Luke Yeoward Fronts The 131’s

After moonlighting for King Cannons, Luke Yeoward is back doing what he does best with his new outfit, The 131’s. Their lead single “This Ain’t Culture” is the perfect example of straight up punk music, the kind of tune that really means something and gets you in your gut.

Apparently a punter described this as “Bruce Springsteen singing for Rancid.” Despite all my years of training at this writing game, I couldn’t have said it any better myself. If that’s the kind of music you dig and you’re lucky enough to live in their home state of Victoria, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to catch The 131’s over the coming weeks. They’ve taken up residency at The Old Bar, plus they’ve got a couple of other gigs on the horizon.

13 March 2016 – The Old Bar, Fitzroy
20 March 2016 – The Old Bar, Fitzroy
27 March 2016 – The Old Bar, Fitzroy
31 March 2016 – 170 Russell, Melbourne (supporting Stiff Little Fingers)
1 April 2016 – The Bendigo Hotel, Bendigo

Tinpan Orange Announce Album Tour

Tinpan Orange are some of the true quiet achievers of the music world, releasing quality album after quality album with little fanfare. They’re just about to release their fifth studio album Love is a Dog, and if the lead single “Rich Man” is any indication it’s going to be another high quality collection of music.

This is such a beautiful, delicate song, with Emily Lubitz’s voice pairing beautifully with those soaring strings. Make sure you listen to those lyrics too, which are so delightfully dark. I really love guitarist Jesse Lubitz’s comment that “it could have been used as a Bond theme if David Lynch was directing.” Can we make that happen by the way?

Tinpan Orange will celebrate the April 8 release of Love is a Dog with a national tour. Tickets are available now for the following shows.

15-17 April 2016 – Fairbridge Folk Festival, Fairbridge
29 April 2016 – The Grand Poobah, Hobart
1 May 2016 – Fresh on Charles, Launceston
7 May 2016 – Toff in Town, Melbourne
8 May 2016 – Rattlers Hotel, Wallan
14 May 2016 – Civic Hall, Mullumbimby
15 May 2016 – Old Museum, Brisbane
20 May 2016 – The Vanguard, Sydney
27 May 2016 – The Workers Club, Geelong
28 May 2016 – The Railway Club, Darwin
4 June 2016 – Fly by Night, Fremantle
5 June 2016 – The Wheatsheaf, Adelaide

The Great Awake Do Pop-Punk Right

In the 90s I remember music fans going nuts for pop-punk, an offshoot of punk music. I appreciated its accessibility but also felt this more melodic music lost the rebellion punk music was meant to represent.

South Sydney’s The Great Awake have gotten the balance right though. Tracks like “Departure Lounge” have a raucous real heart that hearkens back to the glory days of punk. They’re paired with great melodies though that should help it appeal to people who don’t ordinarily listen to the genre.

“Departure Lounge” comes from The Great Awake’s debut album, Reasons For Leaving, which drops on February 24. They’ll celebrate the album’s release with the following shows.

4 March 2016 – Front Gallery, Canberra
5 March 2016 – Dicey’s, Wollongong
6 March 2016 – Frankie’s, Sydney
12 March 2016 – The Exeter, Adelaide
19 March 2016 – Fat Louie’s, Brisbane
26 March 2016 – Valve Bar, Sydney
1 April 2016 – Bar 303, Melbourne
2 April 2016 – Cherry Bar, Melbourne
8 April 2016 – Brisbane Hotel, Hobart
9 April 2016 – Fresh Cafe, Launceston

Twin Fires Get Toes Tapping with “Two Hands”

With Twin Fires kicking off their East Coast tour tomorrow night in support of The Snowdroppers, it seemed the perfect time to introduce you to their debut single “Two Hands.”

It’s got such a great folk-rock feel to it. I can imagine cranking this up in my car on a road trip. The Snowdroppers might be the main event at the shows, but with music like this I imagine Sydney act Twin Fires is going to get a lot of love. If you’re going to the shows, make sure you arrive early to catch this exciting new band.

20 February 2016 – The Foundry, Brisbane
26 February 2016 – Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney
4 March 2016 – Howler, Melbourne

Joel Adams Wows Me With Perfect Pop Song “Please Don’t Go”

I’m predicting massive things for Joel Adams, a 19-year-old soul artist from Brisbane. Apparently he released his debut single “Please Don’t Go” in December, and it’s starting to generate some serious buzz around the world.

