Over the years I’ve really loved watching the musical journey of Brisbane electro-pop prince Carmichael. He’s developing his sound with a new outfit called Youthfire these days, and it seems its paying dividends.
Our first taste is the delicious single “World on Fire,” a stirring, primal number with tribal drums, retro synths, and lush vocals.
You can learn more this exciting new project when Youthfire launch “World on Fire” at Brisbane’s Metro Arts Theatre on June 20.
It’s Monday at there’s no beating around the bush: it sucks. It’s the worst. There’s no cure for Mondayitis, but you can at least feel like you’re not alone when you listen to Scott Spark’s brilliant new single “Two Alarms.” The Brisbane singer-songwriter has crafted one of the catchiest melodies and some of the wittiest lyrics about the soul-sucking nature of the corporate world that I’ve ever heard.
It also comes with an awesome filmclip, animated by local cartoonist Oslo Davis, which stars Lenny, the most adorable alarm clock you’re ever likely to see. And there’s a free app too which allows you to turn your iPhone into a Scott Spark alarm clock.
And if that wasn’t enough goodness, Scott Spark will also release his sophomore album Muscle Memory, featuring “Two Alarms,” this Friday, June 13.
The Sinking Teeth offer some sage advice with the release of their rocking new single “You Can’t Build a Bike Out of Muffins.”
The song doesn’t seem to have a lot to do with baked goods, but it’s a brilliantly intense number with an infectious melodic core. It’s also the first single from The Sinking Teeth’s second EP Salt & Stitches, which hits stores on July 26. The Melbourne band will build up to that release date with a string of shows which culminate with a big gig for hometown fans to launch the EP.
19 June 2014 – Surfers Paradise Beer Garden, Surfers Paradise (FREE)
20 June 2014 – The New Tattersalls Hotel, Lismore
21 June 2014 – Crowbar, Brisbane
27 June 2014 – Tattersalls Hotel, Penrith (FREE)
28 June 2014 – Blackwire Records, Sydney
4 July 2014 – The Brisbane Hotel, Hobart
5 July 2014 – The Pav, Launceston
18 July 2014 – The Jade Monkey, Adelaide
25 July 2014 – The Barwon Club, Geelong
26 July 2014 – The Workers Club, Melbourne
Image used with permission from Mucho Bravado
Like so many Aussies, I was really disappointed to see Hungry Kids of Hungary go their separate ways. Generally when these things happen you expect the lead singer to launch the first high-profile solo project, but the band’s bassist Ben Dalton has actually gotten in first. The Brisbane musician has just launched his solo project, Born Joy Dead, and his debut single “Upside Down, Inside Out.”
The quirky bassline is sure to delight Hungry Kids of Hungary fans. But beyond that, the song’s got such a great new wave feel to it. If this is a sign of things to come, Ben Dalton’s destined for solo success.
Image used with permission from White Label Servicing
Sydney progressive rock band Breaking Orbit are giving us our first taste of their forthcoming sophomore album with the release of the title track “Become the Light.”
This is such an intense, uplifting, epic song. Its instrumentation is lush and powerful, and the vocals every bit as strong. It sounds so good coming through my speakers, but I imagine it’d hit another level live.
We’ll find out when Breaking Orbit hit the road next month to celebrate the single release. Sydney post-rockers sleepmakeswaves will join Breaking Orbit for the following shows.
5 July 2014 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
6 July 2014 – Rad Bar, Wollongong
13 July 2014 – Rad Bar, Wollongong
18 July 2014 – The Northern Hotel, Byron Bay
19 July 2014 – The Zoo, Brisbane
1 August 2014 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
2 August 2014 – ANU Bar, Canberra
8 August 2014 – Amplifier Bar, Perth
9 August 2014 – Jive, Adelaide
16 August 2014 – Manning Bar, Sydney
Image used with permission from Shake Appeal
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
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?
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
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
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