Rogue Traders are closing one chapter and beginning the next with the release of The Sound of Drums.
The double disc features a greatest hits collection, which features songs from Rogue Traders’ first three albums, and the band’s brand new studio album, Night of the Living Drums.
“Ten years is a huge milestone for any band,” said Rogue Traders’ creative force James Ash. “This record sums up what we’ve done so far – and also lays down our plans for the future!”
The Sound of Drums hit stores on November 11. Ash and Rogue Traders frontwoman Mindi Jackson will hit the promotional trail next month to support the release ahead of a full-scale tour in the New Year.
Image used with permission from Revolutions Per Minute
The folks from Eddy Current Suppression Ring may be working on various side projects at the moment, but they’re reminding us of their collective might with the release of their new singles and rarities collection, So Many Things.
The disc celebrates the last seven years in the career of this Melbourne garage rock band. The collection features many out of print singles and some rare gems, including covers of The Chosen Few’s “There’s a Lot Of it Going Around” and The Go-Gos’ “We Got the Beat.” Hopefully this will be enough to tide the fans over while the band’s on hiatus.
It’s a pretty special thing to find new music that takes you back, but I’ve found it in Steve Lane and the Autocrats’ new single “Ghost Trains.” It’s got that lovely Paul Kelly storytelling quality about it, with a splash of Weddings Parties Anything thrown in. It’s good honest Aussie pop rock, melodic but heartfelt. Pop’s almost gotten to be a dirty word in the music industry, but this song shows us the term isn’t synonymous with vapid.
The film clip plays up the track’s nostalgic qualities, with vision of the band spliced together with archival film footage.
“Ghost Trains” is our first taste of the band’s forthcoming debut album The Romance of Communication, which hits stores on Friday. Can you believe something that sounds so seasoned comes from a debut?
To celebrate the album’s release, the Steve Lane and the Autocrats will play shows along the east coast, with their first tonight in Warrnambool.
19 October 2011 – The Loft, Warrnambool
20 October 2011 – The Front Gallery & Café, Lyneham
21 October 2011 – The Heritage Hotel, Bulli
22 October 2011 – Clarendon Guest House, Katoomba
23 October 2011 – The Vanguard, Newtown
27 October 2011 – Beavs Bar, Geelong
28 October 2011 – The Northcote Social Club, Northcote
29 October 2011 – TBC
30 October 2011 – The Palais Theatre, Hepburn Springs
6 November 2011 – Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm
After gaining a big following in their home state, Brisbane urban act Impossible Odds are taking their music to the masses with the release of their debut album Against All Odds.
The band easily blends hip hop and soul sounds to create something which flies in the face of the negative, misogynistic music created by some sectors of the urban community. The album’s lead single “Beautiful World” gives you some idea what this band is all about, both musically and philosophically.
The words of Impossible Odds frontman Rival MC give voice not just the issues facing contemporary Aboriginal Australians, but those facing all Australians, and in fact all citizens of the world. However he’s careful to do this without pointing fingers and demeaning others. That social consciousness gives the music of Impossible Odds real intelligence that’s worth listening to, even if you don’t usually consider yourself an urban music fan.
Impossible Odds will play a warm-up show on the Gold Coast before launching their new album in front of their hometown fans on October 22. After that the band will play shows down the east coast. South Australia, you haven’t been forgotten either. A launch show in Adelaide will be announced soon.
21 October 2011 – The Loft, Gold Coast
22 October 2011 – The Globe, Brisbane
5 November 2011 – The Laundry, Melbourne
3 December 2011 – Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney
Just six months after the release of his debut EP Every Angry Inch, Crooked Saint is preparing to unleash his follow-up, Sweating Bullets, on November 4. You can’t say this singer-songwriter isn’t working hard!
I always appreciate a tune with a steel guitar, so the title track is predictable right up my alley. This alt-country song has got a tangible summer vibe to it; I can almost feel that oppressive Australian humidity as I listen to the song unfolding.
