Category: Reviews

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Too Beautiful for Earth” – All for Darcy

On first listen, All for Darcy’s debut EP Too Beautiful for Earth sounds like simply a classic pop-rocker. It’s an easy listen, featuring songs that feel instantly accessible. But tap into those lyrics and you’ll gain a new appreciation for these tracks.

Too Beautiful for Earth, and indeed the entire band, is a tribute to songwriter Pete Atkinson’s late son, Darcy. Pete had been working on the songs to process the loss of his son, who died in mysterious circumstances in 2012 while in the care of Darcy’s mother’s then-boyfriend. He workshopped them with drummer and footy friend Sam Hickey before bassist Danny Lilly and guitarist Brett LeMin joined the group. Listening to the songs, understanding what inspired them, elevates the experience.

The opening number “Highest Mountain” is upbeat and full of fun. You’ll be singing along to the “woohoohoohoos” before the end of the song. “The View” is such a cool track with a groovy bassline, but the lyrics have a darkness and longing to them. ”Darcy’s Song” is the emotional heart of this EP, a moving, stripped-back ballad detailing the things left unsaid and the impact of loss. The amps are switched back on for “Something in the Water,” which touches on how difficult saying goodbye can be.

All for Darcy leave us with “Ordinary Life.” The EP’s lead single, it looks at the way tragedy can shatter our everyday.

“It’s real, one day you’re in a happy simple routine and the next all hell can break loose without any notice,” Peter explained. “The song is written to be uplifting to the listener who may be pushing through a tough time just as I have been through.”

While the songs from Too Beautiful for Earth come from a deeply personal place, we’ve all experienced loss and hardship. All for Darcy tackles the darkness so eloquently, but mixes it with hope and optimism for the future. The EP is an incredible tribute to a life lost too soon and a powerful vehicle for raising awareness of the plight of fathers who don’t have access to their children.

Too Beautiful for Earth is out now. All for Darcy will play The Palace Hotel in Camberwell on June 2.

Image used with permission from A&R Records

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Counting Sheep” – Mariah McCarthy

Breaking away from her acclaimed band Deer Prudence, Mariah McCarthy shows he has what it takes to stand on her own two feet with the release of her solo EP Counting Sheep.

The title track bolts out of the gate, instantly sweeping you up and taking you along for the ride. It’s a driving folk ditty that perfectly encapsulates the frustrations and random thoughts that take hold when sleep eludes us. The single “Hail Mary” already charmed me, and it’s every bit as enchanting when heard in its context on the EP. The following track “At Peace” got me. I’m not sure whether Mariah has lived through losing someone through suicide as I have, but her lyrics took me back to that dark, painful chapter. It’s a real gift to be able to move people with your music that way. I love the gentle treatment and innocence of “Caught in the Rain,” and the next track, “Siren Song,” beautifully expresses those feelings we’ve all had when we just can’t resist someone. The gentle, delicate “Seeking Refuge” draws the listener in. It’s such a gorgeous, intimate number. “1821” is the perfect closer, exploring themes of history and our place in the world.

At seven tracks, perhaps Counting Sheep should be considered a mini-album rather than an EP. I can’t imagine it any shorter though, because every track is a stand-out. Mariah is an artist with so much to say and a charming folk sound that makes what she’s sharing with us a joy to hear.

Counting Sheep is available on May 25. Mariah McCarthy will support its release with the following shows.

26 May 2018 – The Wesley Anne, Melbourne
27 May 2018 – Taproom, Castlemaine
2 June 2018 – Old Church on the Hill, Bendigo
16 June 2018 – Martian’s Cafe, Deans Marsh
17 June 2018 – The Door Gallery Cafe, Geelong
22 June 2018 – The Delatite Hotel, Mansfield
30 June 2018 – Kilmore Celtic Festival, Kilmore
1 July 2018 – Gypsy Bar, Echuca
13 July 2018 – Oscar’s Alehouse, Belgrav

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Good Money” – Mar Haze

Summer might be behind us, but Mar Haze is spreading with its cool new EP Good Money. There’s such an easy, funky vibe about these guys that makes listening to these five tracks a joy.

