Review by David Jackson
What do you get when you combine one of Australia’s best front men in the past 15 years and a former lead singer of a well-known international punk/rock band? Well on Sunday night the smell of sweat from long time music fans was obvious in the air as this question was answered. Phil Jamieson lead singer of Australian band Grinspoon and Scott Russo the Unwritten Law front man brought their acoustic Christmas extravaganza to the Novocastrians. Jamieson and Russo were first introduced to each other’s talent on the 1999 Warped Tour. They have remained close mates since.
Continue reading Live Review – Phil Jamieson & Scott Russo at Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle – December 21, 2014
Tag Archives: live review
Live Review – Dead Letter Circus + Sleepmakeswaves at Metro Theatre, Sydney – December 19, 2014
Words and Pics by Ben Hosking – www.hoskingindustries.com.au
What a way to close out the gigging year: a headlining shot from Dead Letter Circus at Sydney’s venerable Metro Theatre, supported by sleepmakeswaves. Sydney’s 4-piece instrumental act sleepmakeswaves are an interesting proposition, given the lack of a front person. Yet despite the unconventional post-rock style, in the vein of recent acts like Scale the Summit and Russian Circles, the band is keeping the audience’s attention easily – no doubt via their combination of soaring crescendos and delicate, intricate twin-guitar interplay. Tonight is certainly the perfect Aussie prog’ tonic for a hard, working year.
Continue reading Live Review – Dead Letter Circus + Sleepmakeswaves at Metro Theatre, Sydney – December 19, 2014
Live Review – Ben Folds and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at Hamer Hall Melbourne – December 20, 2014
Review by: Geoffrey D’Unienville
“There’s two types of cities, those that have symphony orchestras and those that don’t, the ones that don’t, generally suck.” – Ben Folds
Members of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra sit patiently in wait as a bout of applause commences for conductor Nicholas Buc to take the stage, at this point you can tell the crowd is getting excited. Suddenly a rapturous applause echoes throughout Hamer Hall and a sharply suited Ben Folds walks out onto stage.
Continue reading Live Review – Ben Folds and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at Hamer Hall Melbourne – December 20, 2014
Live Review – Ian Anderson at the Palais Theatre, Melbourne – December 15, 2014
Review by Carl Dziunka
Archive image by Stuart Blythe
You immediately get a sense that what you are about to see is going to be special when you turn up and the whole front of the venue is obscured by a mass of people eager to get the night started. The majority of the crowd are in the same age bracket and most likely have followed the progression of Jethro Tull across the 46 years they have been playing. There are only a few of the younger generation present and they have probably been brain washed over the years by parents who are avid Tull fans.
Continue reading Live Review – Ian Anderson at the Palais Theatre, Melbourne – December 15, 2014
Live Review – The Screaming Jets at Wyong Leagues Club – December 12, 2014
Loud, aggressive and proud from the time they hit the Wyong stage on Friday night. If you didn’t know The Screaming Jets were in town, get your hearing checked. The band consisting of originals Dave Gleeson and Paul Woseen who were joined by long-time members Jimi Hocking, Mickl Sayers and Scott Kingman, took to the stage blasting out four songs including the opener “Dream on” before lead singer Dave Gleeson drew breath. “It’s been 25 f#%king years, who would have believed we would make it”. The set turned into a best off collection including originals and covers. “C’mon” followed by the Woseen penned “helping hand” lead nicely into the Barry McGuire classic “Eve of destruction” (written by P.F. Sloan). Throughout the night each band member highlighted their craft, added to by Gleeson also picking up the acoustic guitar.
Continue reading Live Review – The Screaming Jets at Wyong Leagues Club – December 12, 2014
Live Review | King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard @ Howler, Melbourne – December 6, 2014
Review by Ben Connolly
As a King Gizzard & 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.
Continue reading Live Review | King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard @ Howler, Melbourne – December 6, 2014
Live Review | Ben Ottewell @ Northcote Social Club, Melbourne – November 5, 2014
Review by Ben Connolly
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.
Starkly contrasting with this is the sparse stage at the Northcote Social Club awaiting Ben Ottewell as he paraded his second solo effort since the indefinite hiatus of his band. Armed with just a couple of Gibson acoustics, a ripping yarn or two, and that booming voice, Ottewell proved that even stripped back, his music holds some sway.
Continue reading Live Review | Ben Ottewell @ Northcote Social Club, Melbourne – November 5, 2014
Live Review | San Cisco + Gunns + Montaigne @ Metro Theatre Sydney – November 27, 2014
Review by Scott Singh
Having been relatively quiet as of late, it was a refreshing encounter to see San Cisco perform at The Metro Theatre. With fans filling the venue during the early stages of the night, you could see that many have seen the band perform live before as groups were discussing their favourite tracks together and singling out that one song that will make their night.
