Author: Lauren Katulka

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bliss n Eso Take Flight to USA

Australian hip-hop outfit Bliss n Eso are bringing their acclaimed live show to the United States. The band will play 15 American cities next month with the charmingly named Canadian hip-hop act Swollen Members.

The American tour caps out a massive year for the Aussies, who have gone from underground stars to mainstream successes with the release of Flying Colours. The disc won the 2008 ARIA for best urban release, and became the second local hip-hop album ever to achieve gold status. The Flying Colours Live tour broke box office records to become the highest selling hip hop tour ever.

Now American audiences get to see what the fuss is all about at the following shows.

20 October 2009 – SLO Brewery, San Luis Obispo
21 October 2009 – Velvet Jones, Santa Barbara
22 October 2009 – Key Club, Los Angeles
24 October 2009 – The Club House, Tempe
25 October 2009 – Wasted Space, Las Vegas
27 October 2009 – Orpheum Theatre, Flagstaff
30 October 2009 – Black Sheep, Colorado Springs
31 October 2009 – Marquis, Denver
2 November 2009 – Aggie Theatre, Fort Collins
3 November 2009 – Fox Theatre, Boulder
4 November 2009 – Urban Lounge, Salt Lake City
5 November 2009 – Knitting Factory, Boise
6 November 2009 – Domino Room, Bend
7 November 2009 – Hawthorne, Portland
8 November 2009 – Neumos, Seattle

Image used with permission from Illusive

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kate Miller-Heidke Tours "The Last Day on Earth"

KMHtourpic

Kate Miller-Heidke is sitting pretty on the ARIA charts, with her single “The Last Day on Earth” at number three and album Curiouser at number two. To thank all her fans for their support, Kate has announced a national tour.

Kate will jet home for the shows after performing around America with Ben Folds. Tickets are available from the venues. Here are all the dates!

10 November 2009 – Byron Bay Community Centre
12 November 2009 – Caloundra RSL
13 November 2009 – QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane
15 November 2009 – Civic Theatre, Newcastle
17 November 2009 – Hellenic Club, Canberra
18 November 2009 – Festival Theatre, Adelaide
20 November 2009 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
22 November 2009 – Evan Theatre, Penrith Leagues Club
24 November 2009 – Geelong Performing Arts Centre
25 November 2009 – The Palais, Hepburn Springs
28 November 2009 – The Forum, Melbourne

Image used with permission from Sony Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jimmy Barnes and Guy Sebastian Hold Steady on Aussie Charts

It’s another week on top of the charts for locals Jimmy Barnes and Guy Sebastian. Jimmy held steady at the top of the albums charts with The Rhythm and The Blues, despite strong competition from fellow Aussie Kate Miller-Heidke. Her album Curiouser is up three positions this week, and breathing down Jimmy’s neck at number two.

Also making his presence felt is John Farnham at number six. His national tour no doubt has something to do with his greatest hits compilation The Essential 3.0 climbing five spots.

Not a lot has changed in the singles charts. Guy Sebastian’s still at number one with “Like It Like That.” Kate’s still at number three with “The Last Day on Earth.”

If only we had a few more Aussies to keep them company! Jess Mauboy did jump a whopping 11 spots to land at number 11 this week, so I’m predicting her newie “Up/Down” will crack the top 10 next time around.

Click below to see the complete top 10!

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Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ashleigh Toole Leaves Australian Idol on Rock Night

Australian Idol rocked this week with special guest mentor and judge Suzi Quatro. But before we could get into the business, someone had to go. This week saw Tim Johnston, Casey Barnes, and Ashleigh Toole land in the bottom three. Despite never putting a foot wrong in the comp, Ashleigh was the unlucky one ousted. My husband wonders whether all of her fans simply intended to vote as he did, rather than picking up the phone. Either way, she definitely didn’t deserve to leave us so soon.

Hayley Warner, our resident rock chick, was a natural choice to kick off the performances. Her choice of a Paramore number was spot on. I think she took everything Suzi said in her stride and delivered a performance even more compelling than the week before.

Casey Barnes is one of the nicest guys in the comp, so finding his rock edge was always going to be a challenge. I’m not sure he did it with Carolina Liar’s “I’m Not Over”, but we saw a little more angst than we have in the past. It was a solid effort for a singer clearly out of his comfort zone.

I loved Kate Cook’s cheeky choice of Jet’s “Are You Gonna Be My Girl.” Like Casey, she wasn’t in her comfort zone, but I had to admire her commitment. While parts of it were a little shouty for me, she certainly didn’t do it by halves. She gets an A for effort.

Continue reading “Ashleigh Toole Leaves Australian Idol on Rock Night” →
Posted on by Lauren Katulka

"The Knight" – Khan Manuel

With Tommy Emmanuel spending most of his time in Nashville these days, Australia is crying out for a guitar virtuoso. With his album The Knight, Khan Manuel steps up to fill those very big shoes.

Just like Tommy, Khan blends genres to create instrumental guitar tracks that combine the contemporary with classical flair.

