forget to get a taste of their award-winning Amma Chocolate. This rich organic Brazilian chocolate is available in 45%, 60% and 75% in chocolate drinks, and chocolate bars. For more information about Cacao Green’s extensive menu, visit cacaogreen.com.au. Cacao Green stores: 285 Swanston Street, Melbourne CBD 696 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorne
CAPPELLA PIZZA BAR Friday and Saturday nights in the front bar we have a DJ spinning tunes from 8pm and wine, beer and cocktail specials all night. Open for brunch on Saturday and Sunday.
VEGETARIAN TUESDAY
Join us for a 3 or 4 course vegetarian, vegan and gluten free tasting menu with optional wine matching. Meat options are available for the carnivorous types.
DOUBLE BARREL THURSDAY Buy one bottle and the second is on us.**
St JUDES 389-391 Brunswick Street Fitzroy VIC (03) 9419 7411 Beat Eats Page 50.....................
** Conditions apply
BEAT’S GUIDE TO EATING OUT IN MELBOURNE
Situated in the bustling Chapel St area of Prahran, Cappella Pizza Bar has only been around for a short while and is 100 metres from the corner of High St/ Chapel St. Apart from new menus, there are also great deals on offer. Cappella offers any small traditional pizza for $5 everyday, and they also sell alcoholic beverages at good prices. And for those of you who are looking for a drink, Cappella offers happy hour everyday on alcoholic drinks. The menu is separated into the usual fields of “traditional” and “gourmet” pizzas, as well as a spattering of other meals like pastas, parmigiana, calzones, salads, ribs, calamari, flake, nachos, desserts etc. The general feel of the place is unpretentious, and homely. The prices are reasonable for the area: pizzas rate between $8.50 for a small traditional pizza, $12 for a medium, up to $16 for a large. Gourmet pizzas tend to be a couple of dollars more expensive but are well worth it. They also deliver at no charge! So locals get involved! With its range of pizzas and other perks Cappellas is you next stop for that pizza craving. Visit cappellapizza. com.au for opening hours and menu.
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Healthy, Fresh,Tasty
'Hunky Dory Fish & Burger Bar is now in Chapel Street. This family owned business opened its doors in Port Melbourne 7 years ago and has quickly become famous for combining healthy fresh ďŹ sh, salads & rice with old school traditional ďŹ sh and chips'
FISH
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Shop 17/670 Chapel St South Yarra
www.hunkydory.com.au BEATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GUIDE TO EATING OUT IN MELBOURNE
.....................Beat Eats Page 51
VANESSA AMOROSI BY LEIGH SALTER
Vanessa Amorosi’s story of discovery and rise to fame is fairly standard up to a certain point; Young Melbourne girl discovered singing in shopping centre by certified hit-maker, Mark Holden - success ensues. However, Amorosi’s subsequent annihilation of her ‘singing starlet’ image and break from Holden have over time resulted in some ‘serious artist’ allegations, and ‘good girl gone bad’ speculations. Thankfully, one aspect of Vanessa has remained constant – her love of animals – which is just as well, as she’s appearing at this year’s Zoo Twilights concert series, along with the likes of Lior, and The Beautiful Girls at the Royal Melbourne Zoo. “I really like the atmosphere of the Zoo, and even though it’s an outdoors venue, it has a very intimate feel to it, which means I can do different material than I’ve been playing on the road the last few months, like I can whip out the old acoustic for a few numbers, as well as doing my dance or rock stuff, you know.” Added to her familiar set of hits, will be music from Vanessa’s forthcoming album, tipped to be named V. Vanessa claims that fans can expect a near rollercoaster of styles when it finally hits. “There’s a bit of R&B, some rock, to soul, and pop, but with a sense of humour as well… I’ve never really been about one type of music.” The album itself, although promoted last year, has been delayed until March, Vanessa explains. “The only problem really was I didn’t commit to doing a whole bunch of shows to promote it, and really you have to do that even if you’re just going to put out a new single. I decided to push the release date forward to a time when I could get around the country and properly promo it, because I spend a lot of my time over in LA at the moment.” After her split from manager/co-songwriter Mark Holden in 2005, Amorosi began working with various overseas producers and songwriters – including Mary J. Blige and MachoPsycho. Since her 2008 release, Somewhere In The Real World, Amorosi claims, “Its been life on the road ever since.” The starlet who brought us Absolutely Everybody and Shine has certainly grown up of late. Moving through genres has its advantages for artists who don’t want to be pinned down to one sound, but Vanessa claims she took a long time even arriving at the decision to be a pop artist, and so learned many trades a long the way. “What I eventually realised I wanted to do was just write the kinds of songs I loved dancing to as a kid, you know, just fun and catchy songs that loads people seemed to like!” She adds, “I’ve always loved rock and had that rock edge and I think that’s coming to the fore a lot more in my recent shows, but then for a long time I had this image of the ‘pop princess’ who was gonna dance around in crop-tops, and I never wanted to be that person.” Vanessa’s a willing subject when it comes to her image being a little tarnished. She happily proclaims, “I used to be this kind of girl next door type, but now I think the girl next door’s gone a bit out of control in the last five years!” News of her performing at private functions for with Carl Williams’ family and associates shocked those in the music world who saw Amorosi as a ‘squeaky clean pop star’, but Vanessa herself was thrilled with the notoriety.
FREE CIDER
“I HAD THIS IMAGE OF THE ‘POP PRINCESS’ WHO WAS GONNA DANCE AROUND IN CROP-TOPS, AND I NEVER WANTED TO BE THAT PERSON.” “Oh look, that was just a gig and it was fun to do, so why not? I mean I’ve had the a lot of stuff said about me that people were probably shocked by; I’m supposed to have two kids, in one report, and in another I’m a lesbian or whatever, but its part of the territory so I’ve learned to enjoy it and play along.” At her live shows, Vanessa’s encore includes a pole dance performance, as if to give a final blow to her ‘pop princess’ past. Amarosi syas that the show stopping finale is “A full on adrenalin high!” She laughs, “I love seeing people’s reactions in the audience when I do that – I think some people think, ‘Wow, what an ego she must have!’ but that’s what makes me get on stage in the first place and want to do music. It’s what drives me to create and perform. So what?” The way she sees it, Vanessa has a positive message in her performances for kids who maybe don’t have the level of confidence she has learned to display. “I just think these days with cyber bullying, it’s so easy for kids to just pick up their phone and suddenly they have this message that they don’t tell anyone about, because maybe it’s a personal attack on their sexuality or their body size or something, and it just eats away at their confidence and can be a massive set back when you’re young, you know. I’m all about telling kids to ignore put-downs by people who don’t even know what your true self is like. Your confidence can be a hard thing to mend once its damaged, so its important to not let people’s put-downs bother you. Life’s too short!”
Must be over 18 years of age. Drink responsibly. Beat Magazine Page 52
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VANESSA AMOROSI plays the Royal Melbourne Zoo as part of the Zoo Twilight concert series on Saturday February 25.
URGE OVERKILL BY JOSHUA KLOKE
For someone who spent the better part of 15 years out of the rock’n’roll game, Eddie Roeser doesn’t come off sounding jaded or cynical when asked about the past. He speaks openly and without remorse, eager to dissect the changes within the music industry that began to occur when Urge Overkill, the band he founded and now fronts, was in their heyday. “There were times in the mid ‘90s when most of the bands in the Top 10 on the Billboard charts were rock bands,” says the affable lead singer/guitarist from his Chicago home. “And most of those bands would have outsold everyone but maybe Lady Gaga. Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, the Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana; rock music had a cultural voice way beyond anything we see today. It was a really great time to be in a band. Although it was over before anybody knew what was really happening.” “You got the feeling that what Nevermind replaced was Michael Jackson,” he continues. “That was a product of a pop-leaning, lowest common denominator type of music... something that people had assumed punk and rock would take over, and stay there. And in the ‘90s, rock was important, but I don’t think you could argue that it’s still that way today. Certainly with the expansion of means of recording equipment, music has become more fragmented and it’s headed in every direction, but there’s less a sense of community now. And we’re part of that, but we also have our own rules. At this moment, we’re our own world. Even back then, we were outsiders in the grunge scene. Neil Diamond certainly wasn’t cool when we covered him.” Though Urge Overkill often go unmentioned in a discussion of the early ‘90s rock explosion, the four albums they released between 1989 and 1993 were seminal pieces of groove-laden, heavy rock’n’roll. However, after the band fell victim to feuding, coupled with shifting trends in the music industry, they went on hiatus. Roeser reflects with a sense of poignancy on the changes that occurred in the music industry around the time of Urge Overkill’s demise. “But that whole industry is gone now,” he says. “You don’t need a couple hundred thousand dollars to make a good record. The returns from CDs just aren’t there. For bands that are beginning, it’s great. They have access to better methods of recording and distribution, whereas in the past, the big labels had a monopoly on distribution. That’s no longer true, with the internet. People who haven’t been around as long might not believe it. It’s a completely new dynamic. It’s a more fair playing field if you’re playing the kind of music we play. There are fewer anointed bands. You sink or swim on your own power, instead of a few people in New York or Los Angeles making those decisions.”
“WE WERE OUTSIDERS IN THE GRUNGE SCENE. NEIL DIAMOND CERTAINLY WASN’T COOL WHEN WE COVERED HIM.” Urge Overkill decided to take matters into their own hands after reforming in 2004. Though they toured sporadically, 2011 saw the band release their first fulllength since Exit The Dragon. Rock And Roll Submarine finds the band returning to their lusty rock roots, with the kind of fortitude that was a staple of their early records. “It’s been quite the journey,” says Roeser, before the actual interview had even begun. “Yet we still feel like we’re just getting the sequel started. We’ve been back to the studio again, and we made [Rock And Roll Submarine] harder on ourselves than it needed to be. Once we decided we were going to possibly do another record or show, it became very hard for things to fall into place. And now when people say ’15 years’ I can’t believe it’s been that long. Makes me ill,” he jokes. Though open to speaking about the past, Roeser and Urge Overkill are ready to move forward and focus not only on touring Rock And Roll Submarine, but whatever comes next for the band. They now release music on their own label, which has freed themselves from the industry that once forgot about them. Roeser seems to carry no regrets. And at this point, it’s hard to blame him. “We had discussions with different labels and stuff, but I think in hindsight, we made the right choice. I think we got it right in terms of this record and timing. It might have taken awhile, but it came out at the right time. We got with the right people, and we’re very happy about that. Now with our own imprint, we’re ready to go.” URGE OVERKILL return to Melbourne to play The Espy on Thursday March 8, with support from local powerhouses Even, and The Bowers. They also appear at the soldout Golden Plains festival, taking place at the Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre from Saturday March 10 - Monday March 12.
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Beat Magazine Page 53
TONIGHT ALIVE BY JOSHUA KLOKE
There are certain times within entertainment when a performer plays a venue so naturally that they almost seem indigenous to said venue. Consider a bejewelled Elvis Presley playing against a backdrop of American excess in Las Vegas. Or the blue collar prophet himself, Bruce Springsteen, breathing life into a depleted New York City after 9/11 in Madison Square Garden. While Jenn McDougall would likely concede that her star status is nowhere near that of the above two performers, she understands the importance of a fitting venue in rock’n’roll. And with Tonight Alive, the five-piece jet engine of a pop punk act, McDougall has found that venue: Push Over, an all-ages smoke and alcohol free festival. “It’s vital!” says McDougall of the importance of maintaining healthy all-ages music festival. “I don’t know where I would be without having grown up in such a thriving local music scene. It provides a safe place for everyone, somewhere to belong, somewhere to let your music grow, somewhere to find yourself. I owe a lot to all-ages shows and festivals myself, so it feels really special to be a part of such a well-known and respected organisation.” While the music of Tonight Alive does feature some edgy hooks, it’s a largely polished and benevolent sound, with McDougall’s catty, Avril Lavigne-esque vocals providing the heft. And it has young punks banding together with balled fists in the air. The band’s debut full-length album, What Are You So Scared Of?, is an infectious listen which is likely due in large part to the surroundings it was created in. Recorded over two months in Los Angeles’ famed NRG Studios with Mark Trombino (Blink-182, Jimmy Eat World) McDougall can’t speak highly enough about their time in Los Angeles. “We had the time of our lives there for a totally different reason as to why it’s famous. We lived in a house together for two months, recording and skating; it was a dream come true! The weather was flawless and the memories we made there are untouchable.” McDougall further concedes that it was necessary for the band to separate themselves from their usual surroundings in order to give What Are You So Scared Of? the attention it deserved. “I think it was more important for us to recognise that we needed to take the next step with our music and professionalism. It wasn’t necessarily about being out of our country, but being in a place that could provide us with the necessary resources to achieve something bigger and better than anything we’d done before.” Though the band did get some last-minute help from Mark Hoppus of Blink-182 fame, who lent vocal support on the anthem-like Thank You & Goodnight, McDougall reveals that the finished product sounds very close to their original concept for What Are You So Scared Of?
“I OWE A LOT TO ALL-AGES SHOWS AND FESTIVALS MYSELF, SO IT FEELS REALLY SPECIAL TO BE A PART OF SUCH A WELL-KNOWN AND RESPECTED ORGANISATION.” “To us, it couldn’t have been any closer to what we had hoped for. Now looking back there may be a few things I’d change but at the time it was exactly where we were and where we wanted to be.” It’s a remarkably self-assured debut, though it’s been a long time coming. With two EPs, All Shapes & Disguises and Consider This already under their belt, Tonight Alive have finally found their voice. For a band that cut their chops in Sydney’s metal scene, they’ve stepped out of the shadows of their contemporaries. Efficient and soaring all the same, McDougall gives hints as to how the band has managed to maintain their sound. “It’s been changing over the years but one thing that has remained the same is that we use a computer program called Guitar Pro. It allows us to write out our ideas on manuscript and have them play back in midi. It’s sort of our form of pre-production.” After Tonight Alive will give the youth of Push Over something to scream about, they’ll soon be taking their music to one of the most renowned all-ages festivals, the legendary Warped Tour. They may have found a great home for their music at Push Over, but for McDougall and Tonight Alive, it’s entirely possible that lightning could strike twice. “I’m most looking forward to having the opportunity to have our music reach thousands of people it never would have otherwise and I think the experience we’ll gain from Warped is going to be something you couldn’t gain anywhere else!” TONIGHT ALIVE play Push Over 2012 with Parkway Drive, 360 and plenty more at The Abbotsford Convent on Monday March 12.
Beat Magazine Page 54
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ELBOW BY BIRDIE CONNELLAN
Elbow’s last album was the first album they made knowing it was actually going to be released. For a band with more critical acclaim and underground praise than Doves, Embrace, and Athlete, roped together with a copy of NME and a Brit Award and the knot-tying of the entire BBC, this Manchester fivesome have spent 20 years deserving some goddamn recognition. “We’ve come a long way, but we’ve had a lot of knockbacks,” says keyboardist Craig Potter. “We’ve lost our record deal three times now or something, so every time we really appreciate [the next step]. We never take anything for granted. I think that’s where a lot of bands go wrong initially; it’s easy to progress quite quickly and not really appreciate it at all. God, we appreciate the good stuff.” Potter has emerged on a Thursday morning from their resident haunt Blueprint Studios in Salford, where the fivesome have been casually self-producing their sixth studio album, one month in, one month out. This time around, Elbow are taking the follow-up to 2011’s darling complexity Build A Rocket Boys! one a track at a time, working each piece through to completion and finishing what they start like proper grown ups. Consistently labelled as something of a ‘secret’ underground alternative sensation (despite support slots for Coldplay and U2, headlining Leeds, Reading and Glastonbury, and watching their melodically innovative albums soaring up the UK charts and beyond), until recently Elbow’s sales success had been criminally underwhelming. If we’re going way back, their first EPs and album in 1997 were signed to Island Records before the label culled the band in a major shift. Admirably, Potter’s attitude towards the industry players who gave up on his band is relatively lenient. “[Island] dropped us because they were taken over by [Universal] basically, and there were no other reasons than that. But we hadn’t even released the album yet, we had recorded it but not released it, so it was a bit of a shock. The same album that Island dropped was nominated for the Mercury Prize a few years later. That was nice, especially because we saw some of the guys who dropped us at that ceremony,” he laughs. “Might have been a bit of a mistake there…” Flipping the bird at their original label with a swag of accolades (a Brit Award, a Mercury Prize, the Ivor Novello Award, the South Bank Pop award, an NME award and Mojo Magazine’s Song Of The Year), the Mancunians have every reason to be smug little chavs. But with their roots still firm in Greater Manchester, Elbow would eat their hat before losing their heads to fame. Potter chuckles recalling the band’s first gig back in 1990 under the moniker Mr Soft, a ramshackle performance in the now-defunct local pub the Corner Pin in Ramsbottom. “We were squeezed into a space, probably two by two metres square, next to the bar. It’s funny because we played there so many times, and we had lots of friends who used to come down and watch, so I remember it quite well – even down to the little PA we used to bring along. The guy who used to run the pub would give everyone a lift home afterwards – they were really good to us, and it was almost like a residency. I’ve got a lot of memories from there.”
“GOD, WE APPRECIATE THE GOOD STUFF.” Potter’s wistful talk of British rugby as a youngster and starting a band as a 15-year-old tells of an appreciation for the past – but then it’s hardly unlike Elbow to get nostalgic. The band’s last studio album Build A Rocket Boys! saw notoriously introspective singer Guy Garvey declare he was “too happy” in his songwriting, the result of which was a swirl of reflective longing and a celebration of youth, with the singer posing the question, on the song Lippy Kids “Do they know these days are golden?”. Potter assures that the memory trip of “stealing booze and hour-long hungry kisses” was one to be shared. “The last album is very much about Guy’s views, and we were part of that as well,” he says. “We’ve still got a lot of friends who grew up with us over the years, and Guy describes things that we all remember so well. The songs mean so much to everyone, really.” Garvey’s honesty was plain when he told Jools Holland last year, “We don’t expect gold medals.” In a lovely irony, the five have just been commissioned to write the official BBC music for the London Olympics – a piece the band has described as “soundscapey”. But like their music, nothing about Potter’s reflections on his bandmates is hollow or pretentious. An attitude that has probably kept the lads somewhere between being the biggest band in England and carving their own unique brand of deeply intelligent, intricately detailed, semi-but-not-quite commercial, explosive sound. Children have been born, friends have died, labels have been argued with, records have been made, sold, toured and treasured – 20 years is a long time for the same five guys to keep their heads together, however with no lineup changes since Potter, his brother Mark, Garvey, bassist Pete Turner and drummer Richard Jupp first rolled into the rowdy Pin, the solidarity between such serious musicians is pretty damn commendable. “I think we’re just lucky to get on so well,” Potter says. “We split all things five ways, all things including money. I think a lot of arguments in bands ultimately come down to money, so we learnt quite early on that [an even split] is probably the best. It’s amazing how far we’ve gone considering we’ve been living in each other’s pockets for 20 years. We’re just good mates.” ELBOW play Festival Hall on Wednesday March 21 with support from Bombay Bicycle Club. Build A Rocket Boys! is out via Universal Music. DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION
Beat Magazine Page 55
CRUNCH! COOL BAND ALERT: TEN THOUSAND & THE HOUSE OF HONEYS In regular rotation at Casa Del Crunch of late have been a few local bands, Ten Thousand and The House Of Honeys. Ten Thousand are melodic hard rock with lots of killer guitar work and a bit of a bluesy undertone, both in rhythmic propulsion and lyrical approach. Their EP Tales From The Wasteland is pretty kickarse, and they’re a very strong live band too. The House Of Honeys’ Pretty & The Radical is a bit harder-edged, with shades of the dirtier side of LA’s Sunset Strip. Gritty vocals, filthy guitar tones (in the best possible way), and melodies that strike that rare balance of being memorable without being too pretty and wussy. And their musical arrangements are very well thought out and executed. Check them out on Facebook at facebook.com/ thehouseofhoneys - give The Waiting a good blast.
DOUBLE DRAGON CALL IT A DAY ...FOR NOW
Adelaide metalcore motherfuckers Double Dragon are going into indefinite hiatus mode, with vocalist Lee Gardner (Liggy to you and I) announcing on Twitter that the time is right to move on to other things. But they’ll be hitting Melbourne in May for one last hurrah before they unplug. Double Dragon have put in more legwork than pretty much any Aussie metal band I can think of and they’ve scored some killer supports over the years – including the infamous Megadeth/Slayer gig when Tom Araya lost his voice and Liggy stepped up to sing Hate Worldwide. It’ll suck to live in a world without DD, but you can keep up with Liggy’s rants at thefeej.com and download DD’s final album, Sons Of Asena, for free at sonsofasena.com
METAL, HEAVY ROCK, CLASSIC ROCK
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BLACK SABBATH REUNION IN DOUBT So I guess the biggest metal news this week is that the planned Black Sabbath reunion is seriously in doubt, with all of the band’s gigs cancelled except their Download headlining set – and even that depends on Tony Iommi’s health as he undergoes cancer treatment. Rumour is that if Tony isn’t up to it, it’ll still go ahead but with other guitarists stepping in to pay tribute, and Tony playing a few songs at the end if he’s well enough to do so. Ozzy will perform the previously-advised Sabbath gigs as ‘Ozzy & Friends,’ with Sabbath bass player Geezer Butler joining him for some classic tracks, and former guitarist Zakk Wylde returning for a guest spot too.
EX-GEISHA GUITARIST RELEASES SOLO EP
Melbourne rock guitarist and music journalist extraordinaire Joe Matera (ex-Geisha, and you might know his work from magazines like Guitar World and, once upon a time, Beat’s sister magazine Mixdown) recently released an EP, Slave To The Fingers, which features special guests including Tony ‘Demolition’ Dolan from the mighty Venom, Rick Brewster from The Angels and Mick McConnell from Smokie. The EP has been getting great reviews internationally, and Joe’s guitar work is tasteful and melodic throughout. Check out his site at joematera.com
GIG ALERT: PRETTY SUICIDE, ORDNANCE, ANARION, DEFINED BY HONOUR Head to The Prague in Thornbury on Saturday February 24 for Anarion (melodic thrash), Pretty Suicide (groove, sludge, rock, thrash), up-and-comers Defined By Honour and the brutally-logo’d and very death metal Ordnance. It’ll kick ass. The gig is 18+ and tickets are $10.
