Sydney band The Ruckus is the latest act to put their talents towards mental health initiatives in support of Mental Health Month. Their latest single “Steady Hands” is a melodic slice of hard rock with a wonderful message of empowerment that should resonate whether you’re dealing with mental health issues or not.
The cause is close to The Ruckus’ heart, as the band has personally faced the challenges that depression and other mental health concerns can bring.
All proceeds from the sale and streaming of “Steady Hands” will benefit the HeadSpace initiative, which provides early intervention mental health services to young people in need. So if you like what you hear, please head over to iTunes and download it to support this great cause.
As I browsed through the list of ARIA nominees a couple of days ago, there wasn’t too much that got me really excited. The usual suspects were represented, and there were very few curveballs. However, when I spied Citizen Kay’s nomination for Demokracy, I broke into a wide smile. The best urban album category is incredibly competitive, but I’d love if this talented act came away with the win.
While ARIA is acknowledging his last body of work, Citizen Kay is looking forward with the release of With the People, his first long-player, which hits stores on October 16. The album features the killer new single “Wax On Wax Off.” You can hear this song and other choice cuts from the new album, as well as some old favourites, when Citizen Kay kicks off his national tour later this month.
22 October 2015 – Bar on the Hill, Newcastle
23 October 2015 – Shebeen, Melbourne
24 October 2015 – Republic Bar, Hobart
30 October 2015 – ANU Bar, Canberra
6 November 2015 – Cats, Adelaide
11 November 2015 – Sosueme @ Beach Road Hotel, Bondi (FREE)
13 November 2015 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
14 November 2015 – Sol Bar, Maroochydore
26 November 2015 – Goodgod Small Club, Sydney
5 December 2015 – Jack Rabbit Slims, Perth
Melbourne rock act Society of Beggars are back with a brand new single “Terrible Rain.”
I love the way this track builds to a bold crescendo. Frontman Yianni Michalopoulous’ soulful vocals drew me in on the band’s debut single “Hyena,” but I think they’re even stronger on this track. You just see if you’re not punching your fist in the air by the end.
Society of Beggars will launch the single for hometown fans at Shebeen tonight, October 8. Tickets are available on the door and bundled with a free download of “Terrible Rain.”
Music is in Quang Dinh’s veins. Bored during some downtime from his band Naked Bodies, he decided to launch his solo project QD to “keep banging the music.” He’s come up with a real guilty pleasure with his new single “Oedipus Rex.” It’s very rough around the edges, but there’s just something about this kooky psychedelic cut that makes me smile.
Quang tells me that the song’s about a king, Oedipus, who’s addicted to online porn. It comes with one of the most original and out there videos I’ve seen in some time.
“Oedipus Rex” is the lead single from Quang’s new EP Wiseman Beggar Yellow Hobo.
You might remember soulful Perth songstress Shameem from her single “Under One Sun” which I wrote about last year. I can barely believe how much time has gone by, because hearing that song is still so fresh in my mind. It was just that good.
So I was excited to hear she’s hitting the road again to promote her album The Second City, a collection of songs she either wrote or co-wrote and co-produced. Along with “Under One Sun,” the album features “Beautiful Soul,” another killer track with standout vocals and lyrics that really cut through. I could show you the album version, but in light of her upcoming tour I figured sharing this stripped back performance was probably more appropriate.
I know it can be difficult to rouse yourself when the weather’s dark and dreary, but Shameem’s gigs are all free or close to it, so please get out and support this talented independent Aussie act.
1 October 2015 – Since I Left You, Sydney (18+ FREE)
2 October 2015 – Lass O’Gowrie, Newcastle (18+ FREE)
3 October 2015 – The Thornbury Local, Melbourne (18+ FREE)
4 October 2015 – The Basement, Canberra (18+ $5)
7 October 2015 – The Menagerie, Brisbane (ALL AGES; FREE)
8 October 2015 – Treehouse, Byron Bay (ALL AGES; FREE)
9 October 2015 – The Loft, Gold Coast (18+ FREE)
10 October 2015 – The Upfront Club, Sunshine Coast (ALL AGES; ENTRY BY DONATION)
11 October 2015 – The Milk Factory, Brisbane (18+ $10)
An awful lot of time has passed since Short Stack first burst onto our scene and made all the girls squeal as they’re doing over 5SOS right now. So you might not realise that these Central Coast lads are only getting better. Their new single “Gravity” shows a maturity that only comes with a few more years out in the world.
