Author: Lauren Katulka

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“In Colour” – King Social

King Social’s fans had such faith in the Townsville band that they donated nearly $28,000 through PledgeMusic for the debut album. The sum was more than any other Aussie act had ever raised through crowdfunding. The gesture humbled King Social and made this five-piece determined to create the best debut possible. With In Colour, King Social might just have achieved its goal.

What a great sound King Social has. Combining silky soulful vocals with rapid-fire rhymes isn’t anything new, but few bands achieve this mix as confidently as King Social. This band also has such a big, tight sound, it’s incredible to think there are just five members of the group.

In Colour bursts out of the gate with “Dance On Your Grave.” It’s such a funky number that’s all attitude. King Social are in their element with party music like this and other floor fillers like “Down With This” and “Watch Out.”

While those upbeat numbers are flawless, King Colour are one of those rare bands that seem just as comfortable when slowing things down. “She’s Gone” is a beautiful ballad about lost love. The single “Lemonade” continues to resonate with all its parental wisdom. King Social is such a tight band, even when it’s letting loose with wailing electric guitars, but it’s refreshing to hear the sound stripped back on the dreamy closer “I Had a Dream.” This is one of those acts that can truly do it all.

In Colour is in stores now. King Social is currently touring around the country. Here are the remaining dates.

9 September 2017 – New Globe Theatre, Brisbane
10 September 2017 – The Bearded Dragon, Tamborine
23 September 2017 – Longreach Cup, Longreach
29 & 30 September 2017 – Caloundra Music Festival, Caloundra
1 October 2017 – The Salt House, Cairns
21 October 2017 – Darwin Railway Club, Darwin
25 November 2017 – Brews & Barbie Bash, Toowoomba
8 December 2017 – King’s Christmas, Townsville

Image used with permission from King Social

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Liv Cartledge Charms With “Heard Your Name” Ahead of EP Release

Two years ago Liv Cartledge took home the top prize in the Telstra Road to Discovery competition. This Melbourne singer-songwriter has made the most of the opportunities this competition provided and honed her craft over the years. Her new EP Timber, featuring the beautiful new single “Heard Your Name” is the culmination of those efforts.

Liv’s voice has such an appealing, huskiness to it. She’s also an excellent songwriter, so make sure you really listen to those lyrics.

“Heard Your Name started out as a grief-stricken heart pour onto paper not long after I lost my dad,” she explained. “Somehow after a few hours it had twisted itself into a song. I guess that’s the beauty of being a songwriter.”

Timber is released on October 6. Liv will take its tracks to the people with a string of shows in October and November.

7 October 2017 – Some Velvet Morning, Melbourne
11 October 2017 – Folkswagon, Sydney (FREE)
12 October 2017 – Porch Light Sessions, Sydney
13 October 2017 – Parlour Gig, Sydney
14 October 2017 – Parlour Gig, Central Coast
21-23 October 2017 – Swagger Music Festival, Wandiligong
3-6 November 2017 – Happy Wanderer Music Festival, Benalla
3 November 2017 – Parlour Gig, Beechworth
5 November 2017 – Parlour Gig, Wagga Wagga
10 November 2017 – The Grace Emily, Adelaide (FREE)
18 & 19 November 2017 – Brown Brothers Spring Festival, Milawa
24 November 2017 – Tap House, Bendigo

Image used with permission from Beehive PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Benny Walker Shows His Soul With “Ghost”

I haven’t heard any new music from Benny Walker in a couple of years. Back then he was impressing me with the bluesy rock of his album Through the Forest. Now he’s back with a new sound which will different is no less impressive. His latest single “Ghost” is a groovy, soulful number with silky smooth vocals and a powerful message.

Benny says “Ghost” is an “ode to all the greedy, power-hungry, shortsighted people trying to fuck up our world … this one’s for them.” He cowrote the track with ARIA award winning producer Jan Skubiszewski, who also helped produce Benny’s forthcoming six-track EP Undercover.

Before that drops, Benny will road-test his new material on his Wine, Women, & Soul tour. At intimate venues with Benny switching between the piano and guitar to bring his new songs to life, it’s bound to be something special.