Opening track “Fit Freddy” has such a great bass-driven groove. It suckered me in right away, whetting my appetite for what was to come. The title track comes next, with more of a rock edge. The Hammond organ gives this one the feel of an instant classic. “Wonderland” starts out a tender love song but it builds to an epic, emotional rock crescendo. After the power of “Wonderland,” the laidback groove of “Strange” helps us catch our breath. This is one of those happy-sad songs, which bounces along despite its lyrics exploring a relationship breakdown. There’s a dash of reggae in the closer, “Don’t Hold On.” There’s also an element of pathos to the lyrics here, although the big drums and piano chords make sure it doesn’t sound mopey.

Good Money is such a cool EP. Mar Haze seem to ooze charisma with their beachy vibes and laidback grooves. They’re not afraid to rock a little harder or explore some big stuff in their lyrics, but ultimately these guys want you to have a good time. Good Money has all the right ingredients for warding off those winter chills.

Image used with permission from Mar Haze

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Far From Paradise” – Karen Lee Andrews

Critics of The Voice like to say the reality show hasn’t produced any stars. Perhaps if you take that to mean artists selling truckloads, it’s true. The singers from The Voice certainly don’t have the profiles of Australian Idol’s Guy Sebastian, Shannon Noll, Jess Mauboy, or Anthony Callea. Personally I take a different view of stardom. While fame is exciting, true stars shine simply because they’re doing something fabulous. When you consider that definition, Karen Lee Andrews, better known to The Voice audience as Miss Murphy, is the genuine article.

Of course, The Voice didn’t make Ms Murphy shine so bright. Her talents were already in her. But they gave her a platform to showcase them. Surely they helped open the doors that see her releasing her latest EP Far From Paradise.

What a collection of songs this is. Soulful and bluesy, with so much heart and pain. They feel like instant classics, delivered with so much class.
Opening track “Love You” eases us into a more soulful space, with its earnest declarations and easy groove. “Troubled Mind” is a delicate soul piece which shows the power of restraint. It’s driven by pure emotion and Karen’s powerful voice, which slays each and every time.

After the tenderness of the first two tracks, the dark swampiness of “Going Down” is like a bolt from the blue. If you thought Karen Lee was all sweetness and light, this is the track that dispels the notion. The EP is rounded out by an extended version of “Higher,” an earlier upbeat release which feels right at home here.

What a talent Karen Lee Andrews is. Hopefully she won’t leave us waiting too long for a full-length album. Far From Paradise is a stellar EP, but it leaves me wanting more.

See Karen Lee Andrews performing at Blues on Broadbeach, the country’s largest freee music festival, from May 17 to 20.

Image used with permission from Jessica Davidson

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Attrition” – Arig

Arig was born in Sudan after her father and 15-year-old mother fled conflict in Eritrea. They were both determined to find a better life for little Arig, so they applied to come to Australia. Only Arig’s mother was granted a visa, so she bravely left her partner and headed Down Under. When she arrived here, Arig was just two years old. Life wasn’t easy for the pair. Arig’s mother fell into one toxic relationship after another and money was always tight. Music was Arig’s solace then, something that could take her away from the struggles of her life and give her hope for a better future.

Hard experiences like these shape us. If we’re lucky, we can channel them into something beautiful, as Arig has done with her EP Attrition.

Opening track “Mama Said” is an absolute showstopper. It’s dark and brooding, with a killer chorus. When the bar is set so high, it’s exciting but also a little unnerving, because you wonder where the artist will go.

Arig’s vocals on “Leash” are angelic, and it’s got the great groove of a classic slow jam. It’s not all sweetness and light though. The lyrics bite, providing such an enticing juxtaposition.

“Welcome Home” clocks in at just one minute, but this subversive nod to doo-wop is really special.

The complexity of relationships and our desires is explored so eloquently in “77.” “Playlist” strips everything bare, revealing a flawed portrait of the place lost love can often leave us.

After the slick beats that dominate this EP, the closing number, piano ballad “What’s Real,” really stands out. I love the tenderness and vulnerability this song captures. It was unexpected, but in a wonderful way.

Arig’s vocals are undeniable, but the way it interplays with her soundscapes elevates this to another level. Her EP Attrition is so strong, so creative, so soulful, and so interesting. Arig will launch the EP tonight in Brisbane at the Milk Factory. If you’re in the Queensland capital, you don’t want to miss this show.