“Gravity” is the first cut from Short Stack’s new album Homecoming (currently in stores), which has a fitting title considering it coincides with their return to the Australian scene after they relocated to London in late 2014. That decision saw them connecting with legendary British producer Chris Kimsey [The Rolling Stones, Peter Frampton, The Cult].
“We wrote this for about three years, and it’s the record that we’ve always wanted to make,” Shaun Diviney said in a press release. “It’s really raw, it’s really live, there’s not much production, and that means that when we play it live, it comes to life, translates.”
Given the lack of flashy production, we can expect the songs to sound amazing in the live arena. We’ll get a chance to do just that when Short Stack play shows all around the country this summer.
11 December 2015 – Brothers Leagues Club, Cairns (ALL AGES)
12 December 2015 – The Venue, Townsville (ALL AGES)
13 December 2015 – Mackay Entertainment Centre Foyer, Mackay (ALL AGES)
13 January 2016 – Prince Bandroom, Melbourne (ALL AGES)
14 January 2016 – HQ, Adelaide (ALL AGES)
16 January 2016 – Astor Theatre, Perth (ALL AGES)
30 January 2016 – The Metro Theatre, Sydney (ALL AGES)
6 February 2016 – The Tivoli, Brisbane (ALL AGES)
I’m making a point of getting a little blogging done today. After a week of early starts and late finishes, of a workload that always seems insurmountable, I needed a little music therapy. I found it in the form of Loren Kate’s song “When You Leave.”
I was actually sent the presser of this song back in September, but I firmly believe that the right song finds you at the right time. “When You Leave” is just the kind of mellow I need to relax right now. And the song, which was actually inspired by Loren losing a loved one, is just the kind of thing I needed to hear to remind me to just be here now, and not stress about what’s to come.
This is just stunning. What a special song. It comes from Loren’s EP Til Night Meets the Sun, which is now on my “must hear” list. After playing shows in Nashville this month, she’ll return home for the following dates.
10 October 2015 – The Wheatsheaf Hotel, Thebarton (18+)
14 October 2015 – The Toff in Town, Melbourne (18+)
23 October 2015 – Red Mill Store, Bunbury (ALL AGES)
24 October 2015 – House Concert, Fremantle (PRIVATE CONCERT)
25 October 2015 – Kidogo Arthouse, Fremantle (ALL AGES)
31 October-1 November 2015 – Maldon Folk Festival, Maldon (ALL AGES)
7 November 2015 – Vegan Festival, Adelaide (ALL AGES; FREE)
8 November 2015 – The Cheese Factory Studio Gallery, Meadows (ALL AGES)
19 November 2015 – No.5, Bellingen (ALL AGES)
21-22 November 2015 – Mullum Music Fest, Mullumbimby (ALL AGES)
I almost dismissed Doctor Goddard as a bunch of Doors wannabes. The comparisons between the music they’re producing and the work of the legendary rock band are inescapable. But then I got to thinking and decided I might have been a little hasty.
Because the thing is, we don’t have The Doors anymore. Or at least, we don’t have the Jim Morrison fronted Doors, and anything that follows is never going to compare. Remaining members might tour from time to time, but they’re a band frozen, trying to recapture a time when they had one of the greatest lead singers the world had ever seen. But Blue Mountains outfit Doctor Goddard are here, making new music like their latest single “Without Love.” And if I’d never heard of The Doors, I would have judged this song on its own merits as something, dark, brooding, and really interesting.
If you dig what they do, make sure you get along to the single launch at Sydney’s Goodgod Small Club on October 2.
Most of my concert reviews are about the performances of singers or bands. But after heading to Sydney to catch a performance of Les Miserables last weekend, I figured it was only right that I made time for a different kind of music review.
Ordinarily when I see a show I’m keen as mustard and my husband’s the slightly reluctant companion. It’s not that he doesn’t like music, but he’d generally rather have a night in with the stereo than see an artist in the flesh. However, when we learned Les Mis was coming to town, it was him who dragged me along. I’d seen the movie, again at his insistence, but it’s never been a musical that’s particularly resonated with me. But I couldn’t fail to be impressed with this latest production.
