I’ve fallen hard for “Twenty Two,” the latest single by Sydney’s Lazy Colts.
This is one of those very introverted, special songs. The vocals aren’t big, the melody won’t get stuck in your head, but it’s a track with something to say. Take the time to really listen and I’m sure you’ll be captivated too. The gritty, honest video is just so striking too.
“Twenty Two” comes from Lazy Colts’ debut album Trojan, which will drop on August 5. The following day Lazy Colts will embark on a tour to promote its release.
6 August 2016 – Wesley Anne, Northcote (18+)
7 August 2016 – Labour in Vain, Fitzroy (18+)
13 August 2016 – Sancho’s Dirty Laundry, Canberra (18+)
20 August 2016 – The Bearded Lady, Brisbane (18+)
27 August 2016 – Franks Wild Years, Thirroul (ALL AGES)
28 August 2016 – The Oxford Circus, Sydney (18+)
4 September 2016 – Hotel Blue, Katoomba (ALL AGES)
“Wanaka,” the second single from Melbourne indie folksters The Peeks, reminds us all just how powerful a voice can be.
The single is an exercise in restraint. The gentle strumming of an acoustic guitar supports Fraser Henry’s voice beautifully. His vocals are so raw and powerful, reminding me a little of David Gray’s. It builds slowly, taking listeners along for the ride. I am completely in love with this song!
“Wanaka” comes from The Peeks’ debut album Grow Up/Grow Down, which has only just been released. The Peeks will launch it for a hometown crowd first before travelling around the country.
30 July 2016 – Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne
5 August 2016 – The Milk Factory, Brisbane
6 August 2016 – The Treehouse on Belongil, Byron Bay
11 August 2016 – The Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
12 August 2016 – The Lass O’Gowrie Hotel, Newcastle
27 August 2016 – The Loft, Warrnambool
Adelaide indie folk act The Winter Gypsy is generating plenty of buzz with their latest single “Took Me By.”
This is such a complex track, with delicate electric guitars and driving drums. It’s a little heavier than much of the folk music we’re used to hearing, but there’s a restraint about it too. It’s not like anything else I’ve heard, yet it feels totally cohesive and accessible.
I also love the video, which was shot in Mount Barker, South Australia. In a press release, The Winter Gypsy’s lead singer Tush Singh explained the meaning behind the song and its clip.
“I wrote this song about a period of time wherein my mum was battling cancer – I felt helpless because there was nothing I could do to make her better,” he said. “I wanted to portray that thought into having a visual of someone restrained and ‘crying out for help,’ but having everyone run past (me through the tunnel) because there’s nothing they can do to help me.”
“Took Me By” comes from The Winter’s Gypsy’s forthcoming EP Page I, which is released on August 5. To celebrate, the band will play the following East Coast shows. Tickets are available from the venues on the night of each show.
28 August 2016 – Bar Open, Fitzroy (18+)
4 September 2016 – The Jade, Adelaide (ALL AGES)
8 September 2016 – Playbar, Surry Hills (18+)
10 September 2016 – Smith’s Alternative, Canberra (ALL AGES)
17 September 2016 – The Exeter, Adelaide (18+)
JP Klipspringer took inspiration from the cult TV show True Detective and his own journeys backpacking around America’s south for his latest single “Can’t Be.” At its core it’s a pop song, but there’s a sinister edge to it that makes it a little more challenging than most mainstream fodder.
Personally I love the mix of sweetness and melancholy here. There’s that extra layer that many people won’t hear, but it makes the listening experience so much more compelling when it gels.
“Can’t Be” comes from JP’s first full-length album, which is expected to drop in September. JP promises to tour around the country on his album’s release.
If you’re having problems getting moving this Monday, crank up “A Fistful O’ Roses” by Sydney powerhouse The Rumjacks. Unless you’re at work, or you have sensitive ears, because there’s a little adult language involved!
Cursing aside, this is one of the most exciting, high energy songs I’ve heard in some time. It never takes its foot off the pedal as it takes aim at Sydney’s lock-out laws. I also love the way The Rumjacks intertwine their punk sensibilities with their Irish and Scottish roots.
The song comes from The Rumjacks’ upcoming album Sleepin’ Rough, which hits stores on August 5. The band is currently touring around Europe and the United Kingdom, but they’ll be back to promote the album later this year. If you’re abroad, here are the places you can catch them.
25 July 2016 – Le Local, Cambrai
26 July 2016 – Mondo Bizarro, Rennes
27 July 2016 – Le Molotov, Marseille
28 July 2016 –La Taniere, Saint-Etienne
29 July 2016 – L’Usine, Geneva
30 July 2016 – Le Blogg, Lyon
1 August 2016 – Le Gibus Club, Paris
2 August 2016 – El Diablo, Lille
3 August 2016 – Le Tigre, Selestat
4 August 2016 – Guinness Festival 2016, Sion
6 August 2016 – Los Almiros Festival 2016, Volos
9 August 2016 – The Shelter Club, Cluj-Napoca
11 August 2016 – PunkRock Holiday 2016, Tolmin
13 August 2016 – Open Flair Festival 2016, Eschwege
14 August 2016 – Taubertal Festival 2016, Rothenburg ob der Tauber
16 August 2016 – Wild at Heart, Berlin
17 August 2016 –Hafenklang, Hamburg
19 August 2016 – Umsonst und Draussen Festival 2016, Minden
19 & 20 August 2016 – Stemweder Open Air Festival 2016, Rahden
20 August 2016 – Crossnight 2016, Gutersloh
21 August 2016 – Lowlands Festival 2016, Biddinghuizen
23 August 2016 – Scruffy’s, Karlsruhe
24 August 2016 – Schwarzer Adler, Egelsee
26 August 2016 – Brintaal Festival 2016, Vicenza
27 August 2016 – Musigburg, Aarburg
30 August 2016 – Firlej, Wroclaw
31 August 2016 –Klub U Bazyla, Poznan
1 September 2016 – Ucho, Gdynia
2 September 2016 – Hydrozagadka, Warsaw
3 September 2016 – Rotunda, Krakow
4 September 2016 – Rudeboy, Bielsko-Biala
6 September 2016 – Vienna Arena, Vienna
7 September 2016 – Rock Café, Prague
8 September 2016 – Underground, Cologne
9 September 2016 – Melkweg, Amsterdam
10 September 2016 – Wild at Heart, Berlin
11 September 2016 – Abruzzo Irish Festival 2016, Notaresco
Good honest pop-rock is something we just don’t hear enough of at the moment, so I’m pretty excited to hear “Time,” a new single from the Yarra Valley’s Shaun Black.
