Category Archives: Music

Interview: Stonefield – Young, Inspiring and Glastonbury bound!

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!

Drawcard, Heroes For Hire @ The Hi-Fi, Brisbane – 19 March 2011 [Photo Gallery]

Photographer: Stuart Blythe

Photographer: Stuart Blythe
Continue reading Drawcard, Heroes For Hire @ The Hi-Fi, Brisbane – 19 March 2011 [Photo Gallery]

DISTURBED return to annihilate stages in Australian – April 2011 w/ Trivium & As I Lay Dying

THE FRONTIER TOURING COMPANY PRESENTS
DISTURBED
MUSIC AS A WEAPON 2011 TOUR!

With Special Guests
TRIVIUM
AS I LAY DYING

Highly acclaimed heavy metal icons Disturbed will be returning for their massive ‘Music As A Weapon 2011’ tour and are ready to annihilate arena stages in Australia and New Zealand this April, much to the satisfaction of their legions of fans.

Arguably one of the most successful heavy metal bands around today, Disturbed have sold over 11 million albums globally and are one of only three bands in music history to have four consecutive releases debut at #1 on the US Billboard Top 200 album chart.

Since the band’s formation fifteen years ago, Disturbed have had three Platinum albums in Australia and a strong fourth contender in their latest offering Asylum which debuted at #2 on the ARIA Album Chart and #1 on New Zealand’s RIANZ Album Chart upon its release in August.
Continue reading DISTURBED return to annihilate stages in Australian – April 2011 w/ Trivium & As I Lay Dying

Album Review | Ben Ottewell – Shapes and Shadows

Review by Bianca Martin
It has apparently been five years in the making, but Gomez frontman Ben Ottewell has finally released his debut solo album Shapes and Shadows. Gomez fans need not worry though, this release shouldn’t be seen as a departure from Ottewell’s main project but instead as an expansion on it. Easily the most recognizable vocalist from the English indie rockers, his unique voice remains the focus here. Ottewell’s vocals are perfect for this classic acoustic soft rock, bordering on folk at times, style. Distinctive and naturally emotional, his voice is a little gritty and rough around the edges but mournful and somber at just the right moments.
Continue reading Album Review | Ben Ottewell – Shapes and Shadows

Buddy Miller- Majestic Silver Strings [Album Review]

Review: Victoria Nugent

  American country singer Buddy Miller’s latest offering Majestic Silver String feels like less of an album than a country music compilation with an extensive roster of guest vocalists filling out the tracks.

There’s a bit of a throwback to 70s style country, with the whole album coming across as mellow and somewhat prairie sounding in places. This is country music that is undeniably American, with strains of bluegrass and yodelling permeating the album.

Buddy Miller has teamed up with other country guitarists Bill Frisell, Marc Ribot and Greg Leisz to create the solid, if occasionally tired instrumentals that form the backbone of most of the tracks.

“Cattle Call” starts off with an extended instrumental that is pure bluegrass, lonesome and twangy, with the eventual addition of Miller’s mellifluous vocals and a tinge of yodelling.

In “No Good Lover”, Miller teams up with Ann McCrary for a duet with bite, focusing on the demise of a relationship, with McCrary’s bold vocals the true focal point for the song.

“Meds” is a melancholy lament founded on sweet but slightly bland vocals from Lee Ann Womack. Chocolate Genius’ cover of “Dang Me” has a distinctly soul edge which seems slightly incongruous.

“Bury Me Not On The Lone Prairie” with deep vocals from Marc Ribot is dark, edgy and a little on the raw side. “That’s The Way Love Goes” is sweet and tender with finely honed vocals from Shawn Colvin.The instrumental version of “Freight Train” comes across as light and charming, yet thoroughly accomplished.

Ultimately, this is a very mild album, and I couldn’t help but wish that things would spice up occasionally. All the same, the tracks are fairly easy to listen, with nothing too unpleasant in the way of instrumentals or vocals, apart from a slight want of pizzazz.

