Month: February 2011

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Triple J Hottest 100 Double Album Released Next Month

You tuned in on Australia Day, and soon you can own the best songs from the countdown with the release of Triple J Hottest 100 Volume 18.

Angus & Julia Stone’s winning single “Big Jet Plane” sits comfortably alongside other local hits from Little Red, Sia, Washington, Bliss N Eso, and heaps more. In fact, reflecting the make-up of this year’s countdown roughly half of the album is local music. With all of the hits on here, it’s no wonder they needed to make the collection a double CD!

Triple J Hottest 100 Volume 18 hits record stores on March 4.

Image source: ABC Shop

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Drones Drummer Mike Noga Releases Second Solo Album

The Drones drummer Mike Noga will follow up his 2006 solo album Folk Songs this April with the release of The Balladeer Hunter.

The album came about through Mike’s despair with the current state of radio playlists.

“Upon flicking through the FM dial with careless abandon one day, it occurred to me that no matter how hard I looked, I could not, for the life of me, find any true SOUL in the songs that were being handed back to me on a static plate,” he said in a statement.

And so he set about righting the situation, gathering his Gentlemen of Fortune bandmates Pat Bourke of Dallas Crane and Gus Agars of The Gin Club to lay some tracks down. It took them just two days to record the album, which is testimony to the professionalism of these musos. It delivers that soul that’s so lacking on the popular charts with its mix of folk ballads and rock tunes.

The Balladeer Hunter hits record stores around the country on April 1.

Image used with permission from Other Tongues

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Show MofoIsDead Some Love

Brisbane act MofoIsDead has really impressed me with their debut single “Love Me.” It’s got some blistering guitars, an epic chorus, and some impressive rock vocals from lead singer Paul Galagher. As an added bonus, the video has cats. That’s always going to win me over.

The tune comes from the band’s debut album Nubile, which has been independently produced and released. I always appreciate a band that’s producing great music entirely under their own steam.

MofoIsDead are planning to tour the east coast late in May, so make sure you look out for them on the road!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Amy Meredith Announce Only 2011 Tour

Amy Meredith’s album Restless just won’t quit. It’s already notched up an impressive four hit singles, and come early March another one will hit radio. The band isn’t even sure what they’ll release next from this strong debut disc, but the band’s sure to have another hit on its hands.

In anticipation of even more chart success, Amy Meredith will school us all on how it’s done with their Higher Education tour. The tour is set to be a six-week party, with Sony stable mates Tonight Alive also on the bill.

It’ll be a fitting send off for Amy Meredith, who will embark on a songwriting trip to the United States in March. In fact, these will be the band’s only local shows in 2011, so if you’re a fan you won’t want to miss them.

Tickets officially go on sale on February 24, but as a member of Posse I can offer my readers pre-sale tickets. Just click on the links below to score yours before the general public!

Amy Meredith

11 May  2011 – Bended Elbow, Ballarat
12 May  2011 – Bended Elbow, Geelong
13 May 2011 – The Governor Hindmarsh, Adelaide
14 May 2011 – Hi Fi Bar, Melbourne (Over 18s)
15 May 2011 – Hi Fi Bar, Melbourne (Under 18s)
19 May 2011 – Players Bar, Mandurah
20 May 2011 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury (Over 18s)
21 May 2011 – Capitol, Perth (Over 18s)
22 May 2011 – Fly By Night, Fremantle (Under 18s)
25 May 2011 – The Uni Bar, Wollongong
26 May  2011 – Level One @ Newcastle Leagues Club, Newcastle
27 May  2011 – Metro Theatre, Sydney
1 June 2011 – Coolangatta Hotel, Gold Coast (Over 18s)
2 June 2011 – Beach Hotel, Byron Bay
3 June 2011 – The Zoo, Brisbane (Over 18s)
4 June 2011 – Princess Theatre, Brisbane (Under 18s)
10 June 2011 – ANU Refectory, Canberra

Image used with permission from Revolutions Per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Architecture in Helsinki Bundle Album with Tour Tickets

It’s been three long years since Architecture in Helsinki toured our fair land, but they’re getting set to break the drought.

In addition to appearances at Playground Weekend, MS Fest, Golden Plains, and the Groovin the Moo shows, the indie pop act will play headline dates in a number of capital cities.

The gigs come after the release of their new album Moment Bends, which is scheduled to hit record stores on April 8. Take a listen to the fun first single “Contact High” below.

If the song has whetted your appetite, make sure you snap up some tickets for the following shows when they go on sale on February 28. All tickets come with a copy of the Moment Bends, so they’re great value!

15 May 2011 – The Capitol, Perth
26 May 2011 – Hi-Fi Bar, Melbourne
27 May 2011 – Hi-Fi Bar, Brisbane

Image source: Lisa Hernesniemi @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Only The Sea Slugs Tour “Big Sky” Single

With an unlikely name and killer new single “Big Sky,” I predict Only The Sea Slugs are going to prove pretty unforgettable. Just to be sure the band will travel down the east coast to spruik their new tune next month.

This song’s arrangement is so simple, but its unique instrumentation and poignant lyrics about isolation in the urban jungle really speak to me. The song is the first single from Only The Sea Slugs’ debut EP Dreamstate.

If you dig it make sure you catch Only The Sea Slugs doing their thing at the following shows.

4 March 2011 – The Gallery Bar @ The Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney
11 March 2011 – The Great Northern Hotel, Newcastle
12 March 2011 – The Gallery Bar @ The Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney
16 March 2011 – The Workers Club, Fitzroy
19 March 2011 – The Gallery Bar @ The Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney
24 March 2011 – Lambda Lambda Lambda @ Alhambra Lounge, Brisbane
26 March 2011 – The Gallery Bar @ The Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

San Cisco One to Watch

From the fertile musical soils of Western Australia comes San Cisco, an indie act already making waves around the world.