To celebrate the release Crooked Saint will play shows down the east coast, culminating in a big final performance at the V8 Supercars final in Sydney. Here are all the places you can see this talented singer-songwriter performing, both in acoustic and full-band modes.
21October 2011 – Revolver Upstairs, Melbourne (EP Launch)
4 November 2011 – The Beresford Hotel, Sydney (Solo Acoustic – with Dirty Little Rebels and The Delta Riggs)
9 November 2011 – The Study @ The Gaelic Hotel, Sydney (Solo Acoustic)
19 November 2011 – Beaches, Thirroul (Solo Acoustic – supporting Dragon)
30 November 2011 – Rock Lily @ The Star, Sydney (solo acoustic)
3 December 2011 – The V8 Supercars @ ANZ Stadium, Sydney (with Noiseworks, John Farnham, and James Reyne)
A brand new Matt Corby song “Brother” will hit radio next week. It’s the first track from the Australian Idol graduate’s new EP, Into the Flame. Or if you don’t want to sit patiently by your radio, you could just listen to it here!
I haven’t always enjoyed Matt’s music, but this track feels like his most mature work to date. While many of his tunes have seemed to meander without purpose, this one’s really compelling. If this is a sign of what’s to come this time around perhaps I’d better give him another listen.
To celebrate the EP’s November 11 launch, Matt headed out on the road this week for one of his most extensive tours to date. Called the Secret Garden tour, the shows see Matt playing in some of the country’s most beautiful gardens. These tranquil settings sound a lot more inviting than sweaty pubs with sticky floors!
Tickets are allocated on a first come, first served basis; fans just need to e-mail mattcorbysg@gmail.com with details of the shows they want to go and the friends they want to take (there’s a maximum of four names per e-mail to keep things fair). Tickets cost $20 per person and will be collected upon entry to the event. That money will help Matt continue to do what he does, and help the hosts cover their costs.
It all sounds like such a great concept, the sort of thing we don’t often see in the modern music world. The remaining dates are below if you want to get to one of the gardens, or Matt’s EP launch shows.
15 October 2011 – Salisbury, QLD (18+ BYO)
16 October 2011 – Forest Lake, QLD (All Ages)
18 October 2011 – Palm Beach, NSW (All Ages)
19 October 2011 – Ingleside, NSW (All Ages)
20 October 2011 – Pennant Hills, NSW (All Ages)
21 October 2011 – Kings Langley, NSW (18+ BYO)
22 October 2011 – Ashfield, NSW (18+ BYO)
23 October 2011 – Leumeah, NSW (15+)
26 October 2011 – Hopetoun, VIC (All Ages)
27 October 2011 – Kyabram, VIC (All Ages)
28 October 2011 – Niddrie, VIC (18+ BYO)
29 October 2011 – Donvale, VIC (All Ages)
30 October 2011 – Ringwood North, VIC (All Ages)
3 November 2011 – Crawley, WA (All Ages)
4 November 2011 – Como, WA (18+ BYO)
5 November 2011 – North Perth, WA (All Ages)
6 November 2011 – Carramar, WA (All Ages Morning Show)
6 November 2011 – Carabooda, WA (18+ BYO Night Show)
11 November 2011 – Campbelltown, NSW (All Ages)
24 November 2011 – Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney
30 November 2011 – The Toff In Town, Melbourne
2 December 2011 – Blakeview, SA (18+ BYO)
3 December 2011 – Stirling, SA (All Ages)
4 December 2011 – Evanston Park, SA (18+ BYO)
Image used with permission from Pod Artist Services
Sydney’s Convair have wormed their way into my heart with their fun new EP The New You. The title track has won me over with its retro synth sounds and loved-up innocence. It takes me back to my youth, the time when I first got excited about music. It has me wanting more; something tells me an EP’s not going to be quite long enough!
It’s all we’re getting for the meantime though, so at least Convair have done it right. The New You will be available in standard EP format and a special vinyl package, just as any good 80s inspired music should be! Look for it in stores on November 7.
Brisbane pop rockers Starlight Theatre are hitting the road this week to support their brand new EP Castles, Clocks & Cathedrals.