Image used with permission from Emily Fernandez

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Nothing Compares 2 Prince @ Sydney Opera House, Sydney – 27 April 2018

We’ve just passed the two-year anniversary of Prince’s passing. It doesn’t quite feel like that long, perhaps because his music hasn’t left me. While the CDs keep me company, it’s concerts like last week’s Nothing Compares 2 Prince show that really sustain me. Nights where I can spend time with the talented artists who loved Prince, who miss him as the fans I’m dancing with do.

After seeing New Power Generation last month, I was primed for this gig. Those guys were so good, surely adding members of The Time and The Family to the mix and staging it at the beautiful Sydney Opera House would only enhance the experience. I may also have benefitted from having tickets a bit closer to the stage. While we were dancing at the back of the Enmore Theatre last month, there’s nothing like being just a few rows back from the musicians, basking in their aura. And what musicians they were.

St Paul Peterson, who met Prince at 17 and fronted The Family, served as musical director and an anchor for the show. He was complemented so beautifully by Shelby J, a member of New Power Generation whose stunning voice and stage presence had us all in the palm of her hand. Andy Allo, who also spent time with NPG, was a revelation. I’d assumed we’d see the same NPG members as we did last month, but watching other members of this supergroup, being exposed to their talents, made this show special. And I must take a moment to mention those horns. While I enjoyed last month’s NPG show, having brass piped through the speakers was a letdown. With a three-piece brass section delivering that rich sound live, this show truly had the Minneapolis sound I craved.

I didn’t take a lot of photos because I spent the bulk of the show on my feet. There was no holding back, with big guns like “1999” and “I Want to Be Your Lover” coming out early. The set was full of so many hits, and those lesser known tracks that the true fans love. I was thrilled to hear many of the songs Prince penned for other artists too. Covers of “Manic Monday” and “Stand Back” reminded us of his immense body of work.

While most of the numbers had us dancing, there were also sombre moments for us to reflect on the impact Prince had made on all our lives. Fittingly many came from Tyka Nelson, Prince’s sister. She was visibly choked up as she told us how much our love meant to Prince and as she sang his words. Her version of “The Ladder” took me to church and it was only right that she came back for the closer, “Purple Rain.” Shelby J’s performance of “Nothing Compares 2 U” with St Paul Peterson, who sang lead on The Family’s original, was spine-tingling. The song that took me down was “Sometimes It Snows in April” though, performed so beautifully by NPG’s Cassandra O’Neal. I had only been talking in the intermission about how that song is the one that still makes me cry, and again I found myself wiping tears away as she delivered this beautiful ballad. The wonderful thing about Prince’s back catalogue though is that you’re never left crying for too long. He might be gone, but he’s left us with so many reasons to dance.

Nothing Compares 2 Prince was a fantastic tribute to one of the music world’s brightest stars. The advertisements told us the event wasn’t affiliated with or endorsed by Prince’s estate, but if he could communicate with us I have a feeling he’d give this show his tick of approval.

Image source: Stephen Katulka

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Nobody” – The Ruiins

I’ve been sitting on this review for a while, because it’s much more fun to listen to The Ruiins’ new EP Nobody than write about it. I’d have the best of intentions of putting my ideas down, but before long I was singing along to a chorus or grooving my body to the beat. When you’re lost in the music like that, you don’t want to analyse it. You just want to be.

Starting an EP with an instrumental intro is a bold choice, but it gives a great taste of what’s to come. Big driving drum beats, a tune that’s catchy as all get out. It tantalises us like a good entrée, making us salivate in anticipation for the main course.

The next song “Drowning” feels like a single already. It has such strong vocals delivering lyrics with heart, those big drums moving everything forward and encouraging us to tap our feet in time.

“Love Can Start a War” isn’t such a heavy hitter on the surface, with a gentler feel than the tracks that came before, but it packs a real emotional punch with powerful, gritty vocals. These vocals ensure tracks like this and “The Season,” the songs where the band eases their foot from the pedal just a little, never become background music.

It’s so hard to pick a favourite on such a quality collection of songs, but “Water & Waves” might just have the edge here. It’s got such a great summery feel with a hard-hitting sucker-punch of a chorus. It puts a big smile on my face every time.

