Category: News

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Black Ryder Impresses in America

We haven’t heard much from The Black Ryder since they supported The Cult last May, but this Aussie duo certainly hasn’t been idle. They relocated to Los Angeles to support Buy The Ticket, Take The Ride, which got an American release last September.

They continued their association with The Cult, travelling around the country for 32 shows with the iconic British band. When that wrapped up they set about writing and recording the tracks that would form album number two.
They also continued to play and earn fans, including High Road Touring’s Frank Riley (Patti Smith, Portishead, My Bloody Valentine). He’s now their official US booking agent, which is no doubt helping them open a few more doors.

Frank’s clearly doing his job as The Black Ryder packed out a headline show in January, sold out a performance at San Francisco’s NoisePop festival in February, and performed on the opening night of Concept, part of Los Angeles Fashion Week. And it’s only April!

There are more shows to come this month when The Black Ryder supports Spectrum, fronted by English psychedelic legend Pete Kember. Something tells me we’re not getting The Black Ryder back any time soon, so if you’re stateside make sure you do yourself a favour!

27 April 2011 – Soda Bar, San Diego
28 April 2011 – Troubadour, Los Angeles
29 April to 1 May 2011 – Austin Psych Fest 4
29 April 2011 – Sons of Hermann Hall, Dallas
30 April 2011 – Seaholm Powerplant, Austin
25 May 2011 – Rickshaw Stop, San Francisco

Image used with permission from Pod Artist Services

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sarah Blasko, Sally Seltmann, & Holly Throsby Album One Step Closer

It’s only March, but I’m already predicting that the three-way collaboration between Sarah Blasko, Sally Seltmann, and Holly Throsby is going to be one of the real gems released this year. With three of our greatest singer-songwriters involved, female or otherwise, how could it go wrong?

Sarah writes on her blog that the album, which was recorded last August, has finally been mastered. So it’s only a matter of time before we get to hear it. The record was laid down in just ten days, so I’m expecting a really spontaneous feel and the sort of genius that comes out when such talent just flows.

She adds that we’ll “hopefully get to hear” it “very soon,” although I’ve got to admit that it can’t come soon enough! I’m already fantasising about that triple-bill tour!

Image source: Stuart Stevasos @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Soundslikebrisbane Promote Queensland Music with Free Sampler Album

There are few things I like more than free local music. And there’s some of the best this country has to offer on the free sampler CD from soundslikebrisbane.

Just as its name suggests, soundslikebrisbane is a cooperative of independent Queensland based record labels. Currently there are 17 labels and counting involved, including Dew Process, Plus One Records, Red Tape Entertainment, and heaps more. They’re showcasing the very best that the state’s capital has to offer which is a whole lot of diverse recording. The labels promote a bit of everything, including raw garage rock, smooth jazz, hip hop, mainstream pop, and country.

As a passionate New South Welshmen, perhaps I shouldn’t be throwing my support behind my rival state. But good music is good music, and it’s made even better when it’s accessible to the masses.

Check it out at the soundslikebrisbane website!

Image source: soundslikebrisbane website

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Musicians in the Running for Cleo Bachelor of the Year

Allow me to be a bit superficial for a moment. I think there are few things sexier than a musician, so I’m not surprised to see quite a few local musical men making Cleo’s Bachelor of the Year shortlist.

Celebrity spawn seems to be the order of the day, as Don Lane’s son PJ Lane and James Reyne’s son Jamie Robbie Reyne have both made the cut.

Singing reality TV stars have also got a look in. From Australia’s Got Talent, there’s the all-singing all-dancing Justice Crew member Emmanuel Javier Rodriguez. And then there’s another Channel Seven discovery, Joel O’Dea, who you may know better as one half of X Factor’s Luke and Joel.

There are also the chart toppers. Cameron Laing, the guitarist for Amy Meredith and singer-songwriter Mark Sholtez are also in the top 50.

And for all the mums out there, there’s Stevie Nicholson from Hi 5. Who knew children’s entertainers could be so cute?

Who’s your pick to take out the top spot this year? And who would you have liked to see on the Top 50?

Image source: The Harbour Agency

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Birds of Tokyo Lose Bass Guitarist

Birds of Tokyo might be one of the hottest bands in the country, but that hasn’t been enough to convince bassist Anthony Jackson to stick around.

No tangible reason has been given for the split, but it seems the members of the band are still on good terms.

“[Birds Of Tokyo] wish to announce that we have come to the end of a journey [the band’s Canadian tour] with one of our own. Our mate Anthony will no longer be playing with Birds,” a statement on the band’s Facebook page read. “We have always believed in organic movement and following the heart and gut. We love our friend and sincerely wish all the best for him. We are very positive about the future and look forward to walking down some amazing new avenues shortly. Stay tuned. ;)”

Word on the streets is that Anthony actually left the band a month ago, and Sugar Army’s bassist Ian Berney has been filling in. It’ll be interesting to see who’s holding the bass when Birds of Tokyo play their upcoming shows, including the Melbourne F1 Grand Prix and Groovin the Moo dates.

