Review: Lauren Sherritt
 [Photo: Stuart Blythe] |
It has become a well known fact that New South Wales band Art vs. Science do not put on any ordinary live show. What they create is more than music, what they do is more than mere entertainment, and the allure of their act has had them selling out venues nationwide on their recent ‘The Experiment’ tour. As expected, their concluding performance at The Tivoli in Brisbane was an evening of riotous fun, insane dancing and marvellous spectacle. |
Review by: Lauren Sherritt
Known for catchy tunes, clever lyrics, playfully sung narratives and an outstanding energy, The Wombats played to a sold out Tivoli in Brisbane on Thursday night, giving their all to make it a night to remember for the fans attending.
So popular were tickets to the trio’s show that Thursday night’s gig was their second Brisbane performance, organised for those who had missed out on tickets for the original Tuesday night show. Being all ages, the evening started early, with doors opening at six-thirty and the band taking the stage just after eight. Populated mainly by teens delighted to be able to see the marsupial-inspired band in the flesh, the crowd got busy chanting for The Wombats early on.
Continue reading The Wombats @ The Tivoli, Brisbane – 5 May 2011 – Live Review
Review by: Lauren Sherritt
I headed to Sparkadia’s show on Friday April 8 at the Hi Fi in Brisbane with much the same feeling of trepidation that I had on hearing that the band was releasing a new album in March this year. Technically, I knew that the songs on the record were superb, just as I knew that the hype building about the The Great Impression tour and Sparkadia’s new live show had to mean something. I was troubled, though, by clear memories of a gig on the eighteenth of September in 2008 that had changed the way I viewed live music and made me worried that there was only disappointment to come by way of comparison.
Continue reading Sparkadia @ The Hi-Fi, Brisbane – April 08, 2011 [Live Review]
Review by: Lauren Sherritt
Unidentified Flying Collection of Songs is the first album released by My Own Pet Radio, the name under which Brisbane artist Sam Cromack works solo. The bedroom recorded, experimental album is a solid example of decent, hard worked music created by a passionate and hard working musician.
Cromack, also known as the front man for indie rock/pop band Ball Park Music, really goes to town on the album cutting samples, employing effects and layering instruments, all played by himself, with intricate and distinct lyrics. The songs collectively move through various styles, bluesy influences sitting alongside poppy rock and folksy, lilting acoustic pieces. Carefully crafted to fit together as a whole album, the spectrum of styles in the songs speaks of the years of work gone into developing Cromack’s skill, and the album transcends the hyped world of sale figures and radio play stats to sit as a thought provoking piece of artwork.
Continue reading My Own Pet Radio – Unidentified Flying Collection of Songs [Album Review]
Interview: Lauren Sherritt
Stonefield have been turning heads since performing late last year at Perth’s One Movement Festival and taking out triple j’s Unearthed High competition.
Currently playing a string of special shows throughout Australia – Lauren Sherritt (LS) caught up with Stonefield’s Lead Vocalist & Drummer Amy Findlay (AF) before the band travels to the UK to rock the Glastonbury and Great Escape Festivals.
Continue reading Interview: Stonefield – Young, Inspiring and Glastonbury bound!
Review: Lauren Sherritt
Day two of Sunset Sounds 2011 arrives, bringing with it steady rain and a forecast of nothing but. Organisers have spread sand over some of the affected areas, but when I arrive on Thursday afternoon the damage that the combination of thousands of feet and a whole lot of rain did to the grounds yesterday is easily apparent. Areas that were grassy are now plains of squelchy mud ready to snatch unsuspecting thongs from feet and disappear them forever and the paths we traversed yesterday are now boasting small streams of rainwater.
Continue reading Sunset Sounds 2011 – Day 2, Live Review
Review by: Lauren Sherritt
 [Photo:Justin Ma] |
The afternoon of Friday January 7, 2011, had been a classically humid one for Brisbane. Undoubtedly much unlike the weather English pop-rock group Mystery Jets are accustomed to finding at home in Eel Pie Island, the heavens opened on the evening that they were set to play the city’s Hi-Fi Bar with local support Tin Can Radio. Not even off-putting weather, however, could dampen the splendid performance they gave, the memory of the night burnt into fans’ consciousness for a long time to come. |
Brisbane’s Hi-Fi Bar was only sparsely occupied as Tin Can Radio took to the stage. Merry and casual, they took their time setting up, waiting while the drummer’s girlfriend rushed in with a forgotten cymbal. Regardless of the meagre crowd, the five bought out their characteristic liveliness and played a short but ferocious set that in the end had the audience on their feet and clapping along.
Continue reading Mystery Jets @ The Hi-Fi, Brisbane – Live Review
Review: Lauren Sherritt
Photos: Matt Palmer
Billed by organisers as the perfect way to cap off New Year’s celebrations, Brisbane’s Sunset Sounds has become renowned for its impeccable line-ups and alluring Botanical Gardens setting. With headline act Interpol leading the charge of an impressively diverse set of artists, the 2011 festival kicked off on the muggy afternoon of Wednesday January 5th.
After a short delay at the gate (a mix-up with letting the media in probably not the kind of press that organisers had hoped for) I head straight for the River Stage to catch the first winners of the festival’s ‘Sponsor the Band’ competition Ball Park Music. Halfway through their set and the local six-piece has drawn a small but decent crowd for early in the afternoon, mixing originals and covers and making big sound for a group of not so big kids. Ending with ‘iFly’, their most well known track, the swelling audience joins in with a rousing chorus and the day is kicked off to a glorious start.
