Month: August 2007

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Free Ben Lee!

It’s not unusual for musos to include a cover version or two in their live show or as B-sides. But you rarely see performers cover entire albums. Yet that’s exactly what Australia’s resident oddball, Ben Lee, has done.

When Ben flew from LA to Sydney recently, he decided to give Against Me’s album, New Wave, a spin. A love affair, and new project, was born.

“I fell in love with the album. Really. Like, couldn’t stop listening to it,” Ben wrote in his blog. “I wondered to myself how these songs would sound acoustically.”

He wondered so much that he decided to record the entire album.

Continue reading “Free Ben Lee!” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Katie Noonan’s "Skin" Storms the Charts

Last week I mentioned my love affair with Katie Noonan’s debut album, Skin. It seems I’m not the only one besotted by this fantastic CD as it’s debuted at number six on the ARIA charts. This week Katie’s outsold other big name Aussie acts like Powderfinger, The John Butler Trio and Missy Higgins!

Fans are in for a real treat when Katie plays Sydney’s Metro Theatre next Friday and Melbourne’s Forum Theatre the following night. The gigs should be something special as Katie will be joined on stage by a finely tuned six-piece band.

If you can’t make it these shows, don’t worry. Katie will also tour all around the country in September and October with the super talented (and gorgeous) Josh Groban. Check out her website for all the dates.

Image source: Ty Johnson @ Flickr.com

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Silverchair and Powderfinger Go Green

Silverchair and Powderfinger are the latest rockers to jump on the green bandwagon. They’ve just announced their massive Across the Great Divide tour will be carbon neutral.

The bands will buy carbon credits from Climate Friendly to offset the 800 tonnes of carbon emissions the tour is expected to generate.

“The Silverchair/Powderfinger tour has invested in renewable energy projects via Climate Friendly, such as wind power, that will prevent exactly the same amount of greenhouse gas emissions that are generated by the event,” said a spokesperson for the tour.

But the tour’s social conscience doesn’t end there. Across the Great Divide doesn’t just refer to the wide expanse of Australian land the tour will cover. It’s also a reference to the life expectancy gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Aussie children. The bands hope their tour will start people talking about this important issue.

The Across the Great Divide tour kicks off next Wednesday in Newcastle.

Image source: World Wildlife Fund website

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Hot Lies Release Debut Disc

Adelaide emo kids The Hot Lies have put in the hard yards, touring the country with Silverchair, My Chemical Romance and Alkaline Trio. Now they’re set to step into the spotlight with the release of their debut album, Ringing in the Sane.

The full-length release follows their huge EPs, Streets Become Hallways and Heart Attacks and Callous Acts. Ringing in the Sane was recorded with legendary Aussie producer Phil McKellar (Silverchair, Kisschasy), and features the single “Emergency, Emergency.”

With their frenetic energy and angsty melodies, comparisons to contemporaries like Fall Out Boy are easy. But can these Aussie boys achieve the same success? They’re going the right way about it by announcing a national tour to coincide with the release.

The Hot Lies hit Sydney’s Annandale Hotel on September 13 before travelling around the country. The kids in their hometown are in for a real treat with the band’s only all-ages show happening at The Gov on September 14. After that you can catch them supporting Good Charlotte on their October tour. See the band’s MySpace to see when The Hot Lies will visit your town.

Image source: I Am the Muso Man @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Spicks and Specks On Tour

If you’ve ever thought you could give the celebs on Spicks and Specks a run for their money, here’s your chance. The popular music quiz show is breaking out of the ABC studios and hitting the road.

Adam Hills, Alan Brough, and Myf Warhurst will take the Spicks and Speck-tacular to Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Newcastle and Perth.

The concerts promise to bring some of the program’s most popular segments, like Malvern Stars on 45 and Substitute, to a live audience. The crowd will also have the opportunity to stump the show’s musical brains with their knowledge of obscure pop trivia.

“Adam and I have a long history of performing live, so being able to take a show that we love doing and that people in Australia seem to love watching out on the road is extremely exciting,” Alan Brough told AAP.

Continue reading “Spicks and Specks On Tour” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Australian and New Zealand Urban Music Awards (W)rap

Some of our finest R&B and hip hop talent took home gongs at the 2007 Australian and New Zealand Urban Music Awards, which were held in Sydney on Tuesday night.

While there are some great up-and-coming urban acts, the awards tended to honor the usual suspects. Guy Sebastian took home his third consecutive best R&B album award, while Jade McRae took home the best female artist for the second year in a row.

New Zealand’s Hilltop Heads were again named the best hip hop group. They also scored the best hip hop album for the smash hit, The Hard Road.

Phrase scored a doubler for “Hold On,” which was named best video clip and best hip hop single.

