Month: October 2015

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sounds Like Hits the Central Coast

The Florida Beach Bar at Terrigal has always been one of the hottest nightspots on the Central Coast, but it’s set to become even more sizzling with the launch of Sounds Like nights. Safia, Boo Seeka, and Surfdisco will headline the first of these indie-electronic club nights. Local DJs Steve Pike, Blake Richardson, and Kahl Page will warm up the crowds.

Sounds Like #1 will take over Terrigal’s Florida Beach Bar on December 4 from 6 pm until late. Tickets cost just $20, or $40 for VIP, and are available now from Oztix.

 

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Thomas Calder Back as Daggy Man

I remember the first time I heard the music from The Trouble with Templeton. I was transfixed by its heart and intimacy. However, somewhere along the way my enthusiasm started to wane as the band’s sound became louder. So I’m thrilled to hear the group’s singer/songwriter Thomas Calder has emerged with a brand new solo side project Daggy Man.

With the first single “Little Whip,” Thomas has returned to his roots. The song is small bit compelling, and just beautiful. It’s our first taste of an EP which Thomas wrote and recorded while travelling around the United Kingdom earlier this year.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

GL Get Me Grooving with “Number One”

It’s only Tuesday but after a busy weekend filled with work I’m feeling those mid-week blues a day early. If there was ever a song to bust me out of my funk, it would be the very funky new single “Number One” from Melbourne duo GL.

This is a pure retro throwback, with shimmery synths and a great melodic hook. Ella Thompson’s voice is sugary sweet and the production from Graeme Pogson is spot on.

GL will launch the single for their hometown fans at the Gasometer Hotel on October 24.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Boy & Bear Claim Aussie Number One Album

Boy & Bear’s Limit of Love has become the tenth Aussie album to top the charts this year. The achievement is the latest in a dream run for the Sydney indie-folk band, who also hit number one with their last album Harlequin Dream and number two with their debut, Moonfire.

Boy & Bear’s success has pushed Triple J’s Like a Version Volume 11 down to number two this week. Last week’s second-place getters Cold Chisel have to be content with a fall to number four, as Selena Gomez has charted at number three with her latest effort Revival. Parkway Drive have also slipped a few spots this week to land at number seven with Ire.

Hats off to Cyrus Villanueva, who sits at number six on the singles charts with his cover of “Wicked Game.” This strong showing, well above any of the other X Factor efforts makes me think my husband might be right in believing Cyrus has this competition in the bag. Personally I’m pinning my hopes on Matt & Jess, so we’ll see.

Here’s what’s charting in the top 10s this week.

Top 10 Albums
1. Limit of Love – Boy & Bear
2. Triple J Like a Version Vol. 11 – Various
3. Revival – Selena Gomez
4. The Perfect Crime – Cold Chisel
5. If I Should Go Before You – City & Colour
6. 1989 – Taylor Smith
7. Ire – Parkway Drive
8. I’ll Take Everything – James Blunt
9. Beauty Behind the Madness – The Weeknd
10. I Cry When I Laugh – Jess Glynne

Top 10 Singles
1. “Downtown” – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee & Grandmaster Caz
2. “What Do You Mean?” – Justin Bieber
3. “On My Mind” – Ellie Goulding
4. “Sugar” – Robin Schulz feat. Francesco Yates
5. “Hotline Bling” – Drake
6. “Wicked Game” – Cyrus Villanueva
7. “Lay It All On Me” – Rudimental feat. Ed Sheeran
8. “Dessert” – Dawin
9. “Locked Away” – R. City feat. Adam Levine
10. “The Hills” – The Weeknd

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Ruckus Release “Steady Hands” for HeadSpace

Sydney band The Ruckus is the latest act to put their talents towards mental health initiatives in support of Mental Health Month. Their latest single “Steady Hands” is a melodic slice of hard rock with a wonderful message of empowerment that should resonate whether you’re dealing with mental health issues or not.

The cause is close to The Ruckus’ heart, as the band has personally faced the challenges that depression and other mental health concerns can bring.

All proceeds from the sale and streaming of “Steady Hands” will benefit the HeadSpace initiative, which provides early intervention mental health services to young people in need. So if you like what you hear, please head over to iTunes and download it to support this great cause.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Lucy Neville Releases Single for Beyond Blue

I don’t normally write about singles I can’t share with you, but when it came to “There’s Light” by Lucy Neville I thought it was important to make an exception.

Lucy took inspiration from her mother’s lifelong battle with depression.

“It was a very personal and challenging theme to write a song about, but I ultimately wanted it to be a message about hope and a light at the end of the tunnel,” she explained in a press release.

“There’s a stigma attached to mental illness, because it’s not something that everyone can understand: it’s not black and white. It’s different for everyone who goes through it, which can make it difficult to understand for those who have not yet experienced it.”
Lucy used the recording time she won after taking out the City’s and Sydney Youth Music’s Our Kind of Music gig to lay the song down.

Fittingly, all proceeds from the sale of “There’s Light” will benefit Beyond Blue. So it doesn’t matter that I can’t share it with you here, because you should reach into your pocket and pay for it if you want to hear it. You get some new music, Beyond Blue gets cash, and everybody wins.

Image used with permission from Ditto Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The New Savages Unleash Music Video

The New Savages have just released their very first music video to accompany their new single “Smokestack Lightnin’.”

This song sounds like it’s come out of America’s Deep South rather than Melbourne. I love its old school blues feel. It’s the second track lifted from The New Savages debut EP, In My Time of Dyin’.

The New Savages are playing a few shows this month ahead of a more extensive national tour later this year.

