Month: June 2014

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ben Dalton Moves on from Hungry Kids of Hungary with Born Joy Dead

Like so many Aussies, I was really disappointed to see Hungry Kids of Hungary go their separate ways. Generally when these things happen you expect the lead singer to launch the first high-profile solo project, but the band’s bassist Ben Dalton has actually gotten in first. The Brisbane musician has just launched his solo project, Born Joy Dead, and his debut single “Upside Down, Inside Out.”

The quirky bassline is sure to delight Hungry Kids of Hungary fans. But beyond that, the song’s got such a great new wave feel to it. If this is a sign of things to come, Ben Dalton’s destined for solo success.

Image used with permission from White Label Servicing

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Breaking Orbit Empower Us with “Become the Light”

Sydney progressive rock band Breaking Orbit are giving us our first taste of their forthcoming sophomore album with the release of the title track “Become the Light.”

This is such an intense, uplifting, epic song. Its instrumentation is lush and powerful, and the vocals every bit as strong. It sounds so good coming through my speakers, but I imagine it’d hit another level live.

We’ll find out when Breaking Orbit hit the road next month to celebrate the single release. Sydney post-rockers sleepmakeswaves will join Breaking Orbit for the following shows.

5 July 2014 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
6 July 2014 – Rad Bar, Wollongong
13 July 2014 – Rad Bar, Wollongong
18 July 2014 – The Northern Hotel, Byron Bay
19 July 2014 – The Zoo, Brisbane
1 August 2014 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
2 August 2014 – ANU Bar, Canberra
8 August 2014 – Amplifier Bar, Perth
9 August 2014 – Jive, Adelaide
16 August 2014 – Manning Bar, Sydney

Image used with permission from Shake Appeal

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tales in Space Release Formula Tomorrow

I thought “All Messed Up” was great fun, so I’m looking forward to hearing more from Tales in Space when they release their debut album Formula tomorrow.

The album should be just what we’d expect from the Sydney electro-pop duo. It’s bursting with imaginative, feel good gems which explore the ups and downs of love, life, and everything in between. Impressively, Formula was also recorded in Tales in Space’s own studio, although considering the lads met while studying audio engineering perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised that they’ve taken the reins on this one.

Tales in Space will give Formula little time to grow on us before they support it with a national tour this July.

3 July 2014 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
11 July 2014 – Upstairs Beresford, Sydney (FREE)
17 July 2014 – The Workers Club, Melbourne
19 July 2014 – The Armidale Club, Armidale
2 August 2014 – Easy Tiger, Sydney

Image used with permission from 123 Agency

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Things of Stone and Wood Play “Happy Birthday Helen” with Babaganouj

Frankly I’m happy for any excuse to post “Happy Birthday Helen,” one of the most awesome songs to come out of the 90s, on this blog. So when I heard that Brisbane band Babaganouj had recorded a cover with their childhood idols and the original artists Things of Stone and Wood, it seemed as good a reason as any!

Apparently all this came about because people starting raving about the cover which formed part of Babaganouj’s set on a monthly 90s night. Things of Stone and Wood got wind of it so decided to pay the young band a visit while they were in Brisbane.

“We were thrilled to hear that not only was a bunch of groovy youngsters like Babaganouj listening to our song, they were playing it as well!” said Things of Stone and Wood frontman Greg Arnold. “It was a great start to our tour to smash out this version with a new generation of rock road warriors – thanks for having us!”

If this has made you all nostalgic, there’s two more shows on Things of Stone and Wood’s 25th anniversary tour. Check them out at The Flying Saucer Club at Caulfield RSL tomorrow night, or The Republic Bar in North Hobart on June 8.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Vale Doc Neeson

I didn’t intend to touch my blog today. I’d queued up enough posts on the weekend to allow me to focus on the frantic pace of my other freelance work at the moment. But sometimes things happen that force you to reevaluate your plans and make time that you’re not sure that you have. Sometimes you just have to stop and reflect for a moment. So here I am, writing when I didn’t intend to write because Doc Neeson’s lost his battle with cancer.

