Monthly Archives: March 2010

THE SOLOMONS – Debut EP Release

Melbourne band The Solomons originally formed in late 2007, and have since added Aaron Ronaldson and Leigh Baines to original members Doug Hind and Cass Allan. They spent 2009 supporting the likes of Tim Rogers, British India, Evermore, Oh Mercy, Gun Street Girls, and The Casanovas, as well as completing their debut six song EP.

‘Waiting For Something To Happen’ is the new single taken from the band’s debut EP ‘The Solomons EP’. The EP was recorded at Hothouse Studios with Craig Harnath and Finn Keane (Franz Ferdinand, Jet), and mastered by Tony Mantz at Jack The Bear Deluxe Mastering (Nick Cave, You Am I), ‘The Solomons EP’ showcases the band’s diversity of influence, as well is its distinctive guitar driven melodic sound.

http://www.myspace.com/solomonsband

Waiting For Something To happen  by  showoffservices

Artist, cd, Music

JACKSON JACKSON – Residency @ The Evelyn, Fitzroy – April 2010

Every now and then a band arrives onto the music scene without fanfare and hype, just doing what they are born to, and what follows is large audiences and a fanatical following. And then at a certain point the industry wakes up and says “where did that come from?”

JACKSON JACKSON is one of those bands. They have become a solid live touring favourite throughout Australia since they launched a couple of years back. They are that band that supposedly no one knows about, who just happen to pack out every venue they play, many nights over. And the fans like it that way.
Continue reading JACKSON JACKSON – Residency @ The Evelyn, Fitzroy – April 2010 →

Concert, Melbourne, Music, Quick Bits

OK GO…amazing new video!!!!


New single ‘This Too Shall Pass’! from the new album “Of the Blue Colour of the Sky” available at OK Go – iTunes

Directed by James Frost, OK Go and Syyn Labs. Produced by Shirley Moyers. The official video for the recorded version of “This Too Shall Pass” off of the album “Of the Blue Colour of the Sky”. The video was filmed in a two story warehouse, in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, CA. The “machine” was designed and built by the band, along with members of Syyn Labs ( http://syynlabs.com/ ) over the course of several months

Related:
Our interview with: Damian Kulash of OK Go
OK Go website

OK GO
OK Go – OK Go available at iTunes

cd, Music, Quick Bits

PHILADELPHIA GRAND JURY ANNOUNCE NEW SINGLE, HEADLINE TOUR & MOVE TO THE UK

Do you want a double pass to The Philly Jays Melbourne or Brisbane show? See below for details.

Philly Jays   Fresh from the Laneway Festival tour Philadelphia Grand Jury announce a headline tour and new track from last year’s J Award nominated debut, Hope is For Hopers.

The new radio single ‘I Don’t Want To Party (Party)’ is an anti-party slacker anthem that in its utter catchiness has a habit of inciting exactly the opposite to what it says in the title. The track is a live favourite and was

for a long time used as the set closer which sees the band finish each set with a literal bang – one time even seeing lead singer Berkfinger taking to an upright piano with a sledgehammer

The single is joined by three exclusive never-heard-before tracks.

B-side number one is a disco remix of Philadelphia Grand Jury album track ‘Wet Winter Holiday’ by Mike FWD. The next is a solo track by band lead singer and producer Berkfinger called ‘Jimmy At The Whorehouse’ which is the first cut off a self-produced solo concept album due out later in the year on the band’s own label Normal People Making Hits.
Continue reading PHILADELPHIA GRAND JURY ANNOUNCE NEW SINGLE, HEADLINE TOUR & MOVE TO THE UK →

Concert, Music, tour

‘APRIL UPRISING’ from the JOHN BUTLER TRIO!

John Butler Trio - photo credit Polly Armstrong   The John Butler Trio’s first studio offering in three years, ‘APRIL UPRISING’ (independently released through MGM on March 26th), follows the much acclaimed 3 x platinum ‘Grand National’ album which cemented the band’s global success with sold out tours world wide.

‘APRIL UPRISING’ introduces new trio members Nicky Bomba on drums/percussion and Byron Luiters on bass and combines the personal, the political and the musically memorable with skill and passion.

