Australian chain gang balladeers Graveyard Train are ringing in the New Year with the release of their brand new single “The Sermon” and a string of summer festival dates.
“The Sermon”’s music video might have been better released around Halloween rather than the New Year, but it sets the scene for this song beautifully. Have you ever seen such creepy puppets?
Graveyard Train have passed over the big name festivals for some of Australia’s more interesting events. These shows are the last chance you’ll have to see the band for some time, as they’re preparing to head back in to the studio to record album number four.
19 January 2013 – Mona Foma, Hobart
2 February 2013 – The Garden Party @ Recital Centre, Melbourne
24 March 2013 – West Coast Blues ‘n’ Roots, Perth
I’m not saying that I advocate the drunkenness and debauchery that goes on at on nights like this, but I know that it happens. And I figure if you’re going to overindulge on New Year’s Eve, you might as well have a soundtrack. I also figure it’s probably my job as a music blogger to provide it.
So in the interest of giving the readers what they want, wrap your ears around “Young Drunk,” the new single from The Smith Street Band. It’s as ocker as they come, with rough vocals and the kind of chorus you know you’ll start belting out later on tonight.
This is also the first time The Smith Street Band have treated us to a music video. Sure, it’s no work of creative genius, but it does capture the energy that comes when this band hits the stage. The footage here was captured at the band’s Sunshine and Technology album launch at The Tote in August.
If it has you itching to see this band live, you’re in luck. They’ll hit the following venues next year!
31 January 2013 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury (18+)
2 February 2013 – Rosemount Hotel, Perth (18+)
7 February 2013 – X&Y Bar, Brisbane (18+)
8 February 2013 – The Spotted Cow, Toowoomba (18+ – FREE)
13 February 2013 – The Shed, Byron Bay (All Ages)
14 February 2013 – Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour (18+)
15 February 2013 – Annandale Hotel, Sydney (18+)
16 February 2013 – Great Northern Hotel, Newcastle (18+)
21 February 2013 – The Royal Oak, Lanceston (18+)
22 February 2013 – Brisbane Hotel, Hobart (18+)
23 February 2013 – Reverence Hotel, Melbourne (18+)
28 February 2013 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat (18+)
1 March 2013 – Enigma Bar, Adelaide (18+)
2 March 2013 – The Loft, Warrnambool (18+)
You can keep your Samantha Jades and your Jason Owens. When it came to The X Factor this year, I only had eyes for Matt Gresham. I was gutted (but frankly not surprised) when Mel B kept this soulful singer-songwriter out of her top three. Mel’s always been a bit afraid of artists that played left of centre, but I think he could have been an amazing addition to the show.
There’s no sense worrying about could have beens now though, because Matt has capitalised on his 15 minutes of fame and released a single. “See the World” is an intriguing and uplifting blend of hip hop and rootsy blues. I wouldn’t have thought this combination would work, but the proof’s in this delicious pudding. Clearly I’ve got Christmas on the brain. Perhaps it’s time to stop writing and thinking of food and just let you listen!
The Never Ever have created the kind of epic song that makes young girls swoon with their latest single “Déjà vu.” The track isn’t officially released until New Year’s Eve but with the video already on YouTube, we can take an early listen.
I must admit, I wasn’t so sure about this one when I started to listen to it. The vocals were a bit whiny, the production a bit overblown, and the whole thing just a little too earnest. But somewhere along the way I got swept up in it all. I guess no matter how old we get, we never really lose the part of ourselves that’s still a squealing teenager!
No doubt there’ll be plenty of those when The Never Ever take this song on the road. They’ve scored the support slot on the Diviney tour in January, which will no doubt earn them a new legion of young fans. After that it’s off to New York where they’ll start recording with a big name producer. It sounds like there’s big things to come from this band!
Sydney rock quintet Strangers will kick off 2013 with a national tour to promote their debut album Persona Non Grata.
It’s a gritty release, but one with real maturity that’s no doubt been helped along by seasoned producer Tom Larkin (Shihad, The Getaway Plan, Calling All Cars). As the title track shows, it rocks hard, but the melodic guitar riffs ensure it stays accessible.
The release of Persona Non Grata caps off a big year for Strangers, who enjoyed support slots with The Darkness, Good Charlotte, and Calling All Cars, and even sold out their own headlining show at The Lansdowne. The upcoming nine-date tour hints that 2013 might be just as epic!
31 January 2013 – The Great Northern, Newcastle
1 February 2013 – Annandale Hotel, Sydney
2 February 2013 – The Patch, Wollongong
7 February 2013 – Ed Castle, Adelaide
8 February 2013 – Workers Club, Melbourne
14 February 2013 – Newport Hotel, Fremantle
15 February 2013 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury (FREE)
16 February 2013 – Amplifier, Perth
17 February 2013 – Indi Bar, Scarborough
Kate Vigo’s current suitor should be under no illusion with the release of her new “Not the One.” The track pulls no punches; this man might be a good distraction for now, but he’s not the one!