Bands rarely save their lead singles to the end of an EP, but The Ruiins’ unconventional approach pays off here. I’ve already waxed lyrical about the quality of this song. The title track makes sure “Nobody” ends on a high, ensuring as a listener you feel so good about the EP that you want to press play again. And again. And again. Just six tracks has got me well and truly hooked on The Ruiins.

Nobody is available from all your favourite digital music providers now. The Ruiins will play some local shows to celebrate its release in June.

8 June 2018 – The Cambridge, Newcastle
9 June 2018 – The Union Hotel, Sydney
15 June 2018 – Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay
16 June 2018 – The Pink Motel, Gold Coast

Image used with permission from Who Collective

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Hard Expectations” – Mahalia Barnes + The Soul Mates

Hard Expectations is the third album from Mahalia Barnes + The Soul Mates. It’s been three years in the making, so the title track may be a commentary on how this tight soul outfit feel releasing some new music into the world. If there were nerves though, they don’t show. This is one of the best soul albums I’ve ever heard.

Soul music, real soul music, seems to be a dying art these days. Today what passes as soul seems to have vocal acrobatics and rap breaks. While musical evolution can be important and exciting, it’s refreshing to hear an album like this that takes a genre back to its roots. Listening to Hard Expectations, it’s easy to mistake it for a collection of covers. Its songs are the kind of songs I thought people don’t write anymore. However, in truth just two tracks aren’t original. Curtis Mayfield’s “Hard Times” and The Pointer Sisters “You Gotta Believe” sit comfortably along numbers penned by The Soul Mates and Mahalia’s longtime family friend Don Walker.

Opening track “Love is Fleeting” starts the album with a bang. There’s such a strength in this song. Love might be fleeting, but she’s going to get her man. There’s more strength in the Don Walker-penned “Hard Expectations,” a track which reminds a man that he needs to measure up and meet the standard.
After a few hard-hitting numbers, Mahalia and her band slow things down with “My Love.” There’s a gorgeous tenderness in this song. Her voice is complemented beautiful by the warm brass section and her superb backing vocalists.

“Shake Things Up” might be my favourite track on the album. It’s got such a great groove and a fantastic message about going your own way. “Three Times + I’m Gone” has such an infectious honky-tonk feel. I can imagine being in a smoky bar somewhere, seeing Mahalia and her band play this, and it sounding just like it does on the record. There’s such a spontaneous energy about what they’ve laid down here.

In truth I could tell you how good every single song is though. There are no filler tracks here. That’s unsurprising considering the level of talent in this band. Think Joe Bonamassa, Kirk Fletcher, Prinnie Stevens, and Jade McRae, to name but a few. And of course, the incomparable Mahalia Barnes. Its no coincidence her name is out front and centre. If there was any doubt about it, this album establishes Mahalia Barnes as one of the greatest soul voices in this country.

Hard Expectations is in stores now.

Image used with permission from Ferris Davies PRM

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“All Worthwhile” – Figurehead

The members of Fremantle band Figurehead might be fresh out of high school, but they’ve just released their second EP All Worthwhile.

This collection of songs has all the passion and enthusiasm you’d expect from a bunch of teens. While this is their second EP, these guys are still delightfully rough around the edges. Acts with indie pop-punk leanings shouldn’t have too much polish though. I think their rawness is one of their strengths.

This is a band who writes about what they know. They’re young guys, so it’s only fitting that their song of heartbreak opening the EP is about a cancelled bus route, not a woman.

Tracks like “Ear to Lend” and “Fade” explore relationships in the way only teens can. I felt a sense of nostalgia listening to these songs about navigating those complex couplings and figuring people and their true motivations out.

“Suits” might be my favourite track on All Worthwhile. It’s got such an infectious energy about it. It’s the kind of track that makes you want to dance like no one is watching.

The whole EP is solid stuff though, the kind of recording that hints at big things from these guys. They’re a little green right now, but they’ve got considerable charm and a massive future ahead.

All Worthwhile is available now from all your favourite digital outlets.

