From the Ashes of Motor Ace, Meet Nighthawk

As we look for the next big thing in music, I think we sometimes forget about the value of classic sounds. Nighthawk reminds us with its debut single “Surely Getting On.”

This is the kind of straight up honest rock music I remember hearing in pubs when I first started seeing bands. We shouldn’t be surprised though, because Nighthawk features members of Motor Ace, who were one of the biggest acts of the early 2000s.

“The fire that compelled me to make music in the first place was extinguished by the end of Motor Ace. I was young and took every kink in the road harder than I should have. I do have some regrets about not enjoying the great music we made and our success a little more,” explained founding member Patrick Robertson.

“Nighthawk comes from a very different place. It was a party before it was a band. There’s a simplicity about the music and the attitude. I haven’t felt as excited about a group of musicians and making music for a very long time. I think you can hear it.”

“Surely Getting On” is our first taste of Nighthawk’s upcoming album. After experiencing it, I’m hungry for more.

Behold Millington’s “Being” Clip

I can’t remember the last time a music video made an impression on me like the clip for “Being,” the latest single from British-born Melbourne-based muso Millington. It’s a visual feast which takes a few twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. Strap yourself in!

Aside from the outrageous video, the song is pretty special, a charming folk-pop ditty that you’ll find yourself humming for days.

Sheppard Back With New Pop Smash “We Belong”

It was always going to take some work for Sheppard to top the catchy “Geronimo.” But it just might have done it with new single “We Belong.” It’s only November, but I can see this irresistible track becoming the feel-good song of the summer.

“We Belong” came from the last year Sheppard spent writing and producing new material between Los Angeles and Brisbane.

“So excited for the release of We Belong,” George Sheppard said in a presser. “Our fans have been very patient, and we finally get to give them something to wrap their ears around. This new single is a great taste of what’s to come on the album next year.”

That album is set for release everywhere in 2017.

Image used with permission from SGC Media

Rough River Casts a Spell With “This Love”

Take a moment out from your weekend chores and socializing to just stop and listen to “This Love,” the stunning new single from Melbourne singer-songwriter Rough River.

I say you should take a moment, because this is a gentle, delicate track. A slow burner if you will. And if you just hit play and go about your day, you might miss exactly what’s so special about it. It doesn’t have those obvious hooks or singalong choruses so many songs do after all. But it’s utterly beautiful.

“This Love” is the first track lifted from Rough River’s sophomore album, The Leaving, which gets released on 17 February 2017. A limited run of vinyl copies are available via the Rough River Bandcamp page. If you’re among the first 100 to pre-order, you’ll get a nifty tote from record label Dusky Tracks to carry the LP in.

Image used with permission from Dusky Tracks

High Violet Release Pop Smash “All I Want”

Grab yourself a hairbrush to sing into, kick over your shoes, and prepare to give yourself over to the shimmery electro-pop genius of “All I Want,” the latest single from Adelaide outfit High Violet.

This song is just so much fun. The synths take me back to my childhood and the interplay of male and female vocals tells the story of love and longing beautifully.

High Violet will play the following shows in the coming weeks.

26 November 2016 – The Metro, Sydney (supporting British India)
29 November 2016 – National Live Music Awards @ The Basement, Sydney
16 December 2016 – The Gov, Adelaide (supporting British India)

Image used with permission from Rare Finds

San Cisco Drop Pop Gem “SloMo”

San Cisco is one of those bands it’s impossible to dislike. Every song the duo releases puts a smile on my feet and starts my feet tapping. They’re so darned catchy, but quirky enough to keep me guessing. The trend continues with “SloMo,” the first official single from album number three.

“’SloMo’ was the first song we wrote as a band after Gracetown,” singer Jordi Davieson explained. “We wanted to create a song that made people want to move.”

Mission accomplished! While you can stream “SloMo” and its aptly named companion “B Side” right now, they’ll also be available on a limited edition two-track seven-inch vinyl, which you can order later this year. San Cisco’s yet-to-be-titled third album will be released in the first quarter of 2017.

