Video – Page 114 – Sounds of Oz

Posted on 07/05/201706/05/2017 by Lauren Katulka

Busby Marou Pays Tribute to Aussie Soldiers With “Paint This Land” Video

When you’re a writer blogging on your own, it’s easy for some stories to fall through the cracks. I’d intended to write about the video for “Paint This Land,” Busby Marou’s latest single on its ANZAC Day release, as the clip serves as a timely reminder of the contributions of Australian soldiers, particularly the Indigenous men and women that served who weren’t recognised for their efforts until far too late in my opinion. However, I was too busy playing Two Up and drinking schooners of beer, like all good Australians should, to get there. And now it’s May and the moment has well and truly passed.

But no matter what the time of year, this is a pretty awesome clip, co-directed by Wayne Blair who made Redfern Now, The Sapphires, and Cleverman. The video also features Wayne’s father Bob Blair, a Vietnam War vet and the first Aboriginal Regimental Sergeant Major, and actor Tony Barry. And it’s one of my favourite songs from Postcards From the Shell House. So is there really a wrong time to share it? I think not.

Besides, it serves as a timely reminder that Busby Marou will be loading up their van and touring the country in the next couple of weeks. These guys are sensational live, so if you haven’t seen them yet or you’re ready for another serve, make sure you head along.

25 May 2017 – 48 Watt Street, Newcastle
26 & 27 May 2017 – Leadbelly, Sydney
28 May 2017 – Heritage Hotel, Bulli
1 June 2017 – Southern Cross Club, Woden
2 June 2017 – Launceston Country Club, Launceston
3 June 2017 – Wrest Point Casino, Hobart
8 June 2017 – Miami Marketta, Gold Coast
9 June 2017 – Triffid, Brisbane
10 June 2017 – Sea & Sound Festival, Sunshine Coast
11 June 2017 – Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay
15 June 2017 – Fat Controller, Adelaide
16 June 2017 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
17 June 2017 – Workers Club, Geelong
18 June 2017 – Sooki Lounge, Belgrave
22 June 2017 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
23 June 2017 – Northshore Tavern, Hillarys
24 June 2017 – Mundaring Weir Hotel, Mundaring
25 June 2017 – The Boston, Perth
30 June 2017 – Darwin Entertainment Centre, Darwin
1 July 2017 – Triffid, Brisbane

Posted on 06/05/2017 by Lauren Katulka

“Gold Mess” – Elli Schoen

I absolutely love finding strong, relatable female voices. One of the latest to strike a chord with me is Elli Schoen, a singer-songwriter from Fremantle who’s just released her new EP Gold Mess.

The EP explores themes of growing up and moving on, whether it’s from romantic relationships in “Hard Heart” or from the family home in “Mumma.” I especially love the EP’s title track and our introduction to the EP, “Gold Mess.” Its lyrics about attraction that’s wrong despite feeling so right should resonate with most listeners.

Elli has such a beautiful, rich tone that sounds even stronger with the heavy drum beats that drive these tracks forward. She also knows how to pen a lyric that’s poetic, yet instantly accessible to the listener. In just four tracks, she’s won me over.

Gold Mess is out now. Elli Schoen is currently touring the recording. You can still catch her at the following shows.

6 May 2017 – The Firestation, Busselton
11 May 2017 – The Astor Theatre, s/ Tash Sultana
20 May 2017 – Babushka, s/ Airling
21 May 2017 – Mojos Bar, s/ Airling
25 May 2017 – The Marly Bar, Sydney
26 May 2017 – Bistroteque, Brisbane
27 May 2017 – The Worker’s Club, Melbourne
5 June 2017 – State of the Art Festival, Perth

Posted on 04/05/2017 by Lauren Katulka

Deni Hines is Back With “I Got Your Back”

When I was growing up, Deni Hines seemed to be everywhere. If she wasn’t burning up the charts with her band The Rockmelons she was taking the stage by storm in musicals like Jesus Christ Superstar. However, like so many icons of the 90s, she seemed to fade from the music scene, popping up only occasionally on reality TV. I’m so glad to see her back doing what she’s best at with a brand new single “I Got Your Back,” a cut from her November album The Soul Sessions.

While much of the album features covers of the soul songs that shaped her own sound, “I Got Your Back” is an original song Deni penned with Clive Young and Damian Smith about the hardships she saw people in her life facing. The music video, directed by award-winning filmmaker Dean Francis, features Deni bathed in projection mapping images and backgrounds including photos from her trips to Africa supporting the Oasis Africa Foundation.

It’s such a welcome return to form and a real reminder that Deni is one of the greatest soul singers we’ve produced.

Posted on 03/05/201702/05/2017 by Lauren Katulka

Sheppard Ready for Aussie Tour Ahead of UK Dates

It’s hard to believe that it’s been more than two years since hit makers Sheppard headlined an Aussie tour. However, they’re just about ready to do it all again on the back of their latest smash “Keep Me Crazy.”