Image used with permission from Jared King PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jimmy Barnes @ Civic Theatre, Newcastle – 6 April 2018

Jimmy Barnes was the first musician I ever saw live. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve seen him perform since that 1991 show, but I’ve never seen him as I did last Friday night at Newcastle’s Civic Theatre. I thought I had an inkling of what to expect, as we saw him at Lizotte’s just before his Working Class Boy tour kicked off last year. That show incorporated stories and songs, so I expected more of the same. However, this time the musical performances took a backseat to the tales from Jimmy’s second book, Working Class Boy.

This show takes the audience on the journey through Jimmy’s fame, from Cold Chisel’s early days through his solo career, warts and all. There’s no sugar coating here. The highs are high and the lows can be very low. He might have been a hero to so many Australians, but Jimmy doesn’t paint himself that way. He’s not afraid to speak candidly his struggles with addiction, his failures in relationships with industry colleagues, friends, and family, his battles with mental health and self-acceptance.

You can’t tell the stories of Jimmy’s career without music though. A video screen beamed film clips and concert footage, which Jimmy would comment on while many of us sang along. I don’t think he could have gotten away without taking the mic for a few musical performances though. As someone who’s seen Jimmy several times, I relished the opportunity to hear him play material a little unexpected. From a cover of The Turtles’ “Happy Together,” one of the songs the members of Cold Chisel used to sing in the milk van as they made their way to Armidale, to a stripped back version of “Still on Your Side,” a dedication to the people who put up with so much from Jimmy through all these years.

People who expect an equal measure of stories and songs in Working Class Man: An Evening of Stories & Songs might be disappointed. My mum was, as she felt like she’d heard it all before from reading Jimmy’s book. For her the show was tedious, with not enough music for her liking. However, I was thrilled to see something new from Jimmy, something that was so powerful and personal. While Jimmy’s book was brave, there is a certain kind of disconnect that comes from putting something down on paper, while you’re alone, then releasing it into the world. When you’re standing on a stage, looking people in the eye as you talk about taking so many drugs that you’re not sure whether you’ll wake up in the morning or attempting to take your own life, those walls are gone. We rarely see blokey men like Jimmy speaking about the need for therapy and having conversations about mental health and addiction. It’s powerful and, as someone whose family has been touched by suicide, I think it’s necessary.

Leave your preconceptions at the door and embrace what Working Class Man: An Evening of Stories & Songs is; not your average Jimmy Barnes concert but an incredibly moving night from one of Australia’s most important entertainers. The tour will make the following stops around Australia.

13 April 2018 – Empire Theatre, Toowoomba (SOLD OUT)
14 April 2018 – The Star Theatre, Gold Coast (SOLD OUT)
18 April 2018 – Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, Bunbury (SOLD OUT)
19 April 2018 – Perth Concert Hall, Perth (SOLD OUT)
21 April 2018 – Keith Michell Theatre, Port Pirie (SOLD OUT)
22 April 2018 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide (SOLD OUT)
26 April 2018 – Frankston Arts Centre Theatre, Frankston (SOLD OUT)
27 April 2018 – Costa Hall @ Geelong Performing Arts Centre, Geelong (SOLD OUT)
28 April 2018 – The Palais Theatre, St Kilda (SOLD OUT)
29 April 2018 – Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo (SOLD OUT)
2 May 2018 – Centennial Hall @ Sydney Town Hall
3 May 2018 – Centennial Hall @ Sydney Town Hall (SOLD OUT)
7 May 2018 – Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch
8 May 2018 – Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch (SOLD OUT)
10 May 2018 – Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington
11 May 2018 – Spark Arena, Auckland
12 May 2018 – Claudelands Arena, Hamilton
20 May 2018 – Darwin Entertainment Centre, Darwin
22 May 2018 – Tank Arts Centre, Cairns (SOLD OUT)
23 May 2018 – Tank Arts Centre, Cairns (SOLD OUT)
25 May 2018 – Townsville Entertainment & Convention Centre, Townsville
26 May 2018 – Mackay Entertainment & Convention Centre, Mackay
27 May 2018 – Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton
29 May 2018 – Caloundra Events Centre, Caloundra (SOLD OUT)
30 May 2018 – Saraton Theatre, Grafton
1 June 2018 – Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, Penrith
2 June 2018 – Concourse Concert Hall, Chatswood
6 June 2018 – Civic Theatre, Newcastle
9 June 2018 – Palais Theatre, Melbourne
10 June 2018 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide

Image used with permission from Ferris Davies PRM