cln Gets it Right with Katie Noonan Remix

It’s fascinating the way that remixes can change a song. I’ve been sitting here listening to a variety of remixes of Katie Noonan’s new single “Peace is My Drug,” and marvelling at the way the treatments have brought new aspects of the lyrics and Katie’s stunning voice to light.

Personally, this version remixed by cln is my favourite. It just gives the song a little more room to breathe than the others I listened to by Oisima and Inkswel. I believe there’s another two on the Peace is my Drug EP, which is available now exclusively through PledgeMusic.

Katie is such a chameleon that it’s always exciting to see what she does next. Fans can get a taste of her new musical direction and enjoy some old favourites at the following shows promoting the single.

12 March 2015 – The Toff in Town, Melbourne
13 March 2015 – Wellers Restaurant, Kangaroo Ground
14 March 2015 – Aurora Spiegeltent, Garden of Unearthly Delights, Adelaide
18 March 2015 – Lizotte’s Restaurant, Dee Why
19 March 2015 – Newtown Social Club, Sydney
20 March 2015 – Heritage Hotel, Bulli
21 March 2015 – Brass Monkey, Cronulla
22 March 2015 – Lizotte’s Restaurant, New Lambton
27 March 2015 – Ipswich Civic Centre, Ipswich
28 March 2015 – The Triffid, Brisbane
29 March 2015 – Sol Bar, Maroochydore

Uncle Jed @ Lizotte’s, Kincumber – 15 February 2015

As I sat in Lizotte’s Kincumber on Sunday night, I couldn’t help but do it with a twinge of sadness. It was the second-last show I had booked before the venue’s closing. I thought about that as I ordered the tempura prawns and herby battered fish and chips, two of my favourite items from Lizotte’s ever-changing menu. I poured over the wine list and figured it was time to try the Lizotte’s label sav blanc, knowing that I’d soon to have to drive to Newcastle for a glass. I thought about it as I watched the bands play intimate music so close to me, so easy to hear in this crowd of music lovers. The Central Coast is very lucky to have this venue which always makes a concert just that little bit better.

After all, I have only a vague recollection of Michael Duchesne’s time on The Voice, yet as he graced the Lizotte’s stage I was captivated from the first note. I think a venue like Lizotte’s encourages you to listen to lyrics and subtle nuances. Small songs work well here as opposed to network TV, and that’s where Michael excels. I could have listened to his voice all night, its warm richness and its raspy breaks. His originals were so impressive and his covers of songs by Bread and the Doobie Brothers were inspired. Needless to say, I left with his EP.

I was there to see another TV show success, Uncle Jed. I’ve actually never watched a full episode of Australia’s Got Talent, but they captivated me on the ads so I’d religiously get on YouTube and see what they were doing. They were one of those bands that I always meant to see, but hearing they were wrapping up Uncle Jed to launch another musical project gave me the impetus I needed. Again, Uncle Jed is a band that really deserves a space like Lizotte’s. Their songs are intimate and personal. They draw you in with lyrics that perfectly match their sublime harmonies. I knew I’d enjoy the songs they did on AGT like “Brother” and “Give Me Love,” but covers I hadn’t heard like “Latch” and “Everybody Here Wants You” were revelations. New songs from their next band Luna Grand ensure that this isn’t the last we’ll see of this talented act.

I wondered as I left where bands like this will play on the Coast when Lizotte’s Kincumber closes its doors. It’d be a shame to put them into pubs with inattentive patrons and poker machines. Perhaps bands will just start bypassing my local area and only playing Newcastle and Sydney. Whatever happens, I’m just glad I could see artists of this calibre playing at Lizotte’s Kincumber one last time.

Image source: own photos

“Little Earthquake” Release Life-Affirming “I Am Alive”

Fellow Coasties Little Earthquake have struck gold with their new single “I Am Alive.” It’s such a jubilant, positive piece of pop with lush harmonies and a beautiful synthscape.