Where the most recent film adaptation was filled with big stars, the current Australian production has people who largely unknown outside the theatre world. The only name I recognised was the splendid Trevor Ashley playing Thénardier, and it took me some time to make the connection as I’m so used to seeing him in drag! Personally I think the lack of big names is a good thing for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it stops you getting pulled out of the story. These people can truly inhabit these characters because you’re never thinking about them being anywhere else. Also, clearly the creators were casting for talent over big names. I’m sure the creators of the Hollywood film could have found a stronger Javert, for example, but he likely wouldn’t have had the profile of Russell Crowe to get bums on seats.
The cast of this musical are stellar. I was floored by Simon Gleeson as Jean Valjean, who in my opinion might have done better than Hugh Jackman’s Oscar winning performance. Hayden Tee as Javert was every bit his equal. Kerrie Anne Greenland’s turn as Eponine was a much smaller role, but her performance of “On My Own” brought tears to my eyes. I can’t be sure which of the little boys played Gavroche when I saw it, but he was born to play that role. What a natural! It’s such a shame this production decided to omit “Little People”! It would had added even more poignancy to his untimely death.
The incredible cast were supported by a really beautiful set with excellent lighting effects that really brought the play to life. I wondered whether it would lose something for me being on the stage, without Hollywood special effects and that big budget, but it was so cleverly done. Javert’s death in particular was incredibly realistic.
I might not be as big a Les Mis fan as my husband, but I challenge anyone to be unmoved when the chorus of voices join in songs like “One More Day” and “Can You Hear the People Sing?” The current production of Les Miserables is a master stroke, and I’m so glad I was dragged along. If you’re living in Sydney and you’ve been considering going, don’t hesitate. You won’t be disappointed.
I missed writing about the charts last week when Delta Goodrem earned another number one single with “Wings,” but with her song standing firm and three Aussie artists debuting in the top five on the albums charts, I knew I had to get typing this week.
“Wings” is on line to become Delta’s longest standing number one. “Out of the Blue” lasted for three weeks at the top spot, but that was all pre-Voice, so it’ll be interesting to see whether this song has the legs to eclipse that record. She’s actually the only Aussie act in the singles top 10, but Vance Joy is climbing up the charts with “Fire and the Flood,” so hopefully he can keep her company soon.
It’s much rosier for Aussies on the album charts. Wales’ Bullet for my Valentine held out local acts at bay, Dead Letter Circus are nipping at their heels with Aesthesis. It’s their third album to debut at number two.
Right behind them at number three is everyone’s favourite rocker Jimmy Barnes with a compilation album Best of the Soul Years. If you don’t already have Soul Deep, Soul Deeper, and The Rhythm and the Blues, this is a must.
Fans have shown they were hungry for another Waifs album. Their first in four years, Beautiful You, sits at number five on debut.
After a big showing last week, The Rubens have slipped to number nine with Hoops.
Click below for this week’s top 10s.
Top 10 Albums
1. Venom – Bullet for my Valentine
2. Aesthesis – Dead Letter Circus
3. Best of the Soul Years – Jimmy Barnes
4. Compton – Dr Dre
5. Beautiful You – The Waifs
6. 1989 – Taylor Smith
7. X – Ed Sheeran
8. Title – Meghan Trainor
9. Hoops – The Rubens
10. Chaos and the Calm – James Bay
Top 10 Singles
1. “Wings” – Delta Goodrem
2. “How Deep is Your Love” – Calvin Harris & Disciples
3. “Can’t Feel My Face” – The Weeknd
4. “Are You With Me (Original Mix)” – Lost Frequencies
5. “Ghost Town” – Adam Lambert
6. “Peanut Butter Jelly” – Galantis
7. “That’s How You Know” – Nico & Vinz feat. Kid Ink & Bebe Rexha
8. “Like I’m Gonna Lose You” – Meghan Trainor feat. John Legend
9. “Do It Again” – Pia Mia feat. Chris Brown & Tyga
10. “Get Stupid” – Aston Merrygold