It’s been a long wait, but some six months after dropping the single Daggy Man has released a video for “Little Whip.” I don’t think it’s a bad tactic, because it’s encouraged me to revisit this song and reminded me what I liked about it in the first place. The film clip is simple but effective, as understated as this slow-burning song demands.
While it’s taken a long time for Daggy Man to release the video, he promises he won’t leave fans waiting too long for something else new. He plans to release a new single really soon.
With Sarah Blasko’s tour just around the corner, it’s worth taking at a look at the most recent single from her sixth studio album Eternal Return.
“I Wanna Be Your Man” is one of the most accessible songs Sarah’s released in some time, and I think it’s also one of her best. As a woman working in the music industry, Sarah probably knows what it feels to be marginalised because of your gender better than most. However, you don’t need to be in a male-dominated field for the lyrics to resonate. Perhaps there’s even something in this song for the lads too.
Sarah Blasko kicks off her Eternal Return tour on April 6. Here are all the Aussie and international dates. Tickets are still available for selected shows.
6 April 2016 – The Abbey, Canberra
7 April 2016 – Anita’s Theatre, Wollongong
8 April 2016 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
9 April 2016 – City Hall, Newcastle
15 April 2016 – The Tivoli, Brisbane
22 April 2016 – Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo
23 April 2016 – The Forum, Melbourne
29 April 2016 – Norwood Concert Hall, Adelaide
30 April 2016 – Astor Theatre, Perth
10 May 2016 – Union Chapel, London
12 May 2016 – Ruby Lounge, Manchester
16 May 2016 – Hope & Ruin, Brighton
17 May 2016 – Thekla, Bristol
19 May 2016 – Les Etoiles, Paris
21 May 2016 – Les Nuits @ Botanique, Brussels
23 May 2016 – People’s Play, Amsterdam
24 May 2016 – Grand Theatre, Groningen
26 May 2016 – Nochtspeicher, Hamburg
27 May 2016 – Stadtgarten, Cologne
28 May 2016 – Zoom, Frankfurt
30 May 2016 – Kranhalle, Munich
31 May 2016 – Privatclub, Berlin
With a new album scheduled to drop on April 1, it’s the perfect time to remember why Kirsty Lee Akers is one of the darlings of the country music scene. She’s the only person to win the Australian country industry’s three biggest honours: Toyota Star Maker, Telstra Road to Discovery, and a Golden Guitar. Her fun new single “When I Miss You Most” proves why. It’s such a bubbly little song, with an upbeat feel that helps mask the pain of its lyrics.
“When I Miss You Most” comes from the new album Burn Baby Burn. Most of it was recorded in Nashville to give it that classic country feel. This is the first album Kirsty’s released through Maven/Sony Music Australian, and critics are already buzzing that it may be her best yet!
Swim Season are showing they’re one of the most consistent indie-pop acts in the businesses, releasing awesome track after awesome track. The latest is “Gold Cloak City,” A hooky little number with beautiful harmonies and a toe-tapping beat.
The original plugged-in version is awesome, but considering how Triple J supported the last single “Soldiers” you’re probably going to be hearing it soon anyway. So I thought I’d go a different route and post this acoustic video instead. I’m a sucker for a stripped back treatment, and that Aireys Inlet backdrop just can’t be beat.
It’s also fitting that I’m posting this now because Swim Season are playing a free, acoustic, all ages gig at the Kit & Ace tonight. This will be an excellent warm-up for their slot at The Hills are Alive on Sunday.
I missed Little Coyote when they released their debut EP, but I won’t make the same mistake with EP number two. The lead single “Neverending” has convinced me this Sydney band is the real deal.
Vocalist Judd English has got such a compelling voice, and he’s supported beautifully by drummer Anto Dinh, bassist Gareth Bussey, and guitarist Matt Coates. There’s a rock sensibility here, but elements of funk and blues give it an exciting fresh flavour. It’s one of those tracks you put on and you want to hear again as soon as it’s over.
“Neverending” is officially released on Friday, and we’ll see the EP at some point in the not too distant future.
After moonlighting for King Cannons, Luke Yeoward is back doing what he does best with his new outfit, The 131’s. Their lead single “This Ain’t Culture” is the perfect example of straight up punk music, the kind of tune that really means something and gets you in your gut.