Repeat offender P-Money won his third award in two years, while Nino Brown proved he’s the king of the beats taking home back-to-back best Australian DJ trophies.

Kid Confucius, Israel, Tyree, and Justice & Kaos also took home awards on the night.

Image source: Hilltop Hoods media kit/Obese Records

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Darren Hayes Arrested After Racist Attack

Last week he was sounding off about John Howard’s stance on homosexual rights. This week Darren Hayes’ mouth has found him behind bars. The former Savage Garden frontman was arrested after hurling racist barbs at a waiter in a London Thai restaurant.

“We can confirm that a 35-year-old man was arrested by Westminster police on suspicion of racially abusing a member of staff,” a Scotland Yard spokesman said.

“He was arrested after voluntarily attending a Central London police station by appointment. He has been released on bail pending further enquiries, until the 21st of September.”

However, according to Darren’s solicitor the claims are untrue.

“He is deeply upset at the allegation which he strenuously denies and anyone who knows Darren will recognise that the particular nature of the allegation is totally abhorrent to him and contrary to everything for which he has stood,” reads a post on Darren’s official website.

I must admit, the softly spoken singer spends so much time fighting for equality that racial attacks seem very out of character. Yet the manager of the Busaba Eathai restaurant in Soho is sticking to his story. I guess we’ll just have to wait until the case goes to trial to get to the bottom of it.

Image source: MandyJC72 @ Flickr.com

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Perth Powderchair Gig On, Up! Festival Off

Do you want the good news or the bad news first? Good news? Well here goes.

Last week we reported that Perth’s Across the Great Divide concerts were in doubt, after the council banned the events. Last night this decision was reversed, so the shows at Claremont Oval will go ahead as planned. This will undoubtedly please the 20,000 Powderfinger and Silverchair fans who bought tickets to the September shows.

The news isn’t so great for Michael Franti fans, as his Up! Festival has been postponed until next year.

The shows, featuring Spearhead, Ben Lee, Blue King Brown, and Old Man River, were scheduled for next month. But apparently Michael Franti’s band had other plans.

“There was a scheduling conflict and Spearhead was not able to make it out here. It has been put off until next year,” said Frontier Touring Company spokeswoman Suzanne Snape.

While Michael Franti and the boys should be back in Oz in 2008, Ben Lee fans won’t have to wait that long. The indie folkster plans to announce some solo tour dates soon.

Up! Festival ticket holders can obtain full refunds from their point of sale.

Image source: Jeaneeem @ Flickr.com

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Spooky Michael Hutchence Film In the Works

Ten years after his untimely death, INXS frontman Michael Hutchence will be brought to life on the big screen in a new film, Slide Away.

According to The Daily Telegraph, the film will show the rock star’s ghost revealing his life of excess to his young daughter, Tiger Lily. The film refuses to shy away from any details, with scenes showing Michael’s high-profile relationships with Kylie Minogue, Helena Christensen, and Tiger’s late mum Paula Yates. In the film, he even takes his daughter to the Double Bay Ritz Carlton on the day of his death.

While the concept is original, I can’t help thinking the premise is a little far-fetched. Slide Away is set on the 10th anniversary of Hutchence’s death, which is this year, making Tiger Lily 11 years old. Surely Michael, deceased or not, wouldn’t take his young daughter on such an adult journey.

Morgan Freeman’s company, Revelation Entertainment, is producing Slide Away, while long-time INXS film clip director, Nick Egan, is in the director’s chair.

“I have always made it very clear I wanted to avoid the traditional biopic,” Nick Egan told The Daily Telegraph. “It’s been done ad nauseam and I’m trying to raise the bar.”

The film’s approach is anything but traditional. But will the gamble pay off? I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

Image source: Nancy J Price @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Request Spot: Matt Corby

It’s taken some time, some tears, and some tantrums, but Australian Idol 2007 has been whittled down to just 24 competitors. If you believe the hype, and the comments on the blog, the one all the girls are watching this year is Matt Corby.

But don’t think this 16-year-old is just a pretty face. While his piercing blue eyes and shaggy hair may have sent hearts fluttering, it’s his soulful voice and guitar skills that saw him cement a place amongst the best of the best.

But the road to Idol fame and fortune won’t be easy for Matt. He’s in one of the toughest semifinal groups this Sunday. So how will he fare against fellow glamour boy Daniel Mifsud, former X Factor contestant Jacob Butler, swing king Carl Riseley, 80’s loving oddball Husny Thalib, and islander underdog Junior To’o? Remember kids: the only way to ensure he makes top 12 is to vote, vote, vote!

And now, as requested by some of Matt’s biggest fans Stacey and Mikaela, here’s a video of the man himself!