This is another feelgood pop gem from the Brisbane band. Just try getting it out of your head!

Sheppard looks forward to playing for local fans in more intimate venues before heading to the United Kingdom to support Little Mix.

“Playing live is so important to us and before things get too crazy overseas, we are looking forward to playing for our fans here,” said George Sheppard. “Playing with Justin Bieber around Australia was a dream come true for us, so to get the opportunity to play to our UK fans with a band like Little Mix is yet another opportunity this year where we’ve had to pinch ourselves!”

Make sure you arrive early to catch sets from the stellar support acts No Frills Twins and Reece Mastin.

27 May 2017 – Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane
10 June 2017 – The Croxton, Melbourne
11 June 2017 – Metro Theatre, Sydney

Posted on 28/04/2017 by Lauren Katulka

Columbus Gets Acoustic With “Next to Me”

We’re used to hearing punk acts turning their speakers up to 11. But Columbus is going the opposite route with its new five-track EP Next to Me, which drops today. It features a brand new song, the EP’s title track, and acoustic reimaginings of some of the Brisbane band’s past tracks.

“Next To Me is a melancholic falling out, which reminiscences about moments with a past lover,” explained the band’s frontman Alex Moses. “I wrote the song about the feeling of knowing you’re drifting apart from someone and there’s nothing you can do.”

It’s a softer song for the band, and one which marries perfectly with these new arrangements of classic Columbus tracks. Alex said reinterpreting the old songs in an acoustic way was “a very creatively fulfilling process.”
“We’re really proud of the songs and think they stand on their own in contrast to the heavier versions.”

The Next to Me EP is available now.

Posted on 28/04/2017 by Lauren Katulka

Pierce Brothers Touring Everywhere to Promote New EP

I meant to write this post a couple of times but instead I found myself falling down a rabbit hole of Pierce Brothers music. The first time I found myself going back through the Melbourne folk-pop duo’s back catalogue, and time got away. Then I received an advance stream of the very EP I meant to write about and listening to it put this article on the back burner again.

That EP, The Records Were Ours, is wonderful by the way. The lead single and opening track “Take Me Out” is a swampy foot stomper, but it shows just one side of this talented duo. There are more sombre moments in “Only One” and “Rhodes.” “Keep in Mind” is the real standout for me. What a song. Alongside the studio tracks there are two live numbers: “Take a Shot” recorded on the Sydney Opera House Forecourt” and “Brother” captured at Paradiso in Amsterdam. Listening to the crowds heaping so much love on the Melbourne siblings is a reminder of the global reach of this phenomenally talented pair.

The Records Were Ours is the first in a trilogy of Pierce Brothers EPs. It drops on May 19, the day after the brothers launch their Australian tour. After that they’re off to Europe and the United Kingdom before winging their way to North America to support Tash Sultana. No matter where in the world you are, there should be a show near you.

18 May 2017 – Metro Lair, Sydney
20 May 2017 – Lorne Hotel, Lorne
25 May 2017 – The Academy, Canberra
26 May 2017 – The Croxton, Melbourne
27 May 2017 – Big Pineapple Fest, Sunshine Coast
3 June 2017 – Pinkpop Festival 2017, Landgraaf
4 June 2017 – Melkwege Oude Zaal, Amsterdam
5 June 2017 – Prinzenbar, Hamburg
6 June 2017 – Feierwerk/Kranhalle, Munich
7 June 2017 – Ancienne Belgique, Brussels
9 June 2017 – The Garage, London
8 July 2017 – Cornbury Music Festival, Oxfordshire
9 July 2017 – Linton Music Festival, Ross-on-Wye
10 July 2017 – Thekla, Bristol
11 July 2017 – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
13 July 2017 – Studio 2, Liverpool
14 July 2017 – The Deaf Institute, Manchester
15 July 2017 – Zwarte Cross 2017, Lichtenvoorde
16 July 2017 – 4 Daagse, Nijmegen
22 July 2017 – Colours of Ostrava 2017, Ostrava
27 July 2017 – Dr Koncerthuset, Copenhagen
29 July 2019 – Stonerock Festival 2017, Bad Bentheim
6 August 2017 – Festival Esperanzah! 2017, Floreffe
11 August 2017 – Fairports Cropready Convention 2017, Banbury
28 September 2017 – Danforth Music Hall, Toronto
29 September 2017 – Metropolis, Montreal
30 September 2017 – Paradise Rock Club, Boston
2 October 2017 – The Bowery Ballroom, New York
3 October 2017 – Brooklyn Steel, Brooklyn
5 October 2017 – Union Transfer, Philadelphia
6 October 2017 – 9:30 Club, Washington
7 October 2017 – Newport Music Hall, Columbus
9 October 2017 – Thalia Hall, Chicago
10 October 2017 – Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis
11 October 2017 – The recordBar, Kansas City
16 October 2017 – Ogden Theater, Denver
18 October 2017 – The Crescent Ballroom, Phoenix
20 October 2017 – Fonda Theater, Hollywood
21 October 2017 – The Fillmore, San Francisco
23 October 2017 – Wonder Ballroom, Portland
24 October 2017 – Neptune Theater, Seattle
25 October 2017 – Commodore Theater, Vancouver

Posted on 22/04/201716/04/2017 by Lauren Katulka

Meg Mac is Back With “Low Blows”

It’s been some time since we heard anything new from Meg Mac, but I think it’s been worth the wait. Her new single “Low Blows” is an absolute cracker.