It’s charted on the iTunes Australian pop daily charts nearly every day since the first month of its release, despite not receiving a lick of airplay. It also reached number five globally on Spotify’s Vital 50 charts after streaming in Australia, France, South Africa, Norway, and many more country. It’s even hit number 54 on Billboard Canada’s Hot 100 tracks.

It’d be too easy to dismiss Joel as just another pretty young thing. He’s very cute, and the girls are going to eat that up, but there’s much more to this young man than that. He wrote and composed “Please Don’t Go” himself, and also co-produced and recorded it. Never underestimate how hard it is to make pop music that’s this good. Joel Adams is definitely a name to watch.

Liam Gerner Tours Australia

After making a splash at the Woodford Folk Festival, South Australian-born world traveller Liam Garner is returning home for a string of shows right across the country. This is the first time he’s toured Australia since he supported Paolo Nutini last year, and his first local headlining tour in ages.

Liam promises to share old and new songs at the shows, including the incredible “Hank and Tammy.” Take a listen and tell me that you don’t want a ticket to these shows.

Tickets are on sale now for the following gigs.

18 February 2016 – Brisbane Hotel, Hobart
19 February 2016 – Royal Oak Hotel, Launceston
3 March 2016 – Four5Nine, Perth
4-6 March 2016 – Nannup Music Festival, Nannup
9 March 2016 – Ararat Live, Ararat
11 March 2016 – Billy Roy Blues, Bendigo
16 March 2016 – Petersham Bowling Club, Sydney
17 March 2016 – The Stag, Newcastle
18 March 2016 – Flow Bar, Old Bar
20 March 2016 – Leftys Old Time Music Hall, Brisbane
8 April 2016 – The Wheatsheaf, Adelaide (with Tim Moore)
15 April 2016 – Spotted Mallard, Melbourne

Jason Owen Hits His Stride With “Run”

When Jason Owen appeared on The X Factor, he was a diamond in the rough. He did well on the TV talent show, but I honestly thought he wasn’t ready for the big time. He seemed so unsure of himself, and his voice had some growing to do.

However, Jason’s worked hard on his craft since leaving the show and he’s now producing country-rock music equal to anything coming out of Nashville. His latest single “Run,” the first lifted from his third album Proud, has a real Keith Urban vibe that really resonates with me. I think it’d be the perfect road trip soundtrack, with its rollicking guitar chords and message of escaping the day-to-day humdrum of life.

Proud hits stores in April. If “Run” is any indication, it could be Jason Owen’s best work yet.

Opia’s EON Available Today

Perth rockers Opia are making a splash with a brand new single and album. The epic “Standing Still” is the third track lifted from the band’s album EON, which was released today.

Like the other album tracks, “Standing Still” was recorded and engineered at North Fremantle’s Electric City Studios. It somehow manages to sound polished without losing its guts, which is a tricky thing to achieve.

Opia will launch EON for their hometown fans at Amplifier Bar on February 26.

Paul Dempsey Back with Brand New Solo Single “Morningless”

Paul Dempsey has given fans their first taste of his sophomore solo album with the release of its lead single “Morningless.” This is another solid bluesy rock effort from the Something for Kate frontman. And how fabulous is the retro-inspired music video?

Along with the other album tracks, “Morningless” was recorded in Wilco’s The Loft studio in Chicago while they were on tour together. To celebrate the single’s release, Paul will tour the East Coast later this month. Limited tickets are still available for many of these shows, but you’d better get in quick!

13 February 2016 – Taronga Zoo, Sydney (SOLD OUT)
17 February 2016 – Hamer Hall, Melbourne (supporting Missy Higgins
19 February 2016 – The Factory Theatre, Sydney
20 February 2016 – The Zoo, Brisbane
26 February 2016 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
19 March 2016 – West Kentish, Tasmania

Figures Rock Out with “Filter”

Melbourne rock act Figures are pulling no punches with their debut single “Filter.” It’s a gutsy track with all the intensity hard rock fans demand from their music.

“Filter” sounds a lot more polished than your average debut single, but the members of Figures actually played in a bunch of other local bands before coming together at the start of 2014. They’ve been honing their sound ever since until deciding they were ready to unleash this monster on to the music scene.

Unfortunately I didn’t get the presser about this one until after the band launched the single, but I’m assured there’ll be more local gigs to follow. They’re also set to return to the United States, where they spent much of 2015, so fans on both sides of the world should soon have opportunities to see Figures play.