OPETH-TESTAMENT SOEN
ALUMNI
FORM
SOEN is a new band featuring drummer Martin Lopez (ex-Opeth, Amon Amarth), bassist Steve DiGiorgio (Sadus, Testament, Death, Iced Earth), vocalist Joel Ekelöf (Willowtree), and guitarist Kim Platbarzdis. They’ve just signed with Spinefarm Records. The band was originally formed in 2005 but was put on ice pretty quickly, pending the right moment to strike. That moment came when Ekelöf was discovered in early 2010. Their debut album Cognitive was produced by Grammy-winning producer David Bottrill (y’know, Tool, Muse, Smashing Pumpkins), and it’s available in Australia on March 16. Check out the video for first single 'Savia' on YouTube. Definite Tool and A Perfect Circle inspiration, sonically and visually, but hang around for the 1:12 mark where things get almost Meshuggah-esque.
CORE
FEEDBACK If you’ve got some news or a rant for Crunch, email me at crunchcolumn@gmail.com – I’d love to highlight more local bands, and get more local gigs mentioned.
NEWS, REVIEWS AND GOSSIP BY EMILY KELLY: EK1984@GMAIL.COM
Deez Nuts are hitting the road again for the first time since last year’s wildly successful Destroy The Music tour. The Fuck The World Australian Tour will do a thorough lap of Victoria this April including EV’s Youth Center on April 12 (AA), The Espy’s Gershwin Room on April 13, Karova Lounge on April 14 and Musicman Megastore in Bendigo on April 17. Sydney bands The Bride and Phantoms have secured supports. Killswitch Engage have confirmed that former singer Jesse Leach has rejoined the band after vocalist Howard Jones left the band in January. They’ve assured fans that the decision was based on “talent and not familiarity” though KSE fans world-over seem to be rejoicing in the decision. Murder By Death, due to arrive in Melbourne this week, have had to postpone their Australian tour due to ‘scheduling and time constraints’. Sounds like turkey talk to me. Some new dates have been scheduled for May, several venues have been changed and main supports Eleventh He Reaches London are no longer available. Melbourne’s show will now take place at The Evelyn Hotel on Thursday May 17. If you bought tickets for The Hi-Fi you can get them refunded at the point of purchase.
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Brendon Small, creator of Adult Swim animation Metalocalypse and the earlier and equally-worthtracking-down Home Movies, releases a solo album titled Brendon Small’s Galaktikon in April. Check out the cover. Cool, huh? Brendon describes it as a bit of a concept album, and it features his Dethklok live bandmates Bryan Beller on bass and the mighty Gene Hoglan on drums. The music is, of course, heavy as fuck, but it includes melodic vocals too, and a guitar instrumental inspired by the likes of Satriani and Vai. Oh and a new season of Metalocalypse is in the works too.
PUNK, SKA, HARDCORE
Yeah so no one really breaks up anymore do they? Refused seem to have open the floodgates for band sthat swore never to return, to reform in triumphant fashion. Good Riddance announced a reformation last week and while it’s a welcome one I can’t help but roll your eyes at this shit. I remember the sadness with which Good Riddance bowed out of the music scene in May 2007. Their announcement stated, “We have seen bands burn out and we have seen bands slowly decline. It is our ultimate goal to be able to walk away from this with a degree of grace and dignity…We have no desire to limp along until some outside force has the good sense to put us out of our misery”. It was bittersweet... a modest and graceful departure. Which makes their return –like Refused – one hell of an awkward contradiction. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll be there front and center when they take their newly reformed live show on the road, but let us all remember that when bands bit us adieu, it’s not forever- it’s until they generate enough sentimentality to fund a profitable return. Yeh…totally went there.
Beat Magazine Page 56
BRENDON SMALL’S GALAKTIKON
CORE GIG GUIDE Wednesday February 22: River of Snakes, Graveltones at Cherry Bar The Agents of Abhorrence, Extortion, Internal Rot, Aeroflot at The Bendigo Hotel Thursday February 23: Harmony, Spod, Deep Heat at Yah Yah's Ikarii, Acrasia, Like Royalty at Next Primitive Calculators, Scrap Museum, Beat Disease and more at The Tote Friday February 24: Mindset, Backlash, Declaration, Landshark at The Gasometer City Of Sirens, Death By Deathray and more at The Bendigo Hotel Saturday February 25: Luca Brasi, The Smith Street Band, Hoodlum Shouts, Cavalcade at The Gasometer The Go Set, The The Stutterers at The National, Geelong Wish For Wings, The Rose Line, Breaking Tradition at Bang Admiral Ackbar’s Dishonourable Discharge, Breakout Boulevard, Polygasm, Dixon Cider at The Bendigo Hotel Monday February 27: Bad Religion, Strung Out, Street Dogs, The Menzingers at The Palace Attack! Attack!, The Cab, River City Extension at The Espy Cobra Starship, Forever The Sickest Kids, These Kids Wear Crowns, Kill Hannah at The Forum Underoath, Dream On, Dreamer, The Smoking Hearts at The HiFi Mastadon, Gojira, Kvelertak at Billboard The Venue Tuesday February 28: Machine Head, Chimaira, Shadows Fall, Times Of Grace at The Palace Four Year Strong, I Am The Avalanche, Fireworks, Conditions at The Hi-Fi Bar Enter Shikari, Letlive, Your Demise at Billboards Black Label Society, Hellyeah, Black Tide, Holy Grail at The Forum Unearth, IN This Moment, Kittie, Heaven Shall Burn at The Espy The Sisters of Mercy at The Corner Hotel The Barons Of Tang, Mikelangelo & The Tin Star, Go Girl Gadget Go Go at The East Brunswick Club
THE USED BY JOSHUA KLOKE
For the past two and a half years, all has been relatively quiet on The Used front. Bert McCracken and his band of effusive emo-punkers cancelled a batch of American tour dates in early 2010 to begin writing their fifth full length. Throughout 2011, word of the band’s follow-up to 2009’s Artwork was mum for the most part. Then, the band made a move that had many doubting if any new music would be released at all: they left Warner Bros./Reprise Records. It’d been a strong partnership, resulting in such certified gold and platinum full lengths as The Used and Maybe Memories. For the first time in ten years, the foursome, originally from Utah, were without a record label. Yet The Used aren’t the kind of band to stay down for the count. Instead, the band partnered up with Los Angeles-based indie label Hopeless Records to form Anger Music Group, which will serve as an imprint on the label. How this partnership will serve the band’s music compared to their time on Warner/Reprise remains to be seen, but for the time being, the band is riding a high. “It’s an exciting time,” says the always blunt lead singer Bert McCracken, reached on the phone on what he describes as a “rainy Pasadena day.” “There’s lot more work than expected,” he continues. “We just started this business with Anger, but we’re still incredibly excited. I’d say it’s the most exciting time of my career, right now.” The launch of Anger Music Group won’t see the band maintaining a strict focus though. Instead, they’ll be utilising this renewed energy by dipping their toes in every form of art possible. “It’s an all-encompassing art business. We want to cover everything. Not just music but physical art: painting, sculpting, everything. Anything that has to do with creativity. Fashion, food and everything in between.” For many musicians, the relationship between art and commerce can be a particularly dicey one. Aside from the constant threat of getting involved with big business and being labelled as ‘sell-outs’ by fans, musicians have to contend with their artistic integrity being compromised and the final product suffering. Yet McCracken is taking his ten years under Warner as a learning experience. With the upcoming release of Vulnerable, McCracken pulls no punches about how he views the business end of The Used; he simply could not go down without a fight. “For 11 years now I’ve said I’m an artist and not a businessman. Nowadays, to say that, it’s a huge copout. I don’t want to lie around and let people make huge decisions for me. It all came at a perfect time, with so many labels collapsing too. We’ve always wanted to do things on our own with a certain amount of artistic freedom.” There’s no doubt that the band utilised heavy doses of artistic freedom on Vulnerable. Written almost entirely on a computer and a keyboard, Vulnerable sees the band trading in their propulsive, hardcore edge for a sound much less forced with a lot more room to grow. Make no mistake however; The Used has not gone soft. Instead, McCracken insists the band had no choice when it came to their new approach to songwriting. “It’s definitely what we needed for this album. I don’t really have a preference as far as jamming out new songs live or dissecting songs as they come. I think it was more circumstance; everyone has a lot going on in their lives now. Clint just got married, Dennis just got married and had a baby. It was more circumstance than us going in a different direction so to speak.” “I’m glad it worked out the way it did,” he continues. “We have a crazy blend of sounds on this record. It definitely doesn’t get boring; there’s a little bit of every kind of music on this record.” When it’s put to McCracken that this shift in sound could alienate some of the band’s longtime fans who subscribe to a strict policy of how The Used should sound, you can almost hear McCracken shrugging his shoulders. “With the lyrical approach and with the emotional content within these songs, I think that this is definitely Used music. It’s not like we went all Kid A on people,” he chuckles. “I’m sure there’s stuff on here for even the most ‘hater’ of all our fans.” Those fans got their first taste of Vulnerable with I Come Alive, the first single. What begins with a murky build soon materialises into one of the more anthem-like choruses the band has ever penned. For McCracken, it’s a fairly representative track. “The song also sums up the attitude of the record; we want to change the idea of being vulnerable from a negative to a positive thing. This record is all about reflecting on life’s successes and failures. And how we handle both of those things.” With Vulnerable, the band seemed to have handled their successes and failures quite well. Major label or not, the band has finally looked themselves in the mirror. And they like what they see. “In every way, being vulnerable not just defines the state of the band right now. From moving to a major label to something much smaller. And it also speaks to my state of mind. About a year ago, we were playing this tattoo convention in Southern California. I fell off the stage and broke my hand and my elbow. I was really down for the count. I wasn’t creating anything or doing anything. But from that broken spirit came this fire of creation and ability. We recorded 12 songs in 12 days, and it all came from those feelings of vulnerability. If we allow ourselves to be vulnerable enough to fall in love, it becomes the most amazing thing in the world.” THE USED are set to appear at the soldout Soundwave Festival on Friday March 2 at Melbourne Showgrounds. Vulnerable will be out on March 30 via Anger Music / Hopeless.
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Q&A
A FRENCH BUTLER CALLED SMITH
NIGHT TERRORS
Name/Band: A French Butler Called Smith. Define your genre in five words or less: Live, dance, acoustic, Latin, groove. So, someone is walking past as you guys are playing, they then go get a beer and tell their friend about you... what do they say? “Really?! Is the bass player, and the drummers’ hair defying gravity?”, or “Sorry I can’t really speak right now, too much dancing!”. How long have you been gigging and writing? Three years. What has been your favourite gig you’ve played to date? Caloundra Music festival, in 2011. We got to hang out with the Tower Of Power from San Francisco, and Dirty Dozen Brass Band from New Orleans. Tom E Politzer, the tenor saxophone player from Tower of Power, and played the last gig of the Festival. Blew my mind apart! Which band would you most like to have a battle/ showdown with? We are playing a Gig with the Bamboo’s on the Sunshine Coast in June, so let the showdown commence!
What inspires or has influenced your music the most? Recently we have been listening to bands like Tijuana Cartel, The Bamboos, The Bombay Royal, Rapskallion, Brothers Grim, Blue King Brown, and Stonefield. What do you think a band has to do these days to succeed? Whenever a problem arises in any way, have the ability to step back from the situation and take a different perspective. Never pass up an opportunity to play music. Do you have any record releases to date? What? Where can I get it? We have just finished a 5 track EP Called Eating Crow. We are now touring the country promoting and selling the EP, which you can get at our gigs, or online with BandCamp/Facebook. It will be released in stores soon. Why should everyone come and see your band? Because we want to see you! Being in a band there is nothing better than seeing happy smiling people dancing to the music we love to perform. We can’t wait to see the Melbourne crew again. When are you playing live/releasing your album/EP/ single/etc? The Evelyn Hotel on Sunday February 26, with Capt’n Groove and Pear. Doors open at 7pm, and tickets are $10.
Melbourne instrumental heavyweights Night Terrors have been petrifying punters since the early 2000s. Featuring vintage horror synth, breakneck rhythms and the haunting theremin melodies of Miles Brown (student of Russian theremin queen Lydia Kavina), Night Terrors offer a mind-melting mix of dark synth magic, thunderous dreamscapes and other-worldly electronica. With a brand new album about to burst from the gates, don‘t miss this rare chance to see the Terrors on home soil before they head off into the cosmos once again. Special supports on the night from gorgeous heartbreakers Pearls and brand new dream chill act Rohypnotise, then stick around for a late night electronic frenzy with special solo sets by Rohan Rebeiro (My Disco / Kangaroo Skull) & Alex Akers (Forces). It‘s at the Phoenix Public House this Saturday February 25.
BATTLE AXE HOWLERS Rarely has the world of rock seen a lineup so tender, so juicy, so goddamn pumped and ripe, as what is being served before you this Friday February 24 at the Brunswick Hotel. Appetisers: straight from the salty waters of Anglesea comes a hard hitting, chunk fed band that is soon to take over Melbourne rock, called The Underhanded. First course: flavoursome, short, snappy, to the point, punk power blasts of meaty rock’n’roll, in the form of Damn The Torpedoes. Second course: they are fresh to the rock menu, but pack a mouth-watering punch; the head bang melody rockers, The Art Of Later. Main: Battle Axe Howlers are one massive steak of pure rock fury, served with riff battered chips, and chunky stoner gravy. Warning! this meal will make you throw your devil horn hands in the air and cry for more.
ADRIAN WHYTE After touring extensively with the Vaudevillains and Manic Pistoleros, Adrian Whyte is focusing on doing some more alternative country and beyond styled solo stuff. He is currently working on an album and booking solo shows which are generally nights of mixed music for the genuine music fans out there that appreciate a good song as much as a rowdy drinking night out. Go and have a listen this Sunday February 26 at the Town Hall Hotel.
ANNA SMYRK AND THE APPETITES In the midst of high summer, there is a breath of cool air. Belly Of Winter, the debut release from contemporary folk-pop band Anna Smyrk and the Appetites, is a rich, varied collection of songs that tells stories about the strange mixture of bitterness, and cosy-ness that winter can bring. The EP showcases intricate arrangements with soaring vocals, wailing saxophone and strong grooves. It tells tales of grey Melbourne streets, and freezing garden beds with such warmth and energy that the listener ends up yearning for woolly scarves and an open fire. Fresh from touring the EP right up the flooded East Coast, Anna Smyrk and the Appetites are drying off in preparation for the Melbourne launch at the Workers Club, Thursday February 23.
COB FOLLY R2 LAUNCH NIGHT David Ross MacDonald (The Waifs) and Tomas Fitzgerald (Ennis Tola) kick off Cob Folly on Thursday February 23 at The R2, 60 Market St in the CBD. The R2 have teamed up with Melbourne indie label, Anon Islet Records, to create Cob Folly, a night which aims to showcase some tasty original live performances at an end of town that is in need of some musical tender love and care. Cob Folly will showcase original live shows on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights with acts starting after 7pm.
PEAR AND THE AWKWARD ORCHESTRA Castle is the newest single and film clip to be released from Brisbane’s folk/pop darlings Pear And The Awkward Orchestra’s debut album Smocks! It comes hot on the heels of Bigger Than You and Oh Katrina, sweet juicy tracks from a triple j, PBS, RRR, 4ZZZ, 2SER and Radio National favourite. The Castle tour will see Pear and her Awkward Orchestra take on the East Coast in a celebration of the small, the intimate, the awkward and the handmade - the shortest line possible between artist and audience. She plays the Grace Darling on Saturday February 25.
READY, STEADY, GO! Ready, Steady, GO! #13. Unlucky for some but not for lovers of hip-shakin’ R&B, original Jamaican ska, cool soul-jazz, and muy caliente Latin boogaloo. Melbourne’s favourite Mod Squad – Emma, Mohair, and Buddy – are going to be spinning killer floor fillers all night, all on original vinyl. Old favourites and awesome rarities are going to give you that itchy twitchy feeling so get ready to frug the night away. You better be there, and if you’re not there you better be dead or in jail ... and if you’re in jail, break out! This Saturday February 25 in the Grace Darling cellar, $10 entry.
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.
KARAVAN INTERNATIONAL GYPSY FESTIVAL The Karavan International Gypsy Festival will be held at The Corner Hotel on Saturday February 25, featuring the finest international gypsy music from Baro Banda (Istanbul), DJ Click (Paris), The Crooked Fiddle Band (Sydney), The Band Who Knew Too Much and heaps more. Tickets are available from The Corner Hotel box office and website. Beat Magazine Page 58
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THE CUBAN BROTHERS Everyone’s favourite Central American siblings, The Cuban Brothers are heading back to The Espy to whip you into a frenzy with their zany cabaret on Friday February 24. There are two things The Cuban Brothers do better than absolutely anyone: perform and party. This shizz is a wild act of camp musical theatre serving beats, soul and sex; shaken and stirred. It’s Cuban. It’s cabaret. It’s comedy. It’s damn cool. And the best bit? It’s absolutely free. Support comes from the Psyde Projects.
ROSIE BURGESS TRIO Traversing their way around the world with an original blend of gypsy-folk-roots, The Rosie Burgess Trio are back on home soil to announce their brand new album release, Before I Set Sail. This marks the fourth studio release for the band and will see the dynamic trip set upon a wild voyage across the country. They launch their album at the Northcote Social Club on Thursday March 1, with support from Jungal. Tickets are $10 on the door and music starts from 8.00pm. For more info and tour details head to rosieburgess.com.
PHANTOM AGENTS 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 Bar Open on Thursdays in February. Door 9pm, free entry.
60 SECONDS WITH…
BILL AND THE JERKS
So then, what’s the band name and what do you ‘do’ in the band? We’re called Bill And The Jerks and I am Bill, one of the lead guitarists/bassists. What do you think people will say you sound like? I hear funky, groovy, smooth, heavy, light, psychedelic. My personal favorites are, fun and sexy. What do you love about making music? The making part is what I love. And I guess making love is a big part.. What do you hate about the music industry? I dislike people that try to tell musicians what to do and how to play and when to release the albums, whether that be fans or managers or even record companies. If you could show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why? Personally, Omar Rodriguez Lopez is my hero. He, in my opinion, has one of the most creative minds and he knows that everything can be seen as music if you look at it right. What can a punter expect from your live show? People can expect an actual show. Smoke machined and laser lighted out the wing wang. Every type of solo, and energy bouncing off the walls. When’s the gig and with who? The gig is on Saturday February 25, we are supporting The Funky Brews with a band called The Kieths at Noise Bar. It’s $5 at the door there will also be DJ Fin spinning old school funk, hip hop and soul on vinyl ‘til late. And if you come and say hello to me (Bill) I’ll buy you a drink.
THUNDER ROAD Back by popular demand, Thunder Road are bringing their amazing three hour Springsteen show to the Corner Hotel once again. For any Springsteen fan in town make sure you pencil in Saturday March 3, as a night like this doesn’t come around very often for lovers of the Boss. Thunder Road are without doubt Australia’s number one Bruce Springsteen show. Formed in 2010, featuring a lineup of seasoned and professional musicians and a repertoire of over 35 songs, Thunder Road is dedicated to enjoying and sharing Bruce’s music in a live setting. Featuring a full seven piece ‘E-street’ style backing band, including saxaphone, piano, hammond, guitars, bass and drums – Thunder Road deliver the full Springsteen show like no one else. Come witness it for yourself on Saturday March 3 at the Corner Hotel from 8.30pm, tickets are $20 and available on the door.
PLAYWRITE Playwrite love Choosedays at The Toff with special guests Tessa & The Typecast and Albert Salt. February is the month to celebrate their love of life, music and each other with the band who do nothing but just that. After only nine months together, it’s safe to say that Melbourne band Playwrite have accomplished quite a lot in that time. After nearly fifty shows, two EPs, a host of international and national support slots and a passionate fan base captivating music lovers and makers alike. So bring along the loves of your lives to these shows that are not to be missed.
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BAREBONES The Barebones are celebrating the launch of their long-awaited self-titled EP. Showcasing the band’s stylistic diversity, the EP is a seamless blend of country, ‘60s pop and driving rock. Explosive keys, tasty guitar riffs, poignant lyrics and signature sibling harmonies all combine to create a very impressive debut. Delighting audiences with their live shows throughout 2011, shifting from paired-back acoustic to stomping rock’n’roll, these lads will make you want to shout, dance and cry. Join them for the launch of their self-titled EP on Saturday March 3 at The Phoenix Public House in Brunswick, along with a stellar line-up of Melbourne’s finest, Leena And The Bones, Wilding, Fraser A Gorman and DJ Sean M Whelan.
SKETCH CLUB 2012 has already been a busy year for indie rockers, Sketch Club. Fresh out of the studio with producer Steven Schram, they are set to launch their new EP Break Rewind on Saturday February 25 at Yah Yah’s in Collingwood. Expect them to deliver some old fashioned feeling amongst the ‘la la’ melodies, and fresh grooves your motor system simply won’t want to control. They will be supported by Let Them Eat Cake, Dead Pilot, and The Sundanze Kid. Doors from 8pm, and tickets are $10. Dancing to guitars is good for you!
LEENA AND THE BONES Following the release of her debut Mean Old Clock EP and some highly sought after tour supports in 2011 (Tim Rogers and Custom Kings), Melbourne-based singer songwriter Leena will be showcasing her talent at the Retreat Hotel on Friday February 24. She will be joined by her new band Bones and supported by Minibikes. Free. 9pm start.
DANCING HEALS
THE ORIGINAL SNAKESKINS
It’s been a cracker start to 2012 for Dancing Heals, scoring four weeks of TV airplay in the US with their new single, Live & Learn, a prime time slot on the Live 'N' Local stage at St Kilda Festival and an invitation to showcase at Fuse Festival in Adelaide. Hot on the heels of all this hullabaloo is the Melbourne launch of their double-a sided single at The Toff In Town on Saturday February 25. Every Heals show is a party, and for this occasion they’ve put together another killer lineup, with special guests Them Swoops, Hayden Calnin and a DJ set by 3RRR’s Simon Winkler.
The Original Snakeskins combine fine musicianship and soaring three-part harmonies to present a unique style that sits somewhere between country, folk and bluegrass. Anne Unger’s emotion-filled and impassioned vocals are complemented by the beautiful harmonies and dynamic playing of the band. Aided by a soulful blend of traditional instrumentation – guitar, mandolin, dobro, banjo, harmonica, double bass – the band deliver toe-tapping tunes with good humour. Performing this Saturday February 25 at The Retreat Hotel. Two sets in the front bar from 7.30pm.
