King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard Bring Surf Rock Back

Who said that surf rock was dead? The ingeniously named King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard are bringing the style back, albeit with some rough edges, with their new single “Black Tooth.”

The tune comes from the band’s sophomore EP Willoughby’s Beach. It’s the sort of thing I can imagine Iggy Pop or Lou Reed tapping their hat too. It’s got that classic rock influence, but the end result is much dirtier and more rebellious with fuzzy vocals and wailing guitars.

While the recording sounds brilliant, something tells me this is a band that does their best work on the stage. You can see King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard do just that as they tour the east coast next month.

1 July 2011 – Deniliquin Club, Deniliquin
2 July 2011 – Castlemusic Festival, Castlemaine
8 July 2011 – Mum, World Bar, Sydney
9 July 2011 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
15 July 2011 – The Nash, Geelong
16 July 2011 – Plus One, Adelaide
23 July 2011 – Old Bar, Melbourne

Image used with permission from Show Off Services

The Tiger & Me Impress with Double A-Side Single

As I race towards the weekend I’m always dragging my feet. It takes something special to get me exciting, but The Tiger & Me have done it with their double A-side single “So Let It Go/The Little and Lost.”

The songs have got a melodic pop center but they’re wrapped up in something much darker and more interesting. “So Let it Go” is epic and anthemic, while “The Little and Lost” shows a much quieter and more reflective side of the band. The songs come from The Howling Fire, the first of an ambitious series of three EPs for the band. The recordings will chart one person’s journey into madness and back out to sanity again. It sounds fascinating, and when a concept so interesting is backed up with great music I’m all ears.

If you are too you can catch the band at the following shows in the near future, including their EP launch at The Toff and a string of dates for the Melbourne Cabaret Festival.

9 July 2011 – The Toff in Town, Melbourne (with Sal Kimber and the Rolling Wheel)
22-24 July 2011 – Melbourne Cabaret Festival, Melbourne (with The Nymphs)
30 July 2011 – The Wheatsheaf Hotel, Adelaide (with Cheer Advisory Council)
5 August 2011 – The Wrong Crowd, Geelong
20 August 2011 – The Basement, Sydney (with Peregrine and Evan & The Brave)

Image used with permission from Show Off Services

The Living End Announce Album Tour

The Living End are backing up the release of The Ending is Just the Beginning Repeating with a national tour.

With the album hitting stores on July 22, we’ll have a couple of months to learn the new tunes before The Living End lads take to the road in September. This tour is really back to basics, with the band shunning the big arenas they could no doubt fill for some of their favourite clubs and small theaters. The tour will kick off with an appearance at a lucky Aussie high school as part of JJJ’s Unearthed High.

General public tickets to the following shows go on sale on July 7, but fans can get a jump on the competition by signing up to the Living End mailing list before midnight June 29. You’ll receive a special code via e-mail for access to the June 30 presale.

2 September 2011 – The Tivoli, Brisbane
3 September 2011 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
7 September 2011 – ANU Bar, Canberra
8 September 2011 – The Palace, Melbourne
10 September 2011 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
16 September 2011 – Metro City, Perth

Image used with permission from Crucial Music

Beautiful Girls’ Mat McHugh Comes Home for EP Tour

Beautiful Girls front man Mat McHugh is currently wowing audiences in the United States, but he’ll be back soon enough to promote his new solo EP, Go Don’t Stop.

I’ve had a listen to the title track and it’s just the thing I need to shake off this winter chill. The laid back grooves and easy stripped back vocals have me thinking of all those summer festivals ahead. If this is a sign of what’s to come on this EP, Beautiful Girls fans and a few musical newbies are going to be very impressed.

Just as the EP goes back to basics so will this tour. Mat will play intimate venues in acoustic mode, with a set list spanning the last ten years. Tickets are available from the venues for the following shows.

28 July 2011 – Swindlers Bar, Mount Hotham
29 July 2011 – The Palais, Hepburn Springs
30 July 2011 – Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury
5 August 2011 – The Bakery, Northbridge
6 August 2011 – Jive, Adelaide
11 August 2011 – Byron Bay Theatre, Byron Bay
12 August 2011 – The Sound Lounge, Currumbin
13 August 2011 – The Old Museum, Bowen Hills
14 August 2011 – Coolum Theatre, Coolum Beach
19 August 2011 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
20 August 2011 – Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst

Image source: Mat McHugh website

Busby Marou Tour “Biding My Time”

Chilled out Rockhampton natives Busby Marou are preparing to release their debut album Biding My Time on June 24, and they’re wasting no time getting out to tour it.

The run of shows will kick off in their home state on July 1 and take in capital cities and major regional centers before coming to a close in Sydney later that month.

Just as we see on the album, Busby Marou’s live music is really back to basics, with its focus on story telling, organic instrumentation, and harmonies. If that sounds like your kind of thing you won’t want to miss these shows.

1 July 2011 – The Old Museum, Brisbane
8 July 2011 – The SoundLounge, Currumbin
10 July 2011 – The Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton
14 July 2011 – Jive, Adelaide
15 July 2011 – Northcote Social Club, Northcote
16 July 2011 – The National Hotel, Geelong
21 July 2011 – Heritage Hotel, Bulli
22 July 2011 – CBD Hotel, Newcastle
23 July 2011 – Spectrum, Darlinghurst

Image used with permission from Frogstomp Music

Calling All Cars Touring Again

It’s only been a matter of days since Calling All Cars wrapped up their Reptile tour, and they’re already preparing to get back out on the road again.