Apparently a punter described this as “Bruce Springsteen singing for Rancid.” Despite all my years of training at this writing game, I couldn’t have said it any better myself. If that’s the kind of music you dig and you’re lucky enough to live in their home state of Victoria, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to catch The 131’s over the coming weeks. They’ve taken up residency at The Old Bar, plus they’ve got a couple of other gigs on the horizon.
13 March 2016 – The Old Bar, Fitzroy
20 March 2016 – The Old Bar, Fitzroy
27 March 2016 – The Old Bar, Fitzroy
31 March 2016 – 170 Russell, Melbourne (supporting Stiff Little Fingers)
1 April 2016 – The Bendigo Hotel, Bendigo
Tinpan Orange are some of the true quiet achievers of the music world, releasing quality album after quality album with little fanfare. They’re just about to release their fifth studio album Love is a Dog, and if the lead single “Rich Man” is any indication it’s going to be another high quality collection of music.
This is such a beautiful, delicate song, with Emily Lubitz’s voice pairing beautifully with those soaring strings. Make sure you listen to those lyrics too, which are so delightfully dark. I really love guitarist Jesse Lubitz’s comment that “it could have been used as a Bond theme if David Lynch was directing.” Can we make that happen by the way?
Tinpan Orange will celebrate the April 8 release of Love is a Dog with a national tour. Tickets are available now for the following shows.
15-17 April 2016 – Fairbridge Folk Festival, Fairbridge
29 April 2016 – The Grand Poobah, Hobart
1 May 2016 – Fresh on Charles, Launceston
7 May 2016 – Toff in Town, Melbourne
8 May 2016 – Rattlers Hotel, Wallan
14 May 2016 – Civic Hall, Mullumbimby
15 May 2016 – Old Museum, Brisbane
20 May 2016 – The Vanguard, Sydney
27 May 2016 – The Workers Club, Geelong
28 May 2016 – The Railway Club, Darwin
4 June 2016 – Fly by Night, Fremantle
5 June 2016 – The Wheatsheaf, Adelaide
In the 90s I remember music fans going nuts for pop-punk, an offshoot of punk music. I appreciated its accessibility but also felt this more melodic music lost the rebellion punk music was meant to represent.
South Sydney’s The Great Awake have gotten the balance right though. Tracks like “Departure Lounge” have a raucous real heart that hearkens back to the glory days of punk. They’re paired with great melodies though that should help it appeal to people who don’t ordinarily listen to the genre.
“Departure Lounge” comes from The Great Awake’s debut album, Reasons For Leaving, which drops on February 24. They’ll celebrate the album’s release with the following shows.
4 March 2016 – Front Gallery, Canberra
5 March 2016 – Dicey’s, Wollongong
6 March 2016 – Frankie’s, Sydney
12 March 2016 – The Exeter, Adelaide
19 March 2016 – Fat Louie’s, Brisbane
26 March 2016 – Valve Bar, Sydney
1 April 2016 – Bar 303, Melbourne
2 April 2016 – Cherry Bar, Melbourne
8 April 2016 – Brisbane Hotel, Hobart
9 April 2016 – Fresh Cafe, Launceston
With Twin Fires kicking off their East Coast tour tomorrow night in support of The Snowdroppers, it seemed the perfect time to introduce you to their debut single “Two Hands.”
It’s got such a great folk-rock feel to it. I can imagine cranking this up in my car on a road trip. The Snowdroppers might be the main event at the shows, but with music like this I imagine Sydney act Twin Fires is going to get a lot of love. If you’re going to the shows, make sure you arrive early to catch this exciting new band.
20 February 2016 – The Foundry, Brisbane
26 February 2016 – Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney
4 March 2016 – Howler, Melbourne
I’m predicting massive things for Joel Adams, a 19-year-old soul artist from Brisbane. Apparently he released his debut single “Please Don’t Go” in December, and it’s starting to generate some serious buzz around the world.
It’s charted on the iTunes Australian pop daily charts nearly every day since the first month of its release, despite not receiving a lick of airplay. It also reached number five globally on Spotify’s Vital 50 charts after streaming in Australia, France, South Africa, Norway, and many more country. It’s even hit number 54 on Billboard Canada’s Hot 100 tracks.
It’d be too easy to dismiss Joel as just another pretty young thing. He’s very cute, and the girls are going to eat that up, but there’s much more to this young man than that. He wrote and composed “Please Don’t Go” himself, and also co-produced and recorded it. Never underestimate how hard it is to make pop music that’s this good. Joel Adams is definitely a name to watch.