Doc was diagnosed with a brain tumour 17 months ago, and he’s been fighting ever since. The end was forecast time and time again and Doc got back up. I remember marvelling at his performance at the RocKwiz Vanda and Young show over the Christmas break, which was televised earlier this year, being so impressed that he still had more fight in him. He wasn’t looking good, but he was still standing. I guess a man can only do that for so long.

And so we take a moment and remember his contributions to the music industry. He split with the Brewster Brothers in 1999, but continued to defiantly sing The Angels hits like “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again,” “Take a Long Line,” and “No Secrets” with his new outfit. When my American husband arrived in this country around a decade ago, he declared The Angels his favourite Aussie act. Even international artists Pearl Jam and Nirvana cited his music as major influences.

He might have been born in Northern Ireland, but he was one of us, and he will be missed. Whatever you’re doing, however busy you are I urge you to stop, take a moment, watch this video, and remember him.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kate Miller-Heidke Takes O Vertigo! On the Road

Now that we’ve all had time to get to know Kate Miller-Heidke’s most recent album O Vertigo!, she’s preparing to showcase its songs on stage with an extensive national tour.

This isn’t the first time she’s brought the songs to the stage, but it is the first chance that music lovers in regional centres will have the chance to enjoy Kate’s live show in some time. It’s also the first time she’ll play them with a full band, after launching the album with an acoustic tour earlier this year.

The upcoming shows will give Kate a chance to give back to her loyal fans that helped fund the album in just three days via PledgeMusic.

“I feel like live performance has always been at the heart of what I do,” Kate explained. “Often the test of a good song is if it works in a very stripped-back, acoustic mode. I love reinventing the songs in this way. I’m looking forward to bringing the new songs, as well as a mixture of older stuff, out far beyond the
capital cities, especially places I’ve never played before.”

After these shows Kate will head to the United Kingdom for her first headlining tour before travelling to America to perform in the New York Metropolitan Opera’s production of The Death of Klinghoffer, so who knows when you’ll get a chance to see her again! It’s definitely her last local tour of the year, so make sure you don’t miss it.

1 August 2014 – Astor Theatre, Perth (13-18 years olds can only attend with a parent or guardian)
2 August 2014 – Bird in Hand, Adelaide (18+)
7 August 2014 – Empire Church Theatre, Toowoomba (ALL AGES)
8 August 2014 – QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane (ALL AGES)
9 August 2014 – Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns (ALL AGES)
10 August 2014 – Mackay Entertainment & Convention Centre, Mackay (ALL AGES)
12 August 2014 – Capitol Theatre, Tamworth (ALL AGES)
13 August 2014 – Dubbo Regional Theatre, Dubbo (ALL AGES)
14 August 2014 – Orange Civic Theatre, Orange (ALL AGES)
15 August 2014 – The Concourse Concert Hall, Chatswood (ALL AGES)
16 August 2014 – Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, Penrith (ALL AGES)
20 August 2014 – Sawtell RSL, Sawtell (18+)
21 August 2014 – The Glasshouse, Port Macquarie (ALL AGES)
22 August 2014 – Newcastle City Hall, Newcastle (ALL AGES)
23 August 2014 – Canberra Theatre, Canberra (ALL AGES)
26 August 2014 – IPAC-IMB Theatre, Wollongong (ALL AGES)
28 August 2014 – Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre, Wangaratta (ALL AGES)
29 August 2014 – Melbourne Recital Centre, Melbourne (ALL AGES)
30 August 2014 – Princess Theatre, Launceston (ALL AGES)

Image used with permission from Jones PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kids in Glass Houses Say Goodbye to Aussie Fans with Farewell Tour

After 13 years together, Welsh rock band Kids in Glass Houses are calling it a day, but not before they give us one last Aussie tour.

Kids in Glass Houses were part of the massive South Welsh rock that also included Bullet for my Valentine and Funeral for a Friend. Like their peers they rose through the ranks quickly and were soon sharing the stage with global superstars Paramore and Fall Out Boy. They released four albums, including last year’s Peace, but in February 2014 decided to call it a day.

If you’re a fan, you’ll want to get to these shows to say goodbye to one of Wales’ great modern rock bands.

