It was a sad X Factor night for me as my favourite in the competition, James McNally, left us.
Honestly, neither Amanda nor James deserved to be in the bottom two. Andrew, Mitchell, and Altiyan certainly turned in bottom two worthy performances, but this is the problem with relying on a public vote.
Both singers gave incredible performances when singing for their life. The judges couldn’t decide, so the public did sending James home. And put simply, the competition will be poorer for it.
Tonight The X Factor contestants showed a bit more of their personalities, with a show dedicated to their own musical idols.
Sally Chatfield gave us a little Evanescence with “Bring Me To Life.” I thought it was the perfect song choice for her, showing us that she could do more than the big tearjerker ballads. I loved seeing her rock out, and watching her vocal technique getting stronger under Natalie’s guidance. What a great way to start the show.
I’ve got to respect Altiyan Childs taking a risk and singing Prince’s “Kiss.” But that man does not have the falsetto to pull it off. He might have performed the hell out of it, but it was laughable. I guess at least it was entertaining though! Entertaining, but terrible.
I’ve got to say, I thought it was pretty pathetic to see Justin Bieber on Mitchell Smith’s list of heroes. I know he’s a young kid, but really? I didn’t think I’d feel that Justin Bieber could outsing anyone, but he outsings Mitchell. And out-energises him. This was flat and absolutely terrible. He made Altiyan look good.
Listening to everyone talk before Mahogany took the stage, you’d think that “Lady Marmalade” didn’t exist before Moulin Rouge. I was actually a bit disappointed to see them go that super sexy route, but I think they definitely brought everything they needed to the table. I found all the choreography a bit distracting and over the top, but I certainly couldn’t fault the girls here.
Continue reading “The X Factor Contestants Take On Their Idols”
As readers of my blog, you’re probably passionate about Australian music and always keen to turn your friends on to the artists that you love right? We all happily do this sort of promotion for free, but there’s a nifty site called Posse that wants to pay you for it.
The model is simple. Every time one of your friends buys a ticket to a concert or downloads a song you’ve promoted you’ll get a commission, which could be between 50c and $10. The site has applications for MySpace and Facebook, so you can promote the artists you love without feeling like a pushy salesperson. I actually use Posse here on Sounds of Oz to make it easier for my readers to buy tickets to the shows I mention. I’ve got to keep this blog afloat somehow, right?
If you think Posse sounds like a great way to earn some extra pocket money, just head to the website and sign up for a free account. Too easy!
Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute
Many music festivals say they’re extreme, but few can back up their claims like the Equinox Rocks Extreme Music and Skydiving Festival in the Queensland town of Toogoolawah, an hour and a half from Brisbane. This quirky event will hit the Ramblers Drop Zone on Saturday October 16.
The event brings together extreme sounds and extreme sports for one crazy afternoon. Angry Anderson heads up the line-up, alongside the bluesy Dallas Frasca, femme punk rockers Legless, German acoustic artist Robert Carl Blank, and local lads Greenthief to name a few.
Skydivers and parachutists will attempt to break a few records, so make sure you keep your eyes on the skies. Tandem jumps may also be available if you’re feeling especially daring.
On site camping is free, so why not make a holiday of it and enjoy the cool tunes and amazing jumps. Early bird tickets cost $49.95 online, so get organized or you’ll pay $65 at the gate.
Image used with permission from Heapsaflash
If you love the musical stylings of Perth’s resident king of swing Earl Cole, make sure you get to Bouchon Bistro on October 20. Earl will team up with Perth’s own Chelsea J Gibson for his final dinner show of the year, a night celebrating the music of Michael Buble and Norah Jones.
The night costs $110 a head, which isn’t bad for an evening’s entertainment and a three-course meal. Groups of six or more will get their tickets for $100 a piece, and receive a free Earl Cole CD so it’s worth getting together a few friends for the night out.
If you want to enjoy a night of classic tunes and fine food, I wouldn’t wait around to reserve your place. Earl and Chelsea have performed two shows at the Bouchon Bistro this year and both sold out, so no doubt this one will also see them play to a packed house. Call the Bouchon Bistro on (08) 9387 3898 to reserve your place.
Image used with permission from Earl Cole
The axe fell for the first time on The X Factor tonight, with Chris Doe being eliminated after the public vote.
It was a close one, with Luke and Joel and Chris splitting the judges’ votes, leaving it to the viewers at home to make the final verdict. I was in two minds about the verdict. I didn’t mind what Chris did last night, and certainly thought he outsang Luke and Joel on the night. However when it came to the crunch tonight I think Luke and Joel outperformed Chris tonight. I don’t predict they’ll be with us too long, but they certainly earned their place after their performance of “Fix You.”