15 September 2017 – Basement Discs Instore, Melbourne
6 October 2017 – Skylark Room, Upwey
7 October 2017 – Old Castlemaine Gaol, Castlemaine (with Alice Skye)
8 October 2017 – Turtles Bend, Teesdale, Geelong
13 October 2017 – Memo Music Hall, Melbourne (with Alice Skye)
15 October 2017 – The Mill, Echuca
22 October 2017 – Smiths Alternative, Canberra
28 October 2017 – Bendigo Bank Theatre at The Capital, Bendigo

Image used with permission from Little Giant Agency

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Ghost Melodies” – Dan Flynn

The older I get, the faster time seems to pass. Two years felt like an eternity when I was younger, but now it seems to pass in the blink of an eye. When time appears to pass so quickly, hearing the music an artist you enjoyed a couple of years ago is making now can seem jarring. But as I’ve learned listening to Ghost Melodies, the latest effort from Dan Flynn, evolution can be a good thing.

I must admit, this isn’t an album I immediately warmed to. Dan’s mellow folky sounds seemed to be buried underneath synthesizers, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about. The electronic sounds seemed at odds with his hushed, soothing voice, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. Yet I found myself coming back to Ghost Melodies. It’s taken me about a week, but I think I’m on board.

That’s not to say that every song is a success for me. The opening songs, “Get Ready for a Fight” and “Everything He Does” still haven’t revved me. The music has such an energetic pop feel that Dan’s gentle vocals don’t quite match. But then with “Across the Wire,” a more mellow, dramatic number, I think everything fell into place. The following song, “This Too Shall Pass,” has a great groove reminiscent of The Temper Trap that I also love.

Dan hasn’t abandoned his folk roots completely. The songs still have a folk undercurrent, although often that gets lost in the instrumentation. “One Eye Open” is a return to the finger-picking acoustic driven songwriting I first fell in love with though. The Johnny Cash-inspired “Man I Have Become” is similarly stripped back. These songs have such a nostalgic feel, and I’m thankful for their inclusion, even if they don’t quite seem like they fit on this album.

“Last Waltz,” the final track on Ghost Melodies, is another daring left turn, a simplistic love song that you might imagine your grandparents slow dancing to. It’s an interesting progression from “This One’s For You.” On the surface, the two songs don’t seem to have a lot in common: one a lush synthesized charmer driven with big booming drums, the other much more restrained and nostalgic. However, at their core they’re both waltzes. Once you make peace with that, the juxtaposition makes so much sense.

Dan Flynn takes some real risks with Ghost Melodies. The results don’t always resonate with me, but when the gambles pay off it’s so rewarding. Listening to this album can be challenging, but I’d rather that than hearing something that plays it too safe. Ghost Melodies is available from September 15.

Image used with permission from Dan Flynn

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Empire Park Makes Strong Statement With “Weight”

If you have a sore head after a big Saturday night, I apologise. But if you want something big and bold to get through your Sunday, Melbourne-based alternative rock act Empire Park has you covered with “Weight.”

This is such a strong track, delivered with the confidence of stadium rock veterans. It’s already received praise from members of Gang of Youths and I Know Leopard. I’ll add my name to the list of supporters.

“The song is about the realisation that something you cared deeply about has to end, and you can’t pretend otherwise any longer,” explained Empire Park’s frontman and founder Harrison Manton. “It’s about change and loss, for better or worse, in my relationships and our lives in general since we’ve moved away from home.”

Hopefully we hear plenty more from these guys soon. I’m a fan.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

PLTS Celebrate Signing With “Spill” Single Release

It’s an exciting time for Byron Bay band PLTS. The group has just released a killer new single “Spill,” an anthemic slice of indie-rock that I can’t stop playing. They’ve also just signed up with Collective Artists Agency and announced a string of new shows. Music lovers can catch them in the coming months headlining their own shows at Bigsound and supporting Hands like Houses in the Eastern states.

But back to “Spill,” which saw the band teaming up again with Sydney producer JP Fung, whose credits include Art VS Science and Josh Pyke.

