As I’m shivering here with my fluffy dressing gown on and my heater blasting, the warmth of summer sun seems a distant memory. But Mali Mali have got me reminiscing with the release of their debut music video “Song for the Sun.”
This is a gorgeous folky number which hints at what’s to come on the curiously named album Gather ‘Round the Gooseclock, which was not so coincidentally released today. If you love what you hear, it’s available to download now.
The Vanturas have knocked my socks off with their debut single “Tightrope”. Talk about making a great first impression!
The song takes me back to the Big Bad Voodoo Daddies with its driving rockabilly beat and deliciously dark lyrics. If you’re not tapping your foot along with this one by the end there’s something wrong.
The Melbourne act has coupled the song with an amazing clip, which is more short film than run-of-the-mill music video.
“It was an amazing experience watching the director Max Miller and director of photography Shelley Farthing-Dawe work through the scenes, creating a sort of ‘mini film’ for the clip,” said The Vanturas. “The concept was planned months before shooting. Producer Kali Bateman and the director story-boarded the whole thing and had a solid idea of what the final result would be.”
“Tightrope” is our first taste of The Vanturas’ debut album, which should hit stores late this year. The band will launch the single at Melbourne’s Cherry Bar on May 31.
The Murlocs make music like few others. It’s gritty, bluesy, ballsy, and honest. All those adjectives hold true for the Melbourne band’s latest single “Rattle The Chain.”
Those raspy vocals, the guttural moan of a harmonica, I’m in heaven. And to think its vocals and overdubs were recorded in bedroom studios. This is the best kind of raw. If you agree, make sure you catch The Murlocs launching the single around the traps late this month.
25 May 2013 – The Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
31 May 2013 – The Velvet Cave, Sydney
7 June 2013 – The Barwon Club, Geelong
When he’s not wowing crowds as one half of Busby Marou, Tom Busby is making beautiful music with his housemates Stephen Ryan and Brett Gibson. Together they are Good Oak, a three-piece creating some of the most gorgeous folk music I’ve heard in some time.
The Queensland band’s just released their debut self-titled EP which includes the beautiful single “The Bear Song”. The harmonies are exquisite, and while it’s gentle it’s definitely a song that stays with you. Songs don’t always need to scream loudly to make an impression, do they?
If you love what you hear, make sure you catch Good Oak supporting their EP’s release on The Big Strong Bear Tour.
23 May 2013 – Gov’s Espresso, Mermaid Beach
24 May 2013 – The Armidale Club, Armidale
25 May 2013 – Brighton Up Bar, Sydney
26 May 2013 – Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour
Brisbane band Pigeon are back with another killer single, “Encounters”. They’ve brought back the sax that I loved in “All That Bad”, and a chorus you’ll find yourself singing along to by the time the video’s done. It’s not quite mellow enough to be chill-out music, but unless your head is really pounding you’ll find this is a perfect Sunday soundtrack.
Melbourne’s Vaudeville Smash! are bringing back New Wave sounds with the release of their debut album Dancing for the Girl.
The fun single “Look at Me” gives us a taste of the album, which hit stores yesterday. It’s got a gorgeous blend of dance and pop that makes children of the ‘80s like me feel all warm and nostalgic.
Vaudeville Smash! will kick off their Dancing for the Girl tour in Adelaide next month before they travel up and down the East Coast. With the band generating major buzz in North America, it might be our last chance to see them for a while!
8 June 2013 – Jive Bar, Adelaide
14 June 2013 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
21 June 2013 – UTS Glasshouse Bar, Sydney
22 June 2013 – The Beresford, Sydney
27 June 2013 – The Loft, Chevron Island
28 June 2013 – Sol Bar, Maroochydore
29 June 2013 – The Joynt, Brisbane
30 June 2013 – Beach Hotel, Byron Bay
All eyes are firmly on the new crop of The Voice contestants, but it’s worth noting that some of last year’s finalists are carving out credible careers away from the glare of the television cameras. One such talent is Brittany Cairns, who’s just released her new single “Behind the Scenes”.
If you’re a Taylor Swift fan, you’re going to love this. There are similar sweet vocals and the diary-style narrative recounting the optimism of young love feels very familiar. It’s pretty inoffensive stuff and it’s not likely to change the world, but that’s not a criticism. It takes real talent to create a song so accessible. Brittany’s had a little help from Rod Conley on that score, but she’s clearly got some songwriting chops. I’m looking forward to hearing more from Brittany when she releases her debut EP later this year.