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. 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 February 26. 8pm, $8 at The Old Bar.
THE COLLECTABLES Unique pop/rock trio, The Collectables debut their long-awaited return to the stage at Noise Bar this Friday February 24. The New Year sees the band undergo a significant line-up change with both brand new and reworked material. It’s an addictive mix of infectious, simple pop-rock tunes, layered with clever, tongue-in-cheek lyrics and a purely original sound. Supporting their return are Memoire and The Divine Fluxus. Doors at 8pm, $5 entry.
THE FUNKY BREWS This Saturday February 25 will be the final night of Funky Brews two Month Summer Residency at Noise Bar and believe us, this is one party you don’t want to miss. The Brews vow to go into band-hibernation after Saturday so if you haven’t had a chance to get down to one of their shows and experience their incredible talent and highly contagious good vibes, you still have a chance. Joined by party-starters The Keiths, with their hard hitting hip hop funk fusion and special guests Bill and The Jerks. Doors open at 8pm. $5 entry.
THE CONCH The Conch, short for Conciousness, are a progressive 11-piece band playing a dynamic mix of ska, reggae, Latin, funk, hip hop, swing and more. The Conch are not a band, they are a social change project, and they urge you to imagine a different future and fight for it! Come down and celebrate their live DVD launch at Noise Bar this Sunday February 26 from 2pm. $5 entry.
eat arepas, drink mojitos listen to
liveusic latin m
RY FREE ENT
thursday 8:00
latin aotearoa sound system (new zealand) friday 9:00
moreno latin jazz saturday 9:00
kenny lopez piquete sunday 6:00
jose nieto monday 7:30
santiago vela tuesday 7:30
julian posada
bookings recommended
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MOONDOG’S GYPSY BLUES BAND
ROSS MCLENNAN
It's blues with fangs, black hats, tight pants, and a kick of cabaret for eye-candy. Original, traditional and modern blues synthesized into a sound that gets you dancing and howling at the moon. Moondog Gypsy Blues Band is a two-piece original blues band, developing their sound from the masters of old and new, such as Lightnin Hopkins, Tom Waits, and Bo Diddley. Frontman Moondog uses a variety of guitars including slide and resonators, along with harp to complement his authentic, growling vocal. The rhythm is provided by Kate La Jam playing stand-up drum kit, cajone and percussion. Performing two sets at The Retreat Hotel, tonight in the front bar from 8:30pm.
Ross McLennan has been busy... very busy. As well as recently reforming Snout, who have performed some rockin’ shows at the Tote as of late, all the while Ross has been putting the final spit-and-polish on a new, yet-to-titled album of solo material. After Hits From The Brittle Building, and Sympathy For The New World, who knows what evilpop-genius he has in store for us. Well, thankfully we will get our first tastes, Friday February 24 at the Edinburgh Castle. Supported by the luminous Emma Heeney, and ‘running away with the circus’ replete with brand new hornsection. $10 on the door, resistance may be useless, but absence is just darned foolishness.
SYDNEY RD STREET PARTY
THE STEINS
Let the wild rumpus begin. That’s right it’s that time of year again – Sydney Rd Street Party is just around the corner and this year the Retreat Hotel has pulled all the stops. It’s the day to celebrate all things Brunswick and revel in how awesome the main drag is. Sunday March 4 The Retreat has free entry with bands on their brand spanking new beer garden stage from 1pm. Helping them celebrate this year are Coral Lee & The Silver Scream, Ben Salter, The Toot Toot Toots, Dan Brodie & The Grieving Widows, Pony Face, Sun God Replica followed by DJ Phil Gionfriddo (The Bowers) on the wheels of steel.
The Steins play garage infused rock’n’roll. They are from Colbinabbin, central Victoria. Rumour has it that Colbinabbin has a population of 111 people. Also, it is claimed that The Steins are Colbinabbin’s third best band. Come down to the Victoria Hotel on Friday February 24 to help dispel one of these myths. Support from The Palmer Brothers. 10pm, free.
CRATE DIGGERS/HELLO SAILOR FAIR The Crate Digger Record Fair is back on Saturday February 25 alongside its sister event, The Hello Sailor Vintage Fair. With a whole room of record stalls upstairs and the usual suspects downstairs, you can expect to find all sorts of treats of the seven, ten and 12 inch variety. With over 20 stallholders, there’s sure to be something for everyone. If you’re into rock, indie (a small Flying Nun collection will be on sale), pop, R&B, soul, ‘60s psych, garage, punk, hardcore, blues, jazz, electro, hiphop, soundtracks or disco – it’s all gonna be there. The Hello Sailor Vintage Fair offers quality vintage items and recycled designer stock in good condition, at reasonable prices. This event will specialise in 1950’s - 1980’s wares. Entry is free and doors open at 12pm.
CLARKFIELD MUSIC FESTIVAL The first annual Clarkefield Music Festival will see some of Australia’s finest musicians join forces for a common cause, as they raise money to help assist children and their families living in poverty in Cambodia. All money raised on the day will go directly to building a new school for over one thousand children in the Kampong Thom province of Cambodia. The Festival will feature renowned musicians Kim Salmon, Nick Barker, Hope Addicts, Dead River Deeps, James McCann, Brother Johnstone, Saint Jude and Jeb Cardwell. The Clarkefield Festival is happening on Sunday March 18 with tickets just $20 and available on the door. For more information head to clarkefieldmusicfestival.com.
SHIRAZZ Traditional jazz has found a new lease on life with the release of Melbourne band Shirazz’s new album, Enjoy Responsibly. Packed with hot New Orleans-style trad jazz tunes, Enjoy Responsibly will be launched by Shirazz on Saturday February 25, at Red Bennies.
FEST LA FROG Fest La Frog 2012 will be taking place again at CERES Environmental Park in Brunswick on Saturday March 3. This second annual event will be a showcase of sustainable organic music and art. The first acts announced on the bill include Playwrite, Charles Baby, White Summer and more, with other acts soon to be announced. For more information head to festlafrog.com.
CHRIS RUSSELL’S CHICKEN WALK Chris Russell’s Chicken Walk is just Chris Russell, doing his solo thing in and about Melbourne. He is an electric guitarist, songwriter, sometime singer and dabbler in the dark art of blues harp. His style is a mix of delta blues, hill country blues, hillbilly country, Chicago blues, greasy southern soul and ‘60s rock’n’roll – a style dubbed 'Chrississippian' by some of his admirers. Check him out this Sunday February 26 at The Standard Hotel.
MINCE PIE The House of Mince presents Mince Pie: A queer hip hop dance and performance party, returning for its second instalment this Friday February 24 at the Phoenix Public House. The House of Mince resident DJs The City Loves A Boyfriend, mix a unique collection of international hip hop with new guest DJs every month. The night is interspersed with epic alternative performances, DJs, and fierce go-go dancers for five hours of the hottest and sweatiest dancing y’all will do this new year. Also featuring a fabulous photo booth capturing all of the evening’s epic looks.
FEZ PEREZ After nine long years, Melbourne’s notorious rock’n’roll grease punks Fez Perez are back for a special one-night only ‘Fezurrection’ show. It’s been a while but the boys are firing up the old rusty pickup truck, pointing it at The Tote and planting the foot for a one-off smash and grab rock’n’roll ram-raid. And that’s not all. Old friends and fellow tyre burners Intoxica will be there, so will cowpunk upstarts Harvest Smoke, riffmeisters Lumber and party starters Dick Finger. It’s all happening on Saturday February 25. Doors open at 7.30pm and entry is only $10. Long live the Fez.
BEWARE! BLACK HOLES How d’ya make a perfect Sunday? It starts with the Crunts punching out chocoblock psycho punk with an abundance of noise.Then add some old school, nuts out, garage rock, pop, jangle and crunch from Bug. Throw in a healthy helping of tasty lick laden ‘I don’t give a f…’ alt rock topping from debutants the Black Crow Kings, and then finish it off with layers of reverb and twang from surf/psychedelic/garage/ spy rock instrumental band Beware! Black Holes. Wash down with some icy cold ones and there it is. Yummy, eh? Spread the word. 6pm, $6 this Sunday February 26 at The Tote.
IOWA
River Of Snakes have been smashing out some formidable and fucked up sets at their Wednesday night Cherry Bar residency this February. Now that they have hit their stride and turned into the final stretch, with just two more Wednesday night shows to go, they are turning up the heat. This week they will be supported by UK garage/blues rockers the Graveltones who are touring Australia this month. Then next week is a special three band bill-finale with doom-stoner-sludge masters Motherslug and the swamp/blues sonics of Mass Cult so come along and don’t miss out on getting messy with the Snakes. Tonight, bands start at 9pm, entry free and there are cheap drinks, check it out.
THE BOWERS With two LPs and five 7”s packed in the cone, The Bowers bong is ready to pull. And you’re going to have to breathe deeply ‘cause the chamber is so flush with hits your lungs will dance all the way to the emergency room - X-rays proof of youth well spent making the best Bower-power garage pop. Their Odds Or Evens LP had received heaps of sick reviews and has just picked up a Spanish licence with the band to return to European shores in May. They play every Tuesday night in February in The Tote front bar, free from 8pm.
LATIN AOTEARON Latin Aotearon is a New Zealand collective and their first live mix-tape embraces styles as diverse as cumbia, calypso funk, boogaloo, salsa, rumba, Ethiopian jazz and more. Together they create a unique and truly legitimate Latin act with a local flavour, both bending and blending the traditional music of their homelands with the modern sounds of here and now. On a short Australian tour, Latin Aoteroa will warm up with an intimate fringe performance at Melbourne’s house of Latin Music, Cruzao Arepa Bar, on Thursday, February 23 from 8pm.
Fuzzed-out, lo-fi Melbourne trio Iowa have unleashed their latest single Panic Attack in February through Aerial Mines Records. Combining melodic and menacing vocals resplendent with swirling, fuzzed-out guitars, a swelling squall of drums and riff laden bass hooks, Panic Attack swells, lurches and builds a towering wall of sound which will get your heart racing and leave you gasping for breath in its wake. Taken from Iowa’s forthcoming debut album Never Saw It Coming, which is slated for release in April, Panic Attack is the exciting follow up to Iowa’s lauded single Complete Control. Iowa will be launching Panic Attack and showcasing selected tracks from their forthcoming album at The Tote in Melbourne tonight with support from Damn Terran and DJ Luke D (PBS). $6 on the door.
2011 was an exciting, yet testing year for A French Butler Called Smith, but the Latin groove outfit from South East Queensland return with a wild new brass section, a fresh and captivating live show, and a brand new EP consisting of five new tracks, which reveals the musical progression and unpredictable evolution of this diverse band. A French Butler Called Smith have embarked on an East Coast tour to promote their latest release, Eating Crow, and will be hitting up The Evelyn Hotel on Sunday February 26. Joining A French Butler Called Smith will be Captain Groove and Pear. Don’t forget your dancing shoes!
SERI VIDA
ANNA SMYRK AND THE APPETITES
With the band assembled, music video shot, guitar strings and other bits broken in the chaos of a heated practice that literally brought the roof down (onto drummer Alan Murphy’s head unfortunately) Seri Vida is ready to do it all again to release their seductive mind-stalker of a single The Hound to a live audience near you. Lucky you. The band will launch their single at Yah Yah’s this Friday February 24 with the help of local party animals Ferry Tails and Constant Killer.
DESTROY SHE SAID After playing at last week’s St Kilda Festival, local hard rocker’s Destroy She Said, head to Cherry Bar on Saturday February 25 to launch their new single called Squirter. Joining the mayhem on the night are The Deep End, and Home To Kelly. Come down early, because the first 50 payers will receive a special limited copy of the single.
RAINBOW HOTEL The Rainbow brings you great times, fabulous food and brilliant tunes. This Thursday February 23 is Kathyrn Kelly and Rowan Blackmore, Friday February 24 it’s the one and only Moreland City Soul Review. Saturday night the funked up groovin’ Keshie will be launching their EP A House Like Mine and Sunday arvo kick back enjoy a pint and some tucker with Waz E James. Support the pub supporting the locals. Beat Magazine Page 60
RIVER OF SNAKES
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A FRENCH BUTLER CALLED SMITH
In the midst of high summer, there is a breath of cool air. Belly Of Winter, the debut release from contemporary folkpop band Anna Smyrk And The Appetites, is a rich, varied collection of songs that tells stories about the strange mixture of bitterness, and cosy-ness that winter can bring. It tells tales of grey Melbourne streets, and freezing garden beds with such warmth and energy that the listener ends up yearning for wooly scarves and an open fire. Fresh from touring the EP right up the flooded East Coast, Anna Smyrk And The Appetites are drying off in preparation for the Melbourne launch at the Workers Club, Thursday February 23.
THE SUNDAY REEDS Following the success of their last EP Dark Rainbows (2009) and a tour of the UK, The Sunday Reeds launch their highly anticipated new single Kill This Party/Fall From Grace at Pony on Friday February 24. Not only is it the launch of their new single but it is the launch of their own label called Heartgun Records. They are joined by Sydney garage-punk band Bunt who leave audiences wanting more with their frantic, onstage antics, the always sublime Grand Prismatic, the experimental noise of three piece Maya, and the performance art of Dane Certificate and Coral Jade who will entertain and thrill with their magic and hulahoop skills. It will be an extravaganza of musical talent and performance art, and is definitely a show not to miss. Entry is $12.
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CHRIS WILSON
THE RHETORICS
During February, Bertha Brown has one of Australia’s finest blues vocalists Chris Wilson playing weekly, including this Thursday February 23. He gets out his guitar and harmonica and goes the whole nine yards. Just don’t get him confused with the UFC fighter or the linebacker for The Eagles.
Just when you thought it was safe to step back into the GB… The Rhetorics are back together after god knows how long. Playing on Thursday February 23, Melbourne’s own sardonic garage specialists will also be joined my their dear comrades The Rant, a kick arse two piece that never fails to please. Will Dan have learnt to play guitar by now? Will Thomas finally break his leg on stage? Will Nathan be able to see through his veil of mangy hair? Will Jamie even rock up? You’ll have to be there to find out. Free from 9pm.
THE DAVIDSON BROTHERS
THE WIDOWBIRDS
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 Retreats brand new beer garden stage, from 4pm every Sunday in February.
The Widowbirds were born in late 2010 from a songwriting project and calling of heart for long term brothers in arms and co-writers, Simon Meli and Tony Kvesic. Living off the inspirations of Otis Redding, Frankie Miller, Black Joe Lewis, The Black Keys and The Band, The Widowbirds now deliver a soulfulness and truth that seems to be missing out there. The EP was independently digitally released with successful airplay on Roots N All on triple j, regional radio and digital stations alike as their first preview offering from their debut album. So come and check these guys groove on stage at The Union Hotel Brunswick this Saturday February 25.
JUDDY ROLLER MEMORIAL SHOW
HUSK
Just on three years ago Blue Swimmers drummer and local legend Juddy Roller tragically passed away. Now every year his life is celebrated with the Annual Juddy Roller Memorial gig and all the money raised goes to a trust fund for his son. This year’s show is Saturday February 25 at Pony. There’s a whole night of ripping bands starting with local kids Riot City Knockouts, lads from Shepparton Inedia, local rockers The Tearaways, and local fuckheads The Blue Swimmers (who are launching their new album Deadweight on the night). So if you knew Juddy or if you just dig on awesome local bands, get your ass to Pony this Saturday for a great cause. The show continues into the 2am late slot with some killer dance tunes from electro rockers Trust Us.
Melbourne alterna-metal giants Sydonia, team up with local upcoming legends, Husk, for their T-shirt launch and a mind blowing evening at the Ferntreegully Hotel. Other supports include Blind Monkee, Fenian and No Stairway. Both Husk and Sydonia offer incredible live shows that are extremely engaging and filled with raw energy, a trait often lost in the modern music scene. Original in their own way, Husk is a three way marriage between Tool, Rage Against The Machine, and Nirvana. Of course, comparisons aside, both Sydonia, and Husk bring completely original flavours that cannot be described outside the language of music itself. The Ferntree Gully Hotel is the place to be for heavy music lovers who like a little extra depth to their music on Friday February 24.
CARNIVAL OF SUBURBIA Emerging out of the so-called cultural ‘wastelands’ of the south back in March 2010, Carnival Of Suburbia has risen like a flower in the desert to firmly establish itself as an iconic annual event in celebration of Melbourne’s suburban soul and culture. The world class program of events includes the UK’s harmonious alt-country five-piece, Ahab on Wednesday March 14; legend of the New York folk scene, Judy Collins on Thursday March 15, and on Saturday March 17 founding member of both The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers and widely recognised originator of American country rock, Chris Hillman, performing alongside Californian banjo player and guitarist Herb Pedersen. Carnival Of Suburbia will take place from Thursday March 8 until Sunday March 18 at the Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh.
KELLIE LLOYD Kellie Lloyd, better known as the bass player in Brisbane’s Screamfeeder (who are taking an indefinite hiatus), returns in 2011 with the first single from her second solo album. The first single Your Heart Is A Hunter was released on 7 inch flexi disc and available as digital download in November 2011. In January 2012 Kellie has offered the single as digital download for people to choose what to pay with 100% of sales going to a fund to help young girls in developing nations go to school. Be sure to come down and check out Kellie Lloyd in the Pony 2am late show this Friday February 24. You never know, if you shout out some Screamfeeder requests, she might just play ‘em.
JAMES WALSH In what guarantees to be a series of incredible shows Sarah McLeod will now join James Walsh, frontman of critically acclaimed UK Band Starsailor on his upcoming March tour of Australia. Sarah has been one busy woman over the last few years, and is currently focusing on her rock band Screaming Bikini. After touring extensively with The Superjesus for so long she decided she wanted to try some different projects. She has been all round the world five times over writing songs for lots of different artists and in the process gaining international chart success. Both Sarah McLeod and James Walsh play The Espy on Friday March 23. Tickets are only $30+bf, available from Oztix.
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 in The Tote front bar every Saturday in February at 5pm they’ll start your night with something fast and loud. They’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.
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STELLA ANGELICO Is she Melbourne’s best kept secret? Stella Angelico and her super smooth Wilhelm Screen will grace the Great Britain on Saturday February 25. A toxically sultry explosion of the untamed feminine, indulge in their strange blend of psych, exotica and soul, and Angelico’s penchant for spectacular costumes and violent hip shaking. To add to the blend, catch the slow simmering first up from Monty Montan’s new outfit Midnite Bosom. Be there to see if your lips taste like sugar. Doors 9pm. Entry is free.
SHANNON BOURNE The young Bourne learnt his performance craft in the boot camp of countless gigs, TV appearances and festivals with the in-demand Chris Wilson, both in here and overseas. Bonus nights (and there were many), would be on those occasions where the bill was shared playing with the likes of Richard Thompson – a personal favourite and influence on Shannon. All this experience and the recording of two albums with Chris, whetted the appetite of the guitarist to go out and do his own thing. Catch him doing so this Sunday February 26 at the Drunken Poet.
MOONLIGHTING 1AM FINALE Phoenix Public House is proud to announce the Moonlighting 1am Slot, a free late night electronica series. The Moonlighting 1am slot features some of Melbourne's finest musical artists in electronic dance 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, 1am - 3am, dance 'til you drop. Friday February 24 features Solaires and Matthews Brown (Zond) and Saturday February 25 features Rohan Ribeiro (My Disco) and Alex Akers (Forces).
Beat Magazine Page 61
THE EVELYN – THE BENSON CAMPAIN
This THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23 marks two years from when 20,000 people marched through Melbourne to the tune of AC/DC’s Long Way To The Top in protest against the Victorian Government’s misguided policy link between live music and violence. The SLAM rally was the largest cultural protest in Australia’s history and now, on the anniversary of the march, venues are participating in the inaugural national SLAM day to celebrate local musicians and small venues the country over. SLAM day applauds Melbourne’s thriving small venue culture and the indisputable strength of live Australian music and encourages its continuation. Below is some information on various SLAM gigs going on around town, but be sure to head to slamrally.org and click Gig Guide for a full listing.
VICTORIA HOTEL – SAINT JUDE This Thursday, the Victoria Hotel welcomes two cracking Melbourne bands to its stage. Saint Jude play exceptional country blues, with a rock’n’roll swagger. This five-piece have talent that is unmeasured and produce an extremely desirable sound. Joining them are mates The Death Rattles, who go about their business just as masterfully, and who are just as entertaining. These two bands represent what this day is about and must be seen live.
They filled venues across the hood, supported acts such as Paul Kelly and left punters feeling pretty damn fine at the end of each show. Now after a two and a half year hiatus the folkalicious, bluesicle, hip hop heartic, rootsy men of The Benson Campain are back for a one-off charity event, putting on this special night of entertainment, with all tickets sales going towards starting up a new musical charity website concept changethebeat.org which will be launched in 2012 and uses music to help many people across the world. Joining them will be the amazing Rob Sawyer and the fantastic Hiding With Bears and the superb Emma Hales.
THE TOTE – PRIMITIVE CALCULATORS Get out your numerology charts, primitive calculators and ouija boards, ‘cause coincidences like this don’t happen every day. Ground breaking early ‘80s Melbourne post punk experimental noise outfit Primitive Calculators play one of their rare performances along with Scrap Museum, BJ Morrizonkle, Beat Disease and Teenage Libido. Where else but The Tote? Doors open 7pm, tickets $15 at the door.
GRACE DARLING – CITIZEN SEX The Grace Darling celebrates SLAM day with a free party and free booze – well, until it runs out. Featuring Citizen Sex and ScotDrakula, the Grace Darling has you covered for Collingwood.
THE TOFF IN TOWN – UV RACE The Toff In Town is proud to present a massive night of Melbourne’s most chaotic bands featuring The UV Race, Bitch Prefect and Repairs. The full-length debut masterpiece from Melbourne avant-tard six-piece UV Race, follows two limited-edition (and now highly sought after) 7” singles released here and in the USA, and has fulfilled the potential only hinted at on those EPs. Produced by Mikey Young of Eddy Current Suppression Ring, it brings to mind some of the cornerstones of mid ‘70s proto-punk. The UV Race avoid rote punk trappings with their sophisticated use of piano and saxophone, and the over-riding presence of singer Marcus’ introverted musings on life as a small town misfit. Head down to The Toff In Town this SLAM day to watch them tear up the joint, with help from Bitch Prefect and Repairs. Tickets are on sale now from Moshtix, Polyester Records (city) and on the door if available.
