Lauren Katulka

Posted on 17/01/2023 by Lauren Katulka

Vale Renee Geyer

What a terrible shock to hear of the passing of Renee Geyer this afternoon. While in the hospital for hip surgery, doctors discovered inoperable lung cancer. She died peacefully with friends and family members around her. She was just 69.

Renee was a true pioneer and an absolute force of nature. Hits like “Heading in the Right Direction” and her incredible cover of James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s Man’s World,” saw her inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Music Victoria Hall of Fame in 2013. She also received the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award at the Australian Women in Music Awards in 2018. My dad likes to tell a story about the time he saw her play Cardiff Workers Club in the ’70s. She wore a sheer see-through top that left nothing to the imagination, flirted outrageously with all the men sitting in the front row, and tore the roof of the place with one hell of a performance. So much confidence, so sure of herself, with charisma and talent to burn.

I saw Renee play countless times over the years and was always so struck by her sensational voice. As this video from Bird’s Basement last year shows, it was so compelling right to the end. We won’t see another like her. She will be so missed.

Image source: Denise O’Hara @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on 16/01/2023 by Lauren Katulka

Romanie Releases Powerful Pop Single “Anthony”

Watching art that imitates your own life can be pretty powerful. If you’re as talented as Naarm/Melbourne artist Romanie, it can also be inspirational. After she watched Anthony Hopkins playing a man coming to terms with dementia in “The Father” within a year of losing her grandfather to the disease, she felt compelled to write her latest single “Anthony”.

“I remember coming home from the cinema late at night and getting this wave of inspiration,” she recalled. “I sat down with my guitar and wrote the song almost completely in one go. We were still in and out of lockdowns and I was chatting on Zoom with my friends from overseas Michiel and Kate who encouraged me to finish the song. The first band rehearsal back, we played Anthony through and it felt like magic to make this song into something bigger with my band, so much fun.”

If you’ve ever lost someone to dementia, I know “Anthony” will strike a chord with you too. Romanie will celebrate its release with the following shows in the coming weeks.

16 January 2023 – The Merri Creek Tavern, Wurundjeri Country/Northcote (supporting Enjoy Your Stay)
19 January 2023 – Nighthawks, Yálla-birr-ang/Collingwood (supporting Dayzed)
22 January 2023 – Tomcat, Turrbal Country/Fortitude Valley (free)

Image used with permission from beehive; credit: Claire Louise

Posted on 10/01/202310/01/2023 by Lauren Katulka

LOSER Shows a Different Side With New Ballad, “Only One”

The music scene has been a little quiet as everyone’s taken time off for the festive season, so I’m pretty excited to hear my first great new release for the year. LOSER have just dropped “Only One”, their third song from their Stadium Dreams on a Bedroom Budget EP, and it continues the trend of quality releases from this alt-rock act.

It’s more of a ballad than the EP’s previous songs, but you could hardly accuse it of being gentle. If those powerful, heartfelt vocals don’t wake you up from your mid-afternoon slump, nothing will.

“The ballad of the EP, this song took ages to get right. We recorded it multiple times and I doubted it for a while but eventually, we got the right sound. ‘Only One’ is one of the first love songs I have written,” Tim Maxwell admitted. “No matter how many times you fuck up in life there will always be someone by your side to support you and give you hope.”

The music video sees the band playing live, giving fans a little taste of what they’re in for when they come to a LOSER show.

“We wanted all the music videos for the release to be live performances. This was to create a different reason to watch the video, because you are getting an actual live take audio performance and not the audio from the EP,” the band explained. “We also wanted to show people that we can actually play our own instruments. It’s funny that in 2023 that has become a point of difference, but we don’t wanna hide behind technology, because when it comes to performing we’re the real deal.”

You’ll get a chance to see LOSER playing live when they launch the single at Yah Yah’s in Naarm/Melbourne on February 17. The next track from their EP drops on February 24.

Image used with permission from beehive; credit: Ian Laidlaw

Posted on 02/01/202329/12/2022 by Lauren Katulka

Drugdealer Bringing the Good Stuff to Australia in March

I have a policy of listening to absolutely everything that comes my way. If you judge a book by its cover, or an artist by the way they present, you might miss out on a real gem. If I’d taken Drugdealer on face value, I might have assumed that this band with an edgy name and a long-haired frontman wouldn’t gel with my laidback summer holiday vibe. But nothing could be further from the truth. It turns out this Los Angeles outfit makes some fabulous yacht rock. What’s more, they’re coming your way Australia.

I’ve spent the morning listening to Drugdealer’s 2022 album Hiding in Plain Sight. They’ll showcase songs from that record and previous releases on this tour. Tickets are on sale now and the venues are small, so I’d say you should discover Drugdealer pronto, before you miss out.

4 March 2023 – Nine Lives Festival, Meeanjin/Brisbane
6 March 2023 – Factory Theatre, Eora/Sydney
8 March 2023 – Summertown Studio, Tandanya/Adelaide
9 March 2023 – Corner Hotel, Naarm/Melbourne
11 March 2023 – Milk Bar, Boorloo/Perth

Image used with permission from Good Intent; credit: Andrea Adolphy

Posted on 01/01/202328/12/2022 by Lauren Katulka

Find Yourself Under Bumpy’s Spell With “Hide & Seek”

What better way to kick off the New Year than with one of the country’s very best voices? Bumpy, a Naarm/Melbourne artist and proud Noongar woman, is about to release her debut EP, but before that she’s treating us to a sumptuous new single, Hide & Seek”.