“With ‘Spill’ we again worked with JP Fung due to his intelligent approach to songwriting. His polished execution worked wonders for this track,” explained vocalist Kit Bray. “Lyrically, ‘Spill’ is an examination of the modern love story and how it’s somewhat failing. Taking in to account social pressures, anxieties, drugs and alcohol – the song deals with the letting go and moving on from relationships, capturing that fragile period of acceptance.”

If you love the song, make sure you don’t miss the chance to hear more from PLTS at the following shows.

5 September 2017 – The Zoo, Brisbane
7 September 2017 – The Brightside, Brisbane
6 October 2017 – 170 Russell, Melbourne (with Hands like Houses)
7 October 2017 – UC Refectory, Canberra (with Hands like Houses)
13 October 2017 – Metro Theatre, Sydney (with Hands like Houses)
14 October 2017 – The Triffid, Brisbane (with Hands like Houses)

Image used with permission from Habit Music Company

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Go Farther in Lightness” – Gang of Youths

I often feel a little out of step with the rest of the music-buying public. I’m always excited when an Aussie act tops the chart, but it’s rarely what I happen to be listening to at the time. However, I’ve been listening to an advance stream of Gang of Youths’ Go Farther in Lightness for the last couple of weeks now. So when I saw the album at number one this week, there was a little added satisfaction.

I’m thrilled to see this album doing so well because it’s so very good. It’s ambitious, as the best albums tend to be. At 16 tracks, it’s a lot to digest. That’s my excuse for not writing about it until now. It took me that long to gather my thoughts and put them together into something legible. Because this album really is a trip. Few other records would be brave enough to open with a song like “Fear and Trembling,” which starts as a simple, stripped back piano ballad before building into a fists-in-the-air piece of power-rock. But that really sets the tone for what this collection of music is all about.

Gang of Youths is so good at making those bold, confident rock songs, but there’s so much more to this band. Just when you start thinking you’ve got things figured out, the album throws you a curveball like the classically-inspired instrumental “Le Symbolique” or the epic ode “Achilles Come Down.” Introspective ballads like “Persevere” and the poignant title track also give you time to catch your breath after some of the high-octane rock songs. Your only choice is really to hang on as the band twists and turns.

An album so eclectic could easily become muddled or lack coherency, but somehow Go Farther in Lightness all works. It shows Gang of Youths to be one of the most exciting bands in Australian music today. See them at the following shows in Australia and abroad.

1 September 2017 – The Tivoli, Brisbane (SOLD OUT)
6 September 2017 – Festival Hall, Melbourne (ALL AGES)
8 September 2017 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney (ALL AGES)
13 September 2017 – Odeon Theatre, Hobart (ALL AGES)
15 September 2017 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide (ALL AGES)
16 September 2017 – Metropolis Fremantle, Fremantle
9 October 2017 – La Boule Noire, Paris
10 October 2017 – Sugar Factory, Amsterdam
11 October 2017 – Musik & Frieden, Berlin
12 October 2017 – Ampere, Munich
13 October 2017 – Artheater, Cologne
15 October 2017 – Exchange, Bristol
16 October 2017 – Headrow House, Leeds
17 October 2017 – Stereo, Glasgow
18 October 2017 – Gullivers, Manchester
19 October 2017 – Electric Ballroom, London

Image used with permission from Sony Music Australia/Verge

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Roger Waters Bringing Us + Them Tour to Australia

I’m really excited to hear Roger Waters is on his way back to Australia for the first time since his The Wall tour smashed sales records in 2012.

Roger is responsible for some of my most vivid concert memories. I’m not quite sure when I saw him the first time, but knowing I was still living at home and working in retail dates the story. A checkout chick’s salary doesn’t really extend to many concerts, but I won a couple of tickets from the radio. I remember being in awe of the production, planes and flying pigs and all that, and the heart-thumping sound. When a concert gets loud it can simply become noisy, but this was so crisp and clear. You felt every beat of the drum reverberating in your chest. And I was in awe of Roger up there, so damn cool despite being roughly as old as my dad, which when you’re still living at home seems pretty old.

