Spend Your NYE With Frenzal Rhomb and The Bennies

Countdowns to Christmas have already started, which means New Year’s isn’t far behind. How will you be ringing in the New Year? I’ll be lucky enough to be somewhere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with a glass of bubbles from my beverage package in hand. If you don’t have such extravagant plans though, you’ll want to get yourself to Max Watts in Melbourne. Because Frenzal Rhomb and The Bennies are joining forces for what they’re calling The Best New Years Eve Party That Ever Existed … Extreme.”

Both bands have had a bumper year. Frenzal Rhomb released Hi Vis High Tea and toured Canada and all over this country, while The Bennies kept company with The Living End in Oz and The Smith Street Band in Europe. So they’re ready to celebrate!

Make sure you come early, because Hightime, Antonia & The Lazy Susans, Cosmic Kahuna, and DJ Snesmega will also take the stage. Tickets are on sale now from Poolhouse Records.

Image used with permission from Little Giant Agency

Leopold’s Treat Playing Hometown Show at Tally Valley Hall

Tallebudgera Valley’s own Leopold’s Treat are giving back to their local community with a very special show on October 7.

Music lovers can expect an evening of acoustic tunes in a family-friendly atmosphere. There’ll be a meditation session at sunset, fabulous food, and plenty of good vibes. Another local talent, Felicity Lawless, will also play a set. Money raised will also benefit animal and environmental charities. What a great opportunity to come together with your neighbours and hear some great music from your backyard? This video gives you a little indication of the kind of fun you’re in for!

If you live in the area, make sure you get along to Tallebudgera Valley Community Hall on October 7. It all kicks off at 4 pm, and with tickets costing $30 for adults and $10 for kids, it’s a pretty affordable night out. Get yours now from Yapsody.

Oxford Art Factory Turns 10

With so many live music venues closing their doors of late, Oxford Art Factory’s 10th birthday is something to be celebrated.

What a wild ride this Sydney space has had since opening its doors in 2007. The venue hosted Lady Gaga’s very first Australian show and recently it was the venue of choice for Dave Grohl’s cover band Chevy Metal. On the home front, OAF has nurtured the likes of The Rubens, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, The Preatures, and Nick Murphy (Chet Faker), booking them before they became household names.

OAF will mark its milestone birthday with an eclectic selection of local and interstate favourites including Gum, Palms, ORB, Green Buzzard, Party Dozen, and heaps more on October 14. Tickets are free but you’ll need to RSVP to confirm your attendance at Moshtix. Get on it!

Image source: James Dennes @ Flickr.com

The Corner Hotel Hosts Grand Final Eve Fundraiser for Kids with Cancer

I’ll be honest with you, I don’t “get” AFL. I was raised on rugby league, so perhaps it’s just not in my genes. So when I heard The Corner Hotel was throwing a Grand Final Holiday Eve party, I nearly deleted the press release. But then I spotted that the event has some kickarse bands and it’s raising funds for kids with cancer. That’s the sort of stuff you just can’t ignore.

The Great Rock ‘n Roll Pie Night features entertainment from Dallas Crane, Chris Russell’s Chicken Walk, The Draught Dodgers feat. Tim Rogers, The Pretty Littles, and You Am I’s Davey Lane as guest DJ. Warwick Capper will MC the event which raises funds for the Challenge Organisation, Victoria’s first organisation providing support and recreational opportunities for families living with cancer.

Get behind the Challenge Organisation and enjoy some superb music and pies at the Corner Hotel on September 28. Tickets are on sale now.

Image used with permission from Chrissie Vincent Publicity

Anthony Callea’s Symphony Album Tops the Charts

When I reviewed Anthony Callea’s newie ARIA Number 1 Hits In Symphony during the week, I said I wouldn’t be surprised if it does as Backbone did and found itself at the top of the ARIA charts. So I’m not shocked to see it’s pushed Ed Sheeran’s ÷ off its perch, but I am thrilled. It’s a really special album that deserves all the accolades.

Paul Kelly’s Life is Fine has also slipped a little this week, from number two to number five. But it’s far from a bad result five weeks after its release.

Another outstanding former number one Go Farther Into Lightness by Gang of Youths rounds out the top ten.

Sadly our Aussies aren’t doing so well on the singles charts. Hopefully “Lay It On Me” by Vance Joy can continue its ascent and end up in the top 10 soon.

Top 10 Albums
1. ARIA Number 1 Hits In Symphony – Anthony Callea
2. Sleep Well Beast – The National
3. All the Light Above it Too – Jack Johnson
4. ÷ – Ed Sheeran
5. Life is Fine – Paul Kelly
6. Slowheart – Kip Moore
7. Moana – Soundtrack
8. Villains – Queens of the Stone Age
9. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2: Awesome Mix Vol. 2 – Soundtrack
10. Go Farther in Lightness – Gang of Youths

Top 10 Singles
1. “Too Good at Goodbyes” – Sam Smith
2. “Look What You Made Me Do” – Taylor Swift
3. “… Ready for It?” – Taylor Swift
4. “New Rules” – Dua Lipa
5. “What About Us” – P!nk
6. “Glorious” – Macklemore feat. Skylar Grey
7. “Thunder” – Imagine Dragons
8. “Dusk Til Dawn” – Zayne feat. Sia
9. “Friends” – Justin Bieber & BloodPop
10. “1-800-273-8255” – Logic feat. Alessia Cara & Khalid

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

The Do Yo Thangs Release “Those Days” Single Ahead of November Residency

Melbourne’s The Do Yo Thangs continue to do their own thang with their new single “Those Days.” It marks a bit of a musical departure from the band who brought us the One Plus One EP. The song is a little darker, a little more electronic, but those angelic stacked harmonies are spot on and silky smooth.

