Category: Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Mick Thomas’ Roving Commission Covers Cold Chisel For Christmas

I love Christmas. While I don’t believe in decorating your tree before December 1, you also won’t catch me playing Whamageddon either, because I can’t imagine spending this month trying to avoid this and other glorious Christmas songs. So now that it’s December, I’m probably going to bring you plenty of new Christmas music. Deal with it. The first is Mick Thomas’ Roving Commission’s delightful cover of Cold Chisel’s “Home and Broken Hearted”. Lifted from Chisel’s debut album, it’s a track that many Aussies are unfamiliar with, so I’m thrilled that Mick and his crew are bringing it to audiences.

“Brooke [Taylor, who takes lead vocals on the song] wanted a Christmas song she could sing and I thought this is one people constantly overlook and one I was eager to have a crack at. And what a song it is. The first Cold Chisel album is one that had a major effect on me and one I think still stands up after all this time. So many good songs,” Mick enthused. “We toyed with the idea of changing the protagonist’s gender, or even name (‘Dear Jimmy it’s over, goodbye’), but there’s something timeless about the way the words cascade and people know it as it is, so we thought better of it. I guess the mandolin could never really replace Don Walker’s frantic piano in the chorus but you can’t say I haven’t given it my best shot.”

This song comes from Mick Thomas’ Roving Commission’s latest EP Back in the Day, which features some originals and other choice covers. They’re supporting its release with plenty of shows all around the country.

4 December 2022 – Leftys, Meeajin/Brisbane (with Full Power Happy Hour)
11 December 2022 – Longley International, Muwinina Country/Longley (with Teresa Dixon)
13 December 2022 – Grace Emily, Kaurna/Adelaide (with Cookie Baker)
14 December 2022 – Grace Emily, Kaurna/Adelaide (with Tom Redwood)
15 December 2022 – Grace Emily, Kaurna/Adelaide (with Mark Curtis and the Flannelettes)
16 December 2022 – River Hotel, Kaartdijin Noongar/Margaret River (with Carla Geneve)
17 December 2022 – Navy Club, Waylyup/Fremantle (with Carla Geneve)
18 December 2022 – The Oxford Hotel, Boorloo/Leederville (with Carla Geneve)
21 December 2022 – Shotkickers, Wurundjeri Country/Thornbury (with Skyscraper Stan)
22 December 2022 – Shotkickers, Wurundjeri Country/Thornbury (with Alana Jagt and the Monotremes)
23 December 2022 – Shotkickers, Wurundjeri Country/Thornbury (with Maggie Alley Band)
1 January 2023 – Archies Creek Hotel, Gunai Country/Archies Creek (with Sherry Rich and the Grievous Angels)

Image used with permission from Dave Laing Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Grace Amos Releases Strong Single, “By the Grace of God”

Grace Amos is one of those special artists who seem to get better with every single release. She’s always had a cool angsty rock vibe reminiscent of Alanis Morissette or Demi Lovato, depending on your vintage. But in her latest track “By the Grace of God, ” she sounds her most confident. It’s only fitting as the song talks about embracing and retaining your own power, even when faced with seemingly all-consuming love.

“It’s mainly about looking back on previous relationships I’ve shared and how I always put in so much, without really getting the same in return,” she admitted. “So I wrote this as a reminder to myself to know what I’m worth, to stop letting people “walk all over me”. I wrote this song for me.”

Grace will release her debut EP early next year.

Image used with permission from KAOS

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Rock Out to The Velvet Club’s “Thinking Straight”

Naarm/Melbourne rock outfit The Velvet Club have got my toes tapping with their latest single “Thinking Straight.” This is a straight-up banger with totally relatable lyrics about escaping chaotic thoughts. Hot tip, turning a track like this up and just enjoying the music is the perfect way to get your head right!

“Lyrically, ‘Thinking Straight’ is about getting stuck in your own head and doubting yourself but at the same time recognising that you’re in your head and taking five to relax and reset,” explained lead singer AJ. “It’s just about recognising that at times things get overwhelming and to accept that and find ways to relax and get back on track when it happens instead of dwelling in it and trying to avoid it.”

The Velvet Club have been impressing crowds recently opening up for Ra Ra Viper. They’ve got just three shows for that tour left, plus some other gigs in the coming months. Here are all the places you can see them:

1 December 2022 – Liberty Alive, Boorloo/Perth (supporting South Summit)
3 December 2022 – Mojos, Waylyup/Fremantle (ALL AGES supporting Ra Ra Viper)
3 December 2022 – Mojos, Waylyup/Fremantle (18+ supporting Ra Ra Viper)
4 December 2022 – Mojos, Waylyup/Fremantle (18+ supporting Ra Ra Viper)
18 February 2023 – Now & Again Festival @ Werribee Park, Wirribi-yaluk/Werribee

Image used with permission from Habit Music Co; credit: Tim Lambert

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Lucid Safari Brings Summer Vibes With “Waiting For the Sun”

It’s not quite December, but it seems like summer’s already here. That makes it the perfect time for listening to a track like “Waiting for the Sun”, the latest single from Meeanjin/Brisbane band Lucid Safari. Just see if you’re not singing along with the “whoas” by the end of it.

“As well as welcoming back the sunny season, the song reflects the feeling of living through the ebbs and flows of life knowing that when times are tough, good things are sure to come back around,” explained Lucid Safari’s frontman Daniel Lewis.

Lucid Safari have been playing plenty of hometown gigs lately, including a double-header single launch with The Urban Sea and a show supporting Reece Mastin. Hopefully it’s not too long before they pack up the van and head to venues around the rest of the country.