The film clip, directed by Rob Sherwood, is pretty fabulous too. The stunning homegrown landscapes and surf footage is just the cure for whatever’s ailing you this Humpday.

Little Earthquake are currently touring the single around the country, giving fans a sneaky listen to songs from their debut album which will hit stores later this year.

20 February 2015 – Rad Bar, Wollongong
21 February 2015 – Mountain Sounds, Kariong
25 February 2015 – Newcastle Uni, Newcastle
25 February 2015 – Lass O’Gowrie, Newcastle
28 February 2015 – Sly Fox, Enmore
6 March 2015 – Penny Black, Melbourne
7 March 2015 – Baho Tacos, Rye
12 March 2015 – Bull and Bush, Windsor
13 March 2015 – Tattersall’s, Penrith
14 March 2015 – Good God Small Club, Sydney
18 March 2015 – Bald Faced Stag, Leichardt

Human Face Give Taste of Album with “Follow Me Down”


Melbourne’s Human Face urge us to “skip town, jump ship, walk right out of our skin” in their debut single “Follow Me Down.” It’s all decidedly creepy until you add those fabulous synths and dub-style bass and drum beats.

The song comes from Human Face’s debut album, which is already sounding really special. The songs came together in country Victoria, where the lads spent nights listening to the songs of Leadbelly and stargazing. They enlisted the help of some of Australia’s brightest young talents including Ainslie Wills, Hailey Cramer, Husky’s Evan Tweedie, Tommy Spender, and Brighter Later’s Jaye Kranz.

We’ll get to hear whether the album lives up to that enviable list of cameos in the middle of the year, but fans should get a sneak peek at the launch of Follow me Down at Collingwood’s The Grace Darling on February 28.

Image used with permission from Shows in Space

Anthony Callea @ Taronga Zoo, Sydney – 14 February 2015

I’ve always thought Anthony Callea was talented, but it took him covering the music of George Michael to turn me from casual admirer to a concert goer. The scheduling of his Twilight at Taronga concert on Valentine’s Day also didn’t hurt. The zoo’s one of my favourite places in the whole world, so the idea of spending the most romantic day of the year there, capped off by a concert was irresistible.

Sadly the weather gods didn’t realise just what a perfect evening it was supposed to be. My husband and I were soggy in ponchos, umbrellas overhead as we waited on the zoo’s concert lawns. Support act Caterina Torres provided a pleasant enough distraction from the gloomy weather. She’s got a lovely voice, but this Voice graduate never really wowed me. Her originals showed some real promise, and I appreciated her decision to play with only the accompaniment of a bandmate on acoustic guitar. However, her predictable covers of top 40 hits were a bit bland. I suppose you’ve got to appeal to the masses at this sort of show, but it all never got to the next gear for me.

It was almost as if the weather gods understood that Anthony Callea was the main event and that we should be focusing on him rather than the rain when he took the stage. We were treated with clear skies for his set chockfull of George Michael hits. I had a ball when I went and saw George a few years back, and I wondered whether Anthony could do the songs justice. I knew he had the voice for them, but I had a question mark over the charisma. However, he charmed the pants off me. His connection to these songs is evident, so you feel them just as deeply as you did when George sang them originally.

I felt a serious bout of déjà vu swooning over yet another gay man singing sexy songs like “Father Figure” and “Fastlove.” His version of “Kissing a Fool” could have stood to have been slowed down a little to capture the jazzy lounge feel of the original, but with just an hour and a quarter on the clock I guess sacrifices need to be made. Backing vocalist Susie Ahern was more than capable of taking over Mary J. Blige’s vocals for “As,” but again I was a little less enthusiastic about Caterina’s role in “I Knew You Were Waiting For Me.” Aretha Franklin’s soul shoes are big, but this version wasn’t a patch on the one Anthony laid down with Casey Donovan on the album.