The single is available now, but the band is letting us sit with it for a while before launching it with a residency at Fitzroy’s The Evelyn Hotel this November. See them every Wednesday in November from the 8th to hear a sneaky listen to new material from The Do You Thangs’ forthcoming album.

Gang of Youths on Top of ARIA Charts

Sydney band Gang of Youths has scored its first number one album after debuting in the top spot with sophomore LP Go Farther in Lightness. It’s an impressive debut for the Sydneysiders and the seventh Australian album to go to number one this year.

There are plenty of other contenders for that title though, with Aussies claiming four of the top five spots on the ARIA charts. There’s Paul Kelly of course. Last week’s number one, Life is Fine, has slipped one spot to number two this week. The prolific King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard are at number four with Sketches of Brunswick East, their third release of 2017. You might think they deserve a holiday after all that, but we’ll see another two albums from them before the end of the year. Local deathcore outfit Thy Art is Murder round out the top five with Dear Desolation.

Here’s how the top 10 charts look this week.

Top 10 Albums
1. Go Farther in Lightness – Gang of Youths
2. Life is Fine – Paul Kelly
3. ÷ – Ed Sheeran
4. Sketches of Brunswick East – King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
5. Dear Desolation – Thy Art is Murder
6. Science Fiction – Brand New
7. Rainbow – Ke$ha
8. The Peace and the Panic – Neck Deep
9. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2: Awesome Mix Vol. 2 – Soundtrack
10. Moana – Soundtrack

Top 10 Singles
1. “What About Us” – P!nk
2. “Friends” – Justin Bieber & BloodPop
3. “Glorious” – Macklemore feat. Skylar Grey
4. “Thunder” – Imagine Dragons
5. “Despacito” – Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber
6. “Feels” – Calvin Harris feat. Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry, & Big Sean
7. “Unforgettable” – French Montana feat. Swae Lee
8. “Strip That Down” – Liam Payne feat. Quavo
9. “Praying” – Ke$ha
10. “New Rules” – Dua Lipa

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

The Curtin Hosting Girls Rock! Australia Fundraiser

The world of rock music is predominantly a man’s world. However, Girls Rock! Australia gives me hope that perhaps we’ll see more diversity in future generations. At the very least, this organisation will help empower more young women, which is a very good thing.

Girls Rock! Australia is a network of non-profit camps running in Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane, Wollongong, and soon, Sydney. Each one is open to female, trans, and gender-diverse young people aged 10 to 17. During the camps the young people involved write songs, play instruments, and work together to create music. They’ll also enjoy mentorship and performances from some of the nation’s coolest female musicians. Courtney Barnett, Camp Cope, Cable Ties, Rainbow Chan, and Jen Cloher have all performed at local Girls Rock camps. But these camps are about much more than music though. They help empower women, building their self-esteem and sense of community.

These camps do so much good, but they can’t do it without your support. So Camp Cope, Gen Fricker, Totally Mild, Brodie Lancaster, June Jones, and some other fine musos, comedians, writers, and podcasters will come together for Good Luck #1: A Fundraiser for Girls Rock! Australia. It all happens at October 8 at The Curtin in Melbourne. You get a great day out and every cent collected will help Girls Rock! Australia fund full and partial scholarships. This makes sure all motivated young people can attend these camps, regardless of their financial situation. It’s a win for everybody, so get out and show your support Melbourne!

Image used with permission from Super Duper

The Temper Trap Set to Strip Down Sound for Melbourne Recital Centre Show

We’re used to hearing The Temper Trap with a big epic sound. But the Aussie expats will be stripping things back for a very special show at the Melbourne Recital Centre in November.

This very special show isn’t so much about turning the volume down as it is about presenting The Temper Trap’s music in a brand new way. The band hopes the show will bring fans closer to the heart of these songs and help them appreciate the music in a new light.

The Temper Trap plays Elisabeth Murdoch Hall in the Melbourne Recital Centre on November 24. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10 am via the Melbourne Recital Centre website and the venue’s hotline, (03) 9699 3333. I don’t need to tell you they’re going to sell quickly!

Image used with permission from Little Old Me Publicity

Paul Kelly Earns His First Number One Album

Paul Kelly is a true national treasure, so it’s amazing to realise this week he’s scored his very first number one album. Life is Fine, his 23rd studio album, has zoomed to the top of the charts on debut, unseating the Ed Sheeran’s heavyweight ÷.

Jen Cloher
is another Aussie making her presence known with her new self-titled album. The follow-up to 2013’s In Blood Memory has debuted at number 5.

Sadly we don’t have any Aussie songs in the top 10 singles … or the top 20 … or the top 30. Come on Australia! Our artists are releasing some wonderful songs!

Anyway, here are this week’s top 10s.

Top 10 Albums
1. Life is Fine – Paul Kelly
2. ÷ – Ed Sheeran
3. Rainbow – Ke$ha
4. Moana – Soundtrack
5. Jen Cloher – Jen Cloher
6. DAMN. – Kendrick Lamar
7. Melodrama – Lorde
8. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2: Awesome Mix Vol. 2 – Soundtrack
9. Evolve – Imagine Dragons
10. X – Ed Sheeran

Top 10 Singles
1. “What About Us” – P!nk
2. “Glorious” – Macklemore feat. Skylar Grey
3. “Despacito” – Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber
4. “Thunder” – Imagine Dragons
5. “Feels” – Calvin Harris feat. Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry, & Big Sean
6. “Praying” – Ke$ha
7. “Strip That Down” – Liam Payne feat. Quavo
8. “Unforgettable” – French Montana feat. Swae Lee
9. “Wild Thoughts” – DJ Khaled feat. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller
10. “Body Like a Back Road” – Sam Hunt

Image used with permission from ARIA