The band recorded the four-tracker in an old Queensland church earlier this year. It sounds like the spiritual location rubbed off on the lads as drummer Paul Bradshaw said the cording process was “such a positive experience. Everyone was so at ease.”
The EP showcases a sound that’s much closer to Starlight Theatre’s live show than they’ve committed to record before. The band has been working hard on that live act, with more experimentation and a greater emphasis on flow. You can see the fruits of their labour at the following shows.
14 October 2011 – The Uni Bar, Lismore (18+)
15 October 2011 – The Globe Theatre, Brisbane (18+)
21 October 2011 – Neverland, Coolangatta (18+)
22 October 2011 – On The Pulse Festival @ Fortitude Valley PCYC, Brisbane (All Ages)
Classic ‘80s pub bands seem to be everywhere. Cold Chisel are back on the road, Icehouse are enjoying chart success with their latest greatest hits record, and now Dragon are preparing for a comeback.
Their brand new EP Chase the Sun, which has just hit stores, heralds a new start for the band. Its first single “21 (Heart of Gold)” sees the outfit back to its best, and there’s more where that came from.
They haven’t completely forgotten their past though. Next month Jeff Apter will release Chasing the Dragon, a biography which remembers the band’s late lead singer Marc Hunter.
Dragon will promote both the book and the EP when they play the following east coast shows over the coming months.
20 October 2011 – The Vanguard, Sydney
21 October 2011 – Canberra Casino, Canberra
22 October 2011 – Manly Boatshed, Sydney
10 November 2011 – Tempo Hotel, Brisbane
12 November 2011 – Lone Star Tavern, Gold Coast
19 November 2011 – Beaches, Wollongong
25 November 2011 – Brass Monkey, Cronulla
2 December 2011 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
3 December 2011 – Lizotte’s, Kincumber
4 December 2011 – Lizotte’s, Dee Why
Melbourne indie rockers Celadore will kick off their most extensive tour to date in Albury later this month. The three-month celebration will support the release of their The Bright and Blue EP, which hits stores and iTunes today.
The Bright and Blue is Celadore’s follow up to last year’s Distance is a Gun, and their second release through Popboomerang Records. It’s also the first produced by The Living End’s Chris Cheney, who has nothing but good things to say about the band. He commented that “they possess a sense of melody and a depth to their songwriting that’s beyond their years.”
Albury seems like a pretty strange place to start rocking, but it’s fitting for the string of dates which takes in regional centres and capital cities alike. Catch them before they make it big at the following shows.
21 October 2011 – Albion Hotel, Albury
22 October 2011 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
27 October 2011 – Ed Castle, Adelaide
28 October 2011 – EV’s Youth Centre, Croydon (All Ages)
29 October 2011 – The Sandbar, Mildura
4 November 2011 – Hotel Orient, Brisbane
5 November 2011 – The Hive, Brisbane (All Ages)
11 November 2011 – The Loxton Club, Loxton
12 November 2011 – National Hotel, Geelong
16 November 2011 – Rock Lily, Sydney
17 November 2011 – Phoenix Bar, Canberra
18 November 2011 – Yours & Owls, Wollongong
19 November 2011 – Pacific Hotel, Yamba
26 November 2011 – Revolver, Melbourne
3 December 2011 – Brisbane Hotel, Hobart
10 December 2011 – The Rails, Byron Bay
“Ten years is a huge milestone for any band,” said Rogue Traders’ creative force James Ash. “This record sums up what we’ve done so far – and also lays down our plans for the future!”
The disc celebrates the last seven years in the career of this Melbourne garage rock band. The collection features many out of print singles and some rare gems, including covers of The Chosen Few’s “There’s a Lot Of it Going Around” and The Go-Gos’ “We Got the Beat.” Hopefully this will be enough to tide the fans over while the band’s on hiatus.
Sydney’s 
14 October 2011 – The Uni Bar, Lismore (18+)
21 October 2011 – Albion Hotel, Albury