17 October 2015 – Marysville Bakery, Marysville
24 October 2015 – The Rooks Return, Melbourne
29 October 2015 – The B.East, Melbourne
31 October 2015 – The Drunken Poet, Melbourne

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Wes Carr Plays George Harrison Shows Around Oz

It’s a bit controversial, but I was raised to believe George Harrison was the best Beatle. Dad told me All Things Must Pass is one of the greatest albums ever released, and that love songs didn’t come better than “Something.” It sounds like Wes Carr might have something like the upbringing I did, because he’s bringing a tribute show, Here Comes the Sun, to intimate venues around the country next year.

“To me, George was a spiritual leader in his own way, as he was a guiding light for so many. Through his music he questioned life and challenged modern day thought,” Wes explained in a press statement. “I believe George’s music has more relevance now than it ever did – for all of these reasons, I knew I had to pay tribute to the life and work of George Harrison through a live show.”

Tickets are on sale now for these special performances.

1 April 2016 – The Glasshouse, Port Macquarie
2 April 2016 – Capitol Theatre, Tamworth
8 April 2016 – Dubbo Regional Theatre, Dubbo
9 April 2016 – Performing Arts Centre, Cessnock
15 April 2016 – Laycock Street Theatre, Gosford
16 April 2016 – Wenty Leagues, Wentworthville
22 April 2016 – Club Sapphire, Merimbula
23 April 2016 – Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Wollongong
24 April 2016 – Milton Theatre, Milton
29 April 2016 – Jetty Theatre, Coffs Harbour
30 April 2016 – Byron Theatre, Byron Bay
6 May 2016 – Orange Civic Theatre, Orange
7 May 2016 – Young Ex Services Club, Young
13 & 14 May 2016 – Sydney Opera House Studio, Sydney
20 & 21 May 2016 – Judith Wright Centre, Brisbane
25-29 May 2016 – Chapel Off Chapel, Melbourne
3 June 2016 – Phee Broadway Theatre, Castlemaine
4 June 2016 – Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool
9 June 2016 – Burnie Arts Theatre, Burnie
10 June 2016 – Launceston Country Club, Launceston
11 June 2016 – Wrest Point Showroom, Hobart
17 June 2016 – Empire Church Theatre, Toowoomba
18 June 2016 – The Events Centre, Caloundra
24 June 2016 – Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre, Wangaratta
25 June 2016 – Capital Theatre, Bendigo
30 June 2016 – Albany Entertainment Centre, Albany
1 July – Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, Bunbury
2 July 2016 – Heath Ledger Theatre, Perth
8 July 2016 – Prince Of Wales Opera House, Gulgong
9 July 2016 – Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre, Bathurst
15 July 2016 – Wonthaggai Community Arts Centre, Wonthaggi
16 July 2016 – West Gippsland Arts Centre, Warragul
22 July 2016 – Wesley Performing Arts Centre, Horsham
23 July 2016 – Forge Theatre, Bairnsdale
29 July 2016 – Griffith Regional Theatre, Griffith
30 July 2016 – The Q Theatre, Queanbeyan
5 August 2016 – Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide
6 August 2016 – Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre, Mount Gambier
12 August 2016 – Chaffey Theatre, Renmark
13 August 2016 – Mildura Arts Centre, Mildura
19 August 2016 – Keith Michell Theatre, Port Pirie
20 August 2016 – Middleback Arts Centre, Whyalla
26 August 2016 – The Cube, Wodonga
27 August 2016 – Civic Theatre, Wagga Wagga

Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Limbo” – Bad Pony

I’ve had one of those mornings where I’ve spent time chasing my tail answering emails which forced me to go back to work that I thought was behind me. It’s only just gone 9, but I feel like I’ve lost the head start I needed to get the mountain of work I have waiting for me under control.

In amongst the frustration, I thought it would be the perfect time to listen to Bad Pony’s Limbo EP. Every one of the singles I’d listened to put a smile on my face, so I hoped it might temper some of the aggravation I felt.

This five-track EP showed me that Bad Pony are much more than the party band I’d pegged them as. The EP leads with the singles, “Michael Moore,” “Down to You,” and “White Russian.” Listening to them all together like this was a wonderful reminder of just how much I’m digging this band. But then the EP takes a turn and shows Bad Pony can do darkness just as well. The title track “Limbo” is so poignant. The delicate first verse, before the guitars kick in, took my breath away, but it builds beautifully after that. This is a song that packs a real emotional punch. The desperation of closing track “Guard Down” really struck a nerve on this morning where I’m feeling less than chipper.

I liked what I knew of Bad Pony, but the Limbo EP has turned that like to love. It’s a lovely little taster of what this band is all about that has me hanging out for more.

Bad Pony are currently touring the EP all around the East Coast. Here are the places you can still see them play.

16 October 2015 – Beach Hotel, Byron Bay
17 October 2015 – The Farm, Byron Bay
18 October 2015 – Sounds of Sunday @ Broadbeach Tavern, Gold Coast
6 November 2015 – Moonshine Bar, Manly
19-22 November 2015 – Australian Music Week, Cronulla
28 November 2015 – The Roxbury Hotel, Glebe
4 December 2015 – The Pier, Port Macquarie
5 December 2015 – The Small Ballroom, Newcastle
31 December 2015 – New Year’s Eve, Sydney Harbour

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Anna Cordell Launches These Walls in Sydney Tomorrow Night!

For most of us in Australia, mid-week nights are spent vegging out in front of reality TV. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to actually get out and do something more memorable?

Sydneysiders, consider this a reminder that Anna Cordell is launching her EP These Walls at The Vanguard tomorrow night with support from William Crighton and Sarah Belkner. Tickets are available from The Vanguard website. This promises to be a night of live music that’s much more memorable than watching Sam Frost break another man’s heart.

Be there or be square!

Image used with permission from Anna Cordell