Review and photos by Ben Hosking
It almost seems absurd that a chart-topping US rock band like Alter Bridge should be playing a venue as small as Sydney’s HiFi. So, it makes sense that tonight’s show – a Soundwave sideshow – should be completely sold out. Indeed, the line of punters stretches from the front door, around the side and turns back on itself to the front door. The Tremonti (AB’s guitarist) tattoo taking one guy’s entire lower leg tells us that he’s probably been here most of the day waiting.
Continue reading Live Review | Alter Bridge + Living Colour | The Hi-Fi, Sydney – February 25, 2014
Category Archives: Review
Live Review | Rob Zombie + Korn + Mushroomhead | Big Top Luna Park, Sydney – February 24, 2014
Words and Pics: Ben Hosking – www.hoskingindustries.com.au
What a freakin’ line up! Tonight’s Soundwave sideshow has sold out Luna Park’s Big Top and had punters lining up around the venue since 9am. It’s hardly surprising when you have Nu Metal legends Korn and comic super villain Rob Zombie headlining the same bill.
Opening tonight’s festivities are the masked crazies Mushroomhead. While their sound may not completely live up to their evil image, they offer an interesting three vocal assault, combining rap, screams and melodic vocals over a thickened bed of crushing riffs and soaring choruses. Tonight’s performance quickly whips up the early crowd, with all three singers launching into the crowd at one point.
Continue reading Live Review | Rob Zombie + Korn + Mushroomhead | Big Top Luna Park, Sydney – February 24, 2014
Live Review | Soundwave Festival 2014 – Brisbane
Review by Brandon Blythe
The streets leading into Brisbane’s RNA Showgrounds were flooded with excited fans eagerly waiting for the gates to open to this years Soundwave festival. As far as the eye can see were show goers of all age’s shapes and sizes proudly wearing their favourite band moniker or dressed in attention seeking costumes. The gates open, the crowd spills in and the day begins.
Our first stop was Amon Amarth who had been slated the very early 11am spot on Stage 4. The early start didn’t stop a league of loyal fans from packing the stage to see the Swedish melodic death metal band blasting out their best… Viking ship and all.
“Mon the Biff” – On Stage 1, Biffy Clyro gave everything they had and more! The shirtless, tattooed Scots rocking out a frantic set of favourites, fuelling the audience and setting a standard for the day ahead. Frontman Simon Neil captivatingly plays and sings and connects with the crowd. Ending on a high “We are Biffy f**king Clyro!“.
Continue reading Live Review | Soundwave Festival 2014 – Brisbane
Live Review | Clutch + Don Fernando @ Metro Theatre, Sydney – February 20, 2014
Words and Pics: Ben Hosking – www.hoskingindustries.com.au
It begins… The first Soundwave Sidewave shows hit Sydney’s venues in earnest, with Maryland, USA nitro-charged rockers Clutch getting into the swing of things early at Sydney’s Metro Theatre. Supported by Melbourne four-piece Don Fernando, it’s the first time the rock royalty have visited our shores since 2010 and as vocalist/preacher Neil Fallon and his beard proclaim, “Let’s make up for lost time!”
Continue reading Live Review | Clutch + Don Fernando @ Metro Theatre, Sydney – February 20, 2014
Live Review | Lynyrd Skynyrd @ Qantas Credit Union Arena, Sydney – February 13, 2014
Review and photos by Peter Coates
This is apparently the first time US Southern Rock giants LYNYRD SKYNYRD have ever toured Australia in their 40+ years as a band! Judging by the number of tour T-shirts in the crowd from the past 20 years, many of the audience had seen them elsewhere!
I was lucky enough to shoot (photograph) their “God & Guns” Tour in London in March 2010, and jumped at the chance to see them again when the Australian dates were announced. Only two shows in Melbourne and Sydney, after a couple of festival shows in New Zealand, but two shows in 40 years is certainly better than none!
Continue reading Live Review | Lynyrd Skynyrd @ Qantas Credit Union Arena, Sydney – February 13, 2014
Live Review: Ed Kowalczyk @ Enmore Theatre, Sydney – February 11, 2014
Review and Photos by Peter Coates
Walking up Enmore Road to the venue, thinking about the 20 or more years since the two massive Live albums had left their mark on adult, contemporary rock music, and noting the ticket prices, there was a thought that this might be a somewhat “intimate” show – shows how switched on I must be – the Enmore was packed at 8.30pm enjoying the solo guitar ballads of Anita Lester from Lester The Fierce.