Then there was that tour for The Wall, one of the most formative albums of my teenage years. He brought it to life in such spectacular fashion. Again, I was awestruck.

So I have high hopes for the Us + Them tour, which American critics have already praised for its “eye-popping” production and “spectacular” set list which draws from Roger’s solo work and Pink Floyd classics.

Telstra customers get the jump with a presale on September 4 ahead of the general sale on September 8.

2 February 2018 – QUDOS Bank Arena, Sydney
6 February 2018 – Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
10 & 11 February 2018 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
16 February 2018 – Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
20 February 2018 – Perth Arena, Perth

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Missy Lancaster Offers Taste of Album Debut With “Forget”

Aussie country songstress Missy Lancaster gets nostalgic with her new single “Forget.”

Country isn’t widely embraced in this country, but if it was I could see this song going gangbusters. It’s not surprising really though, because Missy co-wrote it with Josh Kerr, a Nashville songwriter and producer with a string of hits to his name. Missy’s spent plenty of time in Nashville over the last 12 months, perfecting her sound with the assistance of Josh Kerr and Aussie-born producer Lindsay Rimes.

“Forget” is the first single from Missy’s debut album, which is scheduled for a 2018 release.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ben Salter Announces Massive NZ/Australian Tour for 3rd Album Release

Ben Salter is one of those incredible Aussie talents that flies under the radar. He releases his albums with little fanfare, then takes the time to assemble another collection of quality songs so he can start the process all over again. What he does isn’t flashy, but it’s bloody good. His latest album Back Yourself, the follow-up to his sophomore release The Stars My Destination, will be released on September 1.

Ben made Back Yourself over 12 months at locations around Tasmania and Victoria, including time spent at producer Chris Townend’s picturesque White Light studio. The studio overlooks Tassie’s Huon Valley and I think it influenced this release. You just get a different sound when you leave the pace of the big city behind and retreat to rural Australia. There’s a calm that comes through the music, putting you at peace as you listen to it.

Back Yourself features the current single “Isolationism.” To call it a love song doesn’t really do it justice, because love songs are a dime a dozen, but at its core that’s what it is. It’s more than though. Take a listen and see for yourself.

If you like what you hear, make sure you check out Back Yourself. Ben is playing full band and solo shows in New Zealand and Australia in the coming months to support the album’s release. Tickets are available from his website.

3 September 2017 – Willie Smith’s Appleshed, Grove (FREE)
8 September 2017 – Golden Dawn, Auckland
9 September 2017 – Leigh Saw Mill, Leigh
10 September 2017 – Refreshment Room, Auckland
14 September 2017 – Nivara Lounge, Hamilton
15 September 2017 – Dome Bar & Cinema, Gisbourne
17 September 2017 – Rogue Stage, Rotorua
21 September 2017 – Sherwood, Queenstown
22 September 2017 – Grainstore Gallery, Oamaru
23 September 2017 – Dog With Two Tails, Dunedin
24 September 2017 – Blue Smoke, Christchurch
27 September 2017 – Mussel Inn, Takaka
28 September 2017 – Meow, Wellington
12 October 2017 – Grace Emily, Adelaide
13 October 2017 – The Barn, Aldgate (SOLO)
14 October 2017 – The Odd Fellow, Fremantle (SOLO)
19 October 2017 – High Tea, Sydney (SOLO)
21 October 2017 – The Flamin’ Galah, Brisbane
25 October 2017 – Smith’s Alternative, Canberra
27 October 2017 – Marrickville Bowls Club, Sydney NSW
28 October 2017 – Gooloogong Log Cabin Hall, Gooloogong (SOLO)
29 October 2017 – The Grand Junction Hotel, Maitland (SOLO)
2 November 2017 – The Eastern, Ballarat
3 November 2017 – The Tote, Melbourne
5 November 2017 – Castlemaine Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
9 November 2017 – St John Craft Beer, Launceston (SOLO)
10 November 2017 – The Wharf, Ulverstone (5 pm SOLO)
10 November 2017 – Mountain Mumma, Sheffield (8 pm SOLO)
19 November 2017 – MONA, Hobart