Tag Archives: Review

CD Review: Blood Red Shoes – “Fire Like This”

Review by: Victoria Nugent

  The latest offering from Brighton band Blood Red Shoes could be given the label of garage rock for a new generation. The duo’s second album, “Fire Like This”, is largely influenced by 90s grunge, and showcases some impressively gritty, heavy sounds, coupled with poppy lyrics and varied vocals. Though some may argue the tracks sound slightly generic, there’s no denying that Blood Red Shoes have their own distinct pattern that works for them.

The two piece band is made up of Steven Ansell and Laura-Mary Carter and formed in 2004 after their previous bands Lady Muck and Cat on Form split up. Taking their name

from a story about Ginger Rogers’ blood stained dancing shoes, the pair released their first album Box of Secrets in 2008, which, like Fire Like This , was co-produced with Mike Crossey. Continue reading CD Review: Blood Red Shoes – “Fire Like This”

Live Review: Tame Impala @ The Tivoli, Brisbane 14 May 2010

Review: Jose Eduardo Cruz

Click image to view photo gallery

[Photo: Charlyn Cameron]
  Given that this was a Friday night in Brisbane and it was getting colder by the minute, I wasn’t expecting such a big turn out tonight. But to my surprise the venue was three quarters full and a great atmosphere had already begun to build prior to the headliners entering the stage.

I managed to catch a good part of The Silents’ set which was a good appetizer before the main meal. Very gentle sounds

and everything that a good warm up band should contain. Good sounds, ok mix and great potential to be the headliner in a couple of years.

Tame Impala get onto the stage as if they were walking into their living room to sit down for a jam in front of their friends. Bare feet, smiles and a few beers in hand they each position themselves and prepare. It is so noticeable that it needs to be mentioned, as soon as the first note is played each of the members’ face completely changes and a focused look falls onto their appearance. Gone is the joker side and game face appears. Their eyes say that the one thing that they all came here to do is upon them and the time has arrived to celebrate. Continue reading Live Review: Tame Impala @ The Tivoli, Brisbane 14 May 2010

EP Review: Davey Spicer and the Creatures of Habit – “Tides and Curves”

Review by: Victoria Nugent

  EP Tides and Curves from Brisbane band Davey Spicer and the Creatures of Habit is a collection of blues-inspired rock with its own unique sound.

The trio have played a part in the Brisbane music scene for years, and the EP’s cover reflects this local heritage, showing a photograph of the Brisbane River at night.

Davey Spicer’s vocals and guitar riffs team well with the percussion of Todd Orchard, and bass of Felix Merry to produce a well rounded sound that is somewhat reminiscent of the John Butler Trio.

Bang Bang Baby Goodbye gives the EP a strong start with its funky acoustic guitar riffs and sharp lyrics about a woman taking vengeance on her lover.

Daydream provides a great contrast as a chilled out track, with Spicer’s melodic vocals carrying the poetic lyrics well. Soft & Out of Focus is another more laidback tune, with its Spicer’s gentle strumming complementing his cruisy vocals.

Human Obscene is a much punchier, more aggressive sounding song and like all the EP’s other songs seems to go very quickly. Credentials ends the EP on a sharp note with aggressive lyrics, mocking the idea of dating checklists against a bongos beat and tense guitar.

“Tides and Curves” is a great showcase of the band’s individual take on bluesy rock, which is very easy to listen to with its punchy music and strong lyrics. I get the feeling these guys would be great to hear live, with their music providing the perfect accompaniment to a casual night out in a classic Brisbane pub.

Live Review: Jeff Martin @ The Basement, Sydney – 7th May 2010

Review: Ben Hosking
Arriving at Sydney’s iconic Basement at around 8.30pm, one could have been forgiven for thinking that they were arriving early enough to catch a decent viewing point of the stage. Alas, walking into the dimly-lit venue an hour before the scheduled start time – past rows and rows of cattle-like drunken Friday night inner city executives at the bars next door – actually saw punters encounter an already half full concert space.
Clearly, this was going to be a big night.

Thanks to a complete lack of any advertised information, the evening’s opening acts seemed to catch a lot of people unaware, including this reviewer. However, despite the complete rudeness of the audience, both performed well; Brisbane singer/songwriter Pear (aka Stephanie Barros Lees) providing the surprise performance of the night.
Continue reading Live Review: Jeff Martin @ The Basement, Sydney – 7th May 2010

Live Review: Ben Sherman Big British Sound 2010 @ Corner Hotel, Richmond 6 May 2010

  Review: Lachlan Sadler

Fashion label Ben Sherman have always had a special relationship with up and coming bands. They have been known to invest heavily in new musicians, and have developed strong relationships with the likes of New Order and The Clash.

