Author: Lauren Katulka

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Wolfmother Split Official

It shouldn’t come as any surprise considering reports earlier this week, but Wolfmother has called it a day. Bass/keyboard player Chris Ross and drummer Myles Heskett cited long-standing personal and musical differences as the reason for the split.

“Wolfmother toured the world virtually non-stop through 2006 and early 2007 on the back of their acclaimed self titled debut album,” reads a statement on the band’s website.

“Longstanding frictions within the group then led them to take an extended break during the second half of 2007 to consider their future.”

Apparently the time apart didn’t diffuse the situation any, and Chris made the decision to quit the band after last week’s Splendour in the Grass performance.

“Following that show Chris Ross decided to announce that he was leaving the band due to irreconcilable personal and musical differences,” the statement continued.

“Myles Heskett has also decided to leave the band rather than continuing as part of a changed lineup. The pair has been working together on songs for some time and they plan to focus their energies on that new project in the future.”

Andrew Stockdale plans to recruit new musicians before commencing work on another Wolfmother album. Hopefully the new kids will find him a little easier to work with!

Image source: Nick Helderman @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Angus and Julia Stone Seek World Domination

Angus and Julia Stone’s amazing debut album A Book Like This has just gone platinum in Australia! Far from an overnight sensation, this slow burning record has taken nearly a year to achieve the status.

Having won Australia’s hearts, this brother-sister folk outfit are enjoying the summer festival season in Europe. They’re playing major events in the Netherlands, Germany, and Scotland and earning rave reviews.

The quiet duo seem hell-bent on world domination, because their next stop with be the United States of America. They’ll release A Book Like This in September, and follow up on their promo tour with some more shows in November.

Look out world – Angus and Julia Stone are coming! Here are the current confirmed tour dates, but there are plenty more to come!

8 August 2008 – Belladrum Festival, Scotland
11 August 2008 – Liquid Rooms @ The Edge Festival, Edinburgh, Scotland
26 August 2008 – Roundhouse, London, Great Britain
29 August 2008 – Noorderzon Festival, Groningen, The Netherlands
30 August 2008 – Festival deBeschaving, Utrecht, The Netherlands
26 September 2008 – Reeperbahn Festival, Hamburg, Germany

Image source: pn57 @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Timbaland Takes Nessa Morgan on Tour

The chances of Timbaland playing Melbourne on August 22 as promised have just gotten a little stronger with word he’s booked soul star Nessa Morgan as a support act.

Timbaland’s Aussie dates were called into question when it was revealed he’s got a gig in Poland scheduled for the same day as the Melbourne show.

European promotion of the Polish show is still going ahead, but I think we’ve got the upper hand. Melbourne is one of 10 shows arranged for Australia and New Zealand, while the Polish gig is the only European date announced.

With the date of the double-booked show drawing ever closer I guess we’ll find out the mega-producer’s plans soon enough!

Image source: Newscom

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Reg Lindsay Takes Final Bow

Country music star Reg Lindsay passed away in Newcastle Hospital after a battle with pneumonia. He was 79.

Young whippersnappers might not be aware of Reg’s work, but his influence on the modern country music industry was unmistakable. He won three Golden Guitars and wrote more than 500 songs during his enduring career. He also starred in two television programs: The Reg Lindsay Country Hour and Reg Lindsay Country Homestead.

Reg enjoyed moderate success in the United States, and was the first Aussie to be honoured with a plaque on Nashville’s Walkway of Stars.

In recent years he’s been plagued with ill health. He suffered a cerebral haemorrhage at the Tamworth Country Music Festival in 1994, then recovered only to suffer a heat attack. He had a triple bypass and seemed to be hanging in there until he contracted pneumonia.

Reg is best remembered for 1971 hit “Armstrong,” his tribute to the American astronauts and their historic moon landing.   May he rest in peace.

Image source: State Library of NSW/Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Will Wolfmother Call It Quits?

Is it all over for Wolfmother? Rumour has it that the band’s performance at Splendour in the Grass last weekend may have been their last, at least with the original line-up.

The rumours all stem from a rift between Andrew Stockdale and the band’s other founding members, Chris Ross and Myles Heskett.

“That was their last show. It is all over for Wolfmother,” an insider told Undercover News.

And they might be right. While manager John Watson stopped short of confirming the split, he hasn’t done a lot to extinguish the rumours.

“Unfortunately I can`t make any comment other than to say that as soon as the band has clear future plans they will issue a statement and we hope to be able to do that in the next week or two,” he told Undercover.

Word is that Andrew Stockdale will join two American players and continue to perform under the Wolfmother name. Considering the average punter doesn’t know who the other two guys are anyway, it’s probably not such a bad move!

Image source: NRT Photos @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

You Am I Are Dilettantes

One of Australia’s most revered rock outfits You Am I are back with a brand new album, Dilettantes. Of course this posesYou Am I the obvious question: what’s a dilettante?

According to wordsmith and lead singer, Tim Rogers, the obscure term is a rather fitting album title.

“The meaning of the term has a duality – either referring to folks who dabble in appreciation of arts or culture, or those who have a deep love for works, or performers,” he said in a statement.

“I first loved the word after hearing Duke Ellington use it to describe the members of his consistently brilliant bands. More often than not the people who have left the deepest impressions on me have been those who have delicately bashed my ears with their love of music, art, literature, and with no airs and graces, more peanuts and beer.”

You Am I’s eighth studio album sees the band collaborate with their long-term producer Greg Wales. This record was approached a little differently, with the band trying to second guess and explore the processes they’d usually rely on make an album.

EMI Music CEO John O’Donnell says the result is an album that “is open and more varied and filled with all colours of the You Am I rainbow. It’s a really great change-up after Convicts, neither better, now worse – just the perfect next step.”

