Brisbane quintet Call the Shots have served up a feel-good slice of power pop-punk with their brand new single “Alexis Texas.”
This fun track which takes a light-hearted look at unrequited love is our first taste of the band’s sophomore EP When Everything Goes Wrong. It sounds like everything is going right for these guys though. They recently made the top 10 of Dolly magazine’s hottest 100 bands and they scored the support slots for Nine Sons of Dan’s Brisbane gig at The Zoo on March 14.
If you like what you hear, it’s worth noting that Call the Shots are offering it as a free digital download via their Triple J Unearthed page.
Gotye has made Grammys history, becoming the first Australian to take home multiple awards for the same album and its songs. Our own Wally de Backer took home three awards in all. Making Mirrors won Best Alternative Album while that smash single “Somebody That I Used To Know” took home Best Pop Duo or Group Release and the granddaddy of them all, Record of the Year.
The unassuming Aussie was understandably star struck to receive the latter award from Prince, who he said was “a big reason I was inspired to make music.” He went on to “thank everybody who puts great energy into the world by making music.”
We’ve all been touched by the nation’s bushfires in some way, so The Lamplights are bound to strike a chord with their latest single “The River.”
The single came about when the boys from the band were touring Victoria and stumbled across the bushfire devastated region of King Lake. A year after blazes ravaged the town, the lads were shocked by the ruin they still saw. The landscape was black as far as the eye could see. However, The Lamplights saw more than that. They saw a community that refused to give up, one which had such a connection to this place they called home that nothing could drive them away.
It’s only fitting that all proceeds from “The River” will benefit the Warrambungle Shire Mayor’s Bushfire Appeal. No doubt The Lamplights will sell plenty of copies when they tour the single at the following shows.
23 February 2013- Bleach Festival, Gold Coast
2 March 2013 – Eumundi Markets, Sunshine Coast
8 March 2013 – The Hideaway, Brisbane
13 March 2013 – Lizotte’s, Dee Why
14 March 2013 – Yours & Owls, Wollongong
21 March 2013 – The Joynt, Brisbane
24 March 2013 – Beach Hotel, Byron Bay
Sydney band The Model School takes us on a trip down memory lane with the nostalgic film clip for their latest single “Pictures of Summer.”
The retro clip was directed by HW Wheelie, who previously collaborated with the band on the music video for “Streets I Left Behind.” This time around he’s sourced some amazing BMX footage from the ’70s. I was so entranced by it that I had to give it a second spin to listen to the song! The track’s perfect for summer, very chilled and easily accessible. It doesn’t push the boundaries, but it’s a very likable.
“Pictures of Summer” comes from The Model School’s third album Backwards Down the Highway. They’re hard at work on the release, but the band assures me it should be in stores in a few months.
I hear a lot of new artists writing this blog, so it takes a lot for one to stick into my mind for any period of mind. Yet Amanda Merdzan is one of those acts I’ve thought of on and off over the years. I heard this Western Australian songstress’ debut album Into the Gallery way back in 2010, and wondered what she was doing. So I was thrilled to see she has a new single, and an EP on the way.
That EP The Map Has Been Redrawn will be released in March, but until then we’ve got the lead single “Afraid” to tide us over. It’s everything I loved about Amanda’s first release, but with a bit more refinement. The sound is larger, but it doesn’t overwhelm the song’s strong emotional core. Once again her lyrics are right on point. Put simply, I’m in love.
Amanda will launch the EP for her home state at North Fremantle’s Mojo’s Bar on March 2. After that she’s flying off to play Canadian Music Week. No doubt the Canucks will see something just as special in this exciting singer-songwriter. Expect to hear big things from this real talent.
This Australia Day I wanted to look at the Aussie songs my husband loves. That might seem like the sort of sappy thing married women do sometimes, but hear me out. My husband is an American. He moved to Australia a little over seven years ago to start our lives together. You’d be surprised how much culture shock you can have moving to another English speaking country. I remember taking him to Day on the Green shows, and seeing him bewildered as the crowds sang out iconic songs that had seeped into our consciousness. We didn’t even remember learning them, yet we knew every word.
Gradually though, he assimilated and those songs became a part of his story too. It’s unavoidable perhaps when you live with a music-mad woman like myself. I’ve loved watching as he found his favourite Aussie artists and songs that resonated. And so here’s an Aussie post for him, and for those of you out there that share his musical taste.
If the lead single “Walking on Me” is any indication, music lovers are in for a real treat when Jordan Millar releases his album Cold Lights on Curious Minds next month.
This is such a feel-good song, with a great marriage of pop, folk, and blues. I love the acoustic guitar that anchors the easy vocals. This is really great stuff that takes me back to some of John Mayer’s early material. And as anyone who knows me knows, that’s a very good thing.
Jordan Millar’s Cold Lights on Curious Minds hits stores on February 15.
Pete Murray is back with The Byron Sessions, a reimagining of his last album Blue Sky Blue.