THE BRUNSWICK HOTEL – LILLY ROUGE BAND
THE ESPY – VALENTIINE & KELLIE LLOYD Valentiine hit the Espy front bar with a stellar lineup to celebrate National SLAM Day. Joining the girls will be Brisbane’s own Kellie Lloyd from Screamfeeder, joined for a very special duo with Clint Hyndman from Something For Kate and opening the night will be those raucous boys from the north side, Woolhouse. Celebrate SLAM Day. Save live Australian music and get along to the Espy. Free entry and bands start around 8pm.
What began as a solo project in 2006 by front woman Lilly, the Lilly Rouge Band has grown to become a respected musical act. Splitting their time between the flashy-yettrashy Gold Coast and the glitter and shine of Melbourne, Lilly Rouge plan on taking over the world one rock song at a time. They’re at the Brunswick Hotel with Purple Toes and Lalaist for SLAM Day.
THE PENNY BLACK – MONIQUE BRUMBY BAND Two-time ARIA Award winning singer songwriter Monique Brumby released her fourth studio album Skeletons’ Polka in 2010 to great acclaim. Monique is currently mixing her fifth studio album Half Moon Half Everything due out March 2012. Monique and her five-piece band are playing at The Penny Black as part of National SLAM Day this Thursday.
60 SECONDS WITH... ANNA SMYRK So then, what’s the band name and what do you ‘do’ in the band? I’m Anna. I sing and play keys in the band Anna Smyrk and the Appetites. Bearing the terrible clichéd nature of this question, what do you reckon people will say you sound like? Like a Thai green curry: creamy and sweet at first taste, with a feisty spiciness that takes you by surprise. What do you love about making music? I just freaking love to sing. I think it’s the closest you can get to flying with both feet still on the ground.
Beat Magazine Page 62
What do you hate about the music industry? Its propensity to make paupers of the most talented. If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why? I’d go back to when Tom Waits was a babe, show him some songs and then propose. That husky voice, my God… If you could assassinate one person or band from popular music, who would it and why? Whoever decided it was ok to turn a Beach Boys song into a commercial for white-goods. Not okay. What can a punter expect from your live show? A set that begins with a contemplative, lyrical vibe then
ADDITIONAL
SLAM GIGS THE RETREAT – SPENCER P JONES To celebrate Australia’s very new national independent music day, SLAM Rally Day, The Retreat Hotel has put a hell of a lineup to celebrate the occasion. The night features local greats Spencer P Jones And The Escape Committee plus M J Halloran And The Sinners, and blessing the stage boards for these guys will be Waco Social Club. Killer bands. Killer venue. Killer price (uh, free, ya dig?) with a 7pm start.
YAH YAH’S – HARMONY, SPOD Like two ideologies in decline caterwauling towards fundamentally opposed extremes, Spod and Harmony will engineer mass bi-polarity in captive heads. Dizzying delusions of ecstasy and lobster mutations followed by a misery dump of unprecedented proportions. Bridging the divide will be the ragged glory of Deep Heat (featuring members of Boomgates and Diamond Sea) who will open the night by peeling faces right off exposing the lobe for the manic double stroke that follows. Go and celebrate the glorious diversity of Australian live music in all its unbalanced, hormonal splendour at Yah Yah’s on Thursday February 23.
BAR OPEN – PHANTOM AGENTS 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. Phantom Agents take over Bar Open on Thursday in February, including this Thursday February 23 for SLAM Day. Also playing are Straw King Eye, The Philistines and Alexander Francis.
CHERRY BAR – SOUL IN THE BASEMENT As part of the official SLAM celebrations, Cherry Bar brings you Soul In The Basement and a Women Of Soul special featuring Chelsea Wilson and Deep Street Soul, Karen Morales, Milan Ring (Syd) and Candice Monique, with DJs Vince Peach and Pierre Baroni. Doors open at 5pm, $10 entry and you can party all night ‘til 5am.
PONY – WE’VE BEEN EXPECTING YOU Coinciding with SLAM Day, Thursday February 23 marks the launch of We’ve Been Expecting You, an avenue for upand-coming artists Australia-wide to get into the Melbourne music scene. The best of the best will be presented to the masses on the last Thursday of every month at Pony. The grand opening of We’ve Been Expecting You will showcase Zuzu Angel, who are a rock’n’roll movement built on flirtatious guitar driven riffs and hip-shaking rhythmic grooves. Supporting these devilish characters are The 80 Aces, who will kick off their Australian tour next month. Also onboard, and with amazing stage presence is White Summer, who will kick the night off with a bang and give the other bands a run for their money. accelerates like a speeding train towards a crazy danceworthy climax. Phew… What’ve you got to sell CD-wise? Our debut EP Belly of Winter is launching this week. It’s a collection of songs about winter, with equal measures of bitterness, and cosy-ness. When’s the gig and with who? Thursday February 23 (SLAM Day) at the Workers Club. Supporting is an incredible three piece a cappella group called Aluka, and militant atheist singer-songwriter Shelley Segal. Anything else to add? Try before you buy, its only sensible. You can stream some of the EP songs for free at annasmyrkandtheappetites.com.au.
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GERTRUDE’S BROWN COUCH Tyme & The Six Thousand Dollar Suits, The Groves, N.Cision JOHN CURTIN HOTEL Alex Lashlie, Lyd & Sophie, The Wildes THE DRUNKEN POET Roesy, Malachi Doyle THE OLD BAR Mikelangelo & The Tin Star, Fraser A Gorman THE STANDARD Ron S. Peno & The Superstitions Trio LABOUR IN VAIN Eddie James & Sib THE LAUNDRY Zee, Poco La Pax, Ildiko, The Mcqueens, Thnkr, No Zebra ROYAL DERBY HOTEL Local DJ’s, uni night RED BENNIES The Bass Bizzare – DJ Q-Bert and Reeps, DJ Peril, Def Emission, Soliloquy, Mz Risk REVOLVER UPSTAIRS Sherriff, Mistress Mondays, Glenn Mossop (Bonjah) THE CORNER Matt Corby (sold-out) THE THORNBURY THEATRE The High Society, Daydream Arcade, Rosie & George, Diamonds of Neptune, The Darjeelings, Rudely Interrupted THE REGAL BALLROOM Elixir, Ollie Browne and Sam Bates CARAVAN MUSIC CLUB Shane Howard & His Band GRUMPY’S GREEN The Bucket Room invites local singer/songwriter’s bands/original material NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB Tinpan Orange, Jess Ribeiro And The Bone Collectors EAST BRUNSWICK CLUB Geoff Achison, Jimi Hocking with Shaun Kirk, with special appearances by Lloyd Spiegel and Shannon Bourne THE LUWOW Mandingo Afro Beat, Afro Psych Grooves
WAZ E JAMES 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. They play at The Gem this Friday February 24.
MESA COSA
CHINATOWN ANGELS Chinatown Angels return to the Cherry stage on Friday May 2 to launch their highly anticipated new single You Really Ain’t That Young. It’s another slab of down and dirty rock ’n’ roll which should keep punters satisfied until the band unleash a full length release later this year. The single will be available via iTunes and as a limited edition digipak on the night. With an awesome line up including The Rock City Riff Raff and Uptown Ace it’s sure to be one hell of a rock’n’roll party! Doors open at 8pm. $13 cover charge.
IAN RICKARD On Sunday February 26, Ian Rickard will be releasing his debut EP called Something You May Never Find at The Espy in St. Kilda. Although Ian has been gigging around Melbourne for a while, this is his first official release to date. As a bonus on the night, a copy of Something You May Never Find will be given out on entry. Also playing on this night is Kieran Chrisopherson, Hamish Anderson, Alanna Deutrom, and Chris O’Neill.
Mexi-party-garage-punk-noise-ratbags (phew) Mesa Cosa, are releasing their EP The Infernal Cakewalk at the Tote this Friday February 24. Recorded by Nao Anzai (Rat Vs Possum/Toots) and pressed onto ten inches of black vinyl, the EP features seven messy garage noise anthems about devils, mountain dogs and five finger discounts. Joining in on the night will be The Murlocs who will also be releasing their EP to the world, and the legendary Chook Race.
THE SHARDS
Join the crazy Street Gypsies Goyim on Sunday February 26 from 7pm at Richmond’s Great Britain Hotel. Bringing a fresh new take to Gypsy and Klezmer tunes from across Europe and New York, creating an infectious high energy street sound found among the Gypsies. See Paul on the slap double bass and Esther on the fiddle with her jingly gypsy bells strapped to her skirt. Free from 7pm.
With indie rock, country and folk influences, and possessing a baritone drawl of a voice, Michael Plater sounds as if Johnny Cash and Nick Cave had a child together, raised it to adulthood, killed it, then brought it back to life. Joining Michael at The Victoria Hotel this Sunday February 26 for this open air twilight show will be Ballarat band Goldentone. They will perform stories of loss, longing and regret with simple arrangements and lingering melodies. Come down from 5pm for $10 jugs and excellent entertainment. Entry is free.
The Terrorbyte Stripes are a two piece gun slinging pack of madmen from the shadows of the Shaolin. They are pillaging out of their temple of rock to blow your senses for one night from inside a Pony this Thursday February 23 from 1am. This clan of living devastators will be lighting Pony on fire with their take-no-prisoners resurrection of the real meaning of rock.
AGENTS OF ABHORRENCE Mid-week blast off! Agents Of Abhorrence don’t play much these days, so tonight at the Bendigo Hotel is your last chance for ages. This will likely be their last show before the US shows midyear and an awesome local supporting cast including Extortion, Internal Rot and Aeroflot will be hacking at nutsacks and kicking arses too. Early start ‘cause it’s a school night, so don’t be late. $8 will get you in.
CITY OF SIRENS City of Sirens, Death By Death Ray, Hopes Abandoned and Evacuate The Fallen hit Bendigo Hotel for a night of awesome this Friday February 24. Not only will this be a great rock show, it’s also Greg and Betty Death Ray’s birthday celebrations, and Evacuate The Fallen’s first show since moving to Melbourne. So get down for what promises to be a massive party.
Californian stoner rock giants Fu Manchu have been announced as the headliners of the sixth annual Cherry Rock. 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 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.
Freddy Fudd Pucker began, circa 2006, as a solo project out of Dunedin, New Zealand. A city at the bottom of New Zealand, not far from the edge of the earth, mildly famous for its musical heritage and cheese rolls. After two, self produced and funded albums, a solo tour was planned for the USA in 2009. Not three shows in, the tour was hijacked by a small Texan woman (The Whippy-Dip) and her accordion. In the last two years they have toured more than most bands do in their whole existence. 2012 saw them play countless shows in New Zealand, Australia, USA, Germany and The Netherlands, leaving fans in every crazy little town they played. They make a lot of sound for two people. Freddy plays guitar, banjo, ankle-bells, harmonica and a relentless kick-drum accompanied by Whippy on accordion. They will be playing the Monday night residency at their favourite Melbourne haunt The Old Bar. 8pm free.
MICHAEL PLATER
TERRORBYTE STRIPES
CHERRY ROCK 2012
After nine months of production, soul hip hoppers You And Your Music release their long awaited video clip for their fresh tread remix of Keep On Spinning. An anthem adopted by the Melbourne bicycle couriering community; the videoclip follows real life couriers Lane Dell and Benee Loher through the streets of Melbourne trying to make a dollar and explores the trials and tribulations of life on the bike. Eight-piece all live hip-hop band YAYM will be supported by some of Melbourne’s finest soul, hip hop and electro bands including Project Puzzle, Mose and the FMLY and Ghost Orchid. It’s at The Evelyn this Friday February 24.
FREDDY FUDD PUCKER
GOYIM
Dallas Frasca have announced a national tour to celebrate the release of the first single, All My Love, from the forthcoming album Sound Painter. Dallas Frasca is a hard working independent juggernaut who, with her band and this yet to be released album, is carving her own path, both here in Australia and internationally. She has stormed the stages at countless major festivals (Big Day Out, Falls, Bluesfest, Pyramid Rock, Festival of the Sun, Queenscliff, Southbound, and major French festival – Blues Passion Cognac). So don’t miss out when the extremely talented Dallas and her band play her hometown at the Northcote Social Club on Friday March 9. Doors open 8pm with special guests King Of The North and Rick Steward.
YOU AND YOUR MUSIC
Just under 25 years ago, two people consummated their relationship, resulting in the fertilisation on an egg with a unique sperm. Over next nine months a foetus formed and grew larger until on February 25, 1988 a diminutively sized Toff came screaming into the world. Not much else has changed since then. He‘s just as loud, obnoxious and immature – the only real progression has been in stature. Live at the Bendigo Hotel in Collingwood, Toff and his merry band of musical chums will be appearing to do what they love most along with rad cats; Dixon Cider, Polygasm and Burn Out Boulevard, with DJ Monkey spinning rad tracks between bands. Doors are at 8pm and be sure to throw $10 down to get in.
Fresh from their explosive performance at the St. Kilda Festival, Falloe have just announced their long-awaited album launch at the John Curtin Hotel on Saturday March 24. The self-titled album includes their stunning single Science Of The Heart, which features an accompanying film clip that was directed by Natasha Pincus, the creator of the much lauded clip for Gotye’s song Somebody That I Used To Know.
DALLAS FRASCA
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TOFF
On Saturday February 25 the ongoing feud between the North and South of Melbourne comes to a head in the form of a mediated soccer match in the middle of Brunswick. The match is in the name of the Don Bosco Foundation with all proceeds and donations going directly to support the Don Bosco Youth Hostel and Recreation Center. It‘s not all bruised bodies and broken hearts though. After the fall comes the summer, and after the war comes the after (war) party. Head down to the Victoria Hotel to see shoegazenoise makers The Shards with special guests Atlas Murphy and join in the celebration or commiseration (depending on which side of the river you reside). Doors 10pm, free.
FALLOE
MUSIC NEWS
YOUR COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL GUIDE
THE BITTER SWEETHEARTS This February, The Bitter Sweethearts are celebrating the release of their debut self-titled EP with a Wednesday residency at the Old Bar. Copies will be available only at these shows so come down, pick up a copy and enjoy a beer with them and all the great bands they’ve handpicked for supports.
NUMBER STATION Hot on the heels of releasing one of the funniest, and most unique video clips of the year for their first single Hold On, Number Station are continuing a busy few months by launching another single from their debut EP. The second in their series of three limited edition CD-poster pack singles, Broke shows a different side of the group, with their usual rock splendour replaced by a haunting acoustic vibe. The result is a soaring, beautiful ode to regret and the end of our time, and is arguably the band’s finest work to date. The triple j Unearthed winners have made a proper event of the night, enlisting the support of Hey Fever, The Raffaellas, and Amber Lamps, along with a special debut DJ set by Milky Joe from music blog Deaf Ambitions. The show is this Saturday February 25, at Revolver Upstairs. Doors from 8.30pm, entry is $9.
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.
PRESENT
THE SUNDAY REEDS Kill this Party / Fall from Grace
VULTURES OF VENUS It’s a busy time for Vultures Of Venus. This week they unleash their speedy carnival of sparkle at Bar Open tonight. Joined by Lords Of Northcote whose unique style of dance music hits you like an electro glitter bomb from the nether regions, and the psychedelic funk blues maestros Delusions Of Grandeur. Entry is free, so come on in and feed your musical garden, especially if you love stuff like David Bowie or dancing or drinking or making out in that dark corner at the back of the bar. 8pm, free.
CARNIVAL! Friday February 24 at Bar Open, the Carnival! of global rhythms has come to town. 8 Foot Felix headline the night with a treasure chest of infectious ditties; blending bluesinspired sea shanties with gypsy polka and piratical funk. They are joined by their mates Djumba who wreak havoc with their brand of international boogaloo – the bastard child of subsonic beats, funk and world music. King of Electro Swing Mortisville will be spinning some devilish 1930‘s inspired mayhem. And the voodoo man himself, Papa Stylee will kick off the night with the best of Gypsy, Dub and Afrobeat bangers. So come down to the Carnival ‚cause it‘s free. Bring your dancing feet.
RAZ BIN SAM & THE LION I BAND Crowd pleasers Raz Bin Sam & The Lion I Band return to Bar Open to play not one but two shows in a row. Also a special one off performance from Mista Savona Soundsystem – Savona now calls Byron home so this is an extremely rare occasion to catch him in action. Raz Bin Sam & The Lion I band are a five-piece original reggae/dancehall outfit. The band uses a combination of roots, dancehall and Middle Eastern rhythms. Known for their high energy, no holds barred bass lines and uplifting riddims, you’re bound to find your groove. For two nights only, Saturday February 25 and Sunday 26, head down and see why Raz is one of the most important reggae artists this country has. It’s totally free to get in at Bar Open from 10pm.
SINGLE LAUNCH @ PONY WITH SPECIAL GUESTS
G RA N D P RI S M AT I C / B U N T (SYD) / M AYA AND SIDESHOW PERFORMANCES FROM DANE CERTIFICATE / CORAL JADE
FEBRUARY 24 / PONY / 9PM HEARTGUNRECORDS.COM $12 ENTRY THESUNDAYREEDS.COM
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Beat Magazine Page 63
ALBUM OF THE WEEK
PBS TIPSHEET
DIRTY THREE
1. Toward The Low Sun DIRTY THREE 2. WOMAD: The Worlds Festival VARIOUS ARTISTS 3. Nearer To You BETTYE LAVETTE 4. Le Voyage Dans La Lune AIR 5. Plumb FIELD MUSIC 6. Seeds From the Underground Kenny Garrett 7. Sounds of Space Alfredo Rodriguez 8. Sweet Sour BAND OF SKULLS 9. Samdi Rudresh Mahanthappa 10. La Bala ANA TIJOUX
Toward The Low Sun (Anchor And Hope/Remote Control)
WEDNESDAY 22 FEBRUARY
THE BLACK GALAXY EXPERIENCE AYANAMI FREINGEIST
ENTRY $5, 8.30PM
THURSDAY 23 FEBRUARY CHANGETHEBEAT.ORG FUNDRAISER
THE BENSON CAMPAIN ROB SAWYER HIDING WITH BEARS EMMA HALES
ENTRY $12 DOOR, $10 PRESALE THRU MOSHTIX, 8.30PM
FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY FILM CLIP LAUNCH
YOU AND YOUR MUSIC PROJECT PUZZLES MOSE & THE FMLY GHOST ORCHID
ENTRY $12 DOOR & PRESALE THRU MOSHTIX, 8.30PM
SATURDAY 25 FEBRUARY MATINEE
RAW COMEDY ENTRY $10, 1PM
EVENING
PRIVATE FUNCTION COME JOIN US IN THE PUBLIC BAR!
SUNDAY 26 FEBRUARY MATINEE
RAW COMEDY ENTRY $10, 1PM
EVENING
A FRENCH BUTLER CALLED SMITH CAPTAIN GROOVE ENTRY $10, 9PM
MONDAY 27 FEBRUARY RESIDENCY
ANIMAUX POCO LA PAX LIFT OFF DJ THOMA
ENTRY $8, 8PM, $10 JUGS!
TUESDAY 28 FEBRUARY
RAW COMEDY ENTRY $10, 6:30PM
RESIDENCY
THE BOMBAY ROYALE DJ CALIFORNIA SOULMAN (PBS) FREE ENTRY, 9.30PM, $10 JUGS!
COMING UP: TIX AVAILABLE THRU MOSHTIX ANIMAUX (MON IN FEB) THE BOMBAY ROYALE (TUES IN FEB) RAW COMEDY (19, 21, 25, 26, 28 FEB) CANOS (1 MAR) BUTTERFLY FOUNDATION FUNDRAISER (2 MAR) LOVE, EVELYN – MARKETS (3 MAR) THE MILLIONAIRES (3 MAR) JOY FM FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY – FUNDRAISER (4 MAR) EL MOTH & THE TURBO RADS (TUES IN MAR) DAYDREAM ARCADE (WED IN MAR) CLOSURE IN MOSCOW – SINGLE LAUNCH (9 MAR)
The very notion of there being a ‘definitive’ Dirty Three album is incongruous. Since the band’s formation in the early 90s, through to its subsequent evolution into a worldrenowned act of unimpeachable quality, Dirty Three have spat in the face of simplistic categorisation, stared down patronising rhetoric and sniggered openly at futile efforts to contrive a poly-dimensional conceptual construct into which the band can be lumped. So when Warren Ellis proclaims the band’s latest album, Toward The Low Sun, to be possibly the band’s definitive record, you know there’s an element of mischief in the air. What, for example, do you make of the opening track, Furnace Skies, an exposition of unbridled instrumental chaos? Mick Turner extracts industrial quality feedback from the pages of his Fungus Brain catalogue, Jim White ranges across his kit at meta-Keith Moon pace while Warren Ellis caresses his violin like a chastened lover searching for answers; a psychotic blend of The Doors’ acid-drenched instrumentation and the MC5’s Black To Comm. From there the mood reverts to tranquillity: Sometimes I Forget You’ve Gone meanders through fields glistening with romantic memory, with White’s rhythmic flourishes a reminder that just beyond every rose-coloured recollection lies moments of emotional turmoil. Moon On The Land is the trip back in time to a world of elegance, simplicity, innocence and hope; Rising Below could be the Dirty Three’s take on Johnny Cash’s trans-continental railway journeys, where every window brings with it a glimpse into the nooks and crannies of society. On The Pier the band returns to the edge of the maritime environment of Ocean Songs; Turner and Ellis trade musical observations of nautical worlds found and lost, where anything is possible if only you care. Rain Song is contemplative and intense, a journey across a sparse land populated by emptiness and the occasional flash of possibility; this is the Dirty Three stripped back to its fundamental parts, walking hand in hand with Hugo Race’s Dirt Music through the African desert. On That Was Was events take a turn into darkness, anger and frustration;
Nobody calls Gotye big-lipped but me, goddamn it.
DANCING HEALS
Live & Learn/Hilary May (MGM Distribution) After the release of Diamonds and ahead of their debut album, Melbourne’s Dancing Heals serve up a double-side single of two glistening pop gems. Live & Learn is a spooling, West Coast Cali-flavoured track with dreamy vocals – somewhere between The Thrills and Teenage Fanclub. Having kicked around as a demo for the last couple of years, the intoxicating Hilary May gets the full studio treatment here. They pump it up with a swinging beat, but essentially it’s the same beautiful song.