I must say, I really like that when singing for their lives the contestants can choose to sing something other than the song that landed them in the bottom two. If Australian Idol ever comes back to our screens, let’s hope they adopt this format!
Congratulations to Renee Hermansen and Stephen Fairbank. They’re the lucky winners of a copy of Juke Kartel’s new album Levolution. Keep an eye on your mail box guys, because the CDs will be heading your way really soon.
I’ve been listening to my copy this morning, and it’s really good stuff which takes me back to the golden age of rock. You know what I mean; the kind of music that makes you want to put your lighters in the air and pound your fists in time with the beat.
I was initially concerned that the disc may sound a bit pieced together, with tracks from previous album Nowhere Left to Hide sitting alongside newer material. Instead it just allows Juke Kartel to showcase their very best material, making it a great introduction for anyone that wasn’t familiar with their music.
I must admit, I only knew bits and pieces myself. When “Save Me” started though I cranked it up, remembering how much it revved me a few years ago. How wonderful to hear it still sounding fresh after all this time.
A lot of Levolution kicks along at a rocking pace. Juke Kartel are very good at these kinds of songs; they give them just enough attitude and aggression without every sacrificing the melodies. But for me the standouts were the quieter moments, “If Only” and “Soul Shaper.” They remind us of a different side of the band, and give the disc the right amount of light and shade. We all know this band can rock, but these tracks prove that there’s so much more to them.
Supernova definitely missed out when they passed on Toby Rand, but something tells me he’s having the last laugh. At the helm of his own original rock act, he’s proving himself to be a real star.
I was a bit critical of The X Factor due to some questionable judging choices last week, but I approached tonight’s first live show with an open mind. Here’s how it all went down.
Luke and Joel kicked the night off with Good Charlotte’s “Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous.” I thought Guy had picked a smart song; it’s not a track that really challenges the vocals and it does allow natural charisma to shine through. I still stand by my views though that these guys aren’t top 12 material. All the personality in the world can’t make up for an inability to sing.
I always felt Hayley Teal was one of the biggest contenders in the competition, but I was in two minds after the performance tonight. It all started for me when Nat dyed her hair brown. It continued with the slick, choreographed performance of “Bust Your Windows.” She nailed it vocally, but I just worry that we’re losing Hayley in the process. I loved her edges, and I’m a bit disappointed that she’s been polished up. I guess we’ll see what happens next week.
I was a bit skeptical when I heard Kyle had picked Kelly Clarkson’s “Already Gone” for Chris Doe, but I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn’t flawless by any means, but for the first time tonight I felt the heart. This was the connection I’ve been craving all night. There’s definitely some potential there, and I ‘m looking forward to seeing him grow in this competition.
Amanda Grafanakis was up next with Ne-Yo’s “Closer.” I think this was probably the most well rounded performance to that point. The vocals were on point and she performed it really well. I still didn’t feel my socks blown off, but I really couldn’t fault her on anything. If she’s this good in week one, I can’t wait to see how she develops.
Kharizma really impressed me with “Empire State of Mind.” There was that elusive connection that I’ve felt lacking in so many of the performances tonight. They definitely sold the story of the song. For the first time I felt that they stepped up rather than living in Mahogany’s shadow.
If you were one of the punters disappointed by the power failure at Princess 1.5’s Brisbane album launch last week fear not.
The band will make it up to their disappointed fans with a What Doesn’t Kill You album re-launch next weekend at The Powerhouse. Princess 1.5 will take to the stage on Sunday arvo with support by the gorgeous Seja.
They might even bring their own generator to make sure there are none of those nasty power issues!
Image used with permission from Shiny Entertainment
As a woman married to an American, I’ve always felt a wee bit jealous when he’s talked about Halloween. I remember once trying to trick or treat as a child with a couple of school friends, but as no one really expected us we only bagged health food bars and lollies that had sat in cupboards for years.
If you’ve waited all your life to celebrate this ghoulish holiday, you’ll want to get to The Metro in Sydney on October 30 for the Halloween Monster Mash. It’s going to be great fun with a witch cave, vampire bar tenders, and even a graveyard!
And it wouldn’t be The Metro without music. Artists like Dappled Cities, Last Dinosaurs, and SPOD will take the stage dressed as their favourite dead bands. Add some fire breathers, giant spiders, and a human vending machine and you’ve got a night guaranteed to raise the hairs on the back of your neck.
So make sure you dress up in your spookiest costume and embrace this American holiday at The Metro. There are still some early bird tickets available at $25. Otherwise you’ll pay $35 before the event or $40 at the door. Gets yours from the Halloween Monster Mash website.
Image source: Nvadim @ Stock.xchng