Given the time restraints on a zoo concert, I wasn’t sure that we’d get an encore. But what an encore. The moment I heard the first strains of Wham!’s “I’m Your Man” I knew I couldn’t just settle for the chair dancing I’d been doing all night. I left my bag and husband behind and sprang down the front, joining the throng of people soaking up one last song. To experience one of my favourite George Michael songs so unexpectedly as it didn’t make Anthony’s recent album was such a fitting way to end one of the most fun, fabulous concert experiences I’ve had in some time.

Image source: own photos

Big Strong Brute Back with “Wedding Pages”

After taking a sabbatical year in Berlin, Brisbane singer-songwriter Big Strong Brute is back to delight our ears with his new single “Wedding Pages.”

It’s a well-crafted slice of alterna-rock that reminds me a little of something Ryan Adams might have written on one of his better days. Make sure you tune in to the lyrics which take a clever swipe at the conservatism surrounding the institution of marriage.

Join Tkay Maidza’s M.O.B.

I’ve been a little slow to join the Tkay Maidza party, but I’m really feeling her new single “M.O.B.” It’s got a great pop sensibility and some seriously skilled rapping, but then you start listening to the lyrics and you start to realise its genius. The song’s a letter to Tkay’s future 19-year-old self, a reminder of what she needs to do to stay true to herself and succeed.

“M.O.B.” comes from Tkay Maidza’s debut album, which is scheduled to hit stores later this year. Tkay’s got a few shows coming up including slots at Groovin the Moo and supporting Charli XCX.

21 February 2015 – Mountain Sounds, Kariong
29 April 2015 – Metro Theatre, Sydney (supporting Charli XCX)
1 May 2015 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne (supporting Charli XCX)
2 May 2015 – Groovin the Moo, Bendigo
3 May 2015 – Groovin the Moo, Canberra
7 May 2015 – The Met, Brisbane (supporting Charli XCX)
9 May 2015 – Groovin the Moo, Maitland
10 May 2015 – Groovin the Moo, Townsville

Image used with permission from Dew Process

Benny Walker Tours “Through the Forest”

Victorian troubadour Benny Walker has spent the last year writing, recording, and touring across this wide brown land. The process helped him create Through the Forest, his forthcoming album featuring the brilliantly bluesy new single “The Fool.”

The album saw Benny reuniting with Shane O’Mara, who produced his debut album Sinners & Saints in 2012. “There’s something that comes from Shane and I working together, that makes it sound like a record,” he explained.

Benny will support Through the Forest’s release with a national tour this autumn.

7 March 2015 – Moama Bowling Club, Moama
13 March 2015 – Twilight at Taronga Zoo, Sydney (supporting Dan Sultan)
27 March 2015 – Darwin Railway Club, Darwin
28 March 2015 – The Arnhem Club, Nhulunbuy
9 April 2015 – Skukum Lounge @ The Junk Bar, Brisbane
10 April 2015 – Thornbury Theatre, Melbourne
12 April 2015 – Newtown Social Club, Sydney
18 April 2015 – Suttons House of Music, Ballarat
19 April 2015 – The Wheatsheaf Hotel, Adelaide
24-26 April 2015 – Mount Beauty Music Festival, Mount Beauty
1 May 2015 – Beaches Hotel, Thirroul
3 May 2015 – Rhythm Hut, Gosford
6 May 2015 – Mothers Milk, Sawtell
10 May 2015 – Redcliffe On the Murray, Pinjarra

Ainslie Wills Impresses with “Drive”

Ultra-cool Melbourne songstress Ainslie Wills wouldn’t have dreamed of leaving the cultural haven of her home to record up north, but when she met Brisbane-based producer Matt Redlich she knew she had to make the trip. “Drive” is the first track to come from their collaboration, and it’s brilliant.

“Drive” will form part of Ainslie’s new EP Oh the Gold, which will be released later this year. Fans should get a sneak peek of her new material when she launches the single at Melbourne’s The Toff in Town on February 26 and Sydney’s Newtown Social Club on March 14.