The idea of ‘Big British Sound’ was launched in Britain a while back, but this is only the second year that it has taken place in Australia. Essentially, Ben Sherman organises a lineup of impressive Australian acts, they all play a gig together, and each act covers a British song that has influenced them.

Realistically however, it’s just a chance to see some great Aussie acts perform together at the one show.

Melbourne was the first stop for Big British Sound 2010, and The Corner Hotel was the chosen venue. Instead of alternating bands between the venue’s two stages, the organisers opted to have the smaller stage allocated for a DJ that would play between acts on the main stage. Ultimately this decision worked well, providing a bit more of a party atmosphere or- dare I say it- an underground British club feel. Continue reading Live Review: Ben Sherman Big British Sound 2010 @ Corner Hotel, Richmond 6 May 2010

Live Review: The Cult, The Black Ryder @ The Tivoli, Brisbane 5 May 2010

By Denis Semchenko


[Photo by Charlyn Cameron]

The black is the new black and has always been. With The Tivoli already three-quarters-full with classic rock fans, the suitably monochrome-clad openers The Black Ryder roll out a tight neo-shoegaze opening set. Tonight being the Sydney-based band’s biggest support slot to date, principal leaders Miss Aimee Nash and Scott von Ryper (both former members of New York-through-Melbourne combo The Morning After Girls) command the show with their detached, deadpan presence.
Continue reading Live Review: The Cult, The Black Ryder @ The Tivoli, Brisbane 5 May 2010

Review and Photos: Tegan & Sara @ The Tivoli, Brisbane 4 May 2010 w/ The Jezabels

Review by: Victoria Nugent
Photo by Charlyn Cameron
Click photo to view photos
The evening was kicked off by Sydney band The Jezabels who warmed up an initially reluctant crowd with their explosively energetic indie pop set. Front woman Hayley Mary won over the audience with her physical performance and raw vocals with solid rhythmic guitar from Sam Lockwood, a whimsical keyboard backing from Heather Shannon and wildly powerful drumming from Nik Kaloper.
Continue reading Review and Photos: Tegan & Sara @ The Tivoli, Brisbane 4 May 2010 w/ The Jezabels

Live Review: Paul Dempsey, Dan Kelly & His Dream Band and Papa Vs Pretty @ The Metro Theatre, 17 April 2010

By Natalie Salvo
Paul DempseyGeorge Street had a long line of Paul Dempsey/Something For Kate fans waiting outside the Metro and eagerly anticipating what is a farewell show (for now) by our favourite enigmatic front man turned solo artist before he embarks on dates in Europe and America. This group were treated for their punctual efforts in the first support act, Papa Vs Pretty.

The trio played frantic guitar rock peppered with interesting harmonies and elements inspired by some of the best bits taken from sixties and seventies pop. Guitarist, Thomas Rawle entertained the pop devotees with his cheery red axe and excellent lead guitar work. The group are still quite young but scream potential as they have all the markings of a silverchair about them. Mark my words – give them a year or two.
Continue reading Live Review: Paul Dempsey, Dan Kelly & His Dream Band and Papa Vs Pretty @ The Metro Theatre, 17 April 2010

Live Review: Behemoth, Job for a Cowboy, Goatwhore, Amenta @ The Metro Theatre – Friday 16 April 2010

Review: Ben Hosking
behemothThere can be no disputing that Behemoth’s latest tour has been one of the most anticipated events on the 2010 Australian metal calendar. Tonight’s full house should be evidence enough.

Outside, fans form a haphazard monochrome line up the adjacent alleyway as they wait patiently to get in. Some take swigs from take away beers, some inhale their last cigarette before entering the smoke-free zone and most talk excitedly amongst themselves about what they’re about to witness.
Continue reading Live Review: Behemoth, Job for a Cowboy, Goatwhore, Amenta @ The Metro Theatre – Friday 16 April 2010

CD Review: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Beat The Devil’s Tattoo

Review: Lana Harris

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club   Black Rebel Motorcycle Club burst from the deep south of the USA and appeared on the music scene at around the same time as we were all worrying about the millennium bug. They were often touted as being ‘the band to take rock forward into the new millennium’ and with this expectation yapping at their heels they crossed the century border.