Image used with permission from Kick Push PR; credit: Guy Crofts

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

SacredCrows Release Buzzy Single, “Dragonfly”

Taking time to release their second single has paid off for SacredCrows. After dropping their debut “Strange” earlier this year, SacredCrows are delivering “Dragonfly,” a straight-up blues-rock track that might even be better than their first effort. It makes me feel like dancing, despite those dark lyrics about noxious personality traits and the way they can lead to self-sabotage.

“This one is a live favourite with the band and crowds, but yeah, it’s a little neurotic under all the fun stuff,” admitted SacredCrows frontman Glenn Whitehall. “I guess that’s the gold in songmaking, having a way to vent.”

You can bet this track will be on regular rotation until SacredCrows grace us with another one!

Image used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Yorke Drops Poptastic Single “when the honeymoon is over” Ahead of EP Release

Yorke has dropped another taste of her new EP which has me even more excited about its launch later this week. With the release of new single “when the honeymoon is over,” we’ve now heard three stellar pop gems from this five-track EP. While I’m really looking forward to hearing the final pieces of the puzzle, I’m also relishing this song for a little while.

I also love the video, the second Yorke’s created with her director and partner Kyle Caulfield. I hear it took a month of long days and nights, including countless trips to Bunnings, but it’s come together beautifully.

“Love can sort of just sneak up on you at the least expected of times, these heart balloons are the visual metaphor for those feelings of love starting to introduce themselves into life, in a way that can’t be ignored,” Kyle explained.

Yorke’s new EP ten feet tall drops on December 2. Fresh from supporting Peach PRC, she’ll play the following headlining shows along the East Coast in the New Year to support its release.

3 February 2022 – Northcote Social Club, Naarm/Melbourne
9 February 2022 – The Lansdowne, Eora/Sydney
10 February 2022 – Black Bear Lodge, Meeanjin/Brisbane

Image used with permission from Island Records Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Charlie Needs Braces Drops Delightful New Single, “Yanoo”

Charlie Needs Braces is bringing the good vibes to your Saturday with her latest single “Yanoo”. It’s an easy breezy summer song that encourages us all the embrace the endings rather than holding on to relationships that no longer serve us.

“Yanoo means goodbye in my mob’s language and is inspired by all the inevitable and natural endings we all go through at some point in relationships,” explained Charlie, a proud GuriNgai woman, a descendant of Bungaree and Matora.

“Yanoo” comes from Charlie’s forthcoming album Saltwater People, which drops on February 10. Before that she’ll support Squid Nebula at Shotkickers in Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung/Thornbury on December 30.

Image used with permission from This Much Talent; credit: Tiffany Garvie

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Nick Keogh Amps Up His Sound With “Ketamine”

Nick Keogh charmed me with the folky, acoustic-driven songs on his debut EP, 20 & Bored. He’s kicked things up a few notches with his latest single “Ketamine,” and I’m here for it. Switching his acoustic guitar for a telecaster has made his sound much bigger. The witty lyrics are also brilliantly biting, with Nick checking his privilege and in the process reminding others to do the same.

“I wrote Ketamine after I watched a Tik Tok by Lucy Holz where she discusses people at Melbourne Uni ‘fetishising poverty’ and I had a bit of a ‘woah’ moment because that’s something that I do,” he admitted. “It was around the time where I was reassessing my privilege as a white cis-het man in the music industry and didn’t really know what to say. So, I decided to write about just that, from the perspective of a lad in the style of music they’d probably listen to.”

Nick will launch the single for hometown fans in Naarm/Melbourne at NoNo (formerly Penny’s Bandroom) on December 8.

Image used with permission from Nick Keogh

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Matt Cornell on Solo Comeback Trail With “Stick Around

It’s been five years since his last solo single, but five-time Golden Guitar nominee Matt Cornell is coming back with a vengeance. After focusing on his work with duo Cornell & Carr and playing with acts like Shannon Noll and Adam Brand, Matt’s latest track “Stick Around” is a real return to form. It’s a country-rock anthem with a classic feel that draws on Matt’s love of ‘80s music.

“‘Stick Around’ explores the weird phenomenon that True Love often strikes when we least expect it,” Matt explained. “The idea that something so solid and long lasting can be borne out of one boozy fleeting flirty moment. I feel in a way, where I’m at in my life, ‘Stick Around’ is kind of a wish for me personally, I’m currently single, & wanting to settle down to start a family one day, in this song, the guy meets his life partner, has the two kids & a dog, there’s hope for me yet.”

On the back of the single, Matt will play a string of big shows in 2023. Check him out at the following events:
18 February 2023 – Sydney Harbour Cruise, Eora/Sydney
11 March 2023 – The Stock Route Country Music Festival, Wiradjuri Country/Dubbo
14 July 2023 – Country on Keppel, Woppa/Great Keppel Island

Image used with permission from Wildheart Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Stormy-Lou Exorcise Their Demons With “Nothing To Me”

Kaurna Land/Adelaide four-piece Stormy-Lou are bringing a little angst to your day with their new single “Nothing To Me”. It sounds like a classic alternative rock track, but tap into those lyrics and you’ll hear the optimism coming through. It might be a breakup song, but it reminds us that an ending is so often a new beginning.

“Nothing To Me is our way of saying “f*** you, we’re better now,” the band explained. “All four of us have experienced awful relationships in some shape or form and so this was a really collaborative song for us to express the post-breakup feels. We’re all super confident, bubbly people and that has come from beating hardships and kicking out bad ties in life.”

After wowing hometown crowds with a recent headlining show at the Crown and Anchor, Stormy-Lou will return to the venue to support Sophisticated Dingo on December 1.

Image used with permission from Habit Music Co; credit: Eve Burner