Adelaide double act Atlas Genius might just have what it takes to be our next big export. The lads are putting in the hard yards now after the recent release of their debut album When It Was Now.
The album showcases the pop sensibilities and synth-laden riffs that had crowds buzzing at South by Southwest. You can get a taste of all that with the band’s latest video “Centered on You”.
South by Southwest was months ago, but it seems Atlas Genius are in no rush to return to home shores either, as they’ve got a stack of shows coming up around the US and Europe. They’ll even appear on The Late Show with David Letterman on May 2 (or May 3 Australian time). Make sure you set your PVRs Aussies! Here are all the places music lovers abroad can see them play. Hopefully we won’t lose this hot new act permanently!
3 May 2013 – Penguin in Soho, New York (Free All Ages Acoustic Show)
4 May 2013 – The Piazza at Schmidt’s, Philadelphia
7 May 2013 – Electrowerzk, London
8 May 2013 – Prinzenbar, Hamburg
18 May 2013 – KROQ Weenie Roast, Irvine
19 May 2013 – Live 105 BFD Festival, Mountain View
20 May 2013 – Soho Restaurant and Music Club, Santa Barbara (SOLD OUT)
22 May 2013 – Harlow’s, Sacremento
24 May 2013 – Wonder Ballroom, Portland
25 May 2013 – Sasquatch Festival, Quincy
26 May 2013 – Venue, Vancouver
29 May 2013 – Kilby Court, Salt Lake City
31 May 2013 – Bluebird Theatre, Denver (SOLD OUT)
1 June 2013 – The Black Sheep, Colorado Springs
4 June 2013 – Fine Line Music Café, Minneapolis (SOLD OUT)
6 June 2013 – Deluxe at Old National Centre, Indianapolis
7 June 2013 – Newport Music Hall, Columbus
9 June 2013 – 3rd & Lindley, Nashville
11 June 2013 – The Norva, Norfolk
12 June 2013 – The Canal Club, Richmond
14 June 2013 – Bayou Café, Albany
15 June 2013 – The Sinclair, Cambridge (SOLD OUT)
17 June 2013 – Met Café, Providence
18 & 19 June 2013 – Bowery Ballroom, New York (SOLD OUT)
20 June 2013 – Wolf Den, Uncasville
21 June 2013 – Firefly Music Festival, Dover
23 June 2013 – The Opera House, Toronto
24 June 2013 – Shelter, Detroit
27 June 2013 – Summerfest, Milwaulkee
30 June 2013 – The Pagent, St Louis
6 July 2013 – Kelowna’s Waterfront Park, Vancouver
10 July 2013 – Ottawa Blues Festival, Ottawa
13 July 2013 – Bunbury Music Fest, Cincinnati
2 August 2013 – Lollapalooza, Chicago
4 August 2013 – Osheaga Music and Arts Festival, Montreal
11 August 2013 – Golden Gate Park Outside Lands Festival, San Francisco
20 September 2013 – Sleep Train Ampitheatre, Chula Vista
I don’t think it’s right to just let ANZAC Day go by without acknowledging it. It’s not just another day. It’s a day for us all to pause and remember those who lost our life fighting for the freedom that we take for granted, and the ones who came back but were never the same.
I’ve done it in the past by posting “I Was Only 19” and “The Band Played Waltzing Matilda”. This year I needed to dig a little deeper, and it saw me discovering this song, “Gallipoli Rosemary” by Mick Thomas. The Weddings Parties Anything singer has always had such a gift for songwriting. This song might never have achieved mainstream attention but it’s still strong, imbued with the emotion fitting for a track recorded on ANZAC Day a couple of years.
Lest we forget.
All good things must come to an end, and it’s almost time to bid Mia Dyson adieu as she returns to her adopted home in the United States. However, she’s not leaving without a proper goodbye.
Mia will play her final Australian show for some time at the Bulli Hotel this Friday, April 26. She’s also leave us with one more single, “Fill Yourself”, an upbeat bluesy number which will launch The Moment in the US.
“Fill Yourself has been a favourite of many people on the record and is the track turning heads in the US,” said Mia. “It is bittersweet to be heading back over there. I have absolutely loved being home, so much so that I extended my stay, but it’s time to continue this journey that The Moment has become.”
The Moment hits American stores today.