‘APRIL UPRISING’ was introduced late last year with ‘One Way Road’, the incredibly catchy first single from the album. Taking out the number one spot on the national airplay charts three times this year, ‘One Way Road’ has been the most successful radio single to date for the JBT, the first entry being on the eve of their national sold out tour in January. It was also chosen as the lead track for the summer campaign of Channel 10’s new digital 24 hour sports channel One, and remains on high rotation on the station and it still holds the number one spot on the AIR 100% indie singles chart, which it’s held for 15 weeks now!
Continue reading ‘APRIL UPRISING’ from the JOHN BUTLER TRIO! →

cd, Music, news

CD Review: The Kill Devil Hills – ‘Man, You Should Explode’ LP

Review: Lana Harris

The Kill Devil Hills   When writing about The Kill Devil Hills, it’s pretty much de rigueur to use a variety of swampy, country folk and blues inspired words. Press releases and journalists alike reference cowboys, hard drinking, and the southern USA when writing about this West Australian band. So it’s not enough for me to say that Man, You Should Explode (their 3rd full length release) is a mature recording.

To maintain the desert inspired linguistic sentiments …The Kill Devil Hills have ripened into the sun wizened, rifle cradling old man on the front porch, dispensing wisdom as freely as he spews forth obscenities to those who dare trespass on his land…

The album opens with two sing along tracks, ‘It’s Easy When You Don’t Know How’ and ‘Cockfighter’ which, with it’s one word chorus and short punkish riffs, was a favourite at their recent Brisbane show. These two tracks are fun and tight, ballsy, and set up an expectation of more of the same for the rest of the album. But with track 3, ‘I Don’t Think This Shit Can Last Much Longer’, the Kill Devil Hills turn inward. This is a gentle, emotive and introspective track. ‘Rosalie’ is similarly paced – moving, dark and beautiful, reminiscent of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds’ ballads. ‘The White Lady’ continues along the same tracks, drawing on the minor scales and bringing melancholic aspects.
Continue reading CD Review: The Kill Devil Hills – ‘Man, You Should Explode’ LP →

cd, cd review, Music, Review

CD Review: Buick Six – Common Arms EP

buick six   Review: Lana Harris

Despite the never-ending death and birth cycle of live venues, amid licensing restrictions and noise curfews, bedrooms and garages on both sides of the Brisbane river continue to deliver quality acts to the Australian music scene. Buick Six owe their beginnings to the soggy grounds of 2007’s Splendour in the Grass festival. By 2008, a debut EP had appeared which captured the force of Buick Six’s Brisbane based gigging through live recording.

Their new EP, Common Arms, is garage rock at its dirty, window shaking best. It is only their second release, but the songs on the record sound like the outpourings of a band well used to working and recording together. Guitar work throughout is excellent. The overall feel of the record is urgent, potent, bursting – an achievement to capture on a recording, and suggesting that when viewed live, Buick Six would be a sonic explosion of grinding, grungy rock. The simple bass-guitar-drums line up works in their favour, a pure outlet for their untamed energy left uncomplicated by extra musicians or fussy elements.
Continue reading CD Review: Buick Six – Common Arms EP →

cd, cd review, Music, Review

REGINA SPEKTOR returns to Australia & New Zealand – April/May 2010

The Frontier Touring Company announces the return of Regina Spektor to Australia and New Zealand in April this year.

When Regina Spektor’s family moved from her birthplace of the Soviet Union to America’s Bronx, her musical interests and talent expanded from the genre of classical music toward the vibrancy of pop and rock. These transitions of location and taste are reflected in the classical artistry within her piano composition and distinctive eclectic fusion of sounds. Adding to her repertoire of skills is her ability to play not only the piano but the guitar and occasional percussion as well, rendering her a truly versatile musician.
Continue reading REGINA SPEKTOR returns to Australia & New Zealand – April/May 2010 →

Concert, Music, tour

Tour: New Found Glory Australian Tour – April 2010

New Found energy, New Found purpose; New Found Glory is back in the ring.

New Found Glory   As opposed to the majority of their stale contemporaries, New Found Glory attacks each album with a breath of fresh air in a genre saturated with vocoder and neon. With an impressive catalog that hosts some of the most memorable pop punk songs of the past decade, their Epitaph Records debut ‘Not Without a Fight’, shows just how well they put their competition in a finishing headlock, “there’s no need to put up a fight, because New Found Glory takes the title by default.” – Absolute Punk