Album Track List:
1. Cattle Call (Buddy Miller sings)
2. No Good Lover (Buddy Miller & Ann McCrary sing)
3. I Want To Be With You Always (Buddy Miller & Patty Griffin sing)
4. Barres De La Prison (Marc Ribot sings)
5. Meds (Lee Ann Womack sings)
6. Dang Me (Chocolate Genius sings)
7. Bury Me Not On The Lone Prairie (Marc Ribot sings)
8. That’s The Way Love Goes (Shawn Colvin sings)
9. Freight Train (Instrumental)
10. Why I’m Walkin’ (Emmylou Harris sings)
11. Why Baby Why (Buddy Miller & Marc Ribot sing)
12. Return To Me (Lee Ann Womack sings)
13. God’s Wing’ed Horse (Buddy & Julie Miller sing)

Review: Victoria Nugent


More articles by Victoria Nugent:
* Rocketsmiths “The Bones” – Album Review
* Angus and Julia Stone @ The Tivoli, Brisbane – 25 September 2010 with Luluc – Live Review
* Bonfire Nights “Bonfire Nights” EP Review
* Bec Plath “At The End of the Night” – Single Review
* More article by Victoria Nugent

House Of Pain Announce Australian Tour April | May 2011 [Tour News & Tickets]

  This April and May, HOUSE OF PAIN – the rowdy Irish-American Hip-Hop group from Boston, Massachusetts – will bring their fiery live show to Australia as a part of their 20th anniversary world tour.

It was the turn of a new decade when HOUSE OF PAIN changed the face of hip-hop with the release of their multi-platinum selling, self-titled, debut album which featured one of the most memorable songs in hip-hop history, ‘Jump Around’.

Now it’s the start of another new decade and HOUSE OF PAIN is ready to do it all over again. On the heels of their widely heralded reunion show at KROQ’s ‘Epicenter 2010’, EVERLAST and DANNY BOY have decided to get the band back together to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the groups’ formation.
Continue reading House Of Pain Announce Australian Tour April | May 2011 [Tour News & Tickets]

Ash Grunwald @ Kings Beach Tavern, QLD – 5th March 2011 [Photo Gallery]

Photographer: Chris Dornan Photography

Photographer: Chris Dornan Photography
Continue reading Ash Grunwald @ Kings Beach Tavern, QLD – 5th March 2011 [Photo Gallery]

HEARTBREAK CLUB – TOUR NEW SINGLE ‘CHIN UP’ [MP3 Stream]

Chin Up

  Heartbreak Club are rapidly becoming Australia’s beacon of hope for Geek Rock; spearheading a new wave of 1990’s inspired intelligent, ironic and self-deprecating punk-infused tunes.

The band recorded their 2010 debut album ‘Our Horse Is Dead’ at Sing Sing Studios with US producer Ed Rose (Motion City Soundtrack, The Get Up Kids) and local engineer Matt Voigt (The Killers, Midnight Oil, The Living End).

Continue reading HEARTBREAK CLUB – TOUR NEW SINGLE ‘CHIN UP’ [MP3 Stream]

FINAL artist announcement for Bluesfest 2011’s outstanding lineup of star performers!

March 16th 2011 – Here it is folks, the final artist announcement for Bluesfest 2011. As you can see, we’ve definitely saved some of the best till last with these stellar talented musicians, so if you weren’t excited before, you will be now! Tickets for Thursday 21 and Tuesday 26 April are still available – don’t miss out, the clock is ticking and it’s only a bit over a month until Bluesfest finally kicks off!

The whole lineup has become picture perfectly clear with the official downloadable Bluesfest Playing Schedule now online at www.bluesfest.com.au .

That means you can now make all those big decisions and plan your complete Bluesfest itinerary. Check it out for all artist times and stages – download it, print it out, circle your options – whatever you need to do to make sure your Bluesfest 2011 experience is all set to go in glorious fashion!

Please note that on Tuesday April 26 Bluesfest will open its doors at 11am, music starts at 2pm and finishes at 10pm, allowing everyone to get home in plenty of time for work the next day.
Continue reading FINAL artist announcement for Bluesfest 2011’s outstanding lineup of star performers!

BLISS N ESO announce second Melbourne show to meet demand! [Tour News]

  Due to overwhelming demand, Bliss N Eso have announced a second show at Melbourne’s Festival Hall on Saturday June 4th. After selling out their first show within a few days, Melbourne fans have been in a frenzy to get their hands on tickets.