Image source: Birds of Tokyo website

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jimmy Barnes Headlines Bands Across the Water Thai Charity Event

Jimmy Barnes will lead a lineup of Aussie rock legends performing for charity in Thailand this June. Angry Anderson, Jon Stevens, Swanee, and Kevin Borich will also play at Khao Lak’s Mukdara Resort from June 7 to 13 under the banner of Bands Across the Water.

Funds raised will benefit Hands Across the Water, a charity group which helps children orphaned by 2004’s Boxing Day tsunami. The cause is particularly dear to Jimmy’s heart as his wife Jane is Thai. While her family survived the disaster, they were all too aware of the devastation around them.

If you’ve got the cash to spare this will be a holiday to remember. The resort has four stars, the musical line-up is superb, and you’ll earn some serious good karma at the same time. Package deals are available through the Bands Across the Water website.

Image source: Bands Across the Water website

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Foo Fighters Announce Brisbane Flood Benefit Show

The Foo Fighters have always had a special relationship with Australia, so I’m thrilled to see Dave Grohl’s band are winging their way back here for a Brisbane flood relief concert.

The American rockers will play one show only on at Brisbane’s Riverstage on Saturday 27 to benefit the Queensland Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal. You Am I and Cloud Control have also been announced as support acts, and local artists are encouraged to join them. Brisbane bands wanting to be a part of the show can e-mail info@frontiertouring.com.au with a link to their tunes on Sunday or Monday.

Tickets are dirt cheap at $99 each, and there’s a limit of four per customer to keep things fair. They’ll still likely sell out fast, so make sure you log onto Ticketmaster on Monday 21 March at 9 am to get yours.

Image source: Flimsical @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Cold Chisel Heading Back Into the Studio

Cold Chisel are determined to soldier on despite the untimely death of their bandmate Steve Prestwich in January. The remaining members say they’ll record some new material over the coming months.

Charley Drayton will step in for Steve as needed on the new tracks. Steve can’t be replaced of course, but Charley brings with him a wealth of experience after recording with Keith Richards, Iggy Pop, Neil Young, the Divinyls, and Simon & Garfunkel.

“We’d already recorded a number of new songs with Steve prior to his passing. Plus all five of us have written songs over summer with the intention of more recording this year”, explained Don Walker. “Hopefully Charley can help us complete the work we began together. Steve was totally into everything we’d been planning for 2011 so while the last few months have been very difficult to deal with, we all feel that he would want us to complete the plans we made together.”

Cold Chisel aren’t sure when they’ll release this material, but when they do all profits will continue to be split five ways. Steve’s children will fittingly inherit his share.

While we’re waiting on the new stuff Warner plans to release the Cold Chisel back catalogue in digital form. These revamped albums will include unreleased tunes recorded way back when, so there’s something there for the fans who already have the originals.

I’m thrilled to see Cold Chisel are keeping on with this new stuff. It’ll never be the same without Steve Prestwich, but I’m sure he’d want them to go on in his absence. I’m excited to see what the band comes up with!

Image source: Cold Chisel Facebook page

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Rumer Launches Aussie Mailing List

British folk-soul songstress Rumer has created a special mailing list just for her Australian fans. Which of course makes us all ask the question, why?

I can’t recall ever hearing about an international artist, or even a local one, speaking directly to the Aussies. So what’s in store? I’m immediately thinking of a local tour with special presales or even free tickets offered to those dedicated fans, but it’s still unusual to see a special mailing list for us. Maybe Rumer’s cooking up something even more brilliant. Any wild crazy theories you want to throw out there?

Either way, if you’re a fan of this promising new British talent you’ll want to click here and register your deets!

Image used with permission from Warner Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

President Obama Gets an Aussie iPod

If the art of the mix-tape was dead, someone forgot to tell Julia Gillard. She apparently gave President Barack Obama an iPod chockfull of Aussie music.

News.com.au was quick to slam its AC/DC omission, but I think whoever was compiling this playlist had the right idea. The beauty of the Australian music industry is that it’s so insular. Our heroes are performers that folks in the rest of the world would have no idea about. That’s pretty special.

So while there were a few artists with international profiles, including John Butler Trio, The Temper Trap, and Crowded House (they’re mostly Aussie, right?), the bulk of the musicians were performers that Obama were heard of. They also represented so many genres of Australian music: we had the jazzy James Morrison, funky Cat Empire, Paul Kelly, indie darling Washington, urban Bliss N Eso, and modern indigenous music of Saltwater Band to name a few.

It’s easy to bandy around the names that were missing. I’d have loved to see Obama learn about Richard Clapton, Slim Dusty, Human Nature, and James Reyne. But AC/DC? I reckon he’s already clued in.

What did you think of the president’s new Aussie playlist?

Image source: Wikimedia Commons