THE HARPOONS
Walk Away (Two Bright Lakes/Remote Control) Lifted from their forthcoming debut, The Harpoon’s new single is an only marginally cooler take on the cappuccino jazz of artists like Joss Stone and Corinne Bailey Rae. What is this doing on Two Bright Lakes? I presume the warbling, Idol-worthy vocal performance and stripped back funk instrumental have some relationship in the hipster cannon to that new disco sound, but I don’t get it.
BUCKLEY WARD
Into The Darkening Blue (Shock) The second single from So Pretend has a watery, shimmering surface and a folksy vocal melody. The combination is sweet and familiar, evoking both The Church and Paul Kelly, or maybe Paul Kelly singing with The Church. The chorus is more like a gentle riff on Empire Of The Sun, sailing dreamlike on the back of a rippling synth and some lovely male harmonies.
PANAMA
Magic (Independent) NT-born Jarrah McLeary is making synth pop in a postVampire Weekend world, heavy on the bongos and the tropical swing, For all its lack of distinction, Magic is a nice track, happy and hooking just where it should. It kind of reminds me Romancing The Stone, too, which is excellent. Romancing The Stone is an excellent film.
Drums Of Chelsea (Karvin Records/MGM) Colonial ditty meets rockabilly punk in this spunky track by Geelong five-piece The Go Set. Get ready to bellow and stamp and shake your trampy fist along to the joyful, bouncing beat – it’s a breezy little knockout.
Beat Magazine Page 64
3RRR SOUNDSCAPE
the shit is hitting the fan, and only the Dirty Three can see a way out, but it’s going to be a dangerous, albeit ultimately rewarding journey. With its lilting flute melody, Ashen Snow is every second the wondrous vision of 19th century European beauty, replete with snowflakes, chimney ash and stunning mountain views. The album concludes with You Greet Her Ghost; the moment begins enigmatically, each member gradually finding time, space and instrumental association. There is something here to behold, but it hides from view – sometimes allusion is the better part of intensity. Dirty Three is an institution; an institution to which many aspire, but only few are worthy to enter. Toward The Low Sun is definitive Dirty Three brilliance. Again. Best Track: Rising Below If You Like This, You’ll Like These: FUNGUS BRAINS, TREN BROTHERS and, oh, everything else released by the DIRTY THREE In A Word: Definitive PATRICK EMERY
SINGLES BY SIMONE
THE GO SET
TOP TENS
BUSBY MAROU
5 Rocks (Independent) Rockhampton duo Busby Marou toured with Dolly Parton and Pete Murray last year, then toddled off to record this bland but inoffensive country pop single. The opening guitar melody is crisp and sweet, but the minute the strained, overly earnest vocal kicked in (Tracy Chapman-esque, but without the tragedy), they lost me. Way too sweet.
SUGAR ARMY
Hooks For Hands (Shock) The lead track from Sugar Army’s as-yet-unreleased second album shows a continuing fixation with Bloc Party-style angular indie rock. It’s kind of unconvincing at first, and maybe a little dated, but it turns all mad and electric in the chorus, music sweeping out like The Killers are wont to do while the lyrics only serve to confuse and alarm. “When you’ve got hooks for hands/The more good fortune that you have,” Patrick McLaughlin sings, as though that were a normal thing to pronounce in the middle of a pop song.
SNAKADAKTAL
Carnival (I Oh You) My stocks plummeted with my 20-year-old cousin Simon over Christmas when he told me his band was supporting the awesome Snakadaktal. I said, “Who are Snakadaktal?” and he laughed at me. I said, “No seriously dude, I don’t know who they are,” and he stopped laughing. He looked at me like, what is wrong with you? This story might seem boring and irrelevant but I’m not sure the single is any better. It’s a swinging, yodelling, indie folk kind of thing with a whole bunch of echo on the vocal and it doesn’t seem to go anywhere. However as mentioned, my cousin Simon thinks it’s awesome.
THE BEDROOM PHILOSOPHER
Northcote, YouTube Comments (Independent) A song in which The Bedroom Philosopher sets the comments left under his Northcote (So Hungover) YouTube video to music. May or may not be an extension of a triple j radio segment. Includes the comment/lyrics: “It’s called self-juxtaposition/He is deconstructing his own identity within the conformist social mellow.” I don’t know what the ‘conformist social mellow’ is. And I don’t want to say anything else in case he puts it in a song.
SINGLE OF THE WEEK CHET FAKER
Terms & Conditions (Opulent/Remote Control) Straddling a smooth groove between electro and soul, Melbourne’s Chet Faker ambles into the spotlight with Terms & Conditions, the first single from his forthcoming Thinking in Textures EP. Crooning in a rough, strained, post-Al Green kind of way, the mysterious Chet (real name, intentions, unknown) explores the classic soul themes of heartbreak and desire while his music ticks and stalks seductively. Jazz-cool in a world where such things should not exist anymore.
FOR MORE REVIEWS GO TO BEATTV.COM.AU/REVIEWS
1. Toward The Low DIRTY THREE 2. Near Death Experience HARRY HOWARD AND THE NDE 3. Plumb FIELD MUSIC 4. Pasted Youth CLAG 5. Purple Naked Ladies THE INTERNET 6. Put Your Back N 2 IT PERFUME GENIUS 7. Satellites Remixes CATCALL 8. On The Impossible Past THE MENZINGERS 9. Nearer To You BETTYE LAVETTE 10. iTunes Session WILCO
COLLECTOR’S CORNER MISSING LINK 1. Autoluminescent DVD: Rowland S. Howard 2. Tally Ho! - Flying Nun’s Greatest Bits 2CD VARIOUS 3. Royal Headache CD/LP ROYAL HEADACHE 4. Mazes/Mazes Remixed 2CD MOON DUO 5. 8 Tracks KROMOSOM 6. Demo Tape cassette HEADLESS DEATH 7. Veil Of Mourn CD/DVD RAMPAGE 8. Split 7” RUPTURE/NIHILISTICS 9. Cereal 7” LOOSE GRIP 10. Two Thrills 7” WATERY LOVE
THORNBURY RECORDS 1. El Camino LP BLACK KEYS 2. Woollen Kits LP WOOLLEN KITS 3. Willoughby’s Beach EP KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD 4. Dead Grass 7” PUTA MADRE BROTHERS 5. So Many Things LP EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING 6. Nippon Guitars LP TAKESHI TERACHI 7. Tex Perkins and the Dark Horses LP TEX PERKINS AND THE DARK HORSES 8. Royal Headache LP ROYAL HEADACHE 9. Neverendless CAVE 10. Glorius Barsteds LP COSMIC PSYCHOS
AIRIT CHARTS 1. Nothing To Do BLEEDING KNEES CLUB 2. Madboy WILLIAM STREET STRIKERS 3. Wheels In Motion THE ROMEO KNIGHTS 4. Burn Slow CITY CALM DOWN 5. Oh Me Oh My MIKELANGELO & SAINT CLARE 6. Ready ELIZABETH ROSE 7. Sword To A Gunfight CHILDREN COLLIDE 8. Bright Lights Big City CLUBFEET 9. Blood Prints WINTERCOATS 10. Been Thinkin’ About You BEN WRIGHT SMITH
WOOLLY BULLY 1. Free Again: The “1970” Sessions LP ALEX CHILTON 2. 20 Jazz Funk Greats LP THROBBING GRISTLE 3. Ghostwalking 12” NEW WAR 4. Songs About Death And Dying Vol. 3 LP OCS 5. Rad Times Express IV LP BLACK BANANAS 6. Twerps LP TWERPS 7. Woollen Kits LP WOOLLEN KITS 8. Vedley 7” SIC ALPS 9. Doc At The Radar Station LP CAPTAIN BEEFHEART 10. With Ghost LP DAMON & NAOMI
BEAT’S TOP TEN SONGS ABOUT SPECIAL THINGS 1. Special Death MIRAH 2. Special Brew BAD MANNERS 3. Special K PLACEBO 4. Nothing Special BORIS 5. Especially For You KYLIE MINOGUE & JASON DONOVAN 6. Special GARBAGE 7. So Special LIL’ WAYNE 8. Special JANET JACKSON 9. Special Secret Song RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS 10. Law & Order Special Victim’s Unit Theme Song
ALBUMS
LAMB OF GOD
Resolution (Roadrunner Records) FOR MORE REVIEWS GO TO
BEAT.COM.AU/REVIEWS
SAN CISCO
Awkward EP (Independent) San Cisco are one of those bands that make you feel bad about being a twentysomething underachiever. With an average age of 18, the group have just released their second EP, earned a top ten spot in the 2011 triple j Hottest 100, and have just announced a national tour. San Cisco’s First EP Golden Revolver provided a fresh angle on pop, and it’s their youth and playfulness that is the key to the quartet’s appeal. The opening track Awkward is adorably quirky thanks to the simple melody and rapport between front man Jordi Davieson and drummer Scarlett Stevens. While not quite as catchy, Rocket Ship still has enough of San Cisco’s signature sing along to make it radio-friendly. It’s when the band tackle more sombre material that things start to unravel. The Arctic Monkeys cover 505 feels unnatural and too downbeat for the usually up-tempo group. The confessional Lover tries to mix hand claps with heartbreak, but the result is a confusing mix of keyboards and ‘do dos’. Fortunately, their final single Reckless manages to find a Best Track: Awkward middle ground between lively arrangement and serious If You Like This, You’ll Like These: Vampire Weekend subject matter, showing this band have plenty of depth VAMPIRE WEEKEND, Post Paradise THE HOLIDAYS and potential to come. In A Word: Innocent NICOLE RYAN
Lamb Of God are no longer one of those awesome new bands that your mates keep telling you to check out. They have become a staple of modern metal through their praised records and live shows. It is conceivable then that they could continue touring off their back catalogue of impressive material alone, but the Virginians didn’t make it this far by taking it easy. While Resolution sounds like a LOG album there is a lot that’s new, and it’s obvious that releasing another Ashes was definitely not on the cards. This is exactly what happens when a band turns itself to 11. Mark and Willie have outdone themselves. Their counterpointed riffs run together in unison and have added some soaring and melodic moments between the extreme-southern style of playing we have come to expect from them. Randy has complimented this by altering his vocals and introducing a few moments of clean singing, and the result is an amazing dissonance between Randy and the guitars. Grounding the frequent soaring is John’s solid bass work, which often punches its own space to come through. A band with this much going on would easily fall apart with a lesser metronome, and Chris’s obtuse kick patterns are the glue holding the band to each beat. He has usually been the stand out performer on a team of virtuosos, and he has pulled it off again. With 14 tracks of consistent restless extremity, you might find yourself wishing for a quiet moment at some point. There are a couple, but they are few and short. The only point where there is a break in pace is a predominantly acoustic number in the middle, Barbaraosa. Slowly and quietly creeping in after one of the loudest moments, it serves more as the eye of the storm than a token ‘see we have feelings too’ song many heavy bands wedge into records. Lamb Of God have plotted a course, set the speed, and are ploughing ahead. They have again taken their sound and pushed it to evolve without changing direction, and if you Best Track: The Number Six were in their position why would you change? There is If You Like This, You’ll Like These: MACHINE HEAD, nothing left to prove. DEVIL DRIVER In A Word: Ferocious OSCAR SCHIESSER
THE DEAD LEAVES PULLED APART BY HORSES Tough Love (Transgressive Records)
Fusing together a myriad of styles can be an arduous task for a band, but often (and in this case) one worth attempting. Combining the energetic rock‘n’roll infused punk of the Bronx, the jagged guitar lines of Future Of The Left, the best bits of ‘90s Seattle rock, and even slotting in a pop harmony or two – Pulled Apart By Horses have explored quite the terrain on their sophomore effort Tough Love. Sonically moving from sped up rock riffs to more angular interpretations throughout the album, opener V.E.N.O.M is a good example of utilising both the aforementioned to deliver a solid aural attack that is still layered. The stoner rock break down makes the return to the punchy shout back chorus all the more satisfying, and V.E.N.O.M is successful in starting the album with a bang. Wolfhand features a bass line that could easily lurk in a Fugazi song and the heavy echo and reverb on the chorus make for an interesting contrast to the caustic vocal shred present in the verse. The gang vocals in Shake Off The Curse bring the party vibe and the up-beat good times continue with Epic Myth, which backs off on the spazzy riff attack and just drives along. The track sees singer Tom Hudson, and bass player Robert Lee screaming and singing respectively to deliver a dance-punk-rock ‘n’ roll beast that boasts some mighty pop sensibilities. If the Hives decided to turn up the gain it might sound a little like Some Mothers, skip back a few decades on Give Me A Reason and you can hear the likes of Mudhoney. Degeneration Game owns a chorus that recalls Nirvana’s Aneurysm from their 1992 Incesticide compilation, but while the comparisons flow readily, Pulled Apart By Horses only tip their hats to past rock greats rather than carelessly plagiarizing. Tough Love contains a turbulent energy; structured chaos abounds but melody and rhythm are abundant. It’s well written and well executed and sees Pulled Apart By Horses resolutely Best Track: Wolfhand fighting for their place at the top of the rock heap. If You Like This, You’ll Like These: FUTURE OF THE LEFT, DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979, LES SAVY FAV, MCLUSKY, THE BRONX In A Word: Blazing KRYSTAL MAYNARD
Though originally a vehicle for songsmith Matt Joe Gow, Cities On The Sea marks the debut of The Dead Leaves as a fully fledged band; eschewing their former blue-collar roots rock for a darker, atmospheric furrow – the kind that does so well in Brooklyn. In fact their similarity to some of New York’s finest is difficult to ignore. Cover rides brooding angles and choppy guitars in a similar pattern to gloom merchants Interpol. Meanwhile, Harm uses sighing piano chords and a forceful rhythm section to build to an ascending anthem-like revelry that evokes The National. Even Gow’s rich, bruised croon and lyrical delivery eerily recalls Matt Berninger’s. Interestingly though, its Talking Heads that is referenced openly, with a drastic reworking of This Must Be The Place closing the album, a cathartic march built on Gow’s rousing vocals. While guest vocalists Gin Wigmore (This Living), and Emma Louise (Changing) add some variety, it is Gow’s injured baritone that centres the record, weaving even a plain refrain like “I feel it/the blood in my veins” with a passionate sincerity. Backed by a muscular rhythm section and the atmospheric swells of Andrew Pollock’s guitar, Cities On The Sea is an impressively polished set. While some of its tricks are variations, the crashing repetition of Ordinary Lot and This Living for instance, there’s no denying its stylistic consistency and moody polish. Best of all is opener If The Shoe Fits, containing a zig-zag guitar pattern that seesaws across a thumping pulse, it’s momentum rising toward a chorus punctuated by stirring brass and militant drums. It’s got the triumphant quality of, well… The National’s Fake Empire, or Bloodbuzz Ohio. Those constant stylistic reminders are a double-edged sword, though equally austere in effect and production, the heavy shadow of their influences is drawn long across their sound, however The Dead Leaves are far from a hollowed-out facsimile. They still deliver their own genuine sense of vulnerable passion and cathartic carousing with well-arranged and well-executed songs. For that, they should be credited – not dismissed. Best Track: If The Shoe Fits If You Like This, You’ll Like These: High Violet THE AL NEWSTEAD NATIONAL , Our Love To Admire INTERPOL, In A Word: Mature
VARIOUS ARTISTS
PUTA MADRE BROTHERS
It’s A Long Long Way To Meximotown (Baboso Recording Co/Fuse) Melbourne’s one-man band trio, Puta Madre Brothers, have created a mythical musicopolitical destination, Meximotown, a place where garage rock lives in warped harmony with Spaghetti Westerns, adolescent humour and rudimentary Spanish discourse. Unlike the ill-fated Spanish quest of the 16th century, there’s no obvious booty waiting to be plundered; there is, however, a bounty of idiosyncratic musical riches well within Puta Madre Brothers’ vision. It’s A Long, Long Way To Meximotown is Puta Madre Brothers’ second album, and follow-up to 2010’s Queso Y Cojones. The album opens in a frivolous, but loving mood with La Mierda, with promises of ice cream, meatballs and anal passion played out over a gringo Gene Vincent riff. Those Darlins’ The Whole Damn Lot is turned on its head and shaken within an inch of its life (a similar fate awaits CW Stoneking’s Dodo Blues later on the record), while Chicken Chase The Donkeys subverts the dominant animal kingdom paradigm in more ways than need to be acknowledged. The Young Horse rides off into the distance with ne’er care for the world; Dead Grass looks you in the eye, spits and laughs at the pleasure. The arid garage qualities of Nothing On are superlative; the quaint olde worlde feel of Besos En El Culo transfixing. Saddle UpAand Go lurches into action with ‘50s rockabilly attitude and a flask full of whisky, Para Su Madre is Ricky Nelson whacked out on peyote with a head full of mutant love, and Man Of Stolen Hearts brings Hank Williams and Clint Eastwood together for a moment of sheer tenderness. Mi Perro Es Tan Feo is the fire-side tribute to a dog rubbed up the wrong way with the ugly stick, A Theme For Vincent Fernandez rocks and rolls with Tijuanan swagger, and Queso No Cojones finds Puta Madre Brothers at the circus with madness in their eyes. Puta Madre Brothers are on a journey to a destination only they understand. Judging by the postcards, it’s a crazy place, and only one for the true of spirit. Best Track: Saddle Up And Go If You Like This, You’ll Like These: ENNIO MORRICONE, ALEX BRIGADO REVEREND BEAT MAN In A Word: Gringo
60 SECONDS WITH... BATTLE AXE HOWLERS So then, what’s the band name and what do you ‘do’ in the band? Battle Axe Howlers. Mikey belts the drums and sweats a lot, Deano plays lead guitar in his moccasins, Pauly plays guitar and buys beer, Cog is on bass and owns an esky, and myself, Diesel, is on vocals, and I drive two to four hours every Friday to band practice.
meeting other rockers, recording, and the camaraderie between all the bands throughout Melbourne is great. Everyone seems to want to help each other out, and go to gigs.
Bearing the terrible clichéd nature of this question, what do you reckon people will say you sound like? For a mixture of reasons we’ve had people say we sound like The Cult, Kyuss, Metallica, and Motor Head.
If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why? I think we would all be happy to go back in time to when we were teenagers, to show ourselves our music, so we would have gotten off our asses, and got the band going years ago.
What do you love about making music? Everything! The creativity, the outlet, the booze, friends, listening back to our jam sessions, playing live, the riders,
Cities On The Sea (Liberation)
What do you hate about the music industry? Not being able to afford roadies and venues that don’t return emails.
What can a punter expect from your live show? A heavy rock, stoner riffed, chunking pack of hungry rock
Chimes of Freedom – The Songs of Bob Dylan (Universal) The irony of an Amnesty International 50th celebration compilation featuring covers of Bob Dylan tracks is that Dylan, according to his own contrarian protestations, never pretended to be the spokesman for a generation. While many of Dylan’s contemporaries sought to locate themselves in the heart of the protest generation, Dylan was a reluctant pop star who took – and continues to take – perverse delight in subverting every paradigm within which he’s located. Such observations aside, Bob Dylan has written some of modern music’s most iconic philosophical and ideological songs. He is, therefore, an ideal candidate to symbolise Amnesty International’s 50-year struggle for human rights. Chimes of Freedom is a 4-disc, 73 song collection of Bob Dylan tracks recorded by artists as diverse as Patti Smith, Miley Cirus, My Chemical Romance, Angelique Kidjo, Lenny Kravitz, Neil Finn, Kronos Quartet and Pete Seeger. As with most compilations, there’s a mixture of covers that work, and some that don’t work as well. Taj Mahal’s rendition of Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream is dirty rock that only dirty old rockers understand; Ximena Sariñana’s effort on I Want You is satisfactory, if not invigorating. Carly Simon’s Just Like A Woman is cabaret Dylan; Bad Religion’s It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue is wrong, but only in the way so many have claimed Dylan is wrong when he’s subsequently proven to be right. Maroon 5’s take on I Shall Be Released was never going to come close to Richard Manuel’s beautiful falsetto; conversely, Michael Franti might have been born to play Subterranean Homesick Blues. Lucinda Williams conveys the pain and heartache of Tryin’ to Get to Heaven; Evan Rachel Wood transforms I’d Have You Anytime into a soft lounge track. And to hear the ageing Pete Seeger – a man who joined in the cacophony of folkie abuse after Dylan picked up an electric guitar – playing an orchestrated version of Forever Young is an exercise in historical irony. To be blunt, Chimes of Freedom isn’t going to soften oppressive rule in China, North Korea, Burma, Syria or even Guantanamo Bay. However it does highlight Dylan’s ability to capture and convey socio-political criticism like few others – not to mention Amnesty’s tireless quest to make the world a better place. Best Track: Taj Mahal, Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream If You Like This, Presumably you’ll want to make the world a better place? PATRICK EMERY In A Word: Bob.
wolves, chewing on Drop D coated strings, orange amped meat, thundering drumsticks, and freight train vocal steaks, spat back at you in the form of Battle Axe shrapnel. What’ve you got to sell CD-wise? We’ve recently recorded for the first time, and managed to create a four track EP that are all stoked with. We’re also beginning to build up enough record-worthy songs to begin recording our first album sometime soon. When’s the gig and with who? Friday February 24, at the Brunswick Hotel, with Art Of Later, Damn The Torpedoes, and The Underhanded. It’s going to rock! Anything else to add? Thanks to Mat Young for all the help, and Sammy for the sound.
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Beat Magazine Page 65
GIG GUIDE WEDNESDAY 22 FEB ROCK/POP BITTERSWEET HEARTS + MATT GREEN BAND + WOOLWORTH’S BLUES SINGERS Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE Palace Theatre, Melbourne CBD. 8pm. $66.30. ERYKAH BADU + FAT FREDDY’S DROP Palais Theatre, St Kilda. 7:30pm. IOWA (SINGLE LAUNCH) + DAMN TERRAN + DJ LUKE D Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8pm. $6. JASON LYTLE + BEN MASON Toff In Town, Melbourne CBD. 8pm. $33. MATT CORBY (INTO THE FLAME TOUR) + TIN SPARROW + HAYDEN CALNIN Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8pm. $15. MID-WEEK BLAST OFF! - FEAT: AGENTS OF ABHORRENCE + EXTORTION + INTERNAL ROT + AEROFLOT Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8pm. $8. RIVER OF SNAKES + MASS CULT + THE GRAVELTONES Cherry Bar, Melbourne CBD. 8pm. SINCE THE RIVER + MOUNTAIN STATIC + MILES BROWN ELECTRONIC SET Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 8pm. $8. THE PIERCE BROTHERS + ANOXICERA + KINGS OF THE NORTH + DEGREES OF SEPARATION Espy, St Kilda. 8pm. VULTURES OF VENUS + LORDS OF NORTHCOTE + DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8pm. WIRELESS RECORDS PRESENTS: IVY ST + SLIGHT OF BUILD + EAST BRUNSWICK ALL GIRLS CHOIR + RADIANT CITY + LITTLESTAR East Brunswick Club Hotel, East Brunswick. 7:30pm. $7. YOUNG REVELRY + UDAYS TIGER Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8pm. $8.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK BATTLEGROUND Espy, St Kilda. 8pm. BEN SALTER Willow Bar, Northcote. 8pm. DAN MANGAN + LEADER CHEETAH Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8pm. $33. KID GARRET + GAV MURRAY Kent St, Fitzroy. 8pm. MOONDOG’S GYPSY BLUES BAND Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:30pm. 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 PERCH CREEK FAMILY JUG BAND Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm.
