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.
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Category Archives: Review
IGGY POP & JAMES WILLIAMSON – KILL CITY (2010 REMIX) – Album Review
By Maria Bailey
The year was 1975. The Stooges had split and Iggy Pop was at his worst. No record contract, depressed, suicidal and smacked of his tits on heroin. He spent most of his time confined within a mental home battling his demons and trying to get some sort of normality back into his famously abnormal life. Good medicine arrived when former Stooges guitarist James Williamson proposed the idea for a demo album to help get Iggy’s legendry vocals back into the studio, back on the radio and back within the hearts of punk rockers across the world. Two years passed and in 1977 former Stooges front-man teamed with musical genius David Bowie to produce Iggy’s first solo records “The Idiot” and “Lust for Life.” Riding on their success, Kill City finally found recognition from Los Angeles based label Bomp! Records.
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Mystery Jets @ The Hi-Fi, Brisbane – 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.
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JP, Chrissie & The Fairground Boys – “Fidelity” CD Review
Review: Victoria Nugent
 Buy Album Here |
Fidelity is a very interesting and enjoyable collaboration between Chrissie Hyde of The Pretenders’ fame, and Welsh musician JP Jones. The first song on the album, “Perfect Lover” sums up the musical history of the group, with Hyde singing, “I found my perfect lover, but he’s only half my age.” To elaborate a bit further, Hyde and Jones had a brief relationship which fizzled because of the age difference. Rather than let their chemistry go to waste however, the pair formed a band, setting the story of their relationship to music. A theme of fairs and fairgrounds permeates the album, from the cover art to the conclusion of the word Fairground in several song titles. |
“If You Let Me In” is straight forward rocky with hooky, repetitive lyrics and lots of vocal harmonising. “Fairground Luck” has an infectious melody that’s occasionally reminiscent of “Lean On Me” during the verses with strong riffs and Jones’ charismatic vocals carrying the choruses.
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Sunset Sounds 2011 – Day 1, 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.
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Falls Festival 2010 – Festival Review
by Jose Eduardo Cruz
Absolutely everything that was put in place by the organisers was solely for the enjoyment of the 16,000 attendees. I would find it really hard to find something negative to say about the whole experience.
Firstly, the organising committee have to be given a massive thank you for putting such a high level event. From our arrival we were subjected to VIP treatment. VIP camping grounds, with warm showers may I add, which come in handy when the temperature plummets to 5 degrees. In typical Victorian style the weather fluctuated between 5 degrees at night to 41 degrees in the middle of the day.
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Woodford Folk Festival – December 30th 2010 – Live Review [P2]
Review: Kenada Quinlan
 [Photo Credit: Silvana Macarone] |
Following the licensed streets, the once closed Amphitheatre is showing tonight and as the clock strikes 8pm, Evil Eddie is on schedule. Interaction with the 10 row deep bouncing spectators is initiated with the first instalment of ‘Somebody Say Evil’. “That was a little self-indulgent but thank you!” smiles the lead man and ex-Buttefingers vocalist/songwriter Eddie Jacobson. Taking a back seat yet pivotal to the performance, Jacobson enjoys the company of his fellow comrade Toddy Spitfire as the two slickly pinball lyrics from one song to the next. |
Charging through ‘Aint Love Grand’ and the addictive ‘Voices In My Head’, the vision becomes clear as the studio sounds are brought to life via a strong family of well equipped and known Brisbane musicians.With the crowd multiplying by the second, the festivities continue and the only exit from this show is to refresh yourself with the energy that has been freely given to you.
Continue reading Woodford Folk Festival – December 30th 2010 – Live Review [P2]
Woodford Folk Festival – December 30th 2010 – Live Review [P1]
Review: Kenada Quinlan
Photo Credit: Silvana Macarone
The first day of blissful dry weather and the number of smiles has doubled at the sight of the sun. Tallulah Rendell’s first port of call before her 6 week tour of the continent is a string of gigs in the usual Woodford fashion. Strumming soft emotive of blues driven rock, the half-Australian, London based solo artist resembles the tones of PJ Harvey. Taking inspiration from an operatic era, Rendell’s quaintly captivating structures decide to haunt at instances, delivering momentary bouts of individualism.
Continue reading Woodford Folk Festival – December 30th 2010 – Live Review [P1]
Rise to Remain “Bridges will Burn” – EP Review
Review: Lana Harris
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Rise to Remain is proving to be a prophetic moniker for this five piece Metalcore band from London. Only a few years old, they’ve been awarded a Golden God award for Best New Band in 2010 and their EP release, Bridges will Burn, displays that the band are worthy of such accolades. The overall sound of Rise to Remain contains all the definitive elements expected in metal – shredding up and down the fretboard, melodic and scratchier vocals combined within tracks, heavy guitar and drum work, blended with the speed of hardcore. |
Best track on the album is ‘Illusive Existence’. It contains cascading avalanches of relentless drumming that makes it the most brutal of the songs. Space is allocated within this to show off not just the talents of Pat Lundy (drums) but also a good chunk of solid guitar soloing. Guitar shred is prevalent throughout the EP, appearing on every track but only ever in shortish bursts.