The album starts out high energy rock numbers in the vein of Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, before moving into more mellow jazz territory. We see the greatest electricity in “Down ‘n’ Dirty.” It’s a straight-up rock number which is recorded live to capture its spontaneity. I cringed at the chat-up banter that preceded “Smooth Talk,” but once those voices faded away it lived up to its sexy moniker.

While Khan does rock well, the more mellow numbers were a little more my speed. “Flamenco Nights” is the turning point, with its traditional Spanish tones acting like a breath of fresh air after the grittier rock tunes that came before. “Midnight Jazz” feels like 1970s George Benson, which is a very good thing indeed. “Wedding Song” is the perfect closer, a romantic piece which is every bit as dreamy as its name suggests.

Khan Manuel is one amazing guitarist, and his talent and passion for his craft is evident in The Knight. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

Image used with permission from Khan Manuel

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kim Moyes Goes Solo For Album Release

Kim Moyes from The Presets is bringing fans his solo songs in one big double album. Selected Jerks 2001-2009 features Kim’s occasional solo ventures from the last nine years. The tunes are “tracks obviously aimed squarely at the dancefloor perfectly offset by a series of wistfully melancholy, downbeat dreamsuites,” or so the press release tells us.

The first disc features original versions, while the second features remixes from the likes of Midnight Juggernauts, Tomboy, Bag Raiders, and Citizen Black. The double collection will hit stores on October 30. To coincide with the album’s release, Kim will tour around the country with Belgium’s Beni. You can see him at the following venues.

30 October 2009 – Neverland, Gold Coast
31 October 2009 – Arcade, Adelaide
6 November 2009 – Villa, Perth
12 November 2009 – Club 4Play, Geelong
13 November 2009 – Sorry Grandma, Melbourne
14 November 2009 – Monastery, Brisbane
20 November 2009 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney

Image source: Darius of the Dark @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Powderfinger Prepare "Golden Rule" CD

The wait is almost over for Powderfinger fans, with the Brisbane band preparing to release their new album, Golden Rule, in November.

“On this record we made our approach from a different angle. We made an effort to steer away from the ‘habits’, whether good or bad, that we had developed when writing together over the years. It gave the songs an entirely new energy that we have never really tapped into before” Bernard Fanning said in a statement.

The band reunited with producer by Nick DiDia (Neil Young, Pearl Jam) for the album. He previously worked with the band on Vulture Street, Odyssey Number Five, and Internationalist.

The album’s first single, “All of the Dreamers,” goes to radio on September 25 ahead of its October 16 digital release. Bernard says the track is “the most consistently upbeat song” they have ever written.

“It’s a sideways glance at the sometimes redundant nature of party politics. It’s not a particularly political song actually, in the sense that it is taking a side, just a general dissatisfaction with the way ‘democracy’ can be blindsided by the self interest that holding onto power can generate. I suppose in that sense it alludes to any kind of relationship, whether it be political, business or personal.”

Golden Rule will hit stores on November 13.

Image source: Jeanie Mackinder @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sneaky Sound System Become a Duo

Sneaky Sound System are down one member. MC Double D (AKA Daimon Downey) has left the band to pursue other interests.

Connie Mitchell and Black Angus plan to continue as a duo, although their hairy ex-bandmate will join them for several upcoming festival appearances.

The new twosome will head to Europe later this month, for a tour which kicks off in Ibiza, Spain. Nice work if you can get it, right? Then it’s back to Oz in October ahead of the summer festival season.

Image source: Foraggio Fotographic @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Them Crooked Vultures Ready to Rock Oz

Rock supergroup Them Crooked Vultures are bringing their show to Australia in 2010. The band features Foo Fighter Dave Grohl, Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age, and John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin. I think it’s safe to say the concerts will rock, and rock hard.

But if you’re hoping to hear music from the members’ original bands you may be disappointed. Their set features 90 minutes of original new music from their debut album, Never Deserved The Future, which will hit stores later this month.

Given the timing of the dates, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see the band on the Big Day Out bill. But before I go getting ahead of myself, you can grab your tickets for these dates from September 22. Ticketmaster are selling the majority of shows, with Ticketek taking care of Sydney.

19 January 2010 – Challenge Stadium, Perth
22 January 2010 – Festival Hall, Melbourne
25 January 2010 – Riverstage, Brisbane
26 January 2010 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney

Image source: ZUMA Press

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Cold Chisel Rumoured to Reform for Supercars

The rumour bill is buzzing that The Bee Gees may not be the only classic Aussie act reforming. Word is that Cold Chisel may be getting the band back together for a one-off show at Sydney’s V8 Supercars event.

Who cares that Jimmy Barnes, Ian Moss, and the boys haven’t had a new album since The Last Wave of Summer in ’98? I caught them on their Ringside reunion tour way back in 2003 and they still rocked just as hard as ever.

The V8 Supercars Championship Series will hit Homebush between December 4 and 6. Fans may want to reserve the dates, just in case.