Leeli Tours Gorgeous Single “Into the Dark”

There’s something in the air in Byron Bay. The residents just seem to be more chilled out than the rest of us, which makes it an excellent breeding ground for the kind of folky alt-country music I love. Leeli is the latest act from Byron to catch my ear, and I recommend you take a listen to her stuff too.

New single “Into the Dark” is the perfect introduction to this talented songstress. A moving reflection on the power of addiction and loss, it draws you in with its personal lyrics and heartfelt delivery. It’s music at its purest, with little more than the vocals and the gentle strum of an acoustic guitar.

Leeli is currently on the road, taking this song and others in her collection to audiences around the country. It’s a place where she feels right at home.

“For me it’s about the intimacy of performance,” she explained. “That beautiful rawness of telling your story with one guitar and one voice.”

Here are the remaining dates on Leeli’s tour.

23 November 2016 – The Rails, Byron Bay
26 November 2016 – Rhythm Hut, Gosford
30 November 2016 – Newtown Social Club, Newtown
15 December 2016 – The Balcony, Byron Bay

Image used with permission from Rish Publicity

Holy Holy Releases Another Awesome Single, “Elevator”

Holy Holy is continuing to build buzz for the release of their sophomore album with the launch of a brand new single “Elevator.” It’s another stellar slice of indie rock, with shimmery guitars and a chorus that should have you punching your fist in the air.

“I can’t recall how it germinated, but before we knew it we were playing this same two chords, over and over,” explained lead guitarist Oscar Dawson. “And it built from there, like a conversation; starting softly, then bouncing around to become louder and louder… It had been caught on a phone when we were touring in Europe, and back in Australia we put it together and decided that, in fact, it is a song.”

“Elevator” is the latest track from that highly anticipated new album Paint, which will drop on February 24. You needn’t wait that long to get your Holy Holy fix though. The band is currently touring the country with I Know Leopard and Alex L’Estrange. Here are the remaining dates.

17 November 2016 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
18 November 2016 – Metro Theatre, Sydney
19 November 2016 – Uni Bar, Wollongong
20 November 2016 – The Basement, Canberra
24 November 2016 – Miami Marketta, Gold Coast
25 November 2016 – Solbar, Sunshine Coast
26 November 2016 – The Triffid, Brisbane

Image used with permission from On the Map PR

The Buckleys are Incredible Over Achievers

I watched the excellent Irish movie Sing Street on the weekend. It tickled my funny bone, moved me as I haven’t been moved by a film in years, and also made me feel woefully inadequate. The kids in the movie are a fraction of my age yet capable of making the kind of music I can only dream of. Those feelings of inadequacy are creeping in again now that I’ve discovered The Buckleys.

The Buckleys are three siblings: 17-year-old Sarah Grace Buckley on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, 15-year-old Lachlan Buckley on bass and electric guitars, and 14-year-old Molly Buckley on vocals and mandolin. Their most recent single “Would You Like to Dance” is amazing. They’ve worked a who’s who of songwriters in Nashville, and they’ve signed an international deal with Aussie label Golden Robot Records. They’re returning to the US next week to meet with publishing and management companies in Nashville. While they’re there, they’ll play Music City Roots in Franklin, Tennessee on December 14. Seriously, could they cram any more accomplishments into their young lives?

Before they go, the Buckleys will play the Mullum Music Festival in Mullimbimby on Saturday, November 19. Get on board now, because these guys are going to be big.

Husky Returns With New Single and Tour

After spending a year in Berlin, Melbourne band Husky is back on our shores and back with a brand new single “Late Night Store.”

“Late Night Store” is the first track lifted from Husky’s third album, which will drop later this year. It’s got such a striking blend of guitars and keys, with a steady groove that keeps the listener engaged right to the end. I also love the poetry of the lyrics.

In a couple of days Husky will hit the road for their first national tour since 2014. If you’ve been hanging out for a Husky gig, make sure you don’t miss one of these shows.

17 November 2016 – Artbar Art Gallery of WA, Perth
19 November 2016 – Lighthouse Folk Festival, Norah Head
3 December 2016 – The Foundry, Fortitude Valley
7 December 2016 – Newtown Social Club, Newtown
8 December 2016 – Fat Controller, Adelaide
15 December 2016 – Howler, Brunswick

Image used with permission from Guerilla Music Promotion