Proving they’re one of the hardest working bands in the country, Calling All Cars will rock Australia in August to promote their sophomore album. We don’t have a title yet, but we know it’ll hit stores on August 5. We also know the band teamed up again with producer and sometimes Shihad member Tom Larkin to create some really tight rock sounds.

Fans of the monster debut Hold, Hold, Fire, prepare to get excited and pencil the following dates into your social calendar.

11 August 2011 – Kay Street, Traralgon
12 August 2011 – Republic Bar, Hobart
13 August 2011 – Fowler’s Live, Adelaide
18 August 2011 – Beach Hotel, Byron Bay
19 August 2011 – Tempo Hotel, Brisbane
20 August 2011 – Coolangatta Hotel, Gold Coast
24 August 2011 – The Loft, Warrnambool
25 August 2011 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
26 August 2011 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
27 August 2011 – Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully
1 September 2011 – Transit Bar, Canberra
2 September 2011 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
3 September 2011 – Waves, Wollongong
8 September 2011 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury
9 September 2011 – Studio 146, Albany
10 September 2011 – Amplifier, Perth
11 September 2011 – Indi Bar, Scarborough

Image used with permission from Shiny Entertainment

Love Brings Harmony

Harmony is a band born out of love, quite literally. When The Nation Blue’s Tom Lyngcoln married Alex Kastaniotis in 2009, they knew they had to make beautiful music together. They wrote and recorded a song each Saturday until they had enough to fill an album and a 7”.

That 7-incher, Cacophonous Vibes, hit stores earlier this year and now it’s time to hear the album. With the help of bassist John Chapple and some good friends taking care of the backing vocals those songs began to find their final form. The tunes are somber and downbeat, but incredibly touching and honest.

Harmony will kick off a national tour next week to support their self titled album, which hits stores on July 1.

17 June 2011 – Spotted Cow, Toowoomba
18 June 2011 – The Zoo, Brisbane
25 June 2011 – The Tote, Melbourne
1 July 2011 – The Metro, Adelaide
6 July 2011 – The Brisbane Hotel, Hobart

Image used with permission from Other Tongues

Stone Parade Announce Homecoming Tour

After rocking Canadian Music Week Sydney’s Stone Parade are heading home to take Australia by storm.

The band are still riding high on the success of Stratosphere, which hit shelves on October 2010. The album was a real labour of love, self written and self produced in their beloved Sydney. It’s a bit edgier than their debut, and it seems the new fans and the faithful love the new direction. You can hear it for yourself by heading to Stone Parade’s website. Everyone who joins their mailing list will score a generous four free songs.

Stone Parade will kick off an Aussie tour to promote Stratosphere in their hometown this Friday. Here are all the places you can check them out.

10 June 2011 – The Annandale Sydney
9 July 2011 – The Metro, Sydney
29 July 2011 – The Evelyn Hotel, Melbourne
12 August 2011 – Queen St Mall, Brisbane (All Ages 6 pm, 7 pm, 8 pm)
13 August 2011 – X & Y Bar, Brisbane
14 August 2011 – Queen St Mall, Brisbane (All Ages noon, 1 pm, 2 pm)

Image used with permission from Karen Lindsay

John Farnham Announces “Whispering Jack” Anniversary Tour

When John Farnham told us way back in 2003 that he was touring for “the last time” I’m not sure anyone really believed it. Since then he’s had almost as many comebacks as The Seekers, but when he continues to sound so good I’m not sure anyone’s complaining.

With the upcoming anniversary of Whispering Jack, Farnsy’s most successful album, he just couldn’t resist going on the road again. He’ll play shows in the major capitals’ most intimate venues. The first half of the show will see John and his band performing a variety of hits completely unplugged. Then in the second it’ll be all Whispering Jack, with the album performed in its entirety by the original band.

These shows are sure to be something special for any Aussie music fan. We’re glad to have you back Farnsy. Tickets go on sale on June 21.

5 & 7 October 2011 – AEC Theatre, Adelaide
11 & 12 October 2011 – State Theatre, Sydney
2 & 4 November 2011 – QPAC Theatre, Brisbane
9 & 11 November 2011 – Palais Theatre, Melbourne
22 & 23 November 2011 – Burswood Theatre, Perth

Image source: Jeaneeem @ Flickr

Gurrumul Yunupingu Tours Rrakala

Gurrumul Yunupingu rarely takes his extraordinary talents on the road, so it’s pretty exciting that he’s planning to tour the country through August and September.

The run of shows sees Gurrumul play his first ever solo concerts in Brisbane, Adelaide and Tasmania. Even if you have seen him before, these shows will be worth another look. His collaborator and producer Michael Hohnen says he’s worked hard to create a night which reflects the full, complex orchestration of Gurrumul’s new album Rrakala.

“Gurrumul and I have been talking about the best way of presenting a special concert to a larger audience and the challenges of this. On “Rrakala” Gurrumul plays drums, electric and acoustic guitars and grand piano.  I thought it was a touching but also a more varied performance at Bluesfest in Byron recently where some 8000 people simply stood, mesmerised, and listened for the entire hour, as if we were playing in their collective lounge room. This was a show where we had some extra people play with him – he loves playing with musicians backing him up,” he explained.

Tickets for the following shows go on sale on June 1. Considering how rare Gurrumul’s live performances are, and how intimate the venues, I don’t expect them to last long.

24 August 2011 – Derwent Entertainment Centre, Hobart
26 August 2011 – Riverside Theatre Perth Convention Centre, Perth
29 August 2011 – Sydney Opera House, Sydney
1 September 2011 – Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
3 September 2011 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
5 September 2011 – Royal Theatre @ Canberra Convention Centre, Canberra
7 September 2011 – The Palais, St Kilda