After waxing lyrical about Joan & The Giants’ singles “The Weekend” and “Home Song,” I wasn’t sure what I’d have to say about the band’s debut EP Me & You. That’s two of the five songs after all. But now this beautiful EP is out in the world, I knew I had to find the words and put this band back on your radar.
If The Wombats and The Vanns had a baby, they might sound a little something like Old Mervs. Coming out of Western Australia, Dave House & Henry Carrington-Jones are leading the surf-rock renaissance with a sound that’s much bigger and more addictive than any duo has the right to create. With the release of their debut EP Get Better today, it’s time for the nation to realise just how good these guys are.
Maddi McDonald and brothers Clay, Dylan, and Sam Hooper have been gigging around their hometown of Rockhampton and beyond since 2018. They’ve shortened their name from Maddi and the Hoopers to the catchy MATH and today released their self-titled EP. I was already on board with the release of the single “Break My Heart,” but with this latest release I’ve become an even bigger fan.
YDE is one of those people that makes you question what you’ve been doing with your life. She was starring in the Nickelodeon series The Haunted Hathaways at nine and went on to feature in School of Rock, Malibu Rescue, and the live production of WILD: A Musical alongside absolute icon Idina Menzel. She’s currently writing songs with Justin Tranter and Teddy Geiger, she’s received cosigns from Justin Bieber and Drake, and Teen Vogue and Billboard are talking about her. Not bad for a 19-year-old born in Sydney. With the recent release of her debut EP SEND HELP, she’s sure to cement her reputation as a serious talent.
Little Quirks have been releasing songs from their new EP Call to Unknowns since 2020. The pandemic had a way of slowing things down. But you know what they say about good things coming to those who wait. It’s been a long time coming, but Call to Unknowns is so very good.
When I heard Darcy Lane’s singles “Spines” and “Bored”, I couldn’t wait to hear more. Today my patience is rewarded with the release of Darcy’s incredible debut EP, Heartquakes.
Through the years of writing this blog, I’ve realised that often the best albums aren’t the ones pushed by the big labels. Sure, there are some brilliant artists with that kind of backing, but our country is so rich in talent that often the real gems come from independent acts who release their music simply because they have something to say. Toby Mobbs, an unsigned independent singer-songwriter from Albury, is one of those acts. His debut album Placid in the Rough is likely to fly under the radar, but it deserves your time.
The release of I’M FUN! comes nearly 30 years after Ben Lee hit the music scene with his punk-rock act Noise Addict. Those of us old enough to be there have watched him grow up in front of our eyes, evolving as an artist and a human. In his 14th solo release, Ben celebrates his status as husband and father as only he can. His sound has mellowed along with the themes, but his fans probably have too!
More than a few times I wished I wasn’t going to Saturday’s Gang of Youths show in Eora/Sydney. It’s not that I didn’t want to see the band – far from it. But I hate Qudos Bank Arena. It often seems too big and impersonal. I have to take three trains to get there and it’s a hassle. But I bought the tickets anyway. I cursed that decision when the band announced a show in Mulubinba/Newcastle, and again when they announced an intimate acoustic gig at the Enmore. I had another little grumble when I stacked it on the uneven ground outside the venue. But you know, sometimes I think the universe puts you exactly where you’re meant to be.
Jagged Little Pill may just be the greatest musical most people won’t see. The pandemic cut its original Broadway run short. While it returned to the Broadhurst Theatre, it closed soon after as America’s COVID-19 numbers picked up again. Here in Australia, Sydney’s return season is also being cut short as increasing case numbers become a concern. I feel pretty lucky I snuck in before the company pulls the plug. I bought tickets for the original run, but transferred them when my husband ended up in hospital. Had I chosen a later date, it might not have happened.