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U2 @ Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane w/ Jay Z – 8 December 2010 – Live Review
Review: Lana Harris
Photo Credit: Stuart Blythe
View full photo gallery here
The crush down Caxton St at five pm begins the stadium size spectacle that will be U2 and Jay-Z tonight. By the time Jay-Z takes the stage at 6.30pm, the standing room ticket area is already mostly full. Jay-Z lives up to his hype, resplendent in Gangsta Garb, sunglasses welded to his face, rap antics peppered throughout his set, a ten piece accompaniment to his words provided by drumming, saxophone, trumpet and keyboard among others. He’s playing early, to an audience mostly waiting to see a main act distinctly different in style. He copes well with this, managing to get hands in the air and ladies spinning clothes above their heads during the one hour set. ‘On to the Next One’ and ’99 Problems’ get the crowd going, and ‘Forever Young’, covered in an ode to Notorious B.I.G, is also popular. Throughout the set the bass is massive, pummeling the throat, rattling hearts against rib cages. He exits the stadium in a stretch golf buggy.
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Yann Tiersen “Dust Lane” – Album Review
By Maria Bailey
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After two years in the making, Yann Tiersen’s sixth studio album Dust Lane was well worth the wait. Known predominantly for creating the innovative soundtrack for the award winning film Amelie, Tiersen stays true to form. While staying faithful to his trusty harpsichord and mandolins, the French composer and musician demonstrates a movement in his avant-garde style, incorporating an array of vintage sythesises, various musical genres and defying typical song structures. Tiersen is first and foremostly guided by his vision and intuition in creating the eight tracks on Dust Lane and has created a dreamy masterpeice at that. |
Muse @ Brisbane Entertainment Centre, December 5th, 2010 – Live Review
Review: Lana Harris
View full photo gallery here [Photo Credit: Matt Palmer] |
If you didn’t realise MUSE were an astronomic rock explosion of a symphonic band, tonight’s stadium extravagance featuring floating performance platforms and blinding silver sequined suits leaves no doubts as to the epic nature of these revolution focused rockers.
Beginning with ‘Uprising’ from latest album The Resistance, MUSE starts the night five metres above the stage, perched on moving |
pillars and hidden between huge rectangular prisms which display Orwellian arrangements of human movement. Pairing tracks with visual displays that are often breathtaking and always in the theme of wonder at the natural or fear of the dictatorial is used to great effect throughout the show. ‘Resistance’ is accompanied by DNA helixes spiralling and human forms twisting upon the screens of the prisms above, interspersed with close ups of the band for those sitting further away in the stadium. ‘Undisclosed Desires’ has verdant lasers flinging their light across the crowd, creating a visual spectacle reminiscent of swarms of fireflies hovering above punters’ open mouths.
Continue reading Muse @ Brisbane Entertainment Centre, December 5th, 2010 – Live Review
Radio Birdman “Live in Texas” – LP Review
Review: Lana Harris
 Buy This Album Here! |
Radio Birdman are Australian old school punk rock, around since the times of The Saints and inevitably compared to them. Their punk elements blend with a healthy dash of the pub rock feel that often comes from Australian acts. Radio Birdman are the group you can chuck it on at a party and no-one will text you at four in the morning asking ‘who was that playing when I downed the tenth shot of tequila?’ because its one line chorus has been stuck in their head ever since. Instead, partygoers will subtly begin to sway and bop their head (way before it could be attributed to intoxication) or be heard humming one of the hooky riffs as they exit the bathroom. |
YOU AM I @ The Hi-Fi, Brisbane 27th November 2010 with We All Want To, The Honey Month, Charles Jenkins – Live Review
Review: Pepa Wolfe
YOU AM I @ THE HI-FI BRISBANE – 27TH NOVEMBER 2010
SUPPORTED BY – WE ALL WANT TO, THE HONEY MONTH, CHARLES JENKINS
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An eclectic night at the Hi-fi (Brisbane) began with Charles Jenkins and his special brand of epic tales and poetry. Just the man, his guitar and a few gems, mainly from his current album Walk This Ocean and the previous release Blue Atlas.
A smattering of devotees amongst the early chatting crowd requested favourites. He didn’t have time to play Trees of Brisbane, but those begging for Swing Bridge got lucky. Friendly, self-depreciating and appreciative of his audience, he worked his way through a strong set, from the heartbreaking Autumn Fall to the thrilling beckoning of Save. Fantastic imagery, bittersweet, at turns gripping then soothing, each song has simplicity yet feels cinematic. Such a beautiful repertoire. If you’re not yet familiar with Jenkins, do yourself a favour and become promptly acquainted. |
Boiling Point @ Judith Wright Centre, Brisbane 19 November 2010 [Live Review]
Review: Lana Harris
The show begins before we’ve even entered the room. An usher approaches, explaining that to gain admission, tickets are not enough. We’ll need to remove our shoes and any socks and crowd into the shopfront’s store room, leaving behind our footwear. As compensation we will be given a small torch. Crammed into the dark room with forty other people and their exposed feet, we wait for the show to begin.
There is no extra light provided once the doors to the shopfront are opened. We creep in using our bare feet for balance and our small torches for sight. Bolder venturers have already spotted the still as statue performers; others illuminate kitchenware hanging from the ceiling and news stories on the wall recounting the trial of a 1950’s female that killed her husband by poisoning him.
Continue reading Boiling Point @ Judith Wright Centre, Brisbane 19 November 2010 [Live Review]