THE POPES ASSASSINS + MATT GLEESON & EDDY BURGER Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 7pm. THE TIM GUY BAND + CHLOE & SILAS + FREYA HANLY Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8pm. WATER MUSIC & ADRIAN STOYLES Standard Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. WINE WHISKEY WOMEN - FEAT: SARAH CARROLL + HETTY KATE Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8pm.
JAZZ/WORLD MUSIC ALBARE Red Bennies, South Yarra. 9pm. $20. BOPSTRETCH Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8pm. DIZZY’S BIG BAND Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8pm. $14. LATIN AOTEAROA SOUND SYSTEM Cruzao Arepa Bar, Fitzroy. 8pm. MICK THOMAS (THE LAST OF THE TOURISTS TOUR) The Famous Spiegel Tent, Melbourne. 8pm. SINGALONG SOCIETY - FEAT: REBECCA BARNARD Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 7pm. $12. TANIA DOKO + JANINE MAUNDER & THE STEEL BIRDS Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8pm. $20. THE GIANNI MARANUCCI NONET Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne CBD. 9pm. $15. THE JOSH KYLE BAND Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $15. THE PUTBACKS 303, Northcote. 8pm. $5.
THURSDAY 23 FEB ROCK/POP 1AM LATE SHOW - FEAT: TERRORBYTE STRIPES + GEEK PIE Pony, Melbourne. 1am. ARMOURUS + GLASS EMPIRE + SAM SARA + HEARTLESS VENDETTA Noise Bar, Brunswick. 9pm. $7. ASAMI + THE FIRETREE + OLLIE BROWN Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 8pm. $8. BRIDIE O’BRIEN + ALEX ARONSTEN & THE SOUTHERN LIGHTS + WILKS & HEATH The Prague, Thornbury. 8pm. DAVE HELLIONS BIRTHDAY - FEAT: HELLION + BGB Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm. GEOFF ACHISON & JIMI HOCKING (NATIONAL SLAM DAY) + SHAUN KIRK East Brunswick Club Hotel, East Brunswick. 7:30pm. $20. HARMONY + SPOD + DEEP HEAT Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 9pm. HELLHOUNDS (ALBUM LAUNCH) + HUGO RACE + MIKELANGELO RUSSO Espy, St Kilda. 8pm. KATHRYN KELLY + ROWAN BLACKMORE Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm.
SLAM DAY Who was there when the Save Live Australian Music rally marched through the streets of Melbourne in support of our beloved music scene? Music communities around Australia are once more gathering in a show of unity, having organised a huge array of shows across the country in support. We’ve included a guide to what’s on in Melbourne on SLAM Day this year – check it out on page ,62 and if you love your live music scene, make sure to get involved! Slam Day is on Thursday February 23. LILY ROUGE + PURPLE TOES + LALAIST Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8pm. MATT CORBY (INTO THE FLAME TOUR) + TIN SPARROW + KIERAN CHRISTOPHERSON Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8pm. $15. MISTRESS MONDAYS & SHERIFF + GLEN MOSSOP Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 8:30pm. $10. MURDER BY DEATH + ELEVENTH The Hi-Fi, Melbourne. 7:30pm. $32.50. NATIONAL SLAM DAY - FEAT: PRIMITIVE CALCULATORS + SCRAP MUSEUM + BJ MORRIZONKLE + BEAT DISEASE + TEENAGE LIBIDO Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 7pm. $15. OWL EYES The Famous Spiegel Tent, Melbourne. 8pm. PHANTOM AGENTS + STRAW KING EYE + THE PHILISTINES + ALEXANDER FRANCES Bar Open, Fitzroy. 9pm. SLAM ANNIVERSARY GIG - FEAT: MIKELANGELO & THE TIN STAR + FRASER A GORMAN Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $12. SLAM DAY - FEAT: CITIZEN SEX + SCOTDRAKULA Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8pm. SPENCER P JONES & THE ESCAPE COMMITTEE + MJ HALLORAN & THE SINNERS + WACO SOCIAL CLUB Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:30pm. THE GAME Festival Hall, West Melbourne. 8pm. $59.95. THE MERCURY THEATRE + THE MURDERBALLS + RICH YEAH + PONY FACE Ruby’s Lounge, Belgrave. 8pm. $10. THE UV RACE + REPAIRS + BITCH PREFECT Toff In Town, Melbourne CBD. 7:30pm. $8. TINPAN ORANGE + JESS RIBEIRO Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8pm. $15. VALENTINE + KELLIE LLOYD + WOOLHOUSE Espy, St Kilda. 8pm. WE’VE BEEN EXPECTING YOU - FEAT: ZUZU ANGEL + THE 80 ACES + WHITE SUMMER Pony, Melbourne. 8:30pm.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK ANNA SMYRK & THE APPETITES Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8pm. $10. BEN SALTER Bar Nancy, Northcote. 8pm. COB FOLLY - FEAT: DAVID ROSS MACDONALD + TOMAS FITZGERALD The R2, Melbourne. 8pm. DIB & EDDIE JAMES Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. FAT FREDDY’S DROP Prince Bandroom, St Kilda. 8:30pm. $55. MARISSA SAROCA + JASON LOWE Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8pm. MELISSA MAIN + AJ DOWDY Open Studio, Northcote. 7pm. NATIONAL SLAM DAY - FEAT: RUDELY INTERRUPTED + THE DARJEELINGS + DIAMONDS OF NEPTUNE + DAYDREAM ARCADE + ROSIE & GEORGE + THE HIGH SOCIETY Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury. 6:30pm. $10. OPEN MIC Acoustic Cafe, Collingwood. 7:30pm. ROESY + MALACHI DOYLE Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8pm. SAINT JUDE + THE DEATH RATTLES Victoria Hotel, Brunswick. 8:30pm. SIMON PHILLIPS Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 9pm. SLAM DAY - FEAT: TULLY SUMNER Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 7pm. THE BENDSON CAMPAIN + ROB SAWYER + HIDING WITH BEARS + EMMA HALES Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10. THE FIRETREE & OLLIE BROWN Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 8pm. $10. THE MONIQUE BRUMBY BAND + TASH SULTANA Penny Black, Brunswick. 9pm. THE RANT + THE RHETORICS Great Britain Hotel, Richmond. 9pm.
JAZZ/WORLD MUSIC ADAM RUDEGEAIR TRIO Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne CBD. 9pm. FEM BELLING QUARTET Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8pm. $14. KATIE NOONAN & ELIXIR The Regal Ballroom, Northcote. 8pm. $35. LACHLAN DOLEY TRIO 303, Northcote. 8pm. $10. NATIONAL SAVE LIVE AUSTRALIAN MUSIC DAY - FEAT: THE BALLARAT SKA ORCHESTRA + THE RAZZ + MON KERR Palais, Hepburn Springs. 7:30pm. SHELLY HUGHES 303, Northcote. 6:30pm. $5. SYZYGY Open Studio, Northcote. 9pm. THE ALLAN BROWNE SEXTET Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8pm. THE SHANE HOWARD BAND Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8pm. $30. WHITESPLOITATION Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $15. WOMEN OF SOUL - FEAT: CHELSEA WILSON & DEEP STREET SOUL + KAREN MORALES + MILAN RING + CANDICE MONIQUE Cherry Bar, Melbourne CBD. 8pm. $10.
Beat Magazine Page 66
SUBMIT YOUR GIGS TO GIGGUIDE@BEAT.COM.AU
FRIDAY 24 FEB ROCK/POP 2AM LATE SHOW - FEAT: KELLIE LLOYD + WHITE RABBIT Pony, Melbourne. 2am. BATTLE AXE HOWLERS + THE ART OF LATER + DAMN THE TORPEDOES + THE UNDERHANDED Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9pm. BETTER THAN WIZARDS (SINGLE LAUNCH) + TOM TUENA + LAMARAMA Cherry Bar, Melbourne CBD. 8pm. $13. BIG WORDS 303, Northcote. 8pm. BLOODS + SKOTDRAKULA + LUNARS Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8pm. DEAD RIVER DEEPS + GRUNTBUCKET + POISON OAK + DJ WICKED CITY Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10. DEATH BY DEATH RAY + CITY OF SIRENS + HOPES ABANDONED + EVACUATE THE FALLEN Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8pm. $10. DICK DIVER & GEOFFREY O’CONNOR + JONNY TELAFONE + VELCRO East Brunswick Club Hotel, East Brunswick. 8pm. $12. DIVINE ASCENSION + MR WOO + WAKING EDEN Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm. $10. EIGHT FOOT FELIX + DJUMBA + MORTISVILLE + PAPA STYLEE Bar Open, Fitzroy. 10pm. HORSE + BLUEHOUSE Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury. 7:30pm. $30. KING CANNONS + KIRA PURU & THE BRUISE + MY ECHO + DJ MOHAIR SLIM Espy, St Kilda. 8pm. $13. MESA COSA (10” LAUNCH) + THE MURLOCS + CHOOK RACE + THE MORRISONS Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8pm. $10. MOONLIGHTING 1AM - FEAT: SOLAIRES & MATTHEW BROWN Phoenix Public House, Brunswick. 1am. MOTHER JACK Dancing Dog, Footscray. 7pm. NEON INDIAN + MIAMI HORROR DJS + SNAKADAKTAL Prince Bandroom, St Kilda. 9pm. $32. ON SIERRA + COINS + THE TELEVISION SKY + THE SHARDS John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 8pm. PRETTY SUICIDE + ANARION + ORDNANCE + DEFINED BY HONOUR The Prague, Thornbury. 8pm. ROCK AT RUBY’S - FEAT: THE ATLANTIC FALL + BLACK FOX + OUR BEST LAID PLANS Ruby’s Lounge, Belgrave. 8pm. $12. SERI VIDA (SINGLE LAUNCH) + FERRY TAILS + CONSTANT KILLER Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 9pm. SHED ZEPPELIN Town Hall Hotel, North Melbourne. 10pm. SYDONIA + BLIND MUNKEE + HUSK + FENIAN + NO STAIRWAY Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully. 7pm. $15. THE COLLECTABLES + MEMOIRE + THE DIVINE FLUXUS Noise Bar, Brunswick. 8pm. $5. THE CUBAN BROTHERS + MILK-T + LOW BUDGET + THE PSYDE PROJECTS + MOONSHINE Espy, St Kilda. 8pm. THE FINAL CUT + OPTICAL SCREW + THE NBC Pier Live, Frankston. 7:30pm. $10. THE SUNDAY REEDS (SINGLE LAUNCH) + BUNT + GRAND PRISMATIC MAYA + DANE CERTIFICATE + CORAL JADE Pony, Melbourne. 9pm. TONE DEAF PRESENTS: COMPLIMENTARY HEADSETS (EP LAUNCH) + THE KALAHARIS + THE IN BETWEENERS Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 8:30pm. $12. YOU & YOUR MUSIC (FILM CLIP LAUNCH) + PROJECT PUZZLES + MOSE & THE FMLY + GHOST ORCHID Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $12.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK BRIDIE KING BAND Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:30pm. CHRIS WILSON Knife Shop, Collingwood. 6:30pm. COB FOLLY - FEAT: KHRISTIAN MIZZI The R2, Melbourne. 7pm. FLOUNDER (EP LAUNCH) + LOVERS JUMP CREEK + ROSENCRANTZ Penny Black, Brunswick. 9:30pm. I A MAN (EP LAUNCH) + TEHACHAPI + I’LLS + NEIGHBOURHOOD YOUTH Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm. KILL THE MATADOR + BEN DAVID & THE BANNED + STRATHMORE Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8pm. LEENA & THE BONES + MINIBIKES + DJ DAVE THE SCOT Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 9:30pm. LIBERTY PARADE Sporting Club Hotel, Brunswick. 8pm. LIL’ FI & CANDY APPLES Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 8:30pm. MEGAN BERNARD Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 6pm. NICK LOVELL + THE GLORIOUS Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8:30pm. ROSS MCLENNAN + EMMA HEENEY + RUNNING AWAY WITH THE CIRCUS Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 8:30pm. $5. SAMMY SAX + MILAN + BILLY HOYLE Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 9pm. SOUL II SOUL + FLORELIE + DJ EDDIE MAC + DJ BOBBY LOVE Trak Lounge Bar, Toorak. 8:30pm. $73.95.
Anna Salen
Engine Three Seven
MASTODON
SALTAR HYPE’S 5TH BIRTHDAY BASH The wacky team at Saltar Hype, including head honcho Crazy “Cruton” Crutey, are throwing a dope fifth birthday bash at the Hi-Fi Bar this Saturday! Featuring some of the best live acts in the history of music — including Engine Three Seven, Sleep Parade, Black & White, The Evening Son and Anna Salen — this birthday bash will be absolutely madfresh! Tickets on sale now from thehifi.com.au. Doors open 7.30pm. Anna Salen hit the stage at 8pm. FUCK YEAH! TANIA DOKO + JANINE MAUNDER + STEEL BIRDS Palais, Hepburn Springs. 8:30pm. $20. THE CROOKED FIDDLE BAND National Hotel, Geelong. 12:17pm. THE GROOVETONES Attitudes, Williamstown. 8pm. THE STEINS + THE PALMER BROTHERS Victoria Hotel, Brunswick. 9:30pm. TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC SESSIONS - FEAT: DAN BOURKE Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 6pm. TULALAH + THE HIGHWATER BALLROOM BAND + CHAMPAGNE REGGAE Cornish Arms, Brunswick. 9pm. WAZ E JAMES Gem Bar, Collingwood. 8pm.
JAZZ/WORLD MUSIC ALEX & NILUSHA Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $25. EIGHT FOOT FELIX Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. GIL ASKEY & THE ROGER CLARK QUARTET + ANDY REID Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 9pm. $20. MORELAND CITY SOUL REVIEW Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9pm. MORENO LATIN JAZZ TRIO Cruzao Arepa Bar, Fitzroy. 9pm. STEPHEN CUMMINGS (REVERSE PSYCHOLOGY LAUNCH) Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8pm. $22. TAMARA KULDIN’S DIRTY MARTINI Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne CBD. 9:30pm.
SATURDAY 25 FEB ROCK/POP 2AM LATE SHOW - FEAT: TRUST US + MR SHARP Pony, Melbourne. 2am. ADMIRAL ACKBAR’S DISHONOURABLE DISCHARGE (24 YEARS OF F*CKING IT UP) + DIXON CIDER + POLYGASM + BURN OUT BOULEVARD Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8pm. $10. BANG - FEAT: CROWNED KINGS + THE ROSE LINE + BREAKING TRADITION Royal Melbourne Hotel, Melbourne CBD. 9pm. $20. BETWEEN THE BAYS - FEAT: MARK SEYMOUR & THE UNDERTOW + JORDIE LANE + THE OOGA BOOGAS + JVG GUITAR METHOD + LAH LAH’S BIG LIVE BAND + INDIGENOUS HIP HOP PROJECT + THE FUZZBIRDS Penbank School, Moorooduc. 11:45am. $49. BULLETS IN BERLIN + BATTERY KIDS + GECKO THEORY + SOUTHERN SOHO The Prague, Thornbury. 8pm. BUNT + STRAWBERRY FIST CAKE + AUSTRALIAN KINGSWOOD FACTORY + THE MURDERBALLS + SHADOW LEAGUE + WOLFPACK Barleycorn Hotel, Collingwood. 8pm. $7. BUNT + STRAWBERRY FIST CAKE + THE HALF PINTS + THE MURDERBALLS Blue Tile Lounge, Fitzroy. 3pm. CLAMPDOWN Rochester Castle Hotel, Fitzroy. 9pm. COCKS ARQUETTE + APT 223 + WHITEWALLS + DJ ALEX MACFARLANE Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10. CORAL LEE & THE SILVER SCREAM Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 5pm. DANCING HEALS (DOUBLE-A SINGLE LAUNCH) + THEM SWOOPS + HAYDEN CALNIN Toff In Town, Melbourne CBD. 8pm. $10. DESTROY SHE SAID (SQUIRTER LAUNCH) + THE DEEP END + HOME TO KELLY Cherry Bar, Melbourne CBD. 8pm. $13. ENGINE THREE SEVEN + SLEEP PARADE + BLACK & WHITE + THE EVENING SON + ANNA SALEN The Hi-Fi, Melbourne. 7:30pm. $20. FESTIVAL SUMMER REVOLUTION - FEAT: LABJACD + MADRE MONTE + ABBIE CARDWELL + THE CHICANO ROCKERS Schoolhouse Studios, Abbotsford. 6pm. $25. FEZ PEREZ + INTOXICA + HARVEST SMOKE + LUMBER + DICKFINGER Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 7:30pm. $10. FUNKY BREWS + BILL & THE JERKS + THE KIETHS + DJ FIN Noise Bar, Brunswick. 8pm. $5. GREASY HAWAIIANS Town Hall Hotel, North Melbourne. 6pm. JAMES MCCANN & THE VINDICTIVES + THE BLUEBOTTLES + DJ SHAKY MEMORIAL Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 10pm. JUDDY ROLLER MEMORIAL SHOW - FEAT: BLUE SWIMMERS (ALBUM LAUNCH) + THE TEARAWAYS + INEDIA + RIOT CITY KNOCKOUTS Pony, Melbourne. 9pm. KERSER Espy, St Kilda. 8pm. $15. LIKE IT LOUD Club Shoop, Dandenong. 8pm. MOONLIGHTING 1AM - FEAT: ROHAN REBEIRO & ALEX AKERS Phoenix Public House, Brunswick. 1am. NIGHT TERRORS + PEARLS + ROHYPNOTISE Phoenix Public House, Brunswick. 9pm. $10. OLD GROWTH COLA + MAD NANNA + YUKO KONO + HEART FLEW Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8pm. PINK GOES GAGA (PINK & LADY GAGA TRIBUTE SHOW) Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully. 8:30pm. $25. PUTA MADRES BROTHERS (ALBUM LAUNCH) + MESA COSA East Brunswick Club Hotel, East Brunswick. 8:30pm. $15.
RAZ BIN SAM & THE LION I BAND + SISTA ITATIONS + JESSIE I Bar Open, Fitzroy. 10pm. REPLICA + DUCK FOR COVER Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm. $10. ROCK N’ ROLLA (HOUSE OF ROCK) - FEAT: BARBARIAN + THE SCARLETS + KINGSWOOD + THE MERCY KILLS + DEAD STAR RENEGADE + BITTER SWEET KICKS + VULTURES OF VENUS + BLACK DEVIL YARD BOSS + TRAINWRECK + ATLANTIS AWAITS + DIVISIONS + ZENITH ASP + DRIVEN TO THE VERGE Palace Theatre, Melbourne CBD. 5:30pm. $15. SALTAR HYPE’S 5TH BIRTHDAY BASH - FEAT: ENGINE THREE SEVEN + SLEEP PARADE + BLACK & WHITE + THE EVENING SON + ANNA SALEN The Hi-Fi, Melbourne. 7:30pm. $15. SASKWATCH + CACTUS CHANNEL + TESSA & THE TYPECAST + PHIL PARA Espy, St Kilda. 8pm. SKETCH CLUB + DEAD PILOT + THE SUNDAZE KIDS Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 9pm. TAKE IT GREASY Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury. 8pm. $15. THE KUJO KINGS + LOONEE TUNES + GOGO-A-RAMA + HEARTBREAK CLUB John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 8pm. THE MORRISONS + MANNERS Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 5pm. THE SMITH STREET BAND + LUCA BRASI (ALBUM LAUNCH) + PALISADES + BAT YOGHURT Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8pm. THE VAUDERVILLE SMASH + PRIVATE LIFE + DAYDREAM ARCADE Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm. THE WORST + 12FU Lyrebird Lounge, Ripponlea. 9pm. UNDEAD RIDDIMS - FEAT: CUBIST + NEVERVIEW + OUCH + RESPIRATOR + PHATTER THAN JESUS + TOKEN + PHILOSORAPTOR Espy, St Kilda. 4pm. VANESSA AMOROSI + ZOOPHYTE Melbourne Zoo, Parkville. 6pm.
Mastodon have never compromised in terms of vision or style and many critics and fans alike believe the band are shaping heavy metal in the 21st century. The band are the vanguard of their genre, pushing boundaries further and further even with their latest piece, The Hunter. Playing at the amazing Soundwave Festival this year, they’re joined by Gojira and Kvelertak to play Billboard on Monday February 27. Tickets from Oztix.
THE COUNT WITH...
SKETCH CLUB Name/Band: Sketch Club Ten bands everyone should know about: Snowden, Drawn From Bees, Expatriate, You Am I, Joy Division, Doves, Julian Plenti, Boxer Rebellion, Wooden Shijps, and um…Sketch Club. Nine food items that you need to make a kickarse dinner party: Flour, water, salt, garlic, caramelised onion, tomato paste, mushroom, prosciutto, and mozzarella = good pizza, and we all know that means good times! Eight possessions that define you: If we were defined by our possessions we probably wouldn’t like each other much. But if we were to be banished to a desolate island, we would probably take a paint brush, a generator, a ghetto blaster, and a volleyball. Seven favourite movies/TV shows that go on your mixtape: Star Trek, Pulp Fiction, The Thing, Twin Peaks, Dexter, Ronin, Heat. Six bad habits you can’t escape: Sophia Vergara, needlessly helping others, Dancing With The Stars, answering questionnaires badly, watching Fashion TV, milk drinks after a night out. Five people who inspire you: Radiohead.
