I think most of my readers would believe Trump’s presidency hasn’t had a lot of positives. But for me the silver lining in his election is watching how inspired young people have become to take an active role in politics. Not since the late 60s can I remember a time when younger generations stood up to try to make the world a better place.
It’s in that vein that Perth singer Olive has released her first single “Changing the World.” It sounds far too polished than any debut cut should, with flawless sweet vocals and a soulful spirit that reminds me Motown would be proud of. The lyrics, which speak of the way we can all make a difference if we just play our part, are so persuasive.
If this single is any indication of her talents, we’ll be hearing a lot more from Olive.
Sometimes songs draw you in immediately. Others are slow burners that sneak up on you when you least expect it. “Let Me Down” by Andy Ward fell into the latter camp for me. I heard it last week and thought it was a little sleepy. On receiving another email about it, I thought perhaps I should give it another chance. I’m so glad I did.
It’s such a haunting song, mesmerising in its stillness. Brisbane singer Andy’s voice is so beautiful, and the restraint with which he delivers this song is magic. I have no idea why I didn’t hear all this before!
Andy Ward will soon announce some live show for later this year, which will feature “surprising visual elements.” Colour me intrigued!
It was just a couple of months ago that I was sharing Polish Club’spub rock tune “Come Party.” Now I’ve discovered a very different side of the band with their latest single, “Divided.”
While I loved “Come Party,” I think “Divided” is so much better. It’s soulful with a rock edge, passionate and raw. I played it once, then again, then again. Then I shared it on my personal Facebook page while I played it again. And now I’m here, telling all of you about it.
“It’s about being stubborn and internalising in a relationship. Not being able to admit things aren’t working and lying to yourself,” explained singer-guitarist Novak in the presser. His vocals are sublime here, but don’t underestimate the impact of drummer John-Henry and those crashing cymbals.
I should also take the opportunity to remind you that Polish Club is touring the country. Here are the remaining dates. Plenty of shows have sold out now (you should have got on it when I told you about the gigs in March!), but there are limited tickets for the remaining dates. They’ve also just announced some New Zealand dates, so Kiwis take note!
11 May 2017 – Small Ballroom, Newcastle
12 May 2017 – Rad Bar, Wollongong (SOLD OUT)
13 May 2017 – Republic Bar, Hobart
19 May 2017 – Rocket Bar, Adelaide (SOLD OUT)
20 May 2017 – Amplifier, Perth
25 May 2017 – The Foundry, Brisbane (SOLD OUT)
26 May 2017 – Elsewhere, Gold Coast
27 May 2017 – Big Pineapple Festival, Woombye (SOLD OUT)
1 June 2017 – The Transit Bar, Canberra
2 June 2017 – Workers Club, Geelong
3 June 2017 – The Corner, Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
4 June 2017 – The Corner, Melbourne
30 June 2017 – Whammy Bar, Auckland
1 July 2017 – Meow, Wellington
Anyone who sees them knows that the best way to experience The Basics is to see them live. So it’s pretty exciting news that the Melbourne trio will release a brand new live album, In The Rude, on May 27.
Recorded at Melbourne’s legendary Howler, In The Rude is the band’s first release since Age of Entitlement in 2015. It features a bunch of killer tunes including the lead single “With This Ship.”
There’s no word about shows yet, but surely we deserve a run of dates to coincide with the release of this live treat!
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
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
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.
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
As the mercury dips, summer is starting to feel like a distant memory. However, you can keep the nostalgic summer vibes going just a little longer with “The Summer,” the latest single by South Australian songstress Cookie Baker featuring You Am I frontman Tim Rogers.
The song isn’t your traditional summer anthem. There’s a real sense of wistfulness about it, a feeling of longing and despondence which is probably more in keeping with the gloomier autumn weather upon as now. But it’s juxtaposed with the film clip which takes me right back to the warmer weather. I’m not normally one for kids, but watching these tikes running around the Southern Yorke Peninsula has managed to even charm me.
“The Summer” was the first track Cookie recorded for her forthcoming album.
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.”