“Heartache Blues” is one of my favourite songs from Reece Mastin’sChange Colours album. So I’m thrilled to see it’s not just the new single, but that’s got an amazing new video to match.
“Heartache Blues is a song about being away from the people, places, and spaces you miss so much when you couldn’t be further away from them,” Reece explained. “It’s a gut-wrenching feeling at the start, but on your way home there’s nothing better than the feeling of getting closer to being back there.”
This song has a great 80s pop-rock vibe, so it’s only fitting that the clip takes us back to the decade with some of the maddest hula hooping action I can recall seeing in some time. What do you think of it?
Local alt-folk act The Paper Kites have just released the final video in their “midnight” trilogy for the new single “Renegade.”
Again, the clip depicts the happenings of people between 12 and 4 am, a reference to the band’s stellar 2015 album TwelveFour. This time around it follows a group of kids who break into an aquatic cinema in the wee small hours of the morning.
To celebrate the conclusion of the midnight trilogy, The Paper Kites will play some intimate shows in capital cities across Australia. They’re in fine form after playing shows across Europe in January and February. After that it’s off to Canada and the United States for more shows. Whether you’re here or stateside, make sure you don’t miss one of these gigs.
23 June 2016 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney (ALL AGES)
24 June 2016 – Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne (ALL AGES)
25 June 2016 – The Tivoli, Brisbane (Under 18s permitted with parent/guardian)
1 July 2016 – Astor Theatre, Perth (Under 18s permitted with parent/guardian)
2 July 2016 – Norwood Town Hall, Adelaide (ALL AGES)
9 & 10 July 2016 – Winnipeg Folk Festival, Winnipeg
11 July 2016 – Triple Rock, Minneapolis
12 July 2016 – Shank Hall, Milwaukee
13 July 2016 – The Shelter, Detroit
14 July 2016 – Rum Runners, London
16 July 2016 – Ottawa Blues, Ottawa
17 July 2016 – Parc de la Francophonie @ Festival D’ete, Quebec City
19 July 2016 – Showcase Room @ Higher Ground, Burlington
20 July 2016 – The Studio at Waiting Room, Buffalo
21 July 2016 – Club Café, Pittsburgh
22 July 2016 – Bogart’s, Cincinnati
23 July 2016 – Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland
24 July 2016 – Wayhome Music Festival, Oro-Medonte
27 July 2016 – StageOne, Fairfield
28 July 2016 – Cape Cinema, Dennis
29 July 2016 – Port City Musical Hall, Portland
31 July 2016 – Osheaga, Montreal
After cutting his eye teeth in Sydney jazz and blues clubs for the last three years, Jesse Redwing is preparing to unleash his music on the rest of Australia. The new single “Crawlin’ Up the Walls” gives you a taster of what you can expect on the EP he’s currently working on. This is old school blues, dirty and honest, with a modern swagger.
If you like what you hear, catch Jesse Redwing playing Yah Yah’s in Melbourne on 22 April or in Sydney at the Brighton Up Bar on 24 April.
Lazy Sundays are ideal for listening to the laidback groove of a tune like “Karma My Life,” the new single from Melbourne band The Hiding.
I just love this song’s carefree, roadtrippy vibe. It makes sense that it reminds me of travel, because the folky percussive guitar sound was influenced by the acoustic performances the lads saw in Central Park whilst living in New York.
The lyrics are also full of positivity and wisdom.
“Life can throw so many speed bumps and The Hiding has experienced its fair share of these,” explained lyricist and guitarist Anthony Salce in the press release. “It can be deflating and soul damaging, however, these are life lessons we all experience and Karma my life is about accepting these journeys, appreciating the turning point and celebrating the ‘positive experience’ that changed your life.”
And can I just take a moment to talk about the mesmerising music video? It features the work of renowned sand artist Fatmir Mura. “As Karma My Life is an honest and emotive piece, we wanted the video to represent the changing nature of the band and the need to adapt to your surroundings, which Fatmir delivers very well in his sand art,” Anthony explained. I couldn’t take my eyes off this video. It’s truly stunning.
If you’re digging what The Hiding do too, and you live in their home state, you can catch them at the following upcoming shows. Hopefully they won’t leave the rest of Australia waiting too long to see them!
29 April 2016 – Rifle Brigade Hotel, Bendigo
6 May 2016 – Mynt Lounge, Werribee
21 May 2016 – Revolver, Melbourne
This might be the rantings of a child of the ‘80s looking back at the decade she was born with rose-coloured glasses, but I’m convinced the women of the music world we looked up to were so much cooler than young ladies that serve as musical role models today. We had Pat Benatar, the Wilson sisters of Heart, the Bangles … I was almost feeling like they’d broken the mould until I heard “Miles Away,” the title track of Tully on Tully’s EP.
