‘APRIL UPRISING’ from the JOHN BUTLER TRIO!

March 9, 2010 admin

John Butler Trio - photo credit Polly Armstrong

The John Butler Trio’s first studio offering in three years, ‘APRIL UPRISING’ (independently released through MGM on March 26th), follows the much acclaimed 3 x platinum ‘Grand National’ album which cemented the band’s global success with sold out tours world wide.

‘APRIL UPRISING’ introduces new trio members Nicky Bomba on drums/percussion and Byron Luiters on bass and combines the personal, the political and the musically memorable with skill and passion.

‘APRIL UPRISING’ was introduced late last year with ‘One Way Road’, the incredibly catchy first single from the album. Taking out the number one spot on the national airplay charts three times this year, ‘One Way Road’ has been the most successful radio single to date for the JBT, the first entry being on the eve of their national sold out tour in January. It was also chosen as the lead track for the summer campaign of Channel 10’s new digital 24 hour sports channel One, and remains on high rotation on the station and it still holds the number one spot on the AIR 100% indie singles chart, which it’s held for 15 weeks now!
Continue reading ‘APRIL UPRISING’ from the JOHN BUTLER TRIO! →

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CD Review: The Kill Devil Hills – ‘Man, You Should Explode’ LP

March 6, 2010 admin

Review: Lana Harris

When writing about The Kill Devil Hills, it’s pretty much de rigueur to use a variety of swampy, country folk and blues inspired words. Press releases and journalists alike reference cowboys, hard drinking, and the southern USA when writing about this West Australian band. So it’s not enough for me to say that Man, You Should Explode (their 3rd full length release) is a mature recording.

To maintain the desert inspired linguistic sentiments …The Kill Devil Hills have ripened into the sun wizened, rifle cradling old man on the front porch, dispensing wisdom as freely as he spews forth obscenities to those who dare trespass on his land…

The album opens with two sing along tracks, ‘It’s Easy When You Don’t Know How’ and ‘Cockfighter’ which, with it’s one word chorus and short punkish riffs, was a favourite at their recent Brisbane show. These two tracks are fun and tight, ballsy, and set up an expectation of more of the same for the rest of the album. But with track 3, ‘I Don’t Think This Shit Can Last Much Longer’, the Kill Devil Hills turn inward. This is a gentle, emotive and introspective track. ‘Rosalie’ is similarly paced – moving, dark and beautiful, reminiscent of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds’ ballads. ‘The White Lady’ continues along the same tracks, drawing on the minor scales and bringing melancholic aspects.
Continue reading CD Review: The Kill Devil Hills – ‘Man, You Should Explode’ LP →

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CD Review: Buick Six – Common Arms EP

March 5, 2010 admin

Review: Lana Harris

Despite the never-ending death and birth cycle of live venues, amid licensing restrictions and noise curfews, bedrooms and garages on both sides of the Brisbane river continue to deliver quality acts to the Australian music scene. Buick Six owe their beginnings to the soggy grounds of 2007’s Splendour in the Grass festival. By 2008, a debut EP had appeared which captured the force of Buick Six’s Brisbane based gigging through live recording.

Their new EP, Common Arms, is garage rock at its dirty, window shaking best. It is only their second release, but the songs on the record sound like the outpourings of a band well used to working and recording together. Guitar work throughout is excellent. The overall feel of the record is urgent, potent, bursting – an achievement to capture on a recording, and suggesting that when viewed live, Buick Six would be a sonic explosion of grinding, grungy rock. The simple bass-guitar-drums line up works in their favour, a pure outlet for their untamed energy left uncomplicated by extra musicians or fussy elements.
Continue reading CD Review: Buick Six – Common Arms EP →

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REGINA SPEKTOR returns to Australia & New Zealand – April/May 2010

March 4, 2010 admin

The Frontier Touring Company announces the return of Regina Spektor to Australia and New Zealand in April this year.

When Regina Spektor’s family moved from her birthplace of the Soviet Union to America’s Bronx, her musical interests and talent expanded from the genre of classical music toward the vibrancy of pop and rock. These transitions of location and taste are reflected in the classical artistry within her piano composition and distinctive eclectic fusion of sounds. Adding to her repertoire of skills is her ability to play not only the piano but the guitar and occasional percussion as well, rendering her a truly versatile musician.
Continue reading REGINA SPEKTOR returns to Australia & New Zealand – April/May 2010 →

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Tour: New Found Glory Australian Tour – April 2010

March 3, 2010 admin

New Found energy, New Found purpose; New Found Glory is back in the ring.

As opposed to the majority of their stale contemporaries, New Found Glory attacks each album with a breath of fresh air in a genre saturated with vocoder and neon. With an impressive catalog that hosts some of the most memorable pop punk songs of the past decade, their Epitaph Records debut ‘Not Without a Fight’, shows just how well they put their competition in a finishing headlock, “there’s no need to put up a fight, because New Found Glory takes the title by default.” – Absolute Punk

Continue reading Tour: New Found Glory Australian Tour – April 2010 →

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The Idea of North: Radio Show @ Brisbane Powerhouse 27 March 2010

March 2, 2010 admin

They say video killed the radio star… well we’re not so sure. Come and decide for yourself and be part of a “live studio audience” as Australia’s own award winning vocal quartet, The Idea of North present “Radio Show” Step back in time to an era of simple pleasures when the entire family would gather around the old transistor radio on a Saturday night to listen to their favourite show, excited and intrigued by what was happening at the other end. It’s now your turn to find out what goes on behind the scenes. Join in the fun of a live radio show where you’ll hear The Idea of North perform golden oldies to the top of the pops. They’ll be your very own radio hosts and who knows what else! This show is bound to have just about everything. The only difference is it probably won’t make it out onto the airwaves… it’ll just be for your ears (and eyes) only!
Continue reading The Idea of North: Radio Show @ Brisbane Powerhouse 27 March 2010 →

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Festival Review: Playground Weekender 2010

March 1, 2010 admin 1 Comment

Review: Brahbrah Oscar

Click the image to view the photo gallery

[Photo: Arfy Papadam]

Within only a matter of moments after disembarking the ferry, it becomes immediately apparent why Playground Weekender (PW) has been the recipient of the “Best Crowd & Atmosphere” award for the last two years running.