Four things that turn you on: Girls with tattoos, cowbells, vinyl, girls who go to indie rock band gigs. Three goals for your music: World domination without drug related deaths, just the right amount of hand clapping, our mums like it. Two live gigs you’ll never forget and why: Queens Of The Stone Age at Splendour 2005, the largest man in the world jumped up on stage, and did a tremendous stage dive…right on top of my head. Good times. And Howling Bells, at the end of 2011. Why? Because I think Juanita looked at me. There were blinding lights mixed with dark corners, so it was hard to tell… but I’m pretty sure. One day left before the apocalypse and you…: Call Bruce Willis and build a time machine. When’s the gig / release? We play Yah Yah’s Saturday February 25, to launch our new Steven Schram produced EP Break Rewind, which is out now on iTunes, and Bandcamp. Come play with us!
74 JOHNSTON ST FITZROY 9417 4155
www.theoldbar.com.au OPEN EVERY NIGHT 12PM - 3AM FREE WI FI
wednesday 22nd february
BITTERSWEET HEARTS
MATT GREEN BAND WOOLWORTHS BLUES SINGERS 8:30PM FREE
thursday 23rd february
SLAM ANNIVERSARY:
MIKELANGELO & THE TIN STAR FRASER A GORMAN
8:30PM $10
friday 24th february
DEAD RIVER DEEPS GRUNTBUCKET POISON OAK DJ BROADBENT
8:30PM $10
saturday 25th february
COCKS ARQUETTE
APT 223 WHITEWALLS 8:30PM $10 DJ ALEX MACFARLANE (PETS WITH PETS)
sunday 26th february
KIM SALMON & SPENCER P JONES
8PM $8
DJ TREVOR BLOCK
SUNDAY ARVO GIG:
UNCLE BILL
4PM FREE
monday 27th february
FREDDY FUDDPUCKER BJ MORRISZONKLE GOLGOTHIA MOTEL
8PM FREE
tuesday 28th february
SUPER XX MAN CAT & SPOON PETER JOSEPH HEAD
8PM FREE
band bookings: bandbookings@theoldbar.com.au
SUBMIT YOUR GIGS TO GIGGUIDE@BEAT.COM.AU
Beat Magazine Page 67
Q&A ROSIE BURGESS TRIO
THE VAUDEVILLE SMASH Fact: vaudeville was one of the most popular types of entertainment in North America for several decades and was often referred to as the heart of American show business. I mean, who can say no to trained animals, acrobats and magicians? Similarly, who can say no to The Vaudeville Smash and their charming mix of harmonies, catchy hooks and feet-tapping beats? Catch them at the Northcote Social Club on Saturday February 25. VIMM + LOST & FOUND + THE GENERAL + MADE IN CHINA Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9pm.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK ANDRE CAMILLERI & THE NORTHERNAIRES Thornbury Local, Thornbury. 9pm. BILL BRODIE & THE STOOSH (CD LAUNCH) + BANJO & THE HORIZON + MARK GARDNER + RICH YEAH Ruby’s Lounge, Belgrave. 8pm. $12. DEAD ALBATROSS + THE PERFECT STRANGERS + HERE’S THE THING Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 8:30pm. $5. LEXI DEROCK & THE SUGARFOOT BLUES BANDS Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 5pm. MIDNIGHT BOSOM + STELLA ANGELICO Great Britain Hotel, Richmond. 9pm. PEAR & THE AWKWARD ORCHESTRA (SMOCKS TOUR) + AINSLIE WILLS Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 9pm. $10. ROYAL PARADE + BETWEEN THE WARS Cornish Arms, Brunswick. 9pm. SIMON HUDSON Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 5pm. SPOONFUL + THE WIDOWBIRDS Union Hotel, Brunswick. 9pm. STOMP DOG Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 9pm. TANIA DOKO + STEEL BIRDS + JANINE MAUNDER Wesley Anne, Northcote. 7:30pm. THE FIRETREE & OLLIE BROWN The Bended Elbow, Geelong. 8pm. $10. THE NUDGELS Penny Black, Brunswick. 9:30pm. THE ORIGINAL SNAKESKINS Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm. THE SHARDS + ATLAS MURPHY Victoria Hotel, Brunswick. 9:30pm.
Beat Magazine Page 68
Name/Band: Rosie from the Rosie Burgess Trio. Ten bands everyone should know about: Barenaked Ladies, Be Good Tanyas, Melissa Ferrick, A Tribe Called Quest, Fiona Apple, Regina Spektor, The Herbaliser, Balkan Beat Box, Jungal and well, I have to say it, the Rosie Burgess Trio. Nine food items that you need to make a kickarse dinner party: Tomatoes, mushrooms, pasta, facon, soy milk, salt, parsley, veggie stock and olive oil. Eight possessions that define you: My daggy running shoes, my girlfriend’s t-shirt, my coffee pot, my Jane Austen style incredibly uncomfortable couch courtesy of my grandmother, my books, my rocks and crystals, the crap in the bottom of my bag, my pedals case. Seven favourite movies/TV shows that go on your mixtape: Beaches, The Goonies, Can’t Buy Me Love, Maxwell
JAZZ/WORLD MUSIC HEATHER STEWART SINGS BILLIE HOLIDAY Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne CBD. 9:30pm. $20. KARAVAN 2012 - FEAT: BARO BANDA + DJ CLICK + THE BAND WHO KNEW TOO MUCH + BYZANTINE BLUE + KARAVANA FLAMENCO + THE CROOKED FIDDLE BAND Corner Hotel, Richmond. 7pm. $43. KENNY LOPEZ PIQUETE Cruzao Arepa Bar, Fitzroy. 9pm. KESHIE (EP LAUNCH) Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9pm. LATIN EFFECT Spanish Club, Fitzroy. 8pm. $10. MONIQUE DIMATTINA + RORY CLARK Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 7pm. O’SISTER + DAIMON BRUNTON QUARTET Open Studio, Northcote. 4:30pm. THE BACKSLIDERS Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8pm. $22. THE ROARING 20S - FEAT: SHIRAZZ Red Bennies, South Yarra. 7pm. $20. TURN THE FUNK UP - FEAT: CACTUS CHANNEL + AFROBIOTICS The Famous Spiegel Tent, Melbourne. 2pm. YVETTE JOHANSSON & THE JOE RUBERTO TRIO Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $25. ZAC HURREN TRIO Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8pm.
SUNDAY 27 FEB ROCK/POP A FRENCH BUTLER CALLED SMITH + CAPTAIN GROOVE Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 9pm.
Smart, West Wing, Sense And Sensibility, Pride And Prejudice Six bad habits you can’t escape: Being incredibly messy, leaving the stove on when I go out, drinking, smoking, checking my email in the middle of the night, having long showers. Five people who inspire you: My bandmates Sam Lohs and Tim Bennett, Jane Austen, Ani Difranco, and my friend Anna. Four things that turn you on: Reading detective fiction, listening to new albums, eating noodle soup, sleeping in. Three goals for your music: To keep it flowing freely, to balance the books, to keep traveling the world with it. Two live gigs you’ll never forget and why: Woodford Folk Festival – it was about 50 degrees on stage under the lights and I thought I would pass out in a puddle of sweat, but it was the best vibe. Brantford Station Coffee House – they set up a PA on the train station platform and BENGALO BOKH - FEAT: EIGHT FOOT FELIX + KIM CLARK & THE GENTLEMEN + MR SIMON TAYLOR + TA-DA + SARSAPARILLA + RHYS RODGERS + YASEMIN Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 5pm. BEWARE BLACK HOLES + BLACK CROW KINGS + BUG + CRUNT Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 6pm. $6. BUSY KINGDOM + SHOTGUN FUNK Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9pm. CLIP CLOP CLUB Transport Hotel, Melbourne CBD. 4pm. DALE RYDER BAND + THE MARABOU PROJECT + BAD BOYS BADUCADA Espy, St Kilda. 8pm. DIVLJE JAGODE (WILD STRAWBERRIES) + SEPPUKU + THE SCARLETS The Hi-Fi, Melbourne. 7:30pm. $60. DO THE ROBOT + WIZARD OZ + BIG TOBACCO Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8pm. HEATHEN EARTH - FEAT: COERCE + FIRE WITCH + WHITEHORSE + ENCIRCLING SEA + AGONHYMN + DEAD RIVER East Brunswick Club Hotel, East Brunswick. 4:30pm. $15. IAN RICKARD (EP LAUNCH) Espy, St Kilda. 8pm. $18. KIM SALMON & SPENCER P JONES + DJ TREVOR BLOCK Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8pm. $8. MARK MCGUIRE + RITLES WILDS + ANGEL EYES Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8pm. RAZ BIN SAM & THE LION I BAND + MISTA SAVONA SOUNDSYSTEM + JORNICK Bar Open, Fitzroy. 9pm. SHANNON BOURNE + BARB WATER TRIO Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 4pm. STEVE LANE & THE AUTOCRATS + THE STILLSONS Toff In Town, Melbourne CBD. 7:30pm. $8. TOMMY & THE FOG Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 5pm.
SUBMIT YOUR GIGS TO GIGGUIDE@BEAT.COM.AU
we played to backdrop of passing freight trains and rolling hills. One day left before the apocalypse and you…: Go to the beach with my son and have a picnic there with everyone I love. When’s the gig/release? Thursday March 1 at the Northcote Social Club – we’ll be releasing our new album Before I Set Sail, alongside Jungal who are playing their last Australian gig for the year.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK ADRIAN WHYTE Town Hall Hotel, North Melbourne. 6pm. BOPPIN’ THE BLUES BENEFIT FOR NEALE JOHNS - FEAT: BLACKFEATHER + KEN MURDOCH + SPECTRUM + BOBBY BRIGHT + BRIAN MANNIX + DALE RYDER + WILBUR WILDE + ELLIOT GOBLET + THE BORNSTEIN ULTIMATUM + ROSS WILSON + ERIC MCCUSKER Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 3pm. $20. CHRIS RUSSELL’S CHICKEN WALK Standard Hotel, Fitzroy. 7pm. DEN HANRAHAN & THE ROADSIDERS Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm. ESTEE BIG BAND Penny Black, Brunswick. 5pm. GOYIM Great Britain Hotel, Richmond. 7pm. HOMEOWNER + HOLLOW EVERGLAZE + AMANITA Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 8pm. HOT DIGGITY! - FEAT: MIKELANGELO & THE TIN STAR + ABBIE CARDWELL & THE CHICANO ROCKERS + JUKE BARITONE & THE SWAMP DOGS + CORAL LEE & THE SILVER SCREAM + SIB & EDDIE JAMES + MERRI CREEK PICKERS + FRANK LEE DARLING Luscombe St Community Garden, Brunswick. 12pm. JAM NIGHT Musicland, Fawkner. 8pm. MICHAEL PLATER + GOLDENSTONE Victoria Hotel, Brunswick. 4:30pm. MICHELLE SHOCKED BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 3pm. MIGUEL RIOS & ASHLEY JONES + ANDY JANS BROWN Bar Nancy, Northcote. 8pm. MR BLACK & BLUES Cherry Bar, Melbourne CBD. 2pm. PHEASANT PLUCKERS + KEN MAHER & TONY
Custard
BETWEEN THE BAYS
Between The Bays Festival, now stronger than ever in its seventh year, is firmly established as Mornington Peninsula’s best family-friendly music festival on the summer calendar and this year there are even more activities for the kids that make the festival a family day not to be missed. With an intriguing lineup brimming with talent, festival organisers have included something for everyone with an eclectic mix of music including everybody’s favourite ‘90s band Custard – who have reformed for this one off show. Between The Bays 2012 is on at Penbank Mornington Peninsula on Saturday February 25. Check out betweenthebays.com for more info. HARGREAVES Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 5:30pm. SAMMY OWEN BLUES BAND Ruby’s Lounge, Belgrave. 3pm. SCOTT EDGAR & THE UNIVERSE 303, Northcote. 3:30pm. SIMON WRIGHT TRIO + DA GROOVE Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 6:30pm. STEVE PURCELL’S PEARLY SHELLS Mentone Hotel, Mentone. 3pm. THE BAKERSFIELD GLEE CLUB Sporting Club Hotel, Brunswick. 4pm. THE DAVIDSON BROTHERS Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 4pm. THE RECHORDS Gem Bar, Collingwood. 8pm. THE T-BONES Union Hotel, Brunswick. 5pm. TINSLEY WATERHOUSE Cornish Arms, Brunswick. 5:30pm. TULALAH + I’LL BE AN INDIAN + NINA & CHAZ 303, Northcote. 7pm. $10. WALLY CORKER’S DRUNK ARSED BAND Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 5pm. WAZ E JAMES Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 4pm.
JAZZ/WORLD MUSIC JAMES MACAULAY ROMANIAN REBOP Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. $5. JEREMY WOOLHOUSE TRIO Open Studio, Northcote. 4:30pm. JOSE NIETO Cruzao Arepa Bar, Fitzroy. 6pm. MATTHEW FAGAN’S TANGO FLAMENCO SHOW Montsalvat, Eltham. 4pm. THE CONCH (DVD LAUNCH) Noise Bar, Brunswick. 1pm. $5. THE JULIUS SCHWING QUARTET (CD LAUNCH) Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $15. WENDY STAPLETON Melbourne Zoo, Parkville. 6pm.
Q&A IAN RICKARD Name/Band: Ian Rickard Define your genre in five words or less: Melodic pop/rock. So, someone is walking past as you guys are playing, they then go get a beer and tell their friend about you... what do they say? Dude, that guy can sing! How long have you been gigging and writing? I’m 23, and I wrote my first song when I was 14 or 15, but I’ve only taken it seriously the last two or three years, which is when I also started gigging properly. What has been your favourite gig you’ve played to date? I love every gig I play but I think a highlight of mine would’ve been opening for Thirsty Merc in Melbourne last year. They have always been one of my favourite bands, and to share a stage with them
MONDAY 27 FEB ROCK/POP ANIMAUX + POCO LA PAX + LIFT OFF + DJ THOMA Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8pm. $8. ATTACK! ATTACK! + THE CAB + RIVER CITY EXPLOSION Espy, St Kilda. 8pm. BAD RELIGION + STRUNG OUT + STREET DOGS + THE MENZINGERS Palace Theatre, Melbourne CBD. 8pm. $59.60. COBRA STARSHIPS Forum Theatre, Melbourne. 7pm. $52.55. FREDDY FUDPUCKER + BJ MORRISZONKLE + GOLGOTHA MOTEL Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8pm. HOWLIN’ STEAM TRAIN Espy, St Kilda. 8pm. MASTODON + GOJIRA + KVELERTAK Billboard, Melbourne CBD. 8pm. $44. MONDAY NIGHT MASS - FEAT: TRENCH SISTERS + BLACK JESUS + BLACKENED Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 6pm. OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN & THE POPS ORCHESTRA + DARYL BRAITHWAITE Regent Theatre, Melbourne. 8pm. UNDEROATH + THE SMOKING HEARTS + DREAM ON DREAMER The Hi-Fi, Melbourne. 8pm. $34.10.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK KATHRYN KELLY Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 8:30pm. MATT KATSIS The Bay, Mordialloc. 4pm. PAUL WILLIAMSON’S HAMMOND COMBO Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.
was such an honour. What inspires or has influenced your music the most? Definitely the people closest to me. They have all taught me the value or self-belief and doing what makes you happy, and I want to be able to inspire people the same way. What do you think a band has to do these days to succeed? I think people need to stay true to who they are, and have the passion burning deep inside. If you’re not prepared to work hard, get knocked back, and try and try again then you’re probably in the wrong industry. Do you have any record releases to date? What? Where can I get it? Nothing yet, but as of Sunday February 26, that will all change.
Why should everyone come and see your band? Because hopefully this can be the start of something very exciting, and in 20 years time they can say “I saw Ian Rickard at his EP launch at The Espy”. When are you playing live/releasing your album/ EP/single/etc? I will be releasing my debut EP on Sunday February 26, at The Espy in St.Kilda! It’s taken a few years, and the super talented Michael Paynter, and Michael Delorenzis have put a lot of hard work into it. Hopefully everyone will love it as much as I do. The EP comes with the ticket, so anyone that comes will get a CD and hopefully on the Monday after, the EP will be available for download via iTunes.
60 SECONDS WITH…
HUSK
So then, what’s the band name and what do you ‘do’ in the band? My name is Steve Rodrigues, and I play noise/guitars for Husk Bearing the terrible clichéd nature of this question, what do you reckon people will say you sound like? Soundgarden, A Perfect Circle, and Rage Against The Machine. All your favourite 90s bands put in a blender, sprinkled with a little Pink Floyd. What do you love about making music? You can’t lie in music. If you’re jamming and somebody doesn’t click, you can’t fake it, and it sounds shit! What do you hate about the music industry? Money. Getting things from the rehearsal room to an audience’s ears takes money and time, which are essentially the same thing. If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why? For me personally it’d be Jimi Hendrix, because I think he’d understand the energy aspect of a performance better than most others. If you could assassinate one person or band from popular music, who would it and why? Any of them. Do you know how much free media exposure we’d get if one of us blew somebody famous
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away? I think that’s a plan. We’ll recruit a triangle player, and brain wash him to do a high profile killing of some useless culture regurgitator. They can take the fall while we ride the free media wave! What can a punter expect from your live show? Energy and lots of it, progressive hard hitting tunes with big dynamics. What’ve you got to sell CD-wise? Our debut release Contemplating Pupation, and we have another in the works. Also we’re launching merchandise at our show at The Ferntree Gully Hotel on Friday February 24. When’s the gig and with who? It’s on Friday February 24 at The Ferntree Gully Hotel, with Sydonia, Blind Monkee, Fenian, and No Stairway. Anything else to add? Sydonia are a Melbourne band all alternative fans should check out. Also, check us out on Facebook facebook.com/huskaudio
Beat Magazine Page 69
JAZZ/WORLD MUSIC LEBOWSKIS 303, Northcote. 9pm. $8. SANTIAGO VELA Cruzao Arepa Bar, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. THE ALLAN BROWNE TRIO Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $15.
TUESDAY 28 FEB ROCK/POP AMANDA PALMER & THE GRAND THEFT ORCHESTRA + DJ DAMEZA Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 7pm. BLACK LABEL SOCIETY Forum Theatre, Melbourne. 8pm. BRUNSWICK DISCOVERY - FEAT: GECKO THEORY Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8pm. ENTER SHAKIRA + LETLIVE + YOUR DEMISE Billboard, Melbourne CBD. 8pm. $44. FOUR YEARS STRONG + I AM THE AVALANCHE + FIREWORKS + CONDITIONS The Hi-Fi, Melbourne. 7:30pm. $45.10. MACHINE HEAD + CHIMAIRA + SHADOWS FALL + TIMES OF GRACE Palace Theatre, Melbourne CBD. 7:30pm. $62.10. SUPER XX MAN + CAT & SPOON + PETER JOSEPH HEAD Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8pm. THE BOMBAY ROYALE Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 9pm. THE MATT KATSIS BAND + THE MOON PROJECT + MARTA
PACEK + NIC TATE + NICOLETTE FORTE Espy, St Kilda. 8pm. THE SISTERS OF MERCY Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8pm. $55. UNEARTH + IN THIS MOMENT + KITTIE + HEAVEN SHALL BURN Espy, St Kilda. 8pm. $33.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK
whatson@thepush.com.au
EATEN BY DOGS Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. HAYLEY COUPER + KATE LUCAS Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:30pm. OPEN MIC Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 7:30pm. OPEN MIC Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 7:30pm. THE BARONS OF TANG + MIKELANGELO & THE TIN STAR + GO GIRL GADGET GO GO East Brunswick Club Hotel, East Brunswick. 8pm. $12. TOM CARTY Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 8:30pm.
ACCESS ALL AGES
JAZZ/WORLD MUSIC
With Ruth Mihelcic
DYSENTRIO + FULL CIRCLE + THE GIANNI MARINUCCI GROUP Gertrudes Brown Couch, Fitzroy. 8pm. $6. JULIAN POSADA Cruzao Arepa Bar, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. SUEANN (CD LAUNCH) Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne CBD. 9pm. $15. THE ALLAN BROWNE QUINTET Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $15. THE ROB SIMONE BIG BAND Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8pm. $14.
This is another week jam-packed with all ages events, so let’s get stuck straight into them!
60 SECONDS WITH…
ERYKAH BADU The supernatural being that is Erykah Badu will take the stage at the Palais Theatre tonight to demonstrate her status as the queen of soul music, having almost single-handedly directing the genre since her ’97 debut Baduizm. Tickets are sold out.
CLASSIFIEDS 33c PER WORD PER WEEK (INC GST)
NUMBER STATION So then, what’s the band name and what do you ‘do’ in the band? The band is called Number Station. I, Marcus, play guitar, keys, and supply oxygen when needed. Bearing the terrible clichéd nature of this question, what do you reckon people will say you sound like? I also don’t want to sound too cliché here, but we sound like The Pope riding a surfboard on a never ending wave of post punk revival. What do you love about making music? Songwriting. The excitement of working on a new tune brings exhilaration second to none. We often become manic in the process. It’s addictive. What do you hate about the music industry? The uncertainty, and the record companies crying poor over downloads when they had years to sort it out, but didn’t. If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why? Marc Bolan. Not sure if he’d dig our tunes, but at least I’d get to dress up and warn him about Gloria Jones and cars.
+ BEAT PRESENT...
If you could assassinate one person or band from popular music, who would it and why? Lady Gaga. We just don’t need her. What can a punter expect from your live show? Expansive sounds. Thundering rhythms. The Pope. What’ve you got to sell CD-wise? Limited edition prints of the first two singles Hold On, and Broke. They’ve been printed on a vintage Risograph, which is like an old Japanese colour photocopier that produces these wild artefacts in the final image. Every print comes out looking slightly different. We’ve only a few left so be quick! When’s the gig and with who? Saturday February 25 at Revolver with The Raffaellas, Hey Fever, Amber Lamps. DJ Milky Joe will also ensure a great indie night out.
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MUSICIANS WANTED BANDS & PROMOTERS WANTED. Any style for Collingwood venue. First gigs welcome, live CD recording available. Contact Jane after 12pm on 0425 796 828. 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 0413807900 or synthmax@ozemail.com.au to receive a demo CD of my original material. FIGHTING FOO (FOO FIGHTERS COVER BAND) looking for singer/guitarist. Singer only considered but preferably singer/guitarist. Must be willing to jam weekly, own transport and gig. For more info call Dan 0425 391 009. ACOUSTIC ACTS WANTED for Bar Betty in Smith Street, Fitzroy. Paid Gig. Please phone Sandra or Michelle on 9417 3937. Bar Betty - 129 Smith Street, Fitzroy. VOCALIST WANTED for Hallam/Rowville based metal band. Contact Brad 0402 786 369. www.myspace.com/ tokenofruin VOCALIST WANTED for ‘Sideways’. Progressive, hard band needs Mike Patton x Cedric Zavala. Live and recording experience essential. www.sidewaysband.com Sth Eastern Suburbs. Splatty 0488 202 929.