“Not the One” comes from Kate’s forthcoming album Blue to Gold, a disc which promises to fuse the organic roots of music with the synthetic sounds Kate loves so much. She says she’s been enjoying having fun and writing the kind of songs that “people can dance around in their bedroom to,” although she adds that the album also has a much darker side.
If “Not the One’s” any indication, Blue to Gold will be an album to listen out for in 2013.
After playing more in 300 shows around the world in 2012, you’d think Kim Churchill would be ready for a rest. But it seems the lure of a homegrown summer tour is too strong. Kim will return to Australia for a string of dates to support last year’s release of his sophomore album Details of Distance.
The album showcases an artist whose traditional bluesy, folky sound is maturing. There’s a grittier edge to the songs including the first single “Season’s Grind” and the newie, “Sarah.” Kim recorded the album in Vancouver, Canada, and he’s clearly excited to bring it to music lovers in his own country this summer.
“I’m excited to be in my country for the summer for once,” Kim said in a statement. “Also very excited to be touring with Steve Smyth. I find him melodically very inspiring and an incredible performer.”
Tickets are on sale now for the following shows.
2 January 2013 – Indica Showcase @ The Vanguard, Sydney
5 January 2013 – Thornbury Theatre, Melbourne
6 January 2013 – Beav’s Bar, Geelong
9 January 2013 – The Brass Monkey, Cronulla
10 January 2013 – Cambridge Hotel Side Bar, Newcastle
11 January 2013 – Heritage Hotel, Wollongong NSW
12 January 2013 – The Basement, Sydney
18 January 2013 – Clancy’s Fish Pub, Fremantle
19 January 2013 – Settler’s Tavern, Margaret River
20 January 2013 – Indi Bar, Scarborough
22 January 2013 – The Loft, Gold Coast
23 January 2013 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
24 January 2013 – Sol Bar, Maroochydore
25 January 2013 – The Northern Hotel, Byron Bay
26 January 2013 – Widgefest, Jugiong
1 February 2013 – Melbourne Zoo Twilight Series, Melbourne
2 February 2013 – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
16 February 2013 – Garden of Unearthly Delights @ Paradiso Spiegeltent, Adelaide
17 February 2013 – Fringe Comes to Birdwood @ Birdwood High School, Birdwood
22-24 February 2013 – Cobargo Folk Festival, Cobargo
1-3 March 2013 – Nannup Music Festival, Nannup
8-11 March 2013 – Port Fairy Folk Festival, Port Fairy
15-17 March 2013 – Blue Mountains Music Festival, Katoomba
Celebrate summer with the brassy sounds of acclaimed Spanish surf rock band Los Coronas.
Formed in Madrid in 1991, this exciting band blends traditional Spanish melodies with retro Californian surf music. Their distinctive sound is showcased on their incredible 2010 release “Big Wave Riders.”
It’s taken Los Coronas more than two decades to reach Australia, and they’re not wasting their time on our shores. They’ll play the following sets at some of Australia’s best summer festivals as well as headlining shows around the country.
29 & 30 December 2012 – Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford
31 December 2012 – Pyramid Rock Festival, Phillip Island
1 January 2013 – New Year’s Day Concert @ Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle
2 January 2013 – Clancys, Dunsborough
3 January 2013 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
5 January 2013 – Space Theatre @ Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide
6 January 2013 – Summer of Soul @ Mossvale Park, South Gippsland
8 January 2013 – Toff in Town, Melbourne
10 January 2013 – Westernport Hotel, Westernport
11 & 12 January 2013 – Sydney Festival @ The Famous Spiegeltent, Sydney
15 January 2013 – Toff in Town, Melbourne
16 January 2013 – Mona Foma, Hobart
Victorian act Von Stache has wooed me with the video for her latest song “Sandbox Love.” The vintage clip was actually created using old footage of her parents. Doesn’t that just make this love story even sweeter? It’s not overly polished, as we’d expect from something recorded independently in a home studio, but there’s something so delicious about this slice of retro electro-pop!
If you love Von Stache’s sweet homegrown sound, you’ll be happy to know there’s more where it came from. Von Stache is preparing to release her debut four-track EP We Don’t Sleep In the Night in the coming weeks.
Mama Kin has given us our first taste of her forthcoming sophomore album The Magician’s Daughter. That record won’t hit stores until early next year, but until then we’ve got this hypnotic video for new single “Was It Worth It” to tide us over.
It’s a hint at what’s to come, a lusher sound with bold production and a more polished edge.
“I got used to the idea that I have to be out of my comfort zone to make the kind of art I want to make, I have to feel pushed. I have to be on the edge to be able to jump in and get as deep as I want and need. Magic for me is when there is a transformation inspired by subtle forces, and this is what we aim to bring to our audiences,” Mama Kin explained.