Sounds exciting! You can get Dilettantes when it hits stores on September 13.

Image source: Mudcake Imagery @ Flickr 

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Veronica to Sue Over Nude Photos

I’ve deliberately stayed mum on the nude photographs that surfaced of one half of The Veronicas, Jess Origliasso this week. I figured before I weighed in I’d see how things panned out. Because let’s face it, for days we just had people up in arms about the fact that risqué photos existed. As far as I’m concerned, that’s not news.

What is news is that Jess has apparently decided to sue an ex-boyfriend over the matter.

If you haven’t been watching the news, the story goes a little something like this. Some nude photographs of Jess appeared on an American website called Fleshbot.com. The tabloids would like to tell us they’re pornographic photos, but considering there are no sexual acts involved that’s clearly not the case.

Warner Music confirmed one of the images was the feisty twin, but denied the other images were. At the end of the day it matters little. Clearly some photographs were taken in private, the girl’s been betrayed, and now the photos are in the public domain.

Some may argue it’s foolish for celebrities to run the risk of this kind of thing by posing for such photos, but these shots are three years old. I’m sure we’ve all done things when we were young we might not do today. And besides, these photos are hardly on a par with a Paris Hilton sex tape.

Jess hasn’t said anything about it, but her rumored lover Ruby Rose was happy to chat to The Daily Telegraph today.

“What has happened with those images is obviously completely illegal and there are lawyers getting involved,” she said.

“It’s just such an upsetting situation – there is a real tall poppy situation in Australia and both Jess and Lisa deserve more support, especially from their Australian fans.”

The Veronicas are due to return to the US next week to promote the release of their album Hook Me Up. I’ll bet they can’t wait to head back there and away from the grilling the press here are giving them!

Image source: Foraggio Fotographic @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Meanies Guitarist Killed in Car Accident

Tragedy has struck Melbourne indie outfit The Meanies for the second time in a year. Their guitarist Tasman Blizzard was killed in a car accident on Friday. This sad news comes after the death of founding member Dennis DePianto in February.

Tasman’s station wagon spun out of control while he was travelling down the Bellarine Peninsula in wet weather on Friday. The vehicle spun into a dam along the roadside and became almost completely submerged. Rescue teams arrived on the scene quickly, but Tasman was found dead in the driver’s seat.

Next week’s show at Geelong’s National Hotel will go ahead as planned. It will now be a tribute to Tas. I’ll leave you with a little vintage Meanies – here’s their 1994 single “Ton Of Bricks.”

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Shannon Noll Tells His Story So Far

Some might argue that releasing a greatest hits album after four years in the business is probably a little premature. But not Sony BMG, who figure they might as well repackage Shannon Noll’s best bits for those people who quite like to listen to him on the radio but never actually bought a CD.

Of course there’ll be something for the real fans too, who can look forward to five new tracks including the upcoming radio single, “Summertime.”

Personally I think you need a greater body of work than three albums to consider a greatest hits package, but Shannon thinks it’s a brilliant idea.

“It was only once we started talking about the idea that it sank in how many singles there’s been, from ‘What About Me’ right through to ‘Loud’ and ‘In Pieces’,” he said in a statement.

“All these songs mean so much to me and showcase a journey that I’ve been through with my songwriting and recording, my career in general. It’s great to have the new songs on the album, as they are just a taste of what we’ve got planned for next year!”

To celebrate the September 27 release of No Turning Back: The Story So Far, Shannon is heading out on the road for one of his biggest tours to date featuring shows in the capital cities and regional centers.

Here are all the dates!

11 September 2008 – Magnums, Airlie Beach
12 September 2008 – Brothers Leagues Club, Cairns
13 September 2008 – Bombray Rock, Townsville
14 September 2008 – Andergrove Tavern, Mackay
16 September 2008 – Roma Bungil Recreation Centre
18 September 2008 – Brolga Theatre, Maryborough
19 September 2008 – Moncrieff Theatre, Bundaberg
20 September 2008 – Caloundra RSL
23 September 2008 – Ballina RSL
24 September 2008 – Coffs Harbour Ex-Services Club
25 September 2008 – Port Macquarie Panthers
26 and 27 September 2008 – The Palms @ Crown, Melbourne
3 October 2008 – Bunbury Entertainment Centre
4 October 2008 – Burswood Theatre
5 October 2008 – Queens Park Theatre, Geraldton
6 October 2008 – Mandurah Performing Arts Centre
8 October 2008 – Curtin University, Kalgoorlie
23 October 2008 – Capital Entertainment Centre, Wagga Wagga
24 October 2008 – Kinross Woolshed, Albury
30 October 2008 – Tivoli, Brisbane
31 October 2008 – Seagulls Club, Gold Coast
8 November 2008 – Acacia Ridge Hotel
9 November 2008 – East Bank Centre, Shepperton
12 November 2008 – Inferno Nightclub, Traralgon
14 November 2008 – Shoppington Hotel, Doncaster
16 November 2008 – Hallam Hotel
19 November 2008 – West Tamworth Leagues Club
20 November 2008 – Dubbo RSL and Memorial Club
21 November 2008 – Orange Ex-Services Club

Image source: Foraggio Fotographic @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Whitlams Join YouTube

To celebrate the release of The Whitlams’ greatest hits Truth, Beauty, and a Picture of You today, the band have launched their very own YouTube channel. This is a must for fans thanks to Tim Freedman’s videos revealing the stories songs like “Blow Up The Pokies” and “No Aphrodisiac.” The film clips are also included, so you can listen to the song’s with a new understanding.

Sadly there isn’t a lot to see right now, but hopefully they’ll add more soon! In the meantime, here’s the clip for one of my favourites, “No Aphrodisiac.” No matter how many times I hear it I still love it.