Though the wait would be long to see the band, we were all lucky enough to have two talented support acts fill the void.
Sydney based artist Jessica Cerro took to the stage under her moniker Montaigne and was immediately met with screams of adoring fans, who were eagerly trying to get her attention. The sheer scale of Jessica’s vocal talented subdued any other element of her set. Not to say that the band were subpar to any degree but it was obvious to see where everyone’s gaze was fixated on.
Continue reading Live Review | San Cisco + Gunns + Montaigne @ Metro Theatre Sydney – November 27, 2014
Live Review | The Choirboys perform AC/DC’s High Voltage @ New Globe Theatre, Brisbane – November 28, 2014
Reviewer / Photographer: Wezzy Cruze
Friday, November 28th, 2014 marked a great day for rock n’ roll enthusiasts.
With the highly anticipated release of ‘Rock or Bust’, the 16th release from AC/DC hitting the shelves of stores worldwide, it was in Brisbane, Queensland that the locals were treated to a one of a kind performance being put on by one of Australia’s greatest pub rock bands, The Choirboys, as they performed the classic AC/DC album, ‘High Voltage’ in its entirety.
The Choirboys were doing a six date tour over three different cities, with ‘High Voltage’ being preformed on the Friday night, and ‘Highway To Hell’ on Saturday evening. Each album’s set was also followed by a great hour long performance consisting of classic hits from The Choirboys back catalogue.
Continue reading Live Review | The Choirboys perform AC/DC’s High Voltage @ New Globe Theatre, Brisbane – November 28, 2014
Live Review | The Church @ Mullumbimby Music Festival – November 23, 2014
Review By Dominic Feain
Photo credit Kurt Petersen
The Church were greeted to a nostalgic roar last night as a jam-packed Mullumbimby High gym leapt to it’s collective feet in near 40-degree heat to welcome the Eighties legends to town.
Wrapping up a rather awesome weekend of eclectic music and high-spirited crowds, The Church were a fitting finale to this year’s Mullumbimby Music Festival (it’s kinda like Tamworth with dreads). Punters young and old were pumped to their sweaty eyebrows before the headline act even appeared.
Continue reading Live Review | The Church @ Mullumbimby Music Festival – November 23, 2014
Live Review | Guy Pearce – The Basement, Sydney – November 19, 2014
By Meghan Player
There is a certain level of cringing that is associated with actors becoming musicians, and vice-versa. For the most part, the “music” feels dishonest, an attempt at another cash-grab – that feels about as genuine as a snake oil merchant.
For Guy Pearce, tonight is quite the test. Not only launching his debut album, Broken Bones, but also preparing to break down the boundaries of being pigeon-holed as an actor.
Continue reading Live Review | Guy Pearce – The Basement, Sydney – November 19, 2014
Live Review | Rick Astley @ Revesby Workers Club – November 19, 2014
Review by David Jackson
Having covered a number of these 70’s to 80’s artists over the last couple of years I am cautious when it comes to expectations. In my experience, all the hype does not always deliver the goods. Last night at Revesby Workers Club, Rick Astley opened his Australian tour. Everyone remembers Astley from the 80’s, young bloke, big coat, and deep voice. In the 80’s Astley sprinted out of the Stock Aitken Waterman stable with a few hits and took the world by storm. Five years later he disappeared or in his words “retired from the music industry”. Come the new millennium and Astley was back with a vengeance. But in the land of type specific pre-written and arranged music can the guy really sing?
Continue reading Live Review | Rick Astley @ Revesby Workers Club – November 19, 2014
Live Review | Radio Birdman @ The Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle – October 31, 2014
Review and photos by: David Jackson
Last Saturday night in Newcastle one could be confused and think they had ventured into a time machine. Travelling back to the year of 1974 when founding Radio Birdman members Rob Younger, Deniz Tek, and Pip Hoyle with Jim Dickson were taking the stage for the first time in a sweaty pub in Sydney, armed with an array of attitude and a brand of unique music about three years ahead of its time. This type of music surely had no place in the Australian pub scene? The hell it doesn’t. This is every bit a part of music history as any other Aussie pub icon band in the last 40 years.
Continue reading Live Review | Radio Birdman @ The Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle – October 31, 2014
Live Review | Augie March @ Howler, Melbourne – November 1, 2014
Review by Ben Connolly
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.
Continue reading Live Review | Augie March @ Howler, Melbourne – November 1, 2014
Live Review | The Church @ Old Museum, Brisbane | November 1, 2014
By Denis Semchenko
It’s been some time since I’ve visited the Old Museum, and it’s pleasing to see that the concert hall’s spacious natural reverb is still there. In hindsight, The Church couldn’t have chosen a more apt venue for the Brisbane launch of their new album Further/Deeper than the Old Museum: a stately red brick building that indeed resembles a place of worship.
Continue reading Live Review | The Church @ Old Museum, Brisbane | November 1, 2014