Continue reading Sunset Sounds 2011 – Day 1, Live Review
Review: Lauren Sherritt
[Photo: Stuart Blythe] |
Anticipation levels high, crowds of dance-hungry fans packed Brisbane’s Hi-Fi Bar last Friday night to experience Art vs. Science’s much talked about ‘Magic Fountain’ live show. The night was cold and crisp and the excitement in the air palpable as hundreds of fans headed to the great venue for some high quality Australian entertainment. |
They were first greeted by Sydney-siders Jinja Safari, who gave a solid set and got the audience members who had turned up earlier moving with their light electro-tunes. After a short break Tim and Jean appeared and really showed the crowd a thing or two about rocking out. It was hard to tell whether the musicians or the crowd were getting more into it, but it was clear that both were getting a lot out of the music as excitement levels began to rise and the venue began to fill. After performing their more well known tunes “Veronica” and “Come Around”, Tim and Jean gracefully departed the stage, curtains closing, leaving the rest of the night for the headline act Art vs. Science to fill.
Continue reading Art Vs Science @ The Hi-Fi, Brisbane – 13 August 2010 – Live Review
Review: Lauren Sherritt
Click image to view photo gallery [Photos: Charlyn Cameron] |
There are some musicians who blow us away with their musical talent and prowess, and there are some who whisk us along on a journey of high entertainment and fun. In a live show, David Campbell has a rare and optimum marriage of both features. His showmanship is second to none, his voice stunning and his persona endearing, making it a treat to watch him perform. |
Campbell’s QPAC appearance on Saturday the 7th of August in ‘The Broadway Show’ began with an old favourite and ended with a well deserved standing ovation. The full orchestra, conducted by Guy Simpson, were positioned on stage as the audience filed in, and it wasn’t until the Concert Hall was darkened and the orchestra playing that Campbell himself appeared for a rousing rendition of “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’ ”. With the show to promote his new CD, titled On Broadway, Campbell performed nearly every track from the album and a few more, and it was clear that he was overjoyed to share each of the eighteen songs he performed with the audience.
Continue reading David Campbell – The Broadway Show @ Concert Hall, QPAC, Brisbane 7th August 2010 – Show Review
Review: Lauren Sherritt
Ever craved some beautifully crafted music comprised of gently soaring harmonies and dainty whimsy, yet with a mature touch to the sound and lyrics? Well, Brisbane pop-folk band Charlie Mayfair, and its first offering, EP Watch My Hands, may just become your new addiction.
Forming only in January this year, Charlie Mayfair are set to make themselves heard around Australia after bursting out on the Brisbane scene over the past six months.
Continue reading Charlie Mayfair “Watch My Hands” EP Review
Review by: Lauren Sherritt
Heading to Lisa Mitchell’s gig at The Tivoli on Friday night, I held some pretty general expectations as to what the “Oh! Hark!” tour would have in store for its Brisbane leg. Some of these expectations were met delightfully, others were interestingly challenged, and in all it was a memorable experience.
The Tivoli is undoubtedly the kind of venue you would expect to suit such a whimsical songstress as Mitchell. Upon entering the historic building it was easy to see, with gauzy material curtained from the stage’s rigging and washed colourfully by the bright lights, that this was true. Through strong sets by Georgia Fair and Boy and Bear, who both proved to be stunning choices as a lead in to Mitchell’s set and are definitely bands worth keeping an eye on, the sell-out audience waited, tantalized by the promise such a setting held for a beautiful evening with Mitchell.
Continue reading Live Review: Lisa Mitchell @ The Tivoli, Brisbane – 7th May 2010
Review: Lauren Sherritt
Rearrange Beds recalls in lurid, dreamlike detail memories of adolescent youth; of mistimed love, desperation and a need for just a little bit of control, and as the debut album for Australian two piece An Horse it acts as a solid showcase of the band’s notable talents. It’s honest, edgy and just a little bit off centre and will speak to anybody who remembers that baffling and awkward experience that is emerging into adulthood.
Continue reading CD Review: An Horse – Rearrange Beds
Review: Lauren Sherritt
Welsh singer songwriter Cate Le Bon’s quiet, haunting tunes featured on her debut album Me Oh My will follow you for a long time after the CD finishes playing. Filled with melancholy lyrics, soft repetitive choruses and a darkly ever present awareness of mortality, this album is about as far away from pop as you could get.
Cate’s claim that she only ever writes songs in the dark is indeed accounted for in the lyrics on Me Oh My. Phrases such as “I fought the night and the night fought me/Knocked on the door and used its key” (Me Oh My), “Eyes so bright they just steal the night” (Eyes So Bright) and “It’s just baby I’m headed for the black” (Sad Sad Feet) pepper the album, which holds a resigned heaviness for its entire length.
Continue reading CD Review: Cate Le Bon – Me Oh My
Review: Lauren Sherritt
It’s difficult to describe what exactly the phenomenon of Ebony Bones’ music is like, only safe to say that listening to it is an experience like not many others. This is perhaps why the first track on her new album Bone of My Bones begins with a deep, rumbling introduction stating simply that “this is the sounds of Ebony Bones!.” What I can say is that it’s intense, it’s unique, and if for some reason you’re opposed to having a good dance about the house; be careful, because this record is overwhelmingly movement inspiring.
It’s hard to believe that this psychedelic, carnivalesque album was produced mainly by Miss Bones herself in her small London bedroom.
Continue reading Ebony Bones! – Bone Of My Bones : CD Review