“Low Blows” tells an intimate story, as you might expect from a track that started its life on Meg’s piano in her Melbourne bedroom.

“The song is about the need to stand up for myself – I don’t speak up or stand up for myself when I really need to,” she explained. “Since releasing it I’ve received lots of messages suggesting I’m not the only one who struggles with this.”

While it had humble beginnings, Meg recorded the track at Fort Worth’s Niles City Sound Studio. It sounds amazing, which is a great sign for the rest of Meg’s forthcoming debut album.

Posted on 20/04/201716/04/2017 by Lauren Katulka

Kirsty Lee Akers Swears She “Ain’t That Kinda Girl”

Kirsty Lee Akers continues to show plenty of sass with her latest single “Ain’t That Kinda Girl.” It’s a tongue-in-cheek song exploring the expectations placed on modern girls that Kirsty refuses to meet. It’s a spirited single that’s loads of fun.

The song was released while Kirsty is on a bit of a hot streak, hitting number one on the Country Music Channel (CMC) charts for her previous four successive singles. CMC named “Ain’t That Kinda Girl” its “country pick” on release, so no doubt it’s also destined for greatness!

Posted on 18/04/2017 by Lauren Katulka

Grinspoon Adds More Shows to 20th Anniversary Tour

It took just a matter of hours for the guys from Grinspoon to sell out multiple venues on their upcoming Guide to Better Living 20th Anniversary tour. I didn’t even have time to get a news announcement out before tickets were snapped up. So I’m getting in quickly this time and letting you know more shows have been announced to meet demand.

The Grinners promise to play Guide to Better Living in its entirety, start to finish, for their ardent fans. They’ll be ably supported by Hockey Dad at all shows except Darwin and the Gold Coast.

To coincide with the shows, Grinspoon will release a 20th Anniversary edition of Guide to Better Living, expanding the original 16-track album to a 49-track extravaganza with live tracks, unreleased recordings, and other rarities. You can also get a limited edition vinyl pressing for the first time. This comes packaged with a second disc recorded at New York City’s legendary venue, CBGB’s.

So there’s plenty for Grinspoon fans to get excited about, especially these shows!

23 June 2017 – Kay St Entertainment Complex, Traralgon (18+)
30 June 2017 – Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne (Licensed All Ages)
1 July 2017 – Village Green Hotel, Mulgrave (18+ SOLD OUT)
6 July 2017 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney (Licensed All Ages NEW SHOW)
7 July 2017 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney (Licensed All Ages SOLD OUT)
8 July 2017 – The Tivoli Theatre, Brisbane (18+ SOLD OUT)
9 July 2017 – The Tivoli Theatre, Brisbane (18+ NEW SHOW)
29 July 2017 – One Tropical Day @ Darwin Ski Club, Darwin (Licensed All Ages)
3 August 2017 – The Wool Exchange, Geelong (18+)
4 August 2017 – Pier Bandroom, Frankston (18+)
5 August 2017 – Granada Tavern, Hobart (18+ SOLD OUT)
6 August 2017 – Granada Tavern, Hobart (18+ NEW SHOW)
10 August 2017 – The Jack, Cairns (18+)
11 August 2017 – Dalrymple Hotel, Townsville (18+)
12 August 2017 – Magnums, Airlie Beach (18+)
17 August 2017 – Villa Noosa, Noosaville (18+)
18 August 2017 – Redland Bay Hotel, Redland Bay (18+ SOLD OUT)
19 August 2017 – Shaka Fest @ Miami Tavern, Gold Coast (18+)
24 August 2017 – Dunsborough Tavern, Dunsborough (18+ SOLD OUT)
25 August 2017 – Metro City, Perth (18+)
26 August 2017 – Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide (All Ages)
31 August 2017 – The Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle (18+ SOLD OUT)
1 September 2017 – Lismore City Hall, Lismore (18+)
2 September 2017 – Racecourse Hotel, Ipswich (18+ SOLD OUT)
14 September 2017 – The Entrance Leagues Club, Bateau Bay (18+ SOLD OUT)
15 September 2017 – Waves, Wollongong (18+ SOLD OUT)
16 September 2017 – UC Refectory, Canberra (18+)
20 September 2017 – CSU, Wagga Wagga (18+)
21 September 2017 – Barooga Sports Club, Barooga (18+ NEW SHOW)
22 September 2017 – Beer Deluxe, Albury (18+)
23 September 2017 – NEX Newcastle, Newcastle (18+ NEW SHOW)