It seems I’m not the only one digging this 80s-inspired power pop anthem. Rage recently chose the video as its indie clip of the week.
Tully on Tully are currently on tour to support the Miles Away EP’s recent release. You can still catch them at the following venues.
15 April 2016 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
16 April 2016 – Workers Club, Melbourne
22 April 2016 – Mynt Lounge, Werribee
26 May 2016 – Bar On The Hill @ University of Newcastle, Newcastle (lunchtime gig)
26 May 2016 – Gallery Bar @ Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
28 May 2016 – Transit Bar, Canberra
It’s been a long wait, but some six months after dropping the single Daggy Man has released a video for “Little Whip.” I don’t think it’s a bad tactic, because it’s encouraged me to revisit this song and reminded me what I liked about it in the first place. The film clip is simple but effective, as understated as this slow-burning song demands.
While it’s taken a long time for Daggy Man to release the video, he promises he won’t leave fans waiting too long for something else new. He plans to release a new single really soon.
With Sarah Blasko’s tour just around the corner, it’s worth taking at a look at the most recent single from her sixth studio album Eternal Return.
“I Wanna Be Your Man” is one of the most accessible songs Sarah’s released in some time, and I think it’s also one of her best. As a woman working in the music industry, Sarah probably knows what it feels to be marginalised because of your gender better than most. However, you don’t need to be in a male-dominated field for the lyrics to resonate. Perhaps there’s even something in this song for the lads too.
Sarah Blasko kicks off her Eternal Return tour on April 6. Here are all the Aussie and international dates. Tickets are still available for selected shows.
6 April 2016 – The Abbey, Canberra
7 April 2016 – Anita’s Theatre, Wollongong
8 April 2016 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
9 April 2016 – City Hall, Newcastle
15 April 2016 – The Tivoli, Brisbane
22 April 2016 – Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo
23 April 2016 – The Forum, Melbourne
29 April 2016 – Norwood Concert Hall, Adelaide
30 April 2016 – Astor Theatre, Perth
10 May 2016 – Union Chapel, London
12 May 2016 – Ruby Lounge, Manchester
16 May 2016 – Hope & Ruin, Brighton
17 May 2016 – Thekla, Bristol
19 May 2016 – Les Etoiles, Paris
21 May 2016 – Les Nuits @ Botanique, Brussels
23 May 2016 – People’s Play, Amsterdam
24 May 2016 – Grand Theatre, Groningen
26 May 2016 – Nochtspeicher, Hamburg
27 May 2016 – Stadtgarten, Cologne
28 May 2016 – Zoom, Frankfurt
30 May 2016 – Kranhalle, Munich
31 May 2016 – Privatclub, Berlin
With a new album scheduled to drop on April 1, it’s the perfect time to remember why Kirsty Lee Akers is one of the darlings of the country music scene. She’s the only person to win the Australian country industry’s three biggest honours: Toyota Star Maker, Telstra Road to Discovery, and a Golden Guitar. Her fun new single “When I Miss You Most” proves why. It’s such a bubbly little song, with an upbeat feel that helps mask the pain of its lyrics.
“When I Miss You Most” comes from the new album Burn Baby Burn. Most of it was recorded in Nashville to give it that classic country feel. This is the first album Kirsty’s released through Maven/Sony Music Australian, and critics are already buzzing that it may be her best yet!
Swim Season are showing they’re one of the most consistent indie-pop acts in the businesses, releasing awesome track after awesome track. The latest is “Gold Cloak City,” A hooky little number with beautiful harmonies and a toe-tapping beat.
The original plugged-in version is awesome, but considering how Triple J supported the last single “Soldiers” you’re probably going to be hearing it soon anyway. So I thought I’d go a different route and post this acoustic video instead. I’m a sucker for a stripped back treatment, and that Aireys Inlet backdrop just can’t be beat.
It’s also fitting that I’m posting this now because Swim Season are playing a free, acoustic, all ages gig at the Kit & Ace tonight. This will be an excellent warm-up for their slot at The Hills are Alive on Sunday.
I missed Little Coyote when they released their debut EP, but I won’t make the same mistake with EP number two. The lead single “Neverending” has convinced me this Sydney band is the real deal.
Vocalist Judd English has got such a compelling voice, and he’s supported beautifully by drummer Anto Dinh, bassist Gareth Bussey, and guitarist Matt Coates. There’s a rock sensibility here, but elements of funk and blues give it an exciting fresh flavour. It’s one of those tracks you put on and you want to hear again as soon as it’s over.
“Neverending” is officially released on Friday, and we’ll see the EP at some point in the not too distant future.