TUITION DRUM LESSONS AVAILABLE for students who wish to learn. For enquiries phone Paul 8786 3421. DRUM TUITION. Jazz, Rock, Hip-Hop (and more). Beginners welcome! All ages. Brunswick West. Contact John on 0437 873 488/john.milton@gmail.com
SERVICES 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 SOUNDPARK RECORDING/REHEARSALS. Large 5 room recording studio, loads of vintage gear/instruments. Hire without engineer $450 day, or with $650. Rehearsals from $50. Phone Andrew 0425 706 382. THINK MOVING SUCKS? Call 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
SUBMIT YOUR GIGS TO GIGGUIDE@BEAT.COM.AU
And don’t forget to keep sending any news you have of all ages events, workshops, festivals, or gigs to whatson@thepush.com.au
All Ages Timetable WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22 Erykah Badu w/ Fat Freddy’s Drop, Palais Theatre, Lower Esplanade, St Kilda, 7pm, $89.90 - $122.58, ticketmaster.com.au or 136 100, AA
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23 The Game, Festival Hall, 300 Dudley Street, West Melbourne, 7pm – 11:30pm, $59.95 – 99.95, ticketmaster. com.au or 36 100, AA
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 24 Sunset Sessions w/ Cassie & Pat Ward, Bianca Maes, and Mariah McCarthy, Barrack Reserve, Northern Highway, Heathcote, 6pm – 9pm, Free, Rory White on 5434 6092, AA Neon City w/ Jovian, Mad Science, and Juliet Gibson, Arts Space Wodonga, cnr Lawrence and Hovell Streets, Wodonga, 7pm – 10pm, $5, Adam Hollis on 02 6022 9704, AA Tania Doko w/ Janine Maunder and Steelbirds, The Palais, 111 Main Rd, Hepburn Springs, 8:30pm, $20, The Palais on (03) 5348 4849, AA
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 25 Mount Beauty Skate Jam w/ DJ Jake and local bands, Mount Beauty Skate Park, Lakeside Avenue, Mount Beauty, 1pm – 5pm, Free, Jake Bray-Butler on (03) 5755 0555, AA Invasion Fest w/ Lovers Grave, Hallower, The Storm Picturesque, Glorified, Saviour, Belle Haven, The Ocean The Sky, Anchored, Storm The Sky, Graveyards, and Surrender, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 14 Bedford Road, Ringwood, 2pm – 8:30pm, $15, Ash Hull Management 0488 069 507, AA Festivus w/ Loon Lake, The Smacky Boys, People Of The Sun, Rick Steward, Lashubra, The Funky Fresh, Sea Legs, + more, Tramps M.C. Club House, Frank Hayes Drive, Wangaratta, 3pm, $10, Tim 0437 247 090, AA Seddon Festival in the Park w/ Hazelman Bros, Ray Pereira Trio, Wandering Spirit, Zikora, Susan Lily, Footscray Gypsy Orchestra + more, Harris Reserve, Seddon, 12:30pm – 7pm, Free, AA Between The Bays w/ Mark Seymour with Custard, Jordie Lane, The Ooga Boogers, JVG’s Guitar Method, Lah Lah’s Live Band, + more, Rickards Road, Moorooduc, Mornington Peninsula, 11am – 9pm, $10 - $49, www. betweenthebays.com or Ticketmaster 136 100, AA Vanessa Amorosi w/ Zoophyte, Melbourne Zoo, Elliott Avenue, Parkville, 5:30pm – 9:30pm, $27.50 - $60.50, zoo. org.au/twilights or Ticketmaster 136 100, AA The Murks, Numurkah Hotel, 58 Melville St, Numurkah, 7pm, Free, Numurkah Hotel on (03) 5862 1026, AA Craigieburn Community Festival w/ Scott Boyd, Second Chance Exit, Apart From This, Who Is Zoe?, and Cold Snap, DS Aitken Reserve, Craigieburn, 5pm – 9:30pm, Free, Hume Council 9202 2200, AA
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 26 Kerser, The National Hotel, 191 Moorabool St, Geelong, 1pm, $18.40, oztix.com.au or 1300 762 545, U18 Songs from the Bosphorous w/ Fadil Suna and Baran, Manasis, Cuneyt & Byron and Polixeni, Fairfield Amphitheatre, Fairfield Park, Heidelberg Road, Fairfield, 5pm – 7:30pm, Free, Andrea Makris on (03) 9188 3681, AA Craigieburn Community Festival w/ Cheer Factor, Chinese Lions, The Kazoos, Hume Performing Arts Program, Avah Nikoll, Flashdance Performing Arts, Ambient Orchestras + more, DS Aitken Reserve, Craigieburn, 11am – 4pm, Free, Hume Council 9202 2200, AA
MONDAY FEBRUARY 27 Cobra Starship w/ Forever The Sickest Kids, These Kids Wear Crowns, and Kill Hannah, The Forum, Corner Russell & Flinders Streets, Melbourne, 7pm, $52.55, ticketmaster.com.au or 136 100, AA
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 28 Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society w/ Hell Yeah, Black Tide, and Holy Grail, The Forum, Corner Russell & Flinders Streets, Melbourne, 7:30pm, $60.25, ticketmaster.com.au or 136 100, AA
GS T GI TS A L AL VEN GB ! E E & THE FRE E AR
FRIDAY FEB 24TH
Wed. Feb. 22nd: (Wine, Whiskey, Women)
8pm: Hetty Kate 9pm: Sarah Carroll Thurs. Feb. 23rd:
8pm: Malachi Doyle 9pm: Roesy Fri. Feb. 24th:
6pm: Traditional Irish Music Session With Dan Bourke & Friends Sat. Feb. 25th:
9pm: Stomp Dog Sun. Feb. 26th:
4pm: Barb Water Trio 6.30pm: Shannon Bourne
WAZ E JAMES
GREAT BRITAIN HOTEL
SATURDAY FEB 25TH
THE RHETORICS + THE RANT
THU 23RD FEB
TUNES BY DAVE LARKIN
THEM TET TET’S (DJ’S)
SUNDAY FEB 26TH
SUN 26TH FEB
FROM 9PM
FRI 24TH FEB FROM 9PM
SAT 25TH FEB
STELLA ANGELICO + MIDNIGHT BOSOM FROM 9PM
THE RECHORDS
GOYIM FROM 7PM
MON 27TH FEB
BOOZER SOUL (DJ’S) FROM 8PM
WEEKLY ASSORTMENTS MonDAYS
Tues. Feb. 28th:
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
FREE POOL ALL NIGHT
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.
SUNDAY 24/2, 10PM
SHED ZEPPLIN SATURDAY 25/2, 10PM
GREASY HAWAIIANS SUNDAY 26/2, 6PM
ADRIAN WHYTE SATURDAY 3/3, 10PM
BEWARE! BLACK HOLES
TERESA DIXON FREE ENTRY ALWAYS!
TOWN HALL HOTEL
DERBY THURSDAY
SIB & EDDIE JAMES ACOUSTIC RESIDENCY FEB RESIDENCY FROM 8.30PM
CHECK OUT DERBY THURSDAYS ON FACEBOOK.
TH
SATURDAY FEB 25
CORAL LEE
• • • • • FRIDAY • • • • •
SUNDAY FEB 26TH
3RD FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH ALTERNATE FRIDAYS ARE ERUPTING. CHECK IT OUT!
ALTERNATE FRIDAYS
AND THE SILVER SCREAM - R&B, BLUES & ROCKABILLY 2 SETS FROM 5.30 PM
WALLY CORKER’S DRUNK-ARSED BAND 2 SETS FROM 5.00 PM
TUESDAY FEB 28TH
SUNDAY 4/3, 6PM
• • • • • THURSDAY • • • • •
THURSDAY FEB23RD
EATEN BY DOGS - ACOUSTIC SHOW FEB RESIDENCY FROM 8.30PM
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
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BACKSTAGE THE PLACE FOR MUSICIANS
CONTACT ALEKSEI ON 9428 3600 OR MIXDOWN@BEAT.COM.AU TO FIND OUT HOW.
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PHOTOGRAPHIC AND VIDEO STUDIO Pro & Conc. Rates Available For Photographic, Music Video & Band Shoots Starting From $150 Multi-Purpose Change & Makeup Room Grip & Lighting gear available Communal Lounge & Wireless Internet Excellent on-site parking CONTACT: CY -ARTISTIC DIRECTOR- 0401 379 973 9687 0233
Established: 1850 (Allans Music) 1962 (Billy Hyde). Location (Address): 30 stores across Australia. Check out www.allansbillyhyde.com.au for your local store address.
expert clinics plus great service and knowledgeable advice.
Hours Of Operation: Most stores trade 7 days.
Your point of difference: We’re the largest musical instrument retailer in Australia, including a great online store, which ensures that our service and quality are at all Aussie musos’ fingertips.
Main brands and/or Musical products: Schecter, Pearl, Zildjian, Korg, Line 6, Mackie, KRK, Fender, Gibson, Yamaha, Marshall, Mesa Boogie, Engl, Aguilar, Warwick, Shure, Gator, Roland, Martin, Breedlove, Maton, Ibanez, Gretsch, Ludwig, Dixon, LP, Meinl, Sabian, Tama, Vic Firth, Kawai, Irmler, Selmer, Rico, Buffet…just to name just a few!
Extras: We love music, musical instruments and seeing our customers develop as musos. We also support inspiring programs such as Weekend Warriors and Play Like a Girl, where budding performers get onstage and can practice their skills in a supportive setting. Keep an eye on our website for exciting things in 2012.
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Toyland Recording Studio Live Bands, Demos, Albums Digital or 2” Analog Tape Live room for a big natural sound Neve preamps, Urei Compressors
30m rooms s Air-con and ventilation in s 10everylargeroomand identical s PA/foldback combos at 1000w s Storage and amp/kit hire s Acoustic Engineer-designed soundproofing
www.toyland.com.au
PH: (03) 903 88101 M: 0417 000 397 Email: hydrastudios@bigpond.com
18 Duffy street Burwood 3125 2
Services offered: Our in-house Teaching Academy available in most stores, in-house guitar luthiers and
Phone: (03) 9654 8444 Website: www.allansbillyhyde.com.au
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
Become a part of our Musical Community
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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 Vintage, New & Second Hand Amps, Effects Pedals & Rigs
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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.
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3 hr sessions from $40 6 hr sessions from $65 RECORDING
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313 – 315 Whitehorse Rd BALWYN 3103 Phone: 03 9888 6899 www.eastgatemusic.com
EQUIPMENT HIRE Vocal PA’s from $80, amplifiers and drumkits available.
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LIVE Bellusira
Dead Letter Circus Photos by Cassandra Kiely
GIRLS Wednesday February 8, The Corner Hotel
Photos by Rebecca Houlden
ROCK THE BAY Saturday February 18, The Espy The organiser of these events, Saltar Hype, has been putting it on for five years now, and it seems they just keep getting bigger and better. This year the lineup got a little more high profile, and this coupled with the beautiful balmy Melbourne late summer evening brought the rock punters out in force. Having had a very busy day, I was very disappointed to arrive to find I’d just missed The Tim McMillan band. He always puts on a very entertaining show. But my disappointment was quickly washed away as the mighty Bellusira took the stage in the Gershwin Room. Unveiling a new guitarist, they have actually dropped back from a twin guitar band to a single six stringer, but it doesn’t appear to have affected their sound whatsoever. In fact, their sound seems to be even bigger than it was, as was their performance and stage presence. An exciting way to start my evening’s entertainment. Sub Atari Knives were next in the main bar, and these guys are pretty unique. Consisting of just a vocalist, bassist, drummer and some subtle but creative sampling, they put on a streamlined but completely crazy show, with lots of onstage movement. They haven’t been around long, but they’re certainly ones to watch. Some unfortunate timing saw Floating Me clash with 12 Foot Ninja, which saw me rotating between the two. The former were typically dark and gloomy, with the drumming of the now legendary Lucius Borich always a treat. The
latter were as fun as Floating Me were dark, with their powerhouse funk and ska inspired alternative heavy rock blowing the massive crowd away. A lengthy wait ensued before the main event took the stage, but it was worth every second. Dead Letter Circus get better every time I see them, and to experience them in the relatively intimate surrounds of The Espy front bar was just phenomenal. They were in red hot form this evening, and the sweaty crowd bounced and heaved in response. Riveting stuff. On my way out, my eyes and ears were drawn to the band playing late on the main bar stage. I, Said The Sparrow are difficult to describe – ultra high energy pop/punk may suffice, but I don’t want to conjure images of Green Day or their ilk. Ultimately they were absolutely mad, ridiculously tight and loads of fun, and inspired me to stay til the end of their set. Previous Rock the Bays have been awesome, but the 2012 version stepped it up another notch. An epic night. ROD WHITFIELD LOVED: A hot, sweaty, drunken evening of powerful rock. HATED: That I had to go home. DRANK: Boags.
Arriving early at the Corner, I was kind of amazed to see so many people already there. I’d come at 8pm in order to secure myself a good position at the front, but it seemed that quite a few other punters had the same idea. Luckily, I managed to ingratiate myself into a prime position and proceeded to wait there, safeguarding my spot until Twerps graced the stage. I’ve been listening to their debut album all summer long and I’m not even near to getting sick of it; which is testament to the record’s longevity. Earlier that day I’d read a friend update “going to watch Twerps support Girls tonight, but really it should be the other way around” which kind of showed how far the band have come in recent times and just how many fans they’ve made in the process. I really loved watching Twerps play. I don’t want to hint at the obvious Go-Betweens or Flying Nun references that seem to be part and parcel of every Twerps review, as I think there’s something else that stands apart from this and for me, it has something to do with the honesty of the music and lack of pretention. Sure, there’s a melodic appeal which references certain genres we all hold dear, but in addition to this Twerps have been able to come into their own and become a unique Melbourne band making really great music, rivalling that of many international acts of the moment. The curtains closed after the Twerps set and I suddenly realised I was surrounded by groups of very young girls who were all waiting for the headliner – Girls. I was quite into the first album when it came out, the blend of lo-fi pop with ‘60s surf-style harmonies kept me company for many a month, although I somehow missed the second album and have just started listening to their latest Father, Son, Holy Ghost. Before Girls (and their notable touring band) hit the stage, a random hand slipped out from under the curtain brandishing a bunch of flowers and handed them
to me. It was quite weird and although a sure fire way to this reviewer’s heart, the multitude of diehard Girls fans who shot me death stares was slightly unsettling. The curtain rose and the band got straight into it, playing a near perfect rendition of Laura from their debut. Christopher Owens (main writer and lead singer) stole the show with his endearing presence; there was a certain earnestness to his delivery, which you can hear recorded but somehow levitated when the songs were performed in the flesh. I was amazed by a girl behind me singing along word-forword to every song they played. She informed me that she was obsessed with Christopher Owens and would do anything to meet him. It suddenly dawned on me that after three well received albums, this is a highly successful band with, well… groupies! The Corner seemed to be sold out or very close to it, and for good reason. The band played a really tight set, which had the crowd sincerely happy to be there and hanging on every note. Highlights for me were the Sabbath-esque Die, the sentimental My Ma and the epically beautiful yet strangely titled Vomit. At so many gigs, even if I am enjoying it sometimes I just want it to be over, I get restless and crowds tend to annoy me. Yet tonight, I was having a great time and even after an hourlong set and quite a few encores, I found myself wanting more. I’ll even go so far as to say this was the best gig I’ve been to in a while. Perhaps it was the flowers? I’ve been told I’m a touch soft at times. CASSANDRA KIELY LOVED: Christopher Owens’s green locks HATED: Trying to take a picture of the Twerps drummer smiling, alas I could not. DRANK: One lonely beer.
CAGE THE ELEPHANT Tuesday January 31, Northcote Social Club It should have come as no surprise what awaited come showtime at the Northcote Social Club; Kentucky five piece Cage The Elephant had made for a packed show in the humble-sized band room, a brim with a buzzing crowd following a delightful display from promising local support act, Loon Lake. On their maiden headlining tour of Australia, it was almost trivial as to why a notoriously highenergy act such as Cage The Elephant were playing such an intimate venue as the Northcote. However, intimate quickly became an advantage for the band as they burst on stage and head first into the deafening track, In One Ear. Difficult to see atop the jostling crowd rammed to the front of the low-rise stage for most of the set, it was clear that the group fed wildly off the energy of the intense crowd, and vice versa. Half-way through the opener and already charismatic front man Matt Shultz had dived into the crowd, making it known that this was one mid-week gig not to be taken lightly; and with a second crowd surf two songs in thanks to the shuffling 2024 from last year’s full length Thank You Happy Birthday, it was clear there was one hell of a set to follow. The hit tracks just kept coming, Aberdeen was a crowd favourite along with recent radio-spinner Around My Head keeping the pace up and the energy high as Shultz worked the room with his hypnotising moves head to toe. Seemingly unaffected by his earlier stage dives, Shultz also impressed with his off-beat charm and quirky sense of humour that added to the fervour of the live
show. Laughter erupted from the crowd with the front man’s Australiana travel banter of eating a kangaroo while wearing a scarf for fear of a deathly throat gauge from the native, and the punches kept coming with the no-holds barred performances of the slightly more erratic Sell Yourself and the sarcastic tribute anthem, Indy Kidz. Some fuzzedout guitar and aggressive head banging later and Shultz is on the floor before proclaiming, “Did you guys feel that? I just had a moment”, indicative of some kind of out of body experience. Add some slower songs into the mix like Rubber Ball and the irresistible sing-along Shake Me Down, and it’s time for the encore, with arguably the band’s best known track, Aint No Rest For The Wicked. With the infectious slide guitar like a warm hug for my ears, the gig was brought to an end with a cover of Pavement’s False Skorpion, and yet another venture into the crowd from Shultz, this time joined by a number of enthusiastic and perhaps slightly high on life fans. Disappearing into the crowd as the rest of band left the stage, it was refreshing to be re-greeted by a sweaty and slightly overwhelmed Shultz at the exit, happily obliging for photos and handshakes with satisfied punters. TEGAN BUTLER LOVED: Front man Matt Schultz’s uncontrollable body spasms and hilarious banter. HATED: Not much. DRANK: Water. ‘Cause I’m shit poor.
ENGINE THREE SEVEN vs SLEEP PARADE Leigh (Sleep Parade) questions Casey (Engine Three Seven)... When you sing live do you visualise Dan from Sleep Parade wearing bike shorts? I've been to many a therapist/doctor/shaman about this and without the assistance of extremely heavy sedatives, there really is no way to escape these thoughts. That's why I'm a little tired after gigs. Do you usually write your lyrics/melodies first or following the writing of a song? At the moment, I work on melodies and help the lads with structure. Once that's done, I bring in a small recording rig and track what we have of the song in demo form for me to take home and work on. Will you ever make it public to the press that you guys rehearse wearing only G-strings? I would say no, but I feel it's too late now. Do you get nervous before shows and if yes do you have Beat Magazine Page 74
Photos by Nick Irving
OFWGKTA Wednesday February 1, The Hi-Fi The fun this band is having is enviable. Touring round with a tight knit crew, music aside, must have its merits, but it’s best not to try and understand what’s actually going on within as it’s a bit of a mess. A few members have managed to stand out from the crew – the obvious being Tyler who, for all intents and purposes, is just oozing charisma like glue for kids to stick to. He remains a one hit wonder in his own admittance with Yonkers, performed wearing glowing green contacts no less. His presence was great but the real talent lies with the people who weren’t present. Earl Sweatshirt, who recently returned from a strange hiatus in Samoa, was not present, spawned from his considerably concerned mother who is apparently not so keen on his involvement with the crew. The campaign to ‘Free Earl’ has been a strong one after his mum gained control over his music, preventing it from being released. Heavy stuff for a kid (born in ‘94) seemingly blowing up, with an interesting career ahead. The separation from OFWGKTA could be a blessing in disguise, I suspect. Fellow member, Frank Ocean (the guy currently re-defining the words ‘killing it’) has laid out a path that Earl can take heed from. He writes and sings songs and makes sweet videos. It’s all pretty amazing – no tongue in cheek. So with the lack of talent, what you’re left with is energy,
Engine Three Seven
and they do have a lot. We all did at that age. But these guys are for real – like ADHD on acid. You just can’t mess with it. I don’t know how to coin it, but when they all go crazy and frantically dance around in a circle, it’s generally good times, just like anything fraught with a bit of danger. Overall it was enjoyable to watch, but at times frustrating to listen to due to the constant banter. Most notably, Mariah Carey’s partner Nick Cannon copped a consistent spray of venom throughout the night. Whether this was something personal or just envy, I have no idea, but they aren’t the first rappers to be angry at that guy (just listen to Eminem). Some time was wasted in attempts to get back a limited edition Supreme cap from Hodgy Beats’ head. He was sporting leather gloves to match this black cap, and was reminiscent of something like Game mixed with Method Man; a constant reminder of the purely influential nature of everything going on in front me. Their stamp on pop culture could be as big as the Sandlot kids at this rate. ANDREAS K SMITH LOVED: Standing closer to the back . HATED: The guy behind me yelling “internet!” DRANK: Vanilla Vodka.
Sleep Parade
any ways that you get through this? Dad always said that if you're not nervous before you get on stage, you should be doing something else. Who would you say are your biggest influences and people you look up to as singers/lyricists? Kurt, Eddie, Serj. Casey (Engine Three Seven) questions Leigh (Sleep Parade) ... What is your most memorable moment in your overall musical career thus far. I would have to say when I received notification from the band Porcupine Tree that we had been chosen to support them on their Australian tour. What was your favourite song to jam to when you were first honing your craft? Easily playing along to anything off Pink Floyd's The Wall especially the tracks Comfortably Numb and also Time
from Dark Side Of The Moon. Can you give me an approximate rundown of how you guys go about writing a song or is it different every time? Usually I'll bring a few chords and vocal melody/lyrics along to a jam and then whatever sticks and grows within the group we keep. I've been writing many songs in front of the piano lately which has been interesting and a new challenge they then morph when brought into the band environment. Do you know who stole my Maton acoustic guitar from
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Richmond last week by any chance? What a prick. If God exists, then why did he make me an atheist? Exactly! ENGINE THREE SEVEN and SLEEP PARADE play Saltar Hype's 5th birthday bash at The Hi-Fi this Saturday February 25.
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