Category: Releases

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Baby Animals Reboots Special Edition “This is Not the End”

By popular demand, the Baby Animals will release a special deluxe, fully-loaded edition of the 2013 ARIA charting album This is Not the End on June 6.

This special release, which celebrates the one-year anniversary of the album’s official release, features 16 never-before-released live versions of the Baby Animals’ biggest hits including “Early Warning,” “Rush You,” and “One Word” from their Feed the Birds tour. The album also features a BA365 Rockumentary on the making of the album, a lyrics booklet, and the new single “This Is Not the End.”

Pre-order your copy from the Social Family Records Store, Sanity, or iTunes and you could win the very jacket that Suze DeMarchi wore on the Feed the Birds tour and one of Suze’s original one-off artworks. The album drops in a few days though, so you haven’t got long to get your entry in the draw!

Image used with permission from Jaden Social

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Halfway Channel Classic Sounds with “Dulcify”

Brisbane rock act Halfway have me reminiscing about the golden days of Aussie music with their new single “Dulcify.”

The song’s brand new but it feels like it could have come from decades ago thanks to its simple, catchy melody, and its incredible story expressed so eloquently through its lyrics. Don’t you just love a song like this that takes you on a journey and really says something? “Dulcify” takes its name from the champion racehorse who was euthanized after being injured in the 1979 Melbourne Cup. The story of the horse helps set up a song that also deals with life’s highs and lows.

Dulcify is the latest to come from Halfway’s acclaimed album Any Old Love. To celebrate its release, Halfway will play the following shows in the East Coast capitals this month.

7 June 2014 – The Zoo, Brisbane
14 June 2014 – Lazy Bones, Sydney
20 June 2014 – Wesley Anne, Melbourne

Image used with permission from SCG Media

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Divide & Conquer Rock Out with “Superheroboy”

Sydney band Divide & Conquer show that they love to do things a little differently with their new single “Superheroboy.” It starts out like so many fun pop-punk numbers, but listen a little longer and you’ll hear its dark side. I’ve heard them described as popcore and popmosh, but you can make up your own mind.

“Superheroboy” is the lead single from Divide & Conquer’s recently released EP Long Story Short. It comes with an awesome music video which follows one man looking to solve the world’s problems by taking out one bad guy at a time.

“It was loads of fun filming ‘Superheroboy’” affirmed guitarist Lorenzo La Cava. “The organisation and process of the project was quite complex and many times we questioned our vision for the clip.”

“We came round to thinking the project was possibly too ambitious, but the end result was totally worth it” added lead vocalist Pat Thatcher.

Do you agree?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jackson McLaren Releases Long-Awaited Debut Album

I was blown away when I saw Jackson McLaren supporting Counting Crows last April. I said at the time that I was really looking forward to hearing more from this talented singer-songwriter. I waited patiently, and now he’s finally released his debut album Songs to Greet the Dawn with his band The Triple Threat.

The album includes the killer new single “Here’s a Memory,” a stirring song which celebrates living life to the fullest. Jackson McLaren & The Triple Threat will play this song and many other choice cuts from Songs to Greet the Dawn at the following shows.

4 June 2014 – The Melbourne Folk Club @ Bella Union, Melbourne
15 June 2014 – The Bearded Lady, Brisbane
22 June 2014 – The Exeter Hotel, Adelaide
28 June 2014 – Little Features @ Hibernian House, Sydney
29 June 2014 – Menagerie @ The Welcome Hotel, Rozelle

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

I Am Apollo Get the “Summertime Blues”

The trackydacks I seem to find myself in these days are a good reminder that summer is well and truly behind us, but Sydney’s I Am Apollo is giving the season a proper farewell with their new single “Summertime Blues.”

The song is a laidback, acoustic ode to leaving behind days on the beach and other summer delights. It was originally recorded as a B-side, but the band loved it so much that they couldn’t bear to leave it languishing in the shadows. So instead they added the lap slide and some extra vocal flourishes to make it the gem that it is today.

It’s a great taste of what we’re in for when I Am Apollo release their second LP later this year.

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Cookin’ on 3 Burners Assemble Star-Studded Cast for “Blind Bet”

Funky Melbourne outfit Cookin’ on 3 Burners are giving us a tantalising taste of their sixth studio album with the release of the hot new single “Losing Streak.” The super-catchy track features homegrown soul superstar Daniel Merriweather on guest vocals. Flip the limited edition vinyl single over to soak up the similarly star-studded B-side “Mind Made Up,” featuring The Bamboo’s Kylie Auldist.

“Losing Streak” is the first song lifted from Blind Bet, which hits stores on July 4. It seems everyone that’s everyone wanted to be a part of it, as it also features guest appearances from Tex Perkins, the Cat Empire’s Harry James Angus, and Electric Empire’s Jason Heerah.