A fairly minimalist stage and lighting set up, and a roar as the house lights dimmed and the intro kicked in… and the band strolled onto the stage and kicked in to the Throwing Copper album in track order… from “The Dam at Otter Creek” all the way through to “Horse/Untitled”. Ed Kowalczyk picked up a guitar for “Selling the Drama” and the huge “I Alone”, before leading the first of many crowd sing-alongs with “Lightning Crashes”.
Continue reading Live Review: Ed Kowalczyk @ Enmore Theatre, Sydney – February 11, 2014
Live Review | Periphery + Animals as Leaders @ Metro Theatre, Sydney – February 1, 2014
Review and photos by Ben Hosking – www.hoskingindustries.com.au – for Life Music Media
Even before Animals as Leaders take to the Metro stage, the venue is rapidly filling with excited, guitar-crazy punters. There are scores of Periphery shirts circulating and it’s almost impossible to find more than one of the same design – a testament to the band’s proactive approach to merchandise and self promotion.
Despite this, it’s clear that just as many of the assembled throng are here to see Tosin Abasi and co. perform their unique brand of instrumental, 8-string rock fusion. For what is really an odd instrumental line-up (both Abasi and fellow guitarist Javier Reyes playing 8-string Ibanez guitars and drummer Matt Garstka), the mix rings true and clear and the band do an excellent job of recreating tracks from their first two albums – announcing to the eager crowd that they’ve just finished work on album number three. Watching Abasi and Reyes navigate their large fret boards with such ease and confidence definitely makes you feel insignificant – Reyes’ incredible, simultaneous bass line and melody counterpoint work was particularly breathtaking.
Continue reading Live Review | Periphery + Animals as Leaders @ Metro Theatre, Sydney – February 1, 2014
Album Review | The Jezabels – The Brink
When The Jezabels’ released their debut LP Prisoner in 2011 it quickly received critical acclaim. The success of Prisoner elevated the band to new heights, and with that raised success came extensive touring – both nationally and internationally.
In January 2014, The Jezabels’ will release their new album The Brink, and a solid offering it is. Recorded in London and produced by Dan Grech-Marguerat (Moby, Scissors Sisters, Radiohead, Lana Del Rey, The Vaccines, The Kooks), the band have refined elements of their sound and strengthened the clarity, bringing a more natural live show feel to the album. Moving through soaring highs and delving brooding lows and back again, the album seems to reflect the bands inner space and mindset. Introspective, romantic, reflective.
Continue reading Album Review | The Jezabels – The Brink
Live Review | Big Day Out 2014 – Sydney
Review by Scott Singh
Come Australia Day, traditionally there will be a BBQ set up in the backyard with the Hottest 100 playing all afternoon. Or rather than that the family will be taken out for some inspiring journey to revitalize the bunch after the recent holiday celebrations. Though, while others were off to their own devices, many faithful punters attended the Sydney Showground in preparation for BDO. With fans as varied as the artist playing today. This day out offered its signature range of music genres to accommodate for everyone’s taste in music.
Continue reading Live Review | Big Day Out 2014 – Sydney
Live Review: Big Day Out 2014 – Melbourne
Review by Ben Connolly
There was already a significant amount of water flowing under the bridge by the time Flemington’s famous iron gates were flung open for this year’s Melbourne chapter of the Big Day Out. With ownership wrangling continuing into a second year, a buy-out by one of Australian music’s most polarising characters, a line-up to end all line-ups only to be tarnished late in the day by the pull out of Blur, and now speculation that the national festival will once again be curtailed by Perth’s inability to get its shit together as a cultural collective. In some ways, 11am on the Friday before the long weekend was a welcomed event, if only to end the continual news feed of the daily life of Australia’s biggest orgy of rock.
