By DOMINIC FEAIN
Day Four: Bluesfest wrap
The clouds set in for day four of Bluesfest but that didn’t dampen the festival spirit or the crowd numbers.
While yesterday’s line-up lacked the star-studded impact of the first three days, punters still poured in to enjoy the days high-energy bill packed with long-time Bluefest favourites.
Continue reading Review: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2013 – Day 4 Wrap
Photographer: Stuart Blythe
Photographer: Stuart Blythe
Featured Artists: Rufus Wainwright, Roger Hodgson, Bettye LaVette, Karise Eden, Jon Anderson
Venue: Bluesfest Byron Bay
Date: 31 March 2013
More photos to come!
Visit Bluesfest Byron Bay Official Website here!
By DOMINIC FEAIN
Day three of Bluesfest.
Perhaps it’s the selective memory but it never ceases to amaze me how quickly one forgets the shear stamina and commitment five day festivals demand – let alone one with six stages and a line-up like this.
Herein lies the crux of the Bluesfest punter’s dilemma – how to choose between the likes of Iggy Pop and Robert Plant; Status Quo and the Beasts of Bourbon; the Dropkick Murphys and Taj Mahal, not to mention Santana and Wanda Jackson; Ben Harper and Chris Isaak; the Counting Crows and Joan Armatrading; Wilco and The Melbourne Ska Orchestra…
Bottom line? Decisiveness is the key. Where there’s no guts there’s no glory. Wavering between stages will only break you down faster and leave you with a gnawing sense of what might have been against a potential epiphany at a consecrated altar of live rock and roll.
Continue reading Review: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2013 – Day 3 Wrap
By DOMINIC FEAIN
Byron Bay’s Bluesfest hit full stride yesterday, following a cracker opening night on Thursday, and the heavens responded in kind.
Let’s face it, it just wouldn’t be Bluesfest without the rain.
While it certainly wasn’t the 100mm organisers had promised would drain off faster than a heavy metal anthem, it did pour down.
But that didn’t deter the hundreds of punters spilling out three sides of Crossroads stage where Rodriguez had just won over a new generation of fans. The crowd knew most of the words to his classic 1970 album, Cold Fact, and weren’t afraid to sing them. It was spine-tingling stuff.
On the flip-side, it was yet another classic Bluesfest audience – relaxed, intelligent and forgiving – offering musicians the kind of reception that has elicited some extraordinary live performances over the years, and earned the festival an international reputation among artists second to none in Australia.
Continue reading Review: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2013 – Day 2 Wrap
Photographer: Stuart Blythe
Photographer: Stuart Blythe
Featured Artists: Santana, Manu Chao La Ventura, Rodriguez, Joan Armatrading, Jimmy Cliff, Glen Hansard, Taj Mahal Trio, Ben Harper, Skipping Girl Vinegar, Wards Xpress
Venue: Bluesfest Byron Bay
Date: 29 March 2013
Visit Bluesfest Byron Bay Official Website here!
Photographer: Stuart Blythe
Photographer: Stuart Blythe
Acts: Charlie Musselwhite, Ben Harper, Jason Mraz, Counting Crows, Rodriguez, Chris Isaak, Trombone Shorty, Fred Wesley
Venue: Bluesfest Byron Bay
Date: 28 March 2013
Visit Bluesfest Byron Bay Official Website here!
Review by Michelle O’Rance
Two of the biggest names in rock’n’roll and heavy metal joined forces and descended upon Brisbane in a fiery, laser light filled show complete with upside down drum solos, acrobatics, ladies on stilts, flying musicians and pyrotechnics.
The elaborate stage set-up promised something big as the house lights dimmed and a single spotlight picked up the page bearers carrying the Motley Crue banners and leading a robed Nikki Sixx through the sea of people on the Entertainment Centre’s floor.
Continue reading Live Review: KISS + Motley Crue @ Brisbane Entertainment Centre – 12 March 2013
Review by Billy Geary
Soundwave. Yes, it’s that time of year again. Where, for two weeks rock fans across the country come out of the woodwork to celebrate all things heavy, following one of Australia’s biggest travelling music festivals around the country. Due to it being the festival’s 10-year anniversary, the line up for this edition was as big as it gets, featuring giants of many different genres of heavy music. Add to this a monumental amount of ticket sales and the usual assortment of controversies in the festival’s lead up and the result is an absolute behemoth of a day.
Continue reading Live Review: Soundwave Festival, Melbourne – 1st March 2013
Review by Billy Geary
As is the case with many bands that are somewhat lesser known, despite being critically acclaimed and possessing a stellar live sound, British four piece 65daysofstatic have taken quite a while to finally make it down under. After over ten years together, the band, with the help of the increasingly impressive Birds Robe record label, it was finally Australia’s turn to experience the quartet in the flesh.
Fresh from a huge 2012, including an ARIA award nomination, Sydney’s sleepmakeswaves were tasked with the role of main support for the entire tour. The quartet has, over the last few years, grown their fan base quite significantly and it showed in the sheer volume of the crowd’s cheers on Friday night as the band wandered on stage. The highlights of the set were opener ‘To You They Are Birds…’ and ‘We Sing The Body Electric,’ displaying exactly why they are considered one of Australia’s best young bands. To the delight of many, the band also showcased a couple of new tracks in ‘Avalanches’ and ‘Freshmaker.’ The former was particularly impressive, being slighter faster paced compared to most sleepmakeswaves tracks whilst still retaining their original sound.