PW organisers pride themselves on compiling a line-up that will attract a friendly and laid back crowd, and they know their craft well. The result is, quite bluntly and refreshingly, a music festival without all the jerks.

Over the four long and hot days festival goers remained pumped, happy and, as far as intoxicated crowds go, fairly mature. Even during the headliners when the main stage crowd was in full force, there was little pushing and shoving, people seemed pretty considerate of each other.

With little requirement for much control, the friendly crowd seemed slightly at odds with the size of the police force throughout the weekend. Officers walking sniffer dogs through festival grounds among the punters simply enjoying their lunch was an unusual sight. Though despite their numbers and high visibility, police were friendly and relaxed. Security were equally laid back in general.
Continue reading Festival Review: Playground Weekender 2010 →

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Asa Broomhall – Brisbane Powerhouse Resident for March 2010

March 1, 2010 admin

Brisbane Powerhouse, Brisbane Marketing 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 Resident: Asa Broomhall
Continue reading Asa Broomhall – Brisbane Powerhouse Resident for March 2010 →

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Photo Gallery: Playground Weekender 2010

March 1, 2010 admin

Photographer: Arfy Papadam
Click the image to view the photo gallery

[Photo: Arfy Papadam]
View the Photo Gallery

Playground Weekender

Concert, event, Festival, Music, Photos

Live Review: Orbital @ Family, Brisbane, 24 February 2010

March 1, 2010 admin

By Denis Semchenko

Family can be a strange place. Despite this being a school night, a somewhat uneasy and restless vibe is easily palpable as dilated-pupil clientele wander about, while one clearly “under the influence” punter tries to strike up a conversation with me about how it’s going to be “a good night” and later passes by and wonders whether I’m “trying to be cool” as I check my phone for messages. Peaking too early is never fun, dude.
Continue reading Live Review: Orbital @ Family, Brisbane, 24 February 2010 →

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Tour: Gossling to tour in support of debut EP – ‘If You Can’t Whistle’

March 1, 2010 admin

To celebrate the success of her debut EP ‘If You Can’t Whistle’, Gossling (aka Helen Croome) will take to the stage with headlining shows in Melbourne, and offering support to The Whitlams and Whitley in Canberra.

Gossling’s debut EP ‘If You Can’t Whistle’ has garnered plenty of attention, with the track “Days Are Over” becoming part of Triple J’s staple play list in recent times, and “He Knows My Love” being used in the Triple J ‘Unearthed’ promos. Gossling’s tracks were discovered by Triple J after she drew attention as an Unearthed artist. Gossling started 2010 supporting Lamb for their side shows during their visit for Peats Ridge Festival.
Continue reading Tour: Gossling to tour in support of debut EP – ‘If You Can’t Whistle’ →

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Photo Gallery: Faith No More and Jane’s Addiction @ Soundwave Festival, Brisbane 2010

February 28, 2010 admin

Photographer: Stuart Blythe
Click image to view full photo gallery

Soundwave Festival 20 February 2010, Brisbane

Click here for Photos Gallery

– Faith No More available at iTunes

– Jane’s Addiction available at iTunes

Continue reading →

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Photo Gallery: AFI, Alexisonfire @ Soundwave Festival, Brisbane 2010

February 28, 2010 admin

Photographer: Stuart Blythe
Click here to view full gallery

Soundwave Festival 20 February 2010, Brisbane

Click here for Photos Gallery

– AFI available at iTunes

– Alexisonfire available at iTunes

Continue reading →

Brisbane, Concert, Festival, Music, Photos, Soundwave, Stuart Blythe

CD Review: The Break – ‘Cylinders’ Single

February 28, 2010 admin

Review: Lana Harris
The Break was formed from three of the previously in-your-face-political pub rockers Midnight Oil (Rob Hirst, Jim Moginie and Martin Rotsey) plus the bassist (Brian Ritchie) from the grungy, always a bit teen-angst Violent Femmes. The love child spawned is nothing like its parents. Instead, it is a fun loving, apolitical coast dweller called The Break.

‘Cylinders’ is the pre release, first impression of the new creation. What is presented is a three and a half minute instrumental surf rock track. Surf rock? If you have ever seen a movie with teens at a beach shack party, circa 1960’s, you’ve heard surf rock. Remember ‘Wwwwwwwwipeout!’ Surf rock. It was repopularised for a while in the 1990’s – the opening credits to Pulp Fiction are overlaid with a revamped version of surf rock in the form of song ‘Misirlou’ and put the genre back into the population’s consciousness.

The Break’s postmillennial take on the genre has a heavier, deeper feel. Darkness washes across the laid back and loose vibes from the sixties, as though a man with sinister intentions is hiding amongst the palms that surround the beach shack party. There is a strong energy to the track, which explodes in your face like salt spray from a crashing wave. The Break thump straight into up-tempo, driving, full band participating music that ebbs and swells as the song progresses. The beach theme and vibes will continue with debut album Church of the Open Sky (released by Bombora Records) promising to be a mostly instrumental surf rock record with tracks named after famous surf breaks.

– The Break available at iTunes

– Midnight Oil available at iTunes
– Violent Femmes available at iTunes