Review by Ben Connolly In the late nineties, early noughties, the Australian music scene was in a bit of flux. Still reverberating with post-grunge angst, the scene was awash with angular guitar pop. A bevvy of Brisbands dominated the pop-rock scene, while the hip hop world was just starting its local resurgence fronted by the … Continue reading Live Review : george at Melbourne Zoo Twilights – 18 February 2017
Review by Ben Connolly With two solid solo albums, and a couple of glorious collections of covers, Something For Kate frontman Paul Dempsey has become a mainstay of the Australian music scene. Backed by a cracking live band, his gigs have become a known quantity.
Review by Ben Connolly When times are tough, music is rightly a place to turn to seek solace. It mends a broken heart, it eases the pain of loss and it provides guidance through uncertainly. It’s fitting then that the salve for a broken and hurt world might also lay in the skilful hands of … Continue reading Live Review: Ball Park Music at Melbourne Zoo Twilights with The Jungle Giants – 10 February 2017
Reviewer: Ben Connolly A stage moniker borrowed from a 16 th century philosopher; an Unearthed gong before finishing high school; a teasing EP which was salivated over; and a 3-time ARIA nominated debut album. And all of this before your first headlining tour. It’s a helluva back-story for Montaigne’s eagerly anticipated run of headlining shows … Continue reading Live Review : Montaigne at Corner Hotel, Melbourne – 13 October 2016
Review by Ben Connolly If a word-cloud was done on The Bennies’ song lyrics, it would be a short but exhilarating list. With a subject matter focussed almost exclusively on hedonistic pursuits, the lyrics rarely venture outside the life of of a constant party, and the best ways in which to get there. The band’s … Continue reading Live Review : The Bennies at Max Watt’s, Melbourne – June 24, 2016
Review by Ben Connolly There’s a lot to be said for the uplifting positivity of indie jangle pop. And as current doyens of Australia’s indie scene, Western Australia’s San Cisco is saying it – a lot. Since dropping the mind bendingly on-point and cute Awkward single in 2012, they are notching up some serious points … Continue reading Live Review : San Cisco at Melbourne Zoo Twilights – February 26, 2016
Review by Ben Connolly Photo credit: Maclay Heriot Watching a legendary artist grapple with a formidable back catalogue can be a frustrating affair for a fan. It can almost be described through a stages of grief process: at first denial – burying the songs begrudgingly down the setlist in the hopes that newer works get … Continue reading Live Review : Mark Seymour & The Undertow at Melbourne Zoo Twilights w/ Ben Salter – February 20, 2016
Review by Ben Connolly Photos Lucinda Goodwin Photography The support slot on the summer picnic rug festival circuit is easily the toughest around at the moment. With audience attention divided between divvying up the roast chook, keeping the ants out of hummus and wrangling over-excited toddlers out way past their bedtimes, it’s a tough mix. … Continue reading Live Review : John Butler Trio at Melbourne Zoo Twilights w/ Tinpan Orange – February 6, 2016
Review by Ben Connolly In a different universe, a Jebediah of 20 years ago probably would have been a short term affair. It’s gangly awkward pop punk probably would have survived the ubiquitous relocation from its original Western Australian outpost to the big smoke of the East, but it would have been no doubt an … Continue reading Live Review : Jebediah + Adalita at The Corner Hotel, Richmond – June 18, 2015
Review by Ben Connolly Photo by Lucinda Goodwin There are fewer more pleasing sights in the live music world than a rock act totally on form. And for Victorian lad Dan Sultan, he couldn’t presently be more on point at the moment: his third long-player Blackbird is universally lauded, has given him a swag of … Continue reading Live Review : Dan Sultan + Benny Walker at Melbourne Zoo Twilights – March 5, 2015
The Jicks moniker enjoys a special place in the Australian indie landscape, with numerous tours and festival appearances assuring that the admiration is mutual. Benefactors of this would surely be Melbourne’s The Twerps which opened proceedings for The Zoo Twilight show on Friday night.
Review by Ben Connolly With four studio albums, two ARIA awards and a bevy of critical acclaim, Sarah Blasko has more than established her bonafides in the Australian music landscape. So much so that she can legitimately claim legend status, with a unique ability to embark on a recent mini-tour without any new material to … Continue reading Live Review : Sarah Blasko at Melbourne Zoo Twilights – February 6, 2015
As a King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard gig virgin, there’s one thing that immediately grips you – and surprisingly it’s not the cacophonous wall-of-sound that a seven-piece band delivers. Beneath that is the sense of deep confusion which comes from taking in all of what is happening on stage, and then being absolutely convinced that there is no logical way this should work.
UK indie rock stalwarts Gomez have always been a study in human Tetris when it came to its live shows. With three singers and guitarists, keys, bass and drums (as well as a revolving array of touring musos), their stage show was a beautiful cacophonic mess.
A five year hiatus may have done wonders for revitalising Augie March’s creative juices, but its live show continues to be a beautiful chaotic mess. With a mix of false starts, bum notes, front-man wincing and a particularly rowdy audience member to deal with, night three of its five night return to the live arena had all the elements of a legendary Augie event.