A decade on, BRMC are still making rock records, their most recent offering entitled Beat the Devil’s Tattoo. The band’s sound has since acquired other labels and modifiers including garage rock,

swamp rock, blues, country, indie pop and psych-garage. Elements of stoner rock appear in Beat The Devil’s Tattoo too, the characteristic fuzzy guitars and drawling lyrics of the genre weaved with a 70’s rock vibe. Nowhere is this more prevalent than on tracks ‘War Machine’ and ‘Aya’, droning slow burners bloated with distorted guitars that alternatively smoulder and blister. Continue reading CD Review: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Beat The Devil’s Tattoo

CD Review: The Medics – This Boat We Call Love

Review: Lana Harris

The Medics   Thinking about Cairns, music is rarely the first thing that comes to mind. And when the brain cells do get around to firing in the melodic direction, the image drawn most frequently is that of cover bands playing ‘Down Under’ to hopelessly intoxicated backpackers. So it’s good to know that there are original, independent muso’s inhabiting the tourist Mecca, artists who can battle the salty humidity and lure of cheap pink drinks to produce a unique contribution to the Australian music scene.

The artists in question are known as The Medics, a four-piece emotive indie outfit with an arrangement of electric and

acoustic guitars, bass, keyboards, percussion and vocals. Their contribution is their second EP This Boat We Call Love. Continue reading CD Review: The Medics – This Boat We Call Love

Music Review: Field Music – Measure

Review: Duncan McKimm

Field Music - Measure   Following the brilliance of Tones of Town, it appeared Field Music were entering a possibly terminal hiatus due to the Brewis brothers’ aversion to touring and their seemingly disparate musical desires. However, a couple of excellent solo projects in the form of School of Language (David’s baby) and The Week That Was (Peter’s) appear to have not only brought the focus back to Field Music, but also added some excitement to the flagship band. Maybe the critical success of the two side-projects and the removal of tour pressure during this time (which the brothers hate) reinvigorated the old girl – but whatever it was, she’s sounding fantastic.

Continue reading Music Review: Field Music – Measure

Bluesfest 2010 Highlights!

Review: Elize Strydom
BluesfestBluesfest
[Photo: Stuart Blythe]
There comes a point during the festival – usually when you’re trudging through the mud towards the Mojo tent to get a good possie for that band you can’t believe you’re about to see – when you get the blues. For the past few days you’ve existed inside a bubble of banjos, harmonicas, dust bowl/mud pit dancing, university cigarettes, gumboots, ferris wheels, Hare Krishna fare and music from across the globe. You’ve been wrapped up in a place where Crossroads, Mojo and Jambalaya (and maybe the port-a-loos) are the only destinations you need to remember. All of a sudden you realise it will all go up in smoke tomorrow. You’ll have to pull down your tent and sit in a traffic queue for an hour before you get to the highway and start your journey back to reality. I guess that’s why people come back again and again; to get another injection of the magic.
Continue reading Bluesfest 2010 Highlights!

CD Review: John Butler Trio – April Uprising

Review: Lana Harris

John Butler Trio - photo credit Polly Armstrong
John Butler TrioClick here for John Butler Trio at iTunes
  John Butler and his newly revised trio (bringing Nicky Bomba to drums/ percussion and Byron Luiters to bass) have made every effort to make April Uprising an accessible folk rock record. Single ‘One Way Road’ was available for free download from several media outlets last year, on top of being the summer promo track on a certain digital sports channel, which guaranteed the single reached new ears. The Trio have also value added the LP by including a poster, environmentally friendly sized lyrics booklet and free trucker’s hat to those who buy the physical CD rather than download.

Continue reading CD Review: John Butler Trio – April Uprising

CD Review: Carry Nation – Like a River Does

Review: Victoria Nugent

Carry Nation   Brisbane solo artist Carry Nation’s debut album Like A River Does is the perfect soundtrack for lazy summer days spent in contemplation, with its rich, full sound and intimate lyrics. Built around the foundation of the voice and guitar of Brisbane songwriter Jessie Warren, the recording sees her joined by bass, string and percussion players, with their music making the ideal accompaniment for Warren’s strong and honest vocals.

Warren began playing guitar at sixteen, writing her first song at seventeen, and playing her first show at the Verve Cafe at eighteen.

Continue reading CD Review: Carry Nation – Like a River Does