21 August 2014 – Jurassic! @ Villa Nightclub, Perth (18+)
22 August 2014 – BlackMarket @ Light Hotel, Adelaide18+)
23 August 2014 – Bang! @ Royal Melbourne Hotel, Melbourne (18+)
24 August 2014 – Wrangler Studios, Melbourne (All Ages)
27 August 2014 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle (18+)
28 August 2014 – Factory Theatre, Sydney (Lic All Ages)
30 August 2014 – The Brightside, Brisbane (18+)
31 August 2014 – The Lab, Brisbane (All Ages)

Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Baby Animals Reboots Special Edition “This is Not the End”

By popular demand, the Baby Animals will release a special deluxe, fully-loaded edition of the 2013 ARIA charting album This is Not the End on June 6.

This special release, which celebrates the one-year anniversary of the album’s official release, features 16 never-before-released live versions of the Baby Animals’ biggest hits including “Early Warning,” “Rush You,” and “One Word” from their Feed the Birds tour. The album also features a BA365 Rockumentary on the making of the album, a lyrics booklet, and the new single “This Is Not the End.”

Pre-order your copy from the Social Family Records Store, Sanity, or iTunes and you could win the very jacket that Suze DeMarchi wore on the Feed the Birds tour and one of Suze’s original one-off artworks. The album drops in a few days though, so you haven’t got long to get your entry in the draw!

Image used with permission from Jaden Social

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Halfway Channel Classic Sounds with “Dulcify”

Brisbane rock act Halfway have me reminiscing about the golden days of Aussie music with their new single “Dulcify.”

The song’s brand new but it feels like it could have come from decades ago thanks to its simple, catchy melody, and its incredible story expressed so eloquently through its lyrics. Don’t you just love a song like this that takes you on a journey and really says something? “Dulcify” takes its name from the champion racehorse who was euthanized after being injured in the 1979 Melbourne Cup. The story of the horse helps set up a song that also deals with life’s highs and lows.

Dulcify is the latest to come from Halfway’s acclaimed album Any Old Love. To celebrate its release, Halfway will play the following shows in the East Coast capitals this month.

7 June 2014 – The Zoo, Brisbane
14 June 2014 – Lazy Bones, Sydney
20 June 2014 – Wesley Anne, Melbourne

Image used with permission from SCG Media

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Audreys Kick Off Tour This Week

The Audreys are about to kick off their national tour supporting their critically acclaimed fourth album Til My Tears Roll Away this week!

This is the first time The Audreys have toured Australia with a full band in more than three years, but it should be worth the wait. The Adelaide duo promises to play their new album in full, as well as plenty of fan favourites. To make sure you hear the songs you want, remember to send through your song requests to the band by leaving a comment on their Facebook page.

Expect the merch stand to be crowded as the band will be selling their limited edition Monsters EP exclusively at the gigs. It features all four versions of the track “Monster” plus the previously unreleased “Monster Part IV” and a gorgeous hand-pressed hand-drawn cover from multi-award winning illustrator Luke Jurevicious.

There are still tickets available for most of the following shows.

5 June 2014 – The Abbey, Canberra
6 June 2014 – The Heritage Hotel, Bulli
7 June 2014 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
8 June 2014 – The Factory, Sydney
12 June 2014 – Sooki Lounge, Belgrave
13 June 2014 – Kyneton Town Hall, Kyneton
14 June 2014 – Ormond Hall, Melbourne
15 June 2014 – Golden Vine Hotel, Bendigo
19 June 2014 – The Byron Theatre, Byron Bay
20 June 2014 – Sol Bar, Sunshine Coast
21 June 2014 – The Zoo, Brisbane
22 June 2014 – Sound Lounge, Gold Coast
26 June 2014 – Fresh, Launceston
27 June 2014 – Tapas Lounge Bar, Devonport
28 June 2014 – Republic Bar, Hobart
4 July 2014 – Fly By Night, Fremantle
5 July 2014 – Dunsborough Tavern, Dunsborough
11 July 2014 – The Gov, Adelaide

Image used with permission from Revolutions Per Minute