Continue reading Live Review: Big Day Out 2014 – Melbourne
Live Review: The Lumineers @ The Tivoli, Brisbane – January 18, 2014
Review by Heather Lloyd
From the opening strums of Wesley Shultz’s guitar, the old-timey crowd that had packed out the Tivoli was mesmerized. The stage was scattered with instruments – folksy staples like the mandolin, cello, glockenspiel, accordion, kick drum – with a large black and orange piano sitting front and center. The Lumineers sauntered onstage to thunderous applause, opening the night with a mildly popular, but incredibly catchy song, “Submarines”. This was quickly followed by “Ain’t Nobody’s Problem”, which, like most of the setlist, was unfamiliar to the audience but had a chorus that was repetitive enough for the audience to sing along with mild direction from Schulz. From there, the band was a seamless delight of instrument swapping suspender snapping and fedora twirling. Halfway through the set, Schultz requested that the audience “put away your cellphones”, trying to evoke a feeling of “all-togetherness” as they prepared to play their signature tune “Ho Hey!” As Schultz crooned the first verse, the audience, eyes closed, sang along. Couples held each other, rocking together, cell phones stowed away.
Continue reading Live Review: The Lumineers @ The Tivoli, Brisbane – January 18, 2014
Live Review: Vampire Weekend + Gang of Youths @ Hordern Pavilion, Sydney – January 8, 2014
Review: Heather McNab
Arriving at the Hordern Pavilion early it was clearly already abuzz with a large groups of excited fans dancing along to and being drawn in by support band Gang of Youths. The band performing an excellent set, preparing the crowd and setting expectations high for the main act, Vampire Weekend.
After a short break and the venue filling quickly, the lights dim and with enthusiastic screams and whistles from the audience, Vampire Weekend take to the stage starting out with “Diane Young”. Fans were onboard from the first note, singing along to every word of every song, completely emmersed and happy. Frontman Ezra Koenig’s easy style relaxing the crowd with a feel good vibe. In contrast, bassist Chris Baio’s dancing and movements were mesmerising, a life force all to themselves.
Continue reading Live Review: Vampire Weekend + Gang of Youths @ Hordern Pavilion, Sydney – January 8, 2014
Live Review: Falls Festival 2013 – Byron Bay – Festival Wrap Up
Review by Merinda O’Brien / Jose Eduardo Cruz
The final day of the first ever Falls Festival Byron Bay came with the sadness that this great event was coming to an end. Today once again had a massive line-up to cherish and delight. Whilst the numbers did significantly reduce throughout the week, today was nevertheless just as busy, but with a bit more room to dance.
Bunkering down at the main stage once again we captured the tail end of Bombino’s set which was pumping and we only wished could have caught the entire performance. Emma Louise was brilliant and the stage backdrop added an amazing feel to her sound. This brought Solange on the stage, who just happens to be Beyonce’s younger sister. She brought a lot of flare and left no doubt as to how talented her entire family is.
Continue reading Live Review: Falls Festival 2013 – Byron Bay – Festival Wrap Up
Live Review: Falls Festival 2013 – Byron Bay – Day 2 Wrap
Review and photos by Merinda O’Brien / Jose Eduardo Cruz
It was surprisingly quiet driving into Falls Festival this afternoon, but understandable given last night’s massive party. New Years’ day brought a more subdued and chilled out crowd but Falls Festival did not disappoint delivering yet another sensational line up to celebrate the first day of 2014.
Johnny Marr was a small treat to the few that were present at the main stage. It was such an honour to have caught the Smith’s guitarist perform solo in Australia. There is no denying that The Rubens were a crowd pleaser. Their vocalist treated the crowd with his honest and deeply emotive voice and much to his surprise everyone sang along with him. With a tinge of Tame Impala to their sound this Aussie band from Menangle NSW, was rewarded by an appreciate crowd. Yeah I know, you are asking where Menangle is. It is in Inland NSW with only 350 inhabitants which makes The Rubens even more remarkable.
Continue reading Live Review: Falls Festival 2013 – Byron Bay – Day 2 Wrap
Falls Festival 2013 – Byron Bay – Day 1 Wrap
Review by Merinda O’Brien / Jose Eduardo Cruz
The inaugural edition of Falls Festival, Byron Bay, launched in the midst of the stunning North Byron Parklands. The parklands, particularly the natural amphitheater in which the main stage is set, are a befitting setting for a festival that has always provided excellent music amongst nature. No doubt Byron Bay has captured the essence and sprit of the festival formerly held in only Lorne and Marion Bay.
Given the heat waves that have been hitting Northern NSW over the last couple of weeks; the crowds in mid afternoon were still very timid. It took British duo, The Correspondents, to begin to warm up the crowd in anticipation for the new year. Their trade mark British sound and high energy immediately enticed a sizable contingent of revelers to the front of the stage.
Continue reading Falls Festival 2013 – Byron Bay – Day 1 Wrap