“‘Hide & Seek has lived in many different forms in this project. From playing it solo, duo, trio to full band it has been a really enjoyable time arranging it to be recorded, trying to reflect more of the live band’s sound,” Bumpy explained. “Hide & Seek follows the playfulness of desire and the feelings of getting caught up in temptation.”

This track showcases Bumpy’s sublime vocals perfectly. Her soulful voice is just exquisite, and she knows how to use it just right. She isn’t one of those artists who litters her songs with runs and trills, preferring instead to use her voice to tell stories. It’s so authentic and honest, ensuring her message cuts through.

“Hide & Seek” comes from Bumpy’s EP Morning Sun, which drops on January 27.

Image used with permission from [PIAS] Australia; credit: Feign Jima

Posted on 31/12/202231/12/2023 by Lauren Katulka

2022: Year in Review

After a few years of disappointment, it feels like we’ve turned a bit of a corner in 2022. I’m still cautious about where I go and what I do, but at least concerts aren’t getting cancelled left, right, and centre. I came so much closer to compiling a top 10 of live shows! So while I’m keen to pop some bottles, I’m not doing so keen to put 2022 behind me. These are just some of the albums and concerts that put a smile on my face this year. What made your 2022 great? Be sure to let me know in the comments. Happy New Year!

Top 10 Albums of 2022

Top Shows for 2022

Photo by Myriam Zilles on Unsplash

Posted on 30/12/202210/01/2023 by Lauren Katulka

Casey Donovan Drops NYE Anthem “Shake It”

With the end of the year just a day away, Casey Donovan has dropped the ultimate party anthem. Once you hear “Shake It” once, I’m pretty sure you’ll add it to your NYE playlist. This is Casey’s first original single since she dropped her Eurovision entrant back in 2020, and it’s well and truly worth the wait.

A song this fun could only come with an equally entertaining music video. The clip, which stars some elite ballroom dancers, was filmed at the Revesby Community Centre, in the Bankstown LGA where Casey grew up.

“I’m proud of who I am and where I come from both heritage and the place, I grew up in,” Casey confirmed. “I will never mask or shy away from the suburbs, we all start from somewhere and everything and anything is possible”.

You can watch Casey debut this song tomorrow night at the ABC’s New Year’s Eve concert at the Sydney Opera House. She’ll be back there on January 26 for the network’s Australia Day concert. She’ll also appear on ABC’s Sydney World Pride concert at the Domain on February 24 and the Sydney World Pride First Nations Concert at the Opera House on March 2. Then on March 9 she’ll begin her starring run in & Juliet. It’s not even 2023, but already it’s shaping up to the be a big year for Casey Donovan!

Image used with permission from Karen-Lee Goody

Posted on 30/12/202223/12/2022 by Lauren Katulka

Michael Carpenter & The Banks Brothers Drop Bluegrass Banger, “If You’d Have Told Me”

I’m not sure I’ve ever written about a bluegrass track on Sounds of Oz before. After listening to “If You’ve Have Told Me”, the latest single from Michael Carpenter & The Banks Brothers, I’m convinced I need more music from this genre in my life. Michael said it wrote the song about the “hidden extras” that often reveal themselves in relationships once you’re in them.

With so much country music focused on crossing over to the mainstream, it’s refreshing to hear something so pure. If you dig it too, you’ll be as excited as I am to hear there’s more where this came from. Michael Carpenter & The Banks Brothers have recorded a whole bluegrass album, to be released early next year. Fans might get an early listen to some of that material when Michael Carpenter & The Banks Brothers play the Hunter Valley’s Dashville Skyline festival from February 25 to 27.

Image used with permission from Rock This Country

Posted on 29/12/202222/12/2022 by Lauren Katulka

The Sunday Estate Back With “Lost and Disappointed”

After impressing me with singles “Bike Thief” and “When You Get Home” in 2021, The Sunday Estate fell off my radar. It turns out they spent much of this year writing so they could end the year on a high. “Lost and Disappointed” is everything I love about these guys. It’s got a great pop-rock sound and super relatable lyrics.

“‘Lost and Disappointed’ is about being stuck in a loop of negative thought patterns, constantly overanalysing, overthinking and replaying everything you do in your head,’ explained the band’s frontman, Conor O’Reilly.

The good news is that this is just the first of three songs The Sunday Estate wrote with Xavier Dunn, who’s worked with the likes of Jack River, Gretta Ray, and Peking Duck. It sounds like we’ll be hearing a lot more from The Sunday Estate in 2023.

Image used with permission from Mirror Music Group; credit: Jess Gleeson

Posted on 28/12/2022 by Lauren Katulka

Melbourne Guitar Show Back in 2023

After the pandemic spoiled the fun over the last couple of years, the Melbourne Guitar Show is making its triumphant return to Caulfield Racecourse in March. As always, it’ll feature a who’s who of guitar talent including international acts Eric Bibb and Nick Johnston and local legends Steph Strings, Hussy Hicks, Lloyd Spiegel, and heaps more.

If you want to start playing the guitar or upgrade your set-up, this is the place to do it. There’ll be more than 50 exhibitors showcasing electric and acoustic guitars, amps, effects pedals, and so much more. With seminars, demonstrations, and plenty of live performances, no self-respecting guitar enthusiast can afford to miss it.

“The association is pleased to be able to announce the re-birth of our iconic show in 2023. The industry has missed the chance to meet face-to-face and talk to guitar enthusiasts about our great products,” said Alex Masso, the executive officer of the organising body, the Australian Music Association.

The Melbourne Guitar Show hits Caulfield Racecourse on March 4 and 5. Visit the website before February 14 to secure discounted early bird tickets.