Month: March 2010

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Huey Lewis & The News Concert Postponed, But Was It Ever Happening?

Andrew McManus Presents has announced the postponement of Huey Lewis & The News upcoming Australian tour.
The official reason given is that “due to recording commitments the band is unable to leave the US at this time.”

But hang on. Shouldn’t the band have known they were recording at the time they were due Down Under? This is where the plot thickens. According to administrators on the Huey Lewis & The News forum, the tour was never confirmed with the band’s offices.

Now I don’t know a lot about organising concerts, but I would have assumed that should be the first step. Tickets probably shouldn’t have gone on sale months ago, and we definitely shouldn’t have heard of this two weeks out from the shows.

I’m lucky. I was attending a relatively local show, so all I’m dealing with is a little disappointment and money tied up until Andrew McManus Presents can reschedule the shows. That is, providing they can. But there are many folks out of pocket several hundred, even thousands of dollars, for travel and accommodation costs.

Frankly it shouldn’t happen, and I have to wonder how it has.

Image source: ZUMA Press

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Q & A with Gossling

From the fertile creative grounds of Victoria’s Albury-Wondonga region comes Gossling, otherwise known as singer-songwriter Helen Croome. After earning strong airplay on Triple J, Gossling is ready to take her sweet indie-pop stylings to the masses with the release of her debut EP If You Can’t Whistle and a mini tour. I caught up with Gossling today to chat about her first release, her upcoming shows, and sustainable living.

You’re about to hit the road to support the release of your debut EP If You Can’t Whistle. What can you tell me about it?
My debut EP was recorded at Sing Sing in Melbourne. I loved the recording experience and had an engineer/producer who was very patient and helpful while I experimented with arrangements and sample instruments along the way.

You’re playing shows in Melbourne and Canberra to support your EP launch. When will the rest of Australia get the chance to see you play?
Very soon. I’m really keen to play some regional shows in Victoria and tour some of the other major cities. If everything runs to plan I’ll be on the road with my band in May.

The show in Canberra should be a big one with The Whitlams and Whitley also on the bill. Are these artists you look up to as a new singer-songwriter?
I loved The Whitlams when I was growing up. Their first album was on high rotation on my bedroom CD player. I love Tim Freedman’s melodies and the thoughtful lyrical content of his songs. He has a depth to his melodies that I strive for in my own writing.

You played some big shows earlier this year supporting Lamb. What did you learn about performing live playing with such a big act?
I learnt that Lamb fans are the best fans in the world. They were such a supportive audience. I thought I would be talked over and ignored being the support act to such a well known band, but I was blown away by how attentive the crowd was during the set. Both in Melbourne and Brisbane, the crowds were amazing.

Continue reading “Q & A with Gossling” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Cherish Live Concert Raises Funds for Young Hospital

Some of Australia’s top entertainers will travel to the country town of Young for a charity show later this month.

Cherish Live will help raise funds for a renal unit at Young Hospital. Currently people requiring kidney dialysis must travel to Canberra three times a week for the treatment, a four-hour return trip which takes its toll on the already sick patients.

Evermore, Thirsty Merc, and Australian Idol graduates Luke Dickens, Roshani Priddis, and Teale Jakubenko will headline the charity show.

This is a really great cause, so I hope anyone who’s even close to Young gets out there and supports it.

Tickets are available online for $80 plus the booking fee.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Josh Pyke @ Lizotte’s, Kincumber – 27 February 2010

This weekend was busier than most for me; I saw George Michael live on Friday and on Saturday I caught Josh Pyke wrapping up his acoustic tour. While George Michael is at home entertaining the masses in a stadium, Josh Pyke seems made for intimate gigs like that I witnessed at Lizotte’s in Kincumber.

Before Josh even graced the stage I was in a good mood. While the busy restaurants at Sydney’s Fox Studios saw me grabbing a lukewarm pie at the football stadium on Friday, Lizotte’s treated us to a feast. Good wine was paired with delicious dishes like prawn and lobster tail ravioli and chicken breast supreme. I was already grinning from ear to ear when support act Russell Crawford began his set. I liked him instantly, a quirky singer songwriter delivering tunes on keyboards. Think Ben Folds without the angst. His music wasn’t especially challenging, but it was easy on the ear.

But Josh Pyke was the real attraction. When he stepped up the quiet chatter stopped and the room was transfixed. It’s always a treat to see a performer at Lizotte’s, a venue which holds no more than 100 lucky music fans. It takes intimacy to a new level, feeling more like a jam session amongst friends than a concert. Seeing Josh Pyke live makes you realise just how many hits he’s had. While he was still spruiking his latest disc Chimney’s Afire, his set also drew heavily from his breakthrough debut LP Memories & Dust. There were a couple of new tracks too, a hint at what’s next to come. He chatted easily with the crowd, joking with the girls singing along enthusiastically down the front and explaining the inspiration behind many of his songs.

I could not have asked to attend more different concerts this weekend; one a superstar performing on a grand scale, the other a more modest show in a stunning location. Just as I was glad to see George doing his thing on Friday, I am thrilled to have experienced Josh Pyke up close and acoustic at my favourite venue.

Image source: Stephen Katulka

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

General Pants Champions Singles with Major Label

General Pants has branched out into the world of music with its new singles only record label, Major Label.

The clothing retailer has celebrated the launch with the release of three tracks handpicked by the street-savvy chain’s staff. The singles are a real mixed bag. There’s the sweet folk-pop stylings of “Phone Call” from High Highs, the grittier garage sounds of “Another Trick” from Circle Pit, and the trippy electronic tune “In Our Circles” by Guineafowl.