The second Festival Hall show will also feature an all-ages floor area, giving younger fans a chance to get even closer to the action. Tickets to the newly added date will be on sale at 9am on Monday March 28th.

With Sunshine Coast sold out, Sydney and Hobart on final ticket release, and Brisbane, Mt. Gambier and Coff’s Harbour not far behind, it looks certain that the Running On Air Tour will break another touring record for an Australian hip-hop act.

Don’t miss out!

TICKETS TO 2ND MELBOURNE SHOW
ON SALE 9AM MONDAY MARCH 28TH

BLISS N ESO
RUNNING ON AIR TOUR
SUPPORTED BY HORRORSHOW AND BIG B (USA)

BLISS N ESO – MAY/JUNE 2011
RUNNING ON AIR TOUR

Fri May 6 Uni. of New England (The Stro) Armidale, NSW 18+
Continue reading BLISS N ESO announce second Melbourne show to meet demand! [Tour News]

Music, Comedy and Art – 5 Free Events at Brisbane Powerhouse this Weekend 18-20 March 2011

Brisbane Powerhouse 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: Bang Bang Boss Kelly
Every Friday in March 2011 @ 6pm
FREE
Turbine Platform

Saturday Sessions
Brisbane Powerhouse and Jazz Queensland present
Turbine Jazz MUSIC
Cool cats and smooth tunes, cross rhythms and bebop. Highlights in this program include Brisbane jazz trio Misinterprotato renowned for blending inspiring improvisations with pulsating grooves, acclaimed jazz pianist and composer Jeff Usher with his A Love Supreme Superband plus Indonesian-Australian collective Temannya si Deva led by master percussionist Deva Permana.
Sat 19 March 2011 – 5pm: Soundscapes
FREE
Turbine Platform
For more information go to www.brisbanepowerhouse.org

Brisbane Powerhouse and Brispop.com present
Live Spark MUSIC
Sunday 20 March 2011 – 3.30pm: Luke Peacock + Mardi Lumsden and the Rising Seas
Free
Turbine Platform
For more information go to www.brisbanepowerhouse.org

Brisbane Powerhouse presents
Livewired COMEDY
Funny, free and freakin’ awesome.
We’re talking about Livewired, our free comedy program. In the past we’ve been entertained by the likes of Tripod, Josh Thomas, Wil Anderson, Gina Yashere, The Bedroom Philosopher and Stephen K Amos. Upcoming artists include Michael Chamberlin and more.
Warning: Livewired is open to all ages but is recommended for people aged 15 years and older. Some concepts and language may offend.
Sunday 20 March 2011 – 6.30pm: Special Guest
Free
Turbine Platform
For more information go to www.brisbanepowerhouse.org

Brisbane Powerhouse and Australian Centre for Photography present
The Christmas Tree Bucket: Trent Parke’s Family Album VISUAL
“It was there – while staring into that bright red bucket, vomiting every hour on the hour for fifteen hours straight – that I started to think how strange families, suburbia, life, vomit and, in particular, Christmas really was…” Trent Parke. So began Trent Parke’s latest and much-anticipated new body of work. The Christmas Tree Bucket is humour of the blackest hue. In a dazzling display of virtuoso storytelling Parke snaps the family rituals of Christmas with the in-laws and builds a gritty gothic tale of a nightmare lurking in the suburban shadows. Operatic in its vision and darkly satirical in its style, The Bucket is a photographic masterpiece destined for cult status. Trent Parke, the first Australian to become a Full Member of the renowned photographers’ cooperative Magnum Photo Agency, is considered one of the most innovative and challenging young photographers of his generation. He received numerous national and international awards, including five Gold Lenses from the International Olympic Committee and World Press Photo awards in 1999, 2000 and 2005. In 2003, Parke was awarded the prestigious international W. Eugene Smith Grant in Humanistic Photography for his series Minutes to Midnight.
Tue 1 – Sun 27 Mar
9am – 5am Mon – Fri + 10am – 4pm Sat + Sun + during performance times
FREE
Brisbane Powerhouse
For more information go to www.brisbanepowerhouse.org

Tin Can Radio – 20 Date National Tour [Tour News]

  Dynamic Brisbane indie-dance/art-rock five-piece, Tin Can Radio, are celebrating the release of their debut Long-Player Chase the Sun, Hold the Night with a massive 20 date tour around metropolitan and regional Australia. The tour begins its west-cost leg on March 15, and spans over April and May of 2011. The album will be available for purchase in limited release during the tour, and in stores and on iTunes on APRIL 15.