Continue reading Tour: New Found Glory Australian Tour – April 2010 →

Brisbane, Concert, Melbourne, Music, news, Sydney, tour

The Idea of North: Radio Show @ Brisbane Powerhouse 27 March 2010

They say video killed the radio star… well we’re not so sure. Come and decide for yourself and be part of a “live studio audience” as Australia’s own award winning vocal quartet, The Idea of North present “Radio Show” Step back in time to an era of simple pleasures when the entire family would gather around the old transistor radio on a Saturday night to listen to their favourite show, excited and intrigued by what was happening at the other end. It’s now your turn to find out what goes on behind the scenes. Join in the fun of a live radio show where you’ll hear The Idea of North perform golden oldies to the top of the pops. They’ll be your very own radio hosts and who knows what else! This show is bound to have just about everything. The only difference is it probably won’t make it out onto the airwaves… it’ll just be for your ears (and eyes) only!
Continue reading The Idea of North: Radio Show @ Brisbane Powerhouse 27 March 2010 →

Brisbane, fact, Music, Quick Bits

Festival Review: Playground Weekender 2010

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Review: Brahbrah Oscar

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Playground Weekender
[Photo: Arfy Papadam]		   Within only a matter of moments after disembarking the ferry, it becomes immediately apparent why Playground Weekender (PW) has been the recipient of the “Best Crowd & Atmosphere” award for the last two years running.

PW organisers pride themselves on compiling a line-up that will attract a friendly and laid back crowd, and they know their craft well. The result is, quite bluntly and refreshingly, a music festival without all the jerks.

Over the four long and hot days festival goers remained pumped, happy and, as far as intoxicated crowds go, fairly mature. Even during the headliners when the main stage crowd was in full force, there was little pushing and shoving, people seemed pretty considerate of each other.

With little requirement for much control, the friendly crowd seemed slightly at odds with the size of the police force throughout the weekend. Officers walking sniffer dogs through festival grounds among the punters simply enjoying their lunch was an unusual sight. Though despite their numbers and high visibility, police were friendly and relaxed. Security were equally laid back in general.
Continue reading Festival Review: Playground Weekender 2010 →

Concert, event, Festival, Music, Review

Asa Broomhall – Brisbane Powerhouse Resident for March 2010

Brisbane Powerhouse, Brisbane Marketing and Brispop Present
The Residents MUSIC
They’re fresh, they’re free and they’re moving in. Fridays are about to get a lot more interesting as some of the best Indie-Pop bands around stake their claim on the Turbine Platform. No ‘one night only’ gigs here. Each band will have an entire month to capture the hearts of Brisbane music lovers with a set every week. So, if you’re liking what you hear, come back again and again.

March Resident: Asa Broomhall
Continue reading Asa Broomhall – Brisbane Powerhouse Resident for March 2010 →

Brisbane, Concert, event, freebie, Music, news, Quick Bits

Photo Gallery: Playground Weekender 2010

Photographer: Arfy Papadam
Click the image to view the photo gallery
Playground Weekender
Playground Weekender - Bluejuice
Playground Weekender
Playground Weekender
[Photo: Arfy Papadam]
View the Photo Gallery

Playground Weekender

Related:
Festival Review: Playground Weekender 2010
Interview: Damian Kulash of OK Go

Concert, event, Festival, Music, Photos

Live Review: Orbital @ Family, Brisbane, 24 February 2010

By Denis Semchenko

Family can be a strange place. Despite this being a school night, a somewhat uneasy and restless vibe is easily palpable as dilated-pupil clientele wander about, while one clearly “under the influence” punter tries to strike up a conversation with me about how it’s going to be “a good night” and later passes by and wonders whether I’m “trying to be cool” as I check my phone for messages. Peaking too early is never fun, dude.
Continue reading Live Review: Orbital @ Family, Brisbane, 24 February 2010 →

Brisbane, Concert, Music, Review

Tour: Gossling to tour in support of debut EP – ‘If You Can’t Whistle’

To celebrate the success of her debut EP ‘If You Can’t Whistle’, Gossling (aka Helen Croome) will take to the stage with headlining shows in Melbourne, and offering support to The Whitlams and Whitley in Canberra.

Gossling’s debut EP ‘If You Can’t Whistle’ has garnered plenty of attention, with the track “Days Are Over” becoming part of Triple J’s staple play list in recent times, and “He Knows My Love” being used in the Triple J ‘Unearthed’ promos. Gossling’s tracks were discovered by Triple J after she drew attention as an Unearthed artist. Gossling started 2010 supporting Lamb for their side shows during their visit for Peats Ridge Festival.
Continue reading Tour: Gossling to tour in support of debut EP – ‘If You Can’t Whistle’ →

cd, Concert, Melbourne, Music, Quick Bits, tour