The songs are available to stream through the General Pants website and to purchase at selected online retailers. But this is just the beginning, with the brand putting out its feelers to release plenty more exciting indie tracks. If you want to become a Major Label artist, contact Henry Roberts of Peer Group Media or take your demo to any General Pants store.

Image used with permission from Peer Group Media

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

George Michael @ Sydney Football Stadium, 26 February 2010

Australia has seen its fair share of disappointing comeback tours of late. There was lip-synching, lacklustre Britney. There was Whitney, who probably should have used a backing track. But on Friday night, George Michael bucked the trend to deliver one of the most entertaining concerts I’ve seen.

This was the concert I’ve waited my entire life for. He promised us early that he’d try to make up for lost time, and his greatest hits set was the perfect way to make amends for a 22-year absence. This wasn’t lip service; George Michael is a man who embraces both his past and present. He doesn’t shy away from Wham classics, performed in their original campy pop glory, or those early hits from the Faith album. As an 80s tragic I was on my feet to the energetic rendition of “I’m Your Man” and breathless at some of my favourite ballads, “A Different Corner,” “One More Try,” and “Father Figure.” I didn’t expect that they’d all make the set, let alone the first half of the show, and couldn’t wait to see what came after intermission.

The second half was generally more upbeat than the first, a celebration that seemed almost like a warm-up to Mardi Gras. George showed us that he’s got all the energy of a much younger man as he strutted the catwalk in cheeky police garb during “Outside.” “Amazing,” his dance tribute to partner Kenny Goss, was another highlight, as was the amped up version of “Spinning the Wheel.”

The encores were the perfect way to cap off an incredible night. Hearing him perform “Careless Whisper,” with its familiar saxophone riff and the lyrics I’ve sung into a hairbrush a thousand times, was one of the coolest moments of my life. “Freedom ’90” was a fitting closer, a number that saw us all singing loudly and waving our arms in the air in appreciation.

In comparison to other big name acts like Madonna and U2, George Michael’s show was remarkably low-key. There were no back-up dancers or pyrotechnics. The images projected onto big screens were simple. But the fact is, George doesn’t need any of that flash. His voice is still sublime. He oozes charm. And his back catalogue is incredibly strong. Sydney’s Football Stadium is a massive venue, but George managed to entertain every person inside it. George promised us early that he’d try to make up for lost time, and he did just that.

Image source: Yves Lorson @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Q & A with MM9’s Ben Ellingworth

MM9 are one of Australia’s most exciting new electronic rock outfits. To coincide with the release of their debut album The Air Between, the Sydney lads are about to embark on a national tour. I recently caught up with the band’s drummer and sample guru Ben Ellingworth to chat about the album, life on the road, and why he loves being on stage.


While you’ve got a loyal following, many Aussies may not be familiar with your music. How would you describe your sound?
Energetic, hard electro rock.

You’re about to release your debut LP The Air Between. What can you tell me about the album?
It’s a real progression in sound and style for us, and hopefully its the kind of record that reminds people why they went mental at the last MM9 show. It’s different from the previous releases but it’s not a complete departure.

The album was mixed by Mike Barbiero, who’s worked with some massive names like Guns N’ Roses and Metallica. What did he bring to your sound?
His attention and passion for what he does makes you realize why he has such an extensive discography including Anthrax, John Lennon, Thrice, Cypress Hill, Madonna; the list is ridiculous. The perfect blend of clarity and depth yet still keeping the energy of the raw live feel was amazing for us, he really captured an MM9 live show on record.

You’ve recorded a couple of EPs before this. How did that process prepare you for putting together the full-length album?
The first two EPs were both recorded quite differently, and I think we were very much still discovering what we really wanted to achieve. Every band has to spend a fair bit of time discovering their strengths, and with us it’s within the live show so with the full length album we really wanted to capture as much of the live energy of the band as possible.

As well as getting a lot better at pulling sounds, we all individually had a clear idea of what was needed to get the sounds from our amps, drums etc. Dan (who co-produced along with all his other duties) has gained so much experience over the past few years with all his remix/production work as well as mixing previous MM9 Releases had such a clear vision for sounds. There was very little in the way of editing with this album and I think that helped maintain the live element.

Originally there was the option to go over to the States and be there for the mix, but a sudden shift in the Aussie dollar changed things quite a bit. Files had to be sent back and forth with all of us receiving e-mails up to five times a day with different versions, and everything had to be orchestrated in order for the changes to be made correctly. That was a whole new experience for us. It really helped us learn how to articulate what we wanted from our music.
Continue reading “Q & A with MM9’s Ben Ellingworth” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

I’m Back!

Due to circumstances beyond my control, my former blog Oz Music Scene was shut down. And so I’m starting anew here at Sounds of Oz. It’s a little scary navigating the tech side of things now, but I’m getting there.

While the name might have changed, the philosophy remains the same. I simply want to celebrate the fantastic music of Australia in all its forms. That willingness to embrace all genres and sounds is rare in the blogosphere. Personally I think you’ll find just as many gems on commercial radio as underground internet stations. I hope to keep you updated on the artists that matter to you, and to introduce you to some new favourites along the way.

If you were an Oz Music Scene reader, I’m glad you found me again. Your support means a great deal, and I hope you enjoy my new home here. If you’re a first time reader, I hope you like what you see and visit often. To everyone, settle in and enjoy the ride!

Image source: Loserlady @ stock.xchng