Australia hasn’t cottoned on to these local lads yet, but they’ve just been invited to play the UK’s Great Escape festival in May. Not bad for some teenagers fresh out of high school, is it?

They’re certainly not letting youth hold them back. They’re already produced their first EP, Golden Revolver, which is currently enjoying rotation on Triple J and community radio stations.

The disc mixes indie pop, folk, and synth into a sound which has been compared to Vampire Weekend and Tame Impala. I don’t think the band would mind the comparisons much either, as they’ve actually covered Tame Impala’s “Solitude is Bliss” for the EP.

Expect to hear plenty more about this San Cisco in 2011.

Image used with permission from Stephen Green Consulting

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Urban Stars Unite for Supafest

Arguably the biggest urban line-up Australia has ever seen will travel around the country this April for Supafest.

It was already shaping up to be something special when Snoop Dogg, Nelly, Bow Wow, and Taio Cruz were announced first, but now that Timbaland, Busta Rhymes, T Pain, Ciara, and DJ Nino Brown have joined the bill it’s getting ridiculous. The best part is, the organizers aren’t done. Expect even more high-quality acts when they make their final announcement next month.

The show’s scheduled to last for nine hours, which is probably how long it’ll take for these acts to play everything people want to hear! Tickets are selling fast, so if you want to head along I wouldn’t wait to get yours!

9 April 2011 – ANZ Stadium, Sydney
10 April 2011 – Arena Joondalup, Perth
16 April 2011 – RNA Showground, Brisbane
17 April 2011 – Melbourne Showgrounds, Melbourne

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Waifs Tempting Aussie Tour

It’s been four long years since The Waifs released their last album Sun Dirt Water, so I’m thrilled to hear some new material from this Western Australian folk act. Below I’ve posted “Angela” a stunning song from the band’s new album Temptation.

I am completely in love with this tune. It’s just so pretty and soulful and gorgeous, the kind of thing you want to play to all your friends. Thank goodness for this blog that allows me to do just that! If this is an indication of what we can expect from Temptation, the album’s going to be a stunner.

Temptation apparently sees The Waifs returning to their roots, with stripped back performances and songs contributed by all band members. The band laid it down while living together above Minneapolis’ Underwood Studios, playing, cooking, and reminiscing over a period of two weeks.

“You just went downstairs when it was your turn to do a take,” explained guitarist Josh Cunningham. “It was a great atmosphere to make an album in and I think you can hear that on the recordings.”

Temptation hits record stores on March 4, by which point The Waifs will already be winging their way around the country. You can see them live at the following venues around the country.

22 February 2011 – Moruya Memorial Hall, Moruya
23 February 2011 – Anita’s Theatre, Wollongong
24th February 2011 – Canberra Theatre Centre, Canberra
26 February 2011 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
27 February 2011 – Civic Theatre, Newcastle
1 March 2011 – The Northern, Byron Bay
2 March 2011 – Nambour Civic Centre, Nambour
3 March 2011 – The Tivoli, Brisbane
5 March 2011 – Old Broadwater Farm, Busselton
6 March 2011 – Castelli Estate, Denmark
8 March 2011 – Performing Arts Centre, Mandurah
9 March 2011 – Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle
10 March 2011 – Astor Theatre, Perth
12 & 13 March 2011 – Port Fairy Folk Festival, Port Fairy
15 March 2011 – The Gov, Adelaide
16 March 2011 – The Forum, Melbourne
17 March 2011 – The Forum, Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
19 & 20 March 2011 – Blue Mountains Folk Festival, Katoomba
21 March 2011 – Moncrieff Theatre, Bundaberg
23 March 2011 – James Cook University Uni Club, Townsville
24 March 2011 – Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns
26 March 2011 – Darwin Ski Club, Darwin
27 March 2011 – Mangrove Resort Hotel, Broome

Image used with permission from Stephen Green Consulting

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Q & A with Silent Feature Era’s Greg Cathcart

With an “antiquated sensibility” and healthy sense of humour, it’s safe to say that Silent Feature Era aren’t like other bands. With their debut This Old Leather Heart ready for release on March 4 I caught up with the band’s Greg Cathcart to chat about the album, the band’s upcoming launch, and what the future holds.

You’re officially releasing your debut album This Old Leather Heart next month. What can you tell me about it?
It was a studio experiment really in the very beginning. It started to take more shape the more songs we wrote and recorded. There were recurring themes popping up lyrically and musically, and I guess that’s when we realized we were actually making a record, not only just experimenting with some songs.

I say officially launch, because the album has actually been available to listen to on your website for some time. Why did you decide to make it so accessible?
At this stage, the more people that hear it the better. I don’t think it does any harm to let people have a free listen.

I hear there are more than 20 musicians on the album. What’s it like to share that creative process with such a large group?
It was actually quite humbling that so many people took an interest it what we were doing. We certainly felt loved. I don’t think we ever recorded all 20 all at once though. Maybe we can hire some caterers and do that for the next record.

You’re going to launch the album in front of your Brisbane home crowd. Are you looking forward to getting out and playing for your local fans?
Yes. I think it’s going to be a great night. Everyone will get a free pony.

What can punters expect at the launch?
The plan is, a 44 gallon drum, a trash rack loaded with things that clang and smash, a small horn section, handsome Luke Sullivan, a chainsaw juggler and several clowns on unicycle … oh and a Rolls Royce.

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