Month: May 2009

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Australian Stars Team Up for White Album Tribute Concerts

They say every musician has been influenced by The Beatles in one way or another. So while it seems like a strange match on paper, it may not be so surprising to hear that Chris Cheney, Tim Rogers, Phil Jamieson, and Josh Pyke will team up to perform The White Album later this year.

The shows will take place in August to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the classic album.

“I always loved the sound of The Beatles when they let loose and sounded tough, and to me The White Album has a perfect balance of rock’n’roll abandonment with the incredible songwriting skills they’re so revered for,” The Living End frontman said in a statement.

“The Beatles were the first band that made any kind of impact on me as a kid, curled up in the front room with my parents’ record collection. The harmonies, the deceptively simple songs, and the amazingly creative production are all elements that I still draw upon in my music today,” added Josh Pyke.

The singers will be backed up by a 17-piece band for the event. These shows are sure to be something special. You can get your tickets from May 22 at the usual outlets for the following dates:

4 August 2009 – Hamer Hall, Melbourne
6 August 2009 – QPAC, Brisbane
7 & 8 August 2009 – Opera House, Sydney

Image source: Marco Raaphorst @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Australian Music Stores Sell Eminem Early

Embargo? What embargo?

That’s the word from Australian music retailers which have put Eminem’s new album Relapse on sale ahead of the official worldwide release on Monday.

The album is now readily available from many of the big name stores around the country, including Sanity, JB Hi-Fi, and Leading Edge.

Universal had kept the album under cloak and dagger, but Eminem himself hasn’t been quite so secretive. He “leaked” several tracks on his official website, YouTube, and various social networking sites.

Image source: Newscom

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Q & A with Stuart MacLeod from Eskimo Joe

It’s been a long time coming, but Eskimo Joe are back. Their new album Inshalla is set to drop on May 29, and they’re travelling around the country in July to support the release. But before all that I caught up with the band’s guitarist Stuart MacLeod to chat about the new CD, the band’s recent success in Europe, and what it’s like to be home.

You’ve just come back from Europe. What’s it like to be home?
It’s amazing to be home. Leaving home definitely makes you realise how amazing we have it back here in Australia. Stepping out onto the streets of Hamburg in the sleet and the snow, and then you come home and you’re sipping a beer out on your back deck as the sun goes down. That’s quite amazing.

What do you miss most when you’re away?
Family I guess. And the weather.

I believe you’ve got two kids. Are you apart from them all the time that you’re away?
Yeah, at this stage we’re still touring quite lean over in Europe so it’s really just drive, and play, and drive, and play every day. So it’s not really conducive to having two really small bubs on the road. So when they get a bit older, they’ll definitely be down for the hard slog.

What was the response like to your music over in Europe?
They were amazing. They were very excited because a lot of them had been travelling through Australia and seen the band maybe once and bought a CD back. So the excitement of seeing us over there definitely came across in the crowd. There was a freshness to the excitement in the crowd, so it was a real buzz.

Your new album Inshalla comes out later this month. I hear it showcases a fresh sound for the band. How so?
I guess because we’d had some new injections of youth into the band in the form of the little babies that I have, and Kav [Temperley] has also had a son, I guess there’s a real fresh lightness to the band, and a new energy to the band. I guess we allowed ourselves to write a bit more positive, hopeful-sounding music. There is a definitely a kind of real hope on this record, and a lot lighter tone on this record.

Continue reading “Q & A with Stuart MacLeod from Eskimo Joe” →
Posted on by Lauren Katulka

New Song Obsession: "Suitcase" by Shea Fisher

OK, this isn’t exactly my new song obsession. It’s my husband’s. He’s besotted with Shea Fisher, and it’s not hard to see why. She’s a stunner. But she’s more than just a pretty face. This song may not set the world on fire, but it’s a really easy-to-listen to slice of pop. It might just be what she needs to successfully make the move from country singer to mainstream star.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Earl Cole Does Tony Bennett

Earl Cole is back with a brand new standards show to wow Perth. This time around Earl will pay tribute to one of the greatest crooners of all time, Tony Bennett.

With a career spanning almost 60 years, Tony’s recorded so many spectacular songs that this tribute night is sure to be something special. This is Earl’s very first Tony Bennett show, and he’ll perform many of these jazz and swing standards for the very first time.

It’s also Earl’s first show at the acclaimed Boatshed Café (Coode Street Jetty), one of Perth’s most popular riverside eateries.

See Earl Cole’s Tony Bennett show on Sunday 7 June. Tickets cost just $79 including the show and a three-course dinner. Booking are essential and can be made at the venue by calling 9474 1314.

Image used with permission from Earl Cole

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Essential as Anything” – Mental as Anything

It seems like Mental as Anything has been around forever. They’re Australia’s ultimate party band, and they’ve made their mark on most of us, whether we want to admit it or not. For me their music reminds me of discos in the 1980s, where I’d dance along to the songs wearing too much fluro. Good times.

Lately I’ve been looking back on the band with the recent release of Essential as Anything, a bumper greatest hits CD. Everything is on here, from early tracks like “The Nips are Getting Bigger” to more recent hits like “Mr Natural.” In fact, there were a few songs I’d even forgotten about until I heard them again! Such is the quality and volume of the Mentals’ back catalogue.

If the 24 tracks aren’t enough for you, don’t despair. The CD also comes with a bonus DVD featuring 37 video clips, interviews, and plenty of documentary footage. Now that’s value.

Essential as Anything is the sort of album you’ll pull out time and time again at family barbeques and as a companion for those long car drives. It’s not likely to change the world, but just like the Mentals, it’s awfully good fun.

Image source: Bigpond Music; Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Get Tickled Pink for Breast Cancer Research

I’m always happy to promote a good cause, and breast cancer research is one of the best. If you’ve got some spare time on Wednesday, make sure you get on down to Concert for the Cure‘s Tickled Pink show at Sydney University’s St Andrew’s College.

The bands kindly donating their time include Art Vs Science, Bagraiders, Bird Automatic, Underlights, and Cameras.

All profits from tickets will benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation and Breast Cancer Network Australia. Get out there and support it if you can!

Image source: Redcherryhill @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Free Hashbang SpaceStar MP3 Download

Give your MP3 collection a shot in the arm with some free new music from Hashbang SpaceStar. The Sydney band is offering a download of their debut single “Buy Now and Borrow” for nix.

The song comes from their forthcoming EP Let It Be Known, which was recorded in India earlier this year. It’s a frenetic synth driven track unlike anything I’ve heard this year. If you’re looking for something truly original, this song might just fit the bill.

The EP is scheduled to hit stores in July, but you can get a taste of what’s to come by downloading the single here. Enjoy!

Image source: Hashbang SpaceStar website

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Australian Idol Scraps Monday Elimination Shows

Australian Idol is scrapping its drawn-out Monday night shows, opting instead for a two-hour Super Sunday show. The shows will include the performances and the eliminations in one nifty package.

Andrew G confirmed the news and said he’s excited about the change.

“I’m thrilled because it’s harking back to a time of big event, shiny Sunday night television,” he told The Sunday Telegraph. “It’ll be as exciting as anything.”

I’m not sure it’s quite as exciting as Andrew thinks it is. But let’s face it: we never needed half an hour to announce that one person was going home. The sing for your life concept initially sounded intriguing, but once I realised we’d hear the same songs we hated the night before I stopped tuning in. I think the one-night Idol bonanza is a good move. Now if we can just adopt America’s new system allowing the judges to save one eliminated contestant everything will be perfect!

Image source: Newscom

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

AC/DC Announce Aussie "Black Ice" Tour Dates

The wait is finally over for AC/DC fans, with the band announcing those long-awaited Australian Black Ice tour dates. The lads will visit Australia next February and March for the first time since 2001’s Stiff Upper Lip tour.

There’s plenty of gaps between the dates, suggesting that more shows will be announced or that the boys are planning an extended holiday! There are rumours that the band will play a very special show at Ayers Rock, but that’s yet to be confirmed.

The shows promise to be a bit of a guitar battle, with Wolfmother providing the support. There’s no word yet on when tickets will go on sale, but here are the dates for your calendar.

11 February 2010 – Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
18 February 2010 – ANZ Stadium, Sydney
25 February 2010 – Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre, Brisbane
2 March 2010 – Adelaide Oval
6 March 2010 – Subiaco, Perth

Image source: PR Photos