Continue reading Live Review: 65daysofstatic + sleepmakeswaves @ The Corner Hotel, Melbourne – 4 January 2013
Review by Sibel Kutlucan
Whilst many have argued about labels and band choices for the covers, Fearless Records has delivered another popular album in their Punk Goes Pop series. Released this month, Punk Goes Pop has delivered more interesting covers of hit songs such as Carly Rae Jepson’s “Call Me Maybe” and Justin Bieber’s “Boyfriend”.
Punk Goes Pop is a fun, light-hearted listen that promises some infectious beats, that whilst isn’t for everyone, still delivers some unique covers. This is one of those albums that will have varying views and opinions, some wondering whether the bands and artists are typically ‘punk’ or ‘pop’, however personally I thought some songs were better than others.
Continue reading Album Review: Punk Goes Pop 5
Review By Lana Hall
NOFX are like that top quality hoodie you bought many, many years ago. Twenty nine years ago actually. Familiar and dependable, the years and washes haven’t changed it much at all and it’s easy to put on again and again. Self Entitled is the twelfth studio album from NOFX and it brings more of the classic NOFX sound – another album of short, fast, funny, sometimes political and sometimes personal songs. These themes have served the band well and continue to do so.
Musically, the songs on Self Entitled feel more pressured than other albums, particularly the tempos of ‘I believe in Goddess’ , ‘Ronnie and Mags’ and ‘Cell Out’ where riffs are super fast and words shout over each other to be heard. Remaining true to punk rock, there are no guitar solos or technical displays of prowess, just good solid chord progressions at a pace that crams eleven songs inside thirty minutes.
Continue reading Album Review: NOFX – Self Entitled
Review by Wanda De Verelle-Hill
Travelling to Island Vibe Festival is like a road movie that starts fast and slows right down. The urgency to make the ferry on time is relieved once on board the vessel and the opportunity to do nothing but observe how gorgeous the environment is, presents itself. As the mainland and pressure of daily routine slowly slips away, Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) comes into focus, full of promise for an exciting weekend ahead.
Having never been to this island before I am astounded by its beauty and grateful that it does not resemble its close neighbour the Gold Coast. Perhaps the need to approach it by boat has saved it from the tyranny of the high-rise and false glory of glamour. An initial exploration of the island reveals tree lined walking tracks, ocean views, whales heading south with tails and fins flapping, turtles bobbing up and down and manta rays gracefully gliding past. The ocean is pumping out a huge left hand break filled with surfers at Point Lookout, and Cylinder Beach is looking good for a swim. Already this is a great experience.
Continue reading Live Review: Island Vibe Festival 2012
Review by Billy Geary
Just about every time you think music is becoming stale, over-saturated or downright boring, there’s always a band ready and waiting to put your faith back in music. Twelve Foot Ninja are one of those bands. Forming in 2007, Twelve Foot Ninja quickly rose to prominence, releasing two EPs packed with genre bending moments of reggae, metal, funk, dub and hardcore, sometimes within the same song. Their debut album, Silent Machine shows the same tendency, with added heaviness and polish.
After the first few verses of opener ‘Coming For You,’ for those new to the band one thing is immediately obvious, Twelve Foot Ninja aren’t afraid to mix contrasting genres mid-song. In fact, they thrive on it. ‘Coming For You’ is vintage Twelve Foot Ninja, blending reggae and metal, with a smattering of electronics evoking thoughts of Mr Bungle and Tomahawk. Throughout the record, the comparisons with various Mike Patton projects will inevitably continue, however to pigeonhole Silent Machine in such a way would be unfair to the band.
Continue reading CD Review: Twelve Foot Ninja – “Silent Machine”
Words and Pics: www.hoskingindustries.com.au
Australian death metal fans generally aren’t quite as lucky when it comes to high-profile gigs like their brethren who enjoy less-heavy strains of metal. You could probably blame the state of the music industry for the lack of international death artists all the way over here to our little patch of dirt in the middle of nowhere.
Therefore it’s a testament to the talent, determination and endless road miles put in by death metal legends Cannibal Corpse that Aussie fans have had the luxury of seeing the band live on our shores no less than three times in the last 10 years. However, despite the surprising regularity with which we have been able to enjoy Cannibal Corpse’s punishing live show, tonight’s gig at Sydney’s iconic Metro Theatre is no less special for it. The fact that the band is being supported by three Australian death metal acts tonight just adds to the impact.
Continue reading Live Review: Cannibal Corpse, Psycroptic, Disentomb, Entrails Eradicated @ Metro Theatre, Sydney – 6 October 2012
Words and Pics: www.hoskingindustries.com.au
Tonight’s all-ages gig meant it was an early start for punters hoping to check out all four bands playing The Big Top at Sydney’s Luna Park. While the eager crowd wrapped its way around the Luna Park grounds in serpentine fashion, patiently waiting for the doors to open, it seems as though most of the other press outlets missed the memo on playing times, with the photo pit looking rather barren for opening act, Buried in Verona.
Playing to a half-full venue, the Sydney sextet appeared a more polished, confident band than when this reviewer last caught them supporting Sweden’s Soilwork at the Manning Bar at the tail end of 2010. They’re plagued by the usual opening-act muddy mix, which is exacerbated by the three-guitar attack that’s the fashion these days. And while the clean vocals (courtesy guitarist Richie Newman) have improved a lot, every time singer Brett Anderson tries to sing along it all falls apart.
Continue reading Live Review: The Amity Affliction, The Ghost Inside, Architects, Buried in Verona @ The Big Top, Luna Park – 29 September 2012