It might seem a bit superfluous to rerecord the album that only hit stores in 2011, but I think there’s method in the madness. While the album got to number six on the Aussie charts, it certainly didn’t make the impact of Feeler or even See the Sun. Whatever he did the first time didn’t resonate, but this new recording might thanks to some well selected special guests.
The lead single “Blue Sky Blue” features a great rap bridge from up and coming urban act Fantine. I love the edge it brings to Pete Murray’s gentle song. Other tracks on the album feature Ash Grunwald, Busby Marou, Bernard Fanning, and Katie Noonan. Rather than feeling like he’s relying on big names to sell the songs, the rerecordings feel like spontaneous jam sessions, so much richer than the originals.
“The Byron Sessions is about community, from the original idea jamming at home with mates, right through to its realization as an album, so it makes sense to get out there and see the people that have really supported me over the years, no matter what corner of Australia they’re from,” Pete explained. “It’s about celebrating the last decade coming full circle and sharing it with a community of people around the country who have all had their own journeys and life experiences at the same time.”
He’s clearly proud of The Byron Sessions, which hits stores on February 1, because he’s taking it just about everywhere starting with a show in Byron tonight. Seriously, can you believe how many gigs he’s doing? Here are all the places you can see Pete Murray play over the coming months.
24 January 2013 – The Brewery, Byron Bay
14 February 2013 – The Spirit Bar & Lounge, Traralgon
15 February 2013 – The Forge Theatre, Bairnsdale
16 February 2013 – The Wool Exchange, Geelong
17 February 2013 – Riverboats Music Festival, Echuca
20 February 2013 – Yamba Bowls Club, Yamba
21 February 2013 – Lismore Workers Club, Lismore
22 February 2013 – Armidale Ex Services Club, Armidale
23 February 2013 – Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour
27 February 2013 – Albany Entertainment Centre, Albany
28 February 2013 – Esperance Civic Centre, Esperance
1 March 2013 – Goldfields Arts Centre, Kalgoorlie
2 March 2013 – Capitol, Perth
3 & 4 March 2013 – Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle
7 March 2013 – Commercial Hotel, South Morang
8 March 2013 – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
9 March 2013 – Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully
10 March 2013 – Pier Hotel, Frankston
14 March 2013 – Regent Multiplex, Ballarat
15 March 2013 – Corner Hotel, Richmond
16 March 2013 – The Depot, Adelaide
17 March 2013 – Nautilus Theatre, Port Lincoln
21 March 2013 – Port Macquarie Panthers, Port Macquarie
22 March 2013 – Club Forster, Forster
23 March 2013 – The Cambridge, Newcastle
24 March 2013 – West Tamworth Leagues Club, Tamworth
4 April 2013 – Orange Ex Services Club, Orange
5 April 2013 – Dubbo RSL, Dubbo
6 April 2013 – Entrance Leagues Club, Bateau Bay
7 April 2013 – Hornsby RSL, Hornsby
9 & 10 April 2013 – Lizotte’s, Dee Why
11 April 2013 – The Abbey, Canberra
12 April 2013 – The York Theatre, Sydney
13 April 2013 – Waves, Wollongong
14 April 2013 – Batemans Bay Soldiers Club, Batemans Bay
18 April 2013 – Harvey Road Tavern, Gladstone
19 April 2013 – Magnums Hotel, Airlie Beach
20 April 2013 – Dalrymple Hotel, Townsville
21 April 2013 – Brothers Leagues Club, Cairns
23 April 2013 – Racehorse Hotel, Ipswich
24 April 2013 – Hi-Fi, Brisbane
26 April 2013 – Villa Noosa, Noosaville
27 April 2013 – The Northern, Byron Bay
28 April 2013 – Twin Towns, Tweed Heads
I’m hot. Really hot. The news tells me it was 46 degrees in Sydney, and it can’t be too far off on the Central Coast. My air-conditioning unit and fans are feeling pretty ineffectual at the moment.
And that may be why Sun City’s latest film clip looks extra inviting. The band’s name is pretty summery, but for the clip accompanying “High” the Perth outfit headed to Alberta, Canada. Icy, icy Alberta. All those frozen creek beds and thick snowy surfaces look like heaven right now. I’m sure the crew might have complained about the -20 degree temps, but I think they sound perfect.
I’m sure the band’s longing for them as they’ll start braving our sweltering local conditions on a national tour tonight. You can show them some love at the following venues.
18 January 2013 – The Rocket Bar, Adelaide
19 January 2013 – Slam Festival, St Kilda
20 January 2013 – Slam Festival, Scarborough
25 January 2013 – Can’t Say @ Vault 8, Melbourne
26 January 2013 Falcona Saturdays @Beach Road Hotel, Bondi (FREE)
With temperatures soaring and strong winds spreading bushfires across the country, it’s terrible timing for X Factor alum Bella Ferraro to release her new single “Set Me on Fire.” No wonder this thing has dropped out of the top 100 entirely just two weeks after its release. It’s not exactly the thing that radio will have on high rotation in the middle of a heatwave, is it? It’s a shame though, because this is a really pretty tune that’s accessible yet really original. What do you think?