The debut album, Chase the Sun, Hold the Night, is the accumulation of two acclaimed single-releases and many hard months in the studio. The 11 track LP runs a knife edge between accessible and fun, and ambitious and sonically challenging; journeying through dreamy landscapes, sing-along hooks, punchy guitar driven riffs and grinding dubstep breakdowns. It features remastered and retouched versions of the first singles Hot Trash and Days to Dust, which were both featured and played in 2010 on Triple J radio, as well as standout live favourite and latest single, “Skeletons”.

Skeletons by Tin Can Radio
Continue reading Tin Can Radio – 20 Date National Tour [Tour News]

The Audreys – “Sometimes the Stars” [Video Clip]

Sometimes the Stars from The Audreys on Vimeo.

  “Sometimes the Stars” is a gorgeous new song from Adelaide band The Audreys, taken from their 2010 album of the same name. The accompanying short animated film, produced by Luke Jurevicius and directed by Ari Gibson & Jason Pamment, is about a lost girl’s journey through a surreal landscape, and her yearning to make a connection in this distant yet strangely familiar world.

Produced by Luke Jurevicius

Directed by Ari Gibson & Jason Pamment

Production Designers: Luke Jurevicius, Shane Devries, Jason Pamment, Ari Gibson

Story by Luke Jurevicius, Ari Gibson & Jason Pamment

2D Animation: Ari Gibson

Background Art: Jason Pamment

Compositing: Ryan Kirby & Jason Pamment

Colouring: Jarrod Prince & Joshua Bowman

Executive Producers: Stu McCullough, Taasha Coates, Tristan Goodall

Special Thanks: Sarah Macdonald, Makoto Koji, Jeremy Hill-Brooks


Continue reading The Audreys – “Sometimes the Stars” [Video Clip]

The Little Stevies “Attention Shoppers” Tour – April/May 2011 [Tour News]

  Attention Shoppers was released on March 4th and The Little Stevies will be touring Australia in support, being joined by some very special guests along the way including Gossling, Georgia Fields, Adam Cousins, and New Zealands mutli-platinum selling star Anika Moa. These shows are not to be missed.

ATTENTION SHOPPERS album launch tour Having charmed the world with their enchanting 2009 debut Love Your Band The Little Stevies have upped the ante – and the volume – with their newest offering, Attention Shoppers. Recorded in the USA with LA-based producer Ethan Allan (Tim Finn, Kristin Hersh, Luscious Jackson), the new album is a break away for the more laid-back, folk-influenced style of their first, and takes the band’s sound into a poppier, slicker and harder-edged territory.

The Little Stevies tour:

Saturday 2nd April – The Toff In Town, Melbourne – BUY TICKETS HERE
Sunday 3rd April – The Toff In Town, Melbourne – BUY TICKETS HERE
Wednesday 7th April – The Loft, Chevron Island, Gold Coast – BUY TICKETS HERE
Thursday 8th April – The Globe, Brisbane
Friday 9th April – Mullum Civic Hall, Mullumbimby – BUY TICKETS HERE
Wednesday 14th April – Ararat Live, Ararat
Thursday 15th April – Wheatsheaf, Adelaide – BUY TICKETS HERE
Friday 16th April – Karova Lounge, Ballarat – BUY TICKETS HERE
Saturday 17th April – The Loft, Warrnambool – BUY TICKETS HERE
Wednesday 28th April – The Royal Oak, Launceston
Friday 30th April – Republic Bar, Hobart – BUY TICKETS HERE
Thursday 5th May – ANU Bar, Canberra
Friday 6th May – Great Northern Hotel, Newcastle
Saturday 7th May – Vanguard, Sydney
Sunday 8th May – Brass Monkey, Cronulla
Thursday 12th May – Settler’s Tavern, Margaret River
Saturday 14th May – Clancy’s Fish Pub, Fremantle


Related:
Who What Where with : The Little Stevies [Interview]
The Little Stevies – ‘Feel It’ [Video Clip]
The Little Stevies ‘Love Your Band’ – [CD Review]