Those guys are going to join Cookin’ on 3 Burners at two very special album launch shows in the major capitals. You can bet these shows are going to be smoking.

4 July 2014 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne (feat. Daniel Merriweather, Kylie Auldist, Jason Heerah, Mantra & 1/6 DJs Chris Gill, Manchild & Mz Rizk, Demilition B-Girl and her B-Boy crew)
11 July 2014 – The Basement, Sydney (feat. Tex Perkins, Kylie Auldist, DJs Huwston & JC)

Image used with permission from SCG Media

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Luke Peacock and The Painted Ladies Cover Vic Simms

In 1973, Indigenous singer-songwriter Vic Simms recorded the pivotal album The Loner from his Bathurst gaol cell. In 2014 his music will get a new lease on life thanks to Brisbane singer-songwriter Luke Peacock. Luke’s assembled a talented bunch of musos, dubbed The Painted Ladies, to reimagine those songs.

“Get Back to the Shadows” is our first taste of that ambitious project. It’s a poignant commentary on discrimination and race relationships wrapped up in a soulful, rockabilly package.

“The thing about Vic Simms’ songs is that they work on so many levels,” Luke explained. “To me as a First Nations man, they give me an instant sense of identity. The characters are people I know, or have known. The stories and the observations seem so familiar to me. They probably would to most people in one way or another. This is not a man who is marching in the streets and preaching politics—he just speaks the truth about his feelings and his life and does it to a groove and a great melody. That’ll move people more than a history book ever could.”

The Painted Ladies Play Selections from “The Loner” hits stores on June 6.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Little Earthquake Tour Cheerful “Brightside” Single

Central Coast brothers Mathew and Justin Hyland are Little Earthquake, the duo behind this optimistic slice of electronic pop-rock “Brightside.” The track comes from the EP of the same name, which will hit iTunes and other digital retailers on June 6.

The lads honed their craft as guest members of American indie rock act Lydia. While criss-crossing the United States they began working on the tracks which would help launch their own project, Little Earthquake. They developed the songs with superstar local producer Lachlan Mitchell (The Jezabels, Pnau) who helped take them to a brand new level.

Little Earthquake will launch the EP at the following East Coast shows.

2 June 2014 – Old Bar, Melbourne
3 June 2014 – Ruby Tuesdays @ Workers Club, Melbourne
5 June 2014 – Grace Darling, Melbourne
13 June 2014 – Corrimal Beach Hotel, Wollongong
15 June 2014 – Terrigal Surf Club, Terrigal
17 June 2014 – Armidale Club, Armidale,
19 & 21 June 2014 – Ric’s Bar, Brisbane
25 June 2014 – Lass O’Gowrie Hotel, Newcastle
27 June 2014 – Armidale Club, Armidale
4 July 2014 – Beresford Hotel, Sydney
31 July 2014 – FBi Social, Sydney

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kait Hudson Rocks with Pulse Mavens

The punk scene is so male-dominated that I’m excited to see Kait Hudson turning the tide with her band Pulse Mavens. Don’t go thinking she’s a token female though. Her voice is angelic, but it’s got a ferocious intensity which is showcased beautifully on the Sydney band’s new single “Fight Back.”

The song also happens to be the title track of the band’s debut EP, which is available via iTunes now. But if you like what you hear, don’t just settle for listening to the digital download at home. The band’s playing a couple of shows in front of Sydney audiences in the coming weeks, and something tells me that they’ll sound even better in the flesh.

Get your skates on and see them tonight at SFX Sydney, or catch them at the Bald Faced Stag on June 22.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Hands like Houses Release Amazing New Video

Anyone who’s ever tuned in to the Real Housewives of Melbourne knows there’s very little that’s real about its cashed up, perfectly manicured stars. If the creators wanted to cast real housewives, perhaps they should look to someone like the star of the new Hands like Houses video.

Sure she’s no glamourpuss, but there’s something very real about the woman who crumbles under the weight of domesticity in the “A Tale of Outer Suburbia” clip. It was filmed and directed by Joshua Aylett, who the Canberra band had on their wishlist for some time.

“He’s an amazing director that we grew up with in Canberra and someone that we knew we could create something a little outside of the box with,” explained Hands like Houses guitarist Matthew Cooper. “It’s always interesting approaching video clips with the intention of creating something unique and captivating, separate from the song though as well as complimentary. We absolutely love the final product and it’s definitely one of the coolest projects we’ve been part of.”

“A Tale of Outer Suburbia” is the latest song lifted from Hands like Houses album Unimagine. The band will celebrate its release with the following shows. Tickets are available at the door for all dates.

20 June 2014 – Bada Bing, Frankston
21 June 2014 – Bang, Melbourne
26 June 2014 – Hot Damn, Sydney
27 June 2014 – Riot! @ Enigma Bar, Adelaide
28 June 2014 – The Brightside, Brisbane
4 July 2014 – Tattersalls Hotel, Penrith