There’s more than a hint of blues in this track, which is Shaun’s first single. He sings with a whole lot of soul and plays the guitar like nobody’s business. The song’s lyrics are also so relatable for many of us in this fast-paced modern world.
“This song is about something we all seem to not have enough of,” Shaun explained in a press release. “In today’s world full of smartphones and deadlines I think we all feel at some point in time that we need to get back in touch with ourselves and our own lives.”
When the Veronicas topped the singles charts last week with “In My Blood,” I was too swamped with paying gigs to cover it. Now they’ve repeated the feat, I thought I’d better make time to note their achievements. Will the sisters equal their longest reign at number one, achieved with “You Ruin Me” in September 2014, and stay at the top spot for another week?
Last week’s number one album, Wings of the Wild by Delta Goodrem has slipped to number two to make way for another homegrown Aussie act, The Avalanches. Sixteen years after the release of their celebrated debut album Since I Left You, the Melbourne electronic act has snared their first number one with the follow-up, Wildflower.
Another former one, Ripcord by Keith Urban, has shown it has real staying power. It has remained at number seven this week, 10 weeks after its debut. The always popular Hillsong United has risen to number eight with their latest release, Of Dirt And Grace – Live From The Land.
Here’s a closer look at this week’s top ten singles and albums.
Top 10 Albums
1. Wildflower – The Avalanches
2. Wings of the Wild – Delta Goodrem
3. California – Blink-182
4. 25 – Adele
5. Lemonade – Beyonce
6. The Getaway – Red Hot Chilli Peppers
7. Ripcord – Keith Urban
8. Of Dirt And Grace – Live From The Land – Hillsong United
9. Blank Face LP – ScHoolboy Q
10. Views – Drake
Top 10 Singles
1. “In My Blood” – The Veronicas
2. “One Dance” – Drake feat. Wizkid & Kyla
3. “This is What You Came For” – Calvin Harris feat. Rihanna
4. “Treat You Better” – Shawn Mendes
5. “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” – Justin Timberlake
6. “Too Good” – Drake featuring Rihanna
7. “Don’t Let Me Down” – The Chainsmokers feat. Daya
8. “Me Too” – Meghan Trainor
9. “Don’t Be So Shy” – Imany
10. “We Don’t Talk Anymore” – Charlie Puth feat. Selena Gomez
After taking much of 2015 off and almost disbanding, The Bon Scotts are back with a cracking new single “Main Street.”
It’s a politically charged look at the racism that so often masquerades as patriotism these days, and the way society needs conversations, understanding, and empathy rather than anger and ignorance. It asks the poignant question “Can either side be part of the solution when they often seem to be the root cause of the problem?” The video was shot by the band in their hometown of Coburg at a race rally this May.
This is the first song to come from the band’s upcoming new album When I’m Lonely I Still Think Of You, which should drop next March.
With her debut album This Paradise in stores today, it seemed the perfect time to share Lucy Roleff’s new single “Aspen” with you.
This is such a beautiful song, delicate and haunting. I’ve heard it classified as chamber folk, which is a pretty apt descriptor if you ask me. There’s something almost spiritual about it.
If you love this song, and you want to hear more, make sure you get This Paradise, which is available on CD, vinyl, and for digital download from today. Lucy will launch the album at The Gasometer in Collingwood on July 28.
With a loyal fan base and plenty of buzz, Runaway Weekend could well be the next big thing. When they released the video for “Déjà Vu,” the title track from their debut EP, recently it garnered 20,000 views in just a couple of days.
I love the way this band plays with light and shade. The song is so epic and dramatic in places, but delicately restrained in others. I’m doubly impressed that Runaway Weekend have written, produced, and recorded this song and the others on their EP themselves. It’s got such a professional sound that we don’t normally see from acts just starting to play with production.
“We really hope that people can find something of themselves in our music and if they do, hopefully they can also lock themselves away in it to escape from reality for a bit, like we do with our favourite bands,” the guys from Runaway Weekend explained.
“At the end of the day we’re just some teenagers from Adelaide who want to affect people, we want to make people feel something, be that utter happiness or realisation. Through our music we want to touch people, like we’ve been touched by artists and if we can do half as good a job as the artists we admire, we’d be totally complete.”
Runaway Weekend are currently touring their EP. You can catch them at Wrangler in Melbourne on the 16th of July and Producer’s Bar in Adelaide on July 18.
