I frankly haven’t thought of Wheatus since their song “Teenage Dirtbag” unexpectedly tore up charts around the world ten years ago. But it seems that despite line-up changes, lawsuits, intellectual property theft, interstate art heist investigations, and a lack of any discernible hit since the New York indie rock act are still kicking on.

And strangely enough, they’re bringing their “Still a Teenage Dirtbag” tour to Australia. They’ve even scored a slot at Newcastle’s Fat as Butter Festival! When they play here you’ll get to hear that big hit and god knows what else, but that’s the main thing right?

Any surprise that the venues are small, and that tickets for the headlining shows cost just $35?

19 September 2012 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
20 September 2012 – Metropolis Fremantle
21 September 2012 – The Hi-Fi Sydney
22 September 2012 – Fat As Butter Festival, Newcastle
23 September 2012 – The Hi-Fi, Brisbane

Sydney post hard-core outfit My City Screams released their long awaited new EP, Surroundings, to iTunes today.

The mini-album features six full throttle tracks including the first single “Counterparts.” The band says this sophomore EP is their biggest achievement to date. It shows a band that’s matured since recording their debut, No Mirrors, No Reflections, and notching up plenty of live experience. Their trademark energetic sound, with big guitar breaks and heavy hitting bass, is there, but it’s more seasoned this time around.

My City Screams will back up the EP release with a national tour in June. Watch this space for dates!

Image used with permission from RAWR Music!

The nomadic Sui Zhen has used her travels as creative fodder for her debut album Two Seas.

It’s truly a global release, with tracks written, mixed, and recorded here, there, and everywhere. Songs written in the bustle of Sydney were laid down in the calmer surrounds of a Southern Highlands church before being arranged in Berlin and finally mixed in on the New South Wales South Coast. While visiting family in Bahrain, Sui Zhen knew the time was right to stop collecting songs and unleash them on the public.

The internationally influenced disc is best described as indie-folk, although the dashes of country, pop, and other genres mean it doesn’t neatly fit in any box. The single “Little Frog” gives you some indication of what’s in store.

Two Seas hits stores today, which gives fans a few weeks to familiarise themselves with the songs before Sui Zhen takes the album on the road. See this exciting singer-songwriter and her full band at the following launch shows:

30 May 2012 – The Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood
1 June 2012 – The Lass’O'Gowrie, Wickham
3 June 2012 – FBi Social, Kings Cross
6 June 2012 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
13 June 2012 – Yours and Owls, Wollongong (Free)
14 June 2012 – The Front Café & Gallery, Canberra

If the old saying that there’s no rest for the wicked is true, the lads from Busby Marou must be very bad boys. Fresh from shows in North America, this hardworking Rockhampton duo is preparing to hit local stages again.

The forthcoming tour celebrates the recent release of the deluxe edition of their self-titled debut album. If you still don’t have it yet, the addition of the new single “I Still Don’t Believe,” some old EP tracks, and a few choice cover versions might convince you to invest!

The single tour is your last chance to see Busby Marou before they return to North America for the rest of the year. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

14 June 2012 – Lizottes, Kincumber
15 June 2012 – The Cambridge, Newcastle
16 June 2012 – Diggers Grand Ballroom, Tamworth
20 June 2012 – Heritage Hotel, Wollongong
22 June 2012 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
23 June 2012 – Zierholz, Canberra
24 June 2012 – The New Albury Hotel, Albury (Free)
27 June 2012 – Bended Elbow, Geelong
28 June 2012 – The Corner, Melbourne
29 June 2012 – Fowlers, Adelaide
6 July 2012 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury
7 July 2012 – Rosemount Hotel, Perth
8 July 2012 – Newport Hotel, Fremantle
12 July 2012 – Woombye Pub, Sunny Coast
13 July 2012 – The Sound Lounge, Gold Coast
14 July 2012 – The Tivoli, Brisbane
15 July 2012 – Great Northern, Byron Bay

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

I was thrilled to wake up to the news that George Michael is returning to our shores. I was disappointed when illness derailed his plans to bring his Symphonica tour to Australia earlier this year, so it’s exciting to see he hasn’t forgotten about us during his recovery.

George put on one of the best shows of the year when he toured here in 2010. With the addition of a symphony orchestra and the promise of some long awaited new material, these Aussie dates are sure to take things up a notch. While I look forward to hearing some new tunes, I’m also excited to hear he’ll play hits from way back in the Wham! days and some choice cover versions.

Tickets for the following shows go on sale to the public on May 10 at noon:

13 November 2012 – Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
17 November 2012 – All Phones Arena, Sydney
21 November 2012 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
27 November 2012 – Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
1 December 2012 – Hope Estate Winery, Hunter Valley

Image source: Insasse @ Wikipedia Commons

Perth act The Autumn Isles are taking their brand of psychedelic pop to Melbourne and its suburbs for four big shows in just three nights!

Kicking off tonight, the band will treat discerning music lovers to tracks from their colourful debut album Kaleidoscopes. This isn’t a band that relies on studio trickery, so I’m sure they’ll shine in the live setting. Melbournites can catch them at the following shows over the next few days:

3 May 2012 – Bertha Brown, Melbourne
5 May 2012 – Purepop Records, St Kilda (3 pm)
5 May 2012 – Northcote Social Club, Northcote
6 May 2012 – The Retreat, Abbotsford

Image used with permission from The Autumn Isles

Mia Dyson made a big impression on the Australian music charts in the last naughties, but seemed to disappear just as quickly. But it turns out she didn’t give up the dream; she just relocated it to the United States.

