October 2010 – Page 2

Posted on 26/10/2010 by Lauren Katulka

Lan Party Launch New “Personal Low” Album

If you ask my husband what LAN party is he’d wax lyrical about the good old days of computer gaming, where he’d gather with his pals, play video games, and drink too much Mountain Dew to make it through the night. You’d probably be bored hearing about it; I’m sure you’d much rather know about the Melbourne four-piece also called Lan Party.

“Lan Party is a state of mind, something we’ve built on over the years with various members and eclectic collaborative efforts,” the band explained. “Lan Party is a musical mutt, the amalgam of a lot of different colours, moods and styles. The band has a raw accessible rock side with sporadic outbursts of rhythmic flair and technicality. It’s anti-derivative music with a dynamic and energetic air to it.”

Lan Party have just released their sophomore album Personal Low, which ironically enough marks a bit of a personal high for the band! It features the new single “French Investors,” which is all about partying your way out of a tricky situation. That’s a method I have to try sometime!

Lan Party will take the album on the road next month with launch shows in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. And according to lead vocalist and guitarist Trent Menassa, we should expect the unexpected.

“Anything can happen at a Lan Party show,” said Trent. “The energy is a high pressure cooker, the banter is ridiculous, the costumes are raw but lavish, and I think by the time the band leaves the stage you’ll feel like you’ve listened to a lot of good music.”

You can join in the fun at the following shows.

7 November 2010 – Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills
20 November 2010 – Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy
27 November 2010 – Jetty Bar, Glenelg

Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment

Posted on 25/10/2010 by Lauren Katulka

India-Rose Cut From “The X Factor”

After the excitement of last night’s movie theme, The X Factor contestants were promptly brought back to reality with the cold hard knowledge that someone had to go.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 08: X Factor host Natalie Imbruglia (C) and contestants Hayley Teal, India-Rose Madderom and Sally Chatfield arrive for the Australian Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards 2010 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on October 8, 2010 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)

India-Rose Madderom and Mahogany found themselves in the firing line this time around. I couldn’t imagine India-Rose being forgiven after two weeks in the bottom two. While she always gives a good vocal, clearly there’s something about her that’s not resonating with the public.

The judges agreed, and after three weeks in the bottom two the axe finally fell on India-Rose. Did the judges get it right?

Posted on 25/10/2010 by Lauren Katulka

Neil Diamond Brings “Dreams” to Oz

Living legend Neil Diamond will visit our shores next March for his first Aussie tour in six years.

Neil is heading our way to promote Dreams, an album which features covers of songs made famous by The Beatles, Leonard Cohen, The Eagles, and other acts. He might be paying tribute to some of his own musical heroes, but I’m sure we’ll also hear a whole lot of Neil’s own big hits. And goodness knows there are a lot of them!

With the dollar reaching parity, hopefully this is just the start of a steady stream of big international names making their way to Oz. Fingers crossed!

In the mean time, you can get your tickets for the following Neil Diamond’s shows on November 9.

7 March 2011 – Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
11 & 13 March 2011 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
19 March 2011 – Hope Estate Winery, Hunter Valley
21 & 23 March 2011 – Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
26 March 2011 – Football Stadium, Sydney
29 March 2011 – NIB Stadium, Perth

Posted on 24/10/201025/10/2010 by Lauren Katulka

The X Factor Goes To the Movies

Tonight The X Factor contestants were taking on one of my favourite themes: songs from the movies. I found myself wishing for some of the classic 80s films tunes I grew up with, but did the singers deliver? Let’s find out!

India-Rose Madderom started the night off as I’d hoped with “Fame,” sort of. She sang it really well, but it missed the bounce and lightness of the original. It just felt a bit laboured for me. The dancers were giving it their everything, but she just didn’t match their enthusiasm. I was surprised when I heard she was singing this, and after hearing her version I wish it was given to someone else.

I really hoped Andrew Lawson would get “Danke Schoen” from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, so I was disappointed from the get go. When I heard that he was doing “Love Is All Around,” I expected it to be insincere and twee. It was. I’m sure his female fans at home probably got something out of it, but to me it felt staged and artificial. The judges seemed to love it though; am I missing something?

Sally Chatfield brought things back on track with her rendition of “All By Myself.” It’s such a big song, and I feel she’s perhaps the only one in the competition up to the challenge. Vocally I couldn’t fault her. If I had to be picky, I’d wish for just a little more connection to the lyrics, but really, this was a hard performance to find fault with.
Continue reading “The X Factor Goes To the Movies” →

Posted on 24/10/2010 by Lauren Katulka

Glenn Richards Releases “Torpor & Spleen” Video

Last month I was waxing lyrical about “Torpor & Spleen,” the first single from Glenn Richards’ first Augie Marchless-album Glimjack. Now with the release of the official music video, you all get a chance to hear it.

The video’s every bit as organic as the song, with live footage shot in a Melbourne warehouse. It’s not very flashy, but music this good doesn’t need bells and whistles.

This is a nice little taster of what’s to come when Glimjack hits record stores on October 29.

Posted on 23/10/201022/10/2010 by Lauren Katulka

Jinja Safari’s Ugly Dancing for “Forest Eyes”

Jinja Safari have released this fun new video for their new single “Forest Eyes.”

The clip documents the band’s adventures in the Central Coast and Byron Bay. While travelling around the coast the band developed the concept of ugly dancing, they saw the sun rise, they lit bonfires, they donned animal costumes, and generally they celebrated life. It’s a beautiful thing, and a great pairing with this gentle but addictive track.

If you love the song make sure you see what else the band can do when they play the following shows to support “Forest Eyes” around the country.

4 November 2010 – The Zoo, Brisbane
5th November 2010 – Town Hall, Fremantle
6 November 2010 – Jive Bar, Adelaide
11 November 2010 – Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney
12 November 2010 – Northern Star Hotel, Newcastle
18 November 2010 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
19 November 2010 – East Brunswick Club, Melbourne

Posted on 23/10/201022/10/2010 by Lauren Katulka

Katherine Jenkins’ “Believe” Album Gets New Songs for Aussie Tour

Katherine Jenkins fans are in for a special treat when the Welsh songstress begins her Aussie tour tonight. To coincide with her visit Down Under, Warner has released a special tour edition of her album Believe.

Called the Platinum Edition, it features seven new tracks including “Love Never Dies” from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera sequel, a duet with Michael Bolton on the Christmas classic “O Holy Night,” and surprisingly a cover of Coldplay’s “Gravity.”

The Platinum Edition of Believe is in store now. Katherine will play the following Aussie shows with Mark Vincent.

23 October 2010 – State Theatre, Sydney
26 October 2010 – Entertainment Center, Adelaide
28 October 2010 – Regent Theatre, Melbourne

Image used with permission from Warner Music Australia

Posted on 22/10/201022/10/2010 by Lauren Katulka

You Am I’s “Trigger Finger”

You Am I’s self titled album has only been in stores for a week, but already the band is itching to release another single.

Following on from the album’s debut cut “Shuck” comes the cool grooves of “Trigger Finger.” This isn’t like the You Am I that we’ve come to know and love, but don’t let that scare you. The song, featuring guest vocals from Sydney’s Lanie Lane, has got a gorgeous sultry swagger about it that really revs me.

“Trigger Finger” gets a digital release on October 29. I do miss the old fashioned physical single, but at least You Am I is bundling the tune with a B-side: a punky cut called “Do It” which you can’t get anywhere else!

Posted on 22/10/201022/10/2010 by Lauren Katulka

Jakki Pollock Wins Orange Heat of Telstra Road to Tamworth

Jakki Pollock of Abbotsford is the latest singer ready to ship off to Boot Camp as part of the Telstra Road to Tamworth competition.

Jakki took out yesterday’s heat in Orange to qualify for the mentoring program in Sydney. As part of the camp, Jakki will perform with her fellow finalists alongside The McClymonts at the V8 Supercars this December.

Jakki fell for country music more when she visited the Tamworth Country Music festival more than a decade ago. Since that time she’s been working towards becoming a professional musician.

This win couldn’t have come at a better time, as Jakki is currently recording her debut album with Nash Chambers.

“Approaching Nash Chambers to produce my first album and walking through the process of recording it took every bit of courage I could find and even then I nearly fainted,” she said.

That courage no doubt served her well during the Telstra Road to Tamworth final, where she performed Miranda Lambert’s “More Like Her” and an original song, “Accelerate.”

If she does well at boot camp Jakki will receive $1000 cash and head to the competition finals at the Tamworth Country Music Festival next January. It sounds fitting for Jakki to return to the place that inspired her. I wish her the best of luck!

Image used with permission from Javelin Australia

Posted on 21/10/201021/10/2010 by Lauren Katulka

Georgia Fair Tour Times Fly

Georgia Fair wowed us all last year with their cruisy tune “Picture Frames.” Now Jordan Wilson and Ben Riley are set to do it all over again with their new EP Times Fly.

“When we did that first EP we were pretty green to the whole industry,” explained Jordan. “We just wanted to get it out there. For this we focused on the value of the song and the shape of our sound. It’s a bit more up, I guess you could say, and it’s a sample of what’s to come from the album.”

The lads spent time in North Carolina recording the EP under the guidance of Bill Reynolds of Band of Horses before returning home to complete it with old friends Boy & Bear. Reynolds’ expertise helped the Sydney boys step up their game and really showcase their acoustic folk strengths.

You can hear all that acoustic goodness in the flesh when Georgia Fair plays the following shows to support the release of Times Fly.

30 & 31 October 2010 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne (with Basics)
5 November 2010 – Clubhouse, Brisbane (with Basics)
6 November 2010 – Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney (with Basics)
10-12 November 2010 – The Quarry, Perth (with Lisa Mitchell)
20 November 2010 – Hope Estate, Hunter Valley (with Crowded House)
14 & 15 December 2010 – The Vanguard, Sydney (with Gossling)
16 December 2010 – East Brunswick, Melbourne (with Gossling)
29 December 2010 – Peats Ridge Festival, Peats Ridge

Image source: The Harbour Agency