After three years touring America with big name artists like Stevie Nicks, Dave Stewart, and Chris Isaak, Mia’s reconnecting with her local fans. The independent artist askedmusic lovers to pre-order her new album through the Pledge Music campaign. These donations will then go towards funding the release. She actually raised enough to make the album in just one week, so Mia wants to say thanks for the support.

Which brings me to “Tell Me,” an achingly gorgeous new track that Mia’s giving away to her fans.

“Tell Me is a track I felt would really resonate with fans of my previous albums,” she explained. “It gives a hint of what I’ve been up to in the studio, so I really wanted fans to hear it first, before we get to the craziness of an album campaign later in the year!”

You can hear the song here, and if you like it just sign up to the Mia Dyson mailing list for the free download. Hopefully that will tide you over until the new album, dubbed The Moment, hits stores in August.

Nine Sons of Dan have introduced us to their forthcoming EP The New Kids with the rocking new single “Diamond Skin.”

The single shows us the way Nine Sons of Dan have matured since their last release, no doubt under the guidance of American producer J.R. McNeely (Amberlin, Paramore). It hits harder, but it’s got this strong melodic core that anchors it so well. While J.R. McNeely took the reins on “Diamond Skin” the remaining five tracks were overseen by Forrester Savell (Karnivool, The Butterfly Effect).

The New Kids should be a big release for the band who took out the rock category in last year’s New Artist to Radio Awards. It’ll hit record store shelves around the world on June 29, not long after the band wraps up their support slots for The Darkness.

Drummer Morgan “Flakey” Blake says the single captures the energy of Nine Sons of Dan’s live shows, so if you dig it you’ll probably want to see them in the flesh. Conveniently enough once their dates with The Darkness wrap up they’re taking the EP on the road. Catch the Gold Coast lads at the following shows this July:

12 July 2012 – Port Macquarie Hotel, Port Macquarie (18+)
13 July 2012 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle (18+)
14 July 2012 – Youth Arts Warehouse @ Metrodome, Gosford (All Ages)
15 July 2012 – The Lair @ Metro Theatre, Sydney (All Ages)
19 July 2012 – The Zoo, Brisbane (18+)
21 July 2012 – The PA @ Jupiters Casino, Gold Coast (18+)
27 July 2012 – Fowlers Live, Adelaide (All Ages)
28 July 2012 – Revolver Upstairs, Melbourne (18+)
29 July 2012 – Spensers Live, Melbourne (Under 18s, 2 pm)
4 August 2012 – The Hive, Brisbane (All Ages)

Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment

Regular readers may have noted that I haven’t reported on The Voice as I have other reality music franchises. It’s been a deliberate exile to be honest. While I’m tuning in I want to experience this one rather than feeling that pressure to type away each evening. Besides, no one needs to read what I’m writing around those late 10 pm finishes.

But I felt like weighing in now in the face of some shock eliminations. Having watched the first American series I knew what we were in for. I was so excited by the talent I saw, although I was nervous knowing the battle rounds were to come. These are tough, with singers paired up, forced to sing songs that may play to their competition’s strengths more than their own, forced to compete directly against other major players. It’s cutthroat stuff. I can’t say I was happy with every decision made last night, but it’s the nature of a format designed to keep the pace moving.

Much has been made of Mahalia Barnes elimination. Her battle with Prinnie Stevens divided us in the lounge room. I understood why Joel paired them as they were bound to split votes, but it would have been a loss whichever way it fell. For what it’s worth I would have backed Mahalia, but I wonder whether that’s because I’ve seen her live many times before.

Honestly I was most disappointed by the matchup of Adam Hoek and Rachael Leahcar. It was only ever going to go one way, and Adam ended up feeling like a sacrificial lamb. I think the competition will be a lot poorer without him. With a different song and a different partner it could have been so different.

The Mitchell Thompson and Fatai Veamatahau battle also divided us. Frankly the performance was so searing neither of them deserved to depart. But it’s the nature of the beast, and again we lost another talent far too soon.

The Voice is far from an even playing field. I expect more shocks as I watch this evening. But I prefer this cutthroat fast-paced show over those drawn out reality TV shows any day, don’t you?

Image source: Wikipedia Commons

It took David Myles six albums to finally get to Australia over the Christmas period, but thankfully it hasn’t taken so long to arrange a return visit. The Canadian singer-songwriter will tour Australia again this May.

David’s still riding high on the success of that sixth album Into the Sun. That record’s been nominated for five awards at Canada’s upcoming East Coast Music Awards, so it’s clearly something special. David’s currently touring the album through his homeland, so he should be in fine form when he touches down in Oz.

Make sure you arrive at the shows early to see some local talent from Aussie duo Camille & Stuie. The twosome joined David at his Brass Monkey show last time, and he was so impressed by their performance he offered them the support slot this time around. See why at the following gigs.

18 May 2012 – The Pub,Tamworth (Free)
19 May 2012 – Woombye Pub, Woombye
20 May 2012 – Pioneer Village, Petrie
24 May 2012 – The Vault, Windsor
25 May 2012 – The Clarendon Guesthouse, Katoomba
26 May 2012 – The Basement, Sydney
1 June 2012 – The Brass Monkey, Cronulla
2 June 2012 – Lizotte’s, Kincumber
3 June 2012 – Lizottes, Newcastle
8 June 2012 – Wesley Anne Hotel, Northcote
9 June 2012 – Caravan Club, Oakleigh
10 June 2012 – Harvester Moon Cafe, Bellarine

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute