Category: Video

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Boy & Bear Announce Regional Dates

So many bands focus on the capitals, so it’s refreshing to see Boy & Bear heading out to regional centres for their next tour. After conquering Europe and America, the lads will return home to play regional towns in almost every state and territory in the country.

“This will be the most extensive regional tour the band has done and we are very much looking forward to it,” gushed the band’s singer-songwriter Dave Hosking.  “We love the idea of playing to new people in new and exciting parts of the country.”

The 30-date regional run will celebrate the recent release of “Harlequin Dream,” the title track from their most recent album. I love the clip, which reminds us of the beauty of the Philippines. It was shot in Palawan just two weeks before Typhoon Haiyan hit. YouTube assures us that the people and locations we see in the clips are safe, as they were sheltered by the surrounding mountains, but it does offer links to Unicef, Oxfam, Australian Red Cross, and Save the Children Australia to make it easier to give to the cause.

Boy & Bear will play the following regional shows between April and May.

13 April 2014 – West Coast Blues ‘n’ Roots @ Fremantle Park, Perth
16 April 2014 – Mackay Entertainment Centre, Mackay (ALL AGES)
17 April 2014 – Magnums, Airlie Beach
19 April 2014 – Brothers, Cairns (15+ must be accompanied by adult)
20 April 2014 – The Venue, Townsville
22 April 2014 – Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton (ALL AGES)
23 April 2014 – Harvey Road Tavern, Gladstone
24 April 2014 – Sugarland Tavern, Bundaberg
26 April 2014 – Sunshine Coast Function Centre, Caloundra
27 April 2014 – Empire Theatre, Toowoomba (ALL AGES)
30 April 2014 – Divers Tavern, Broome
2 May 2014 – Discovery, Darwin
8 May 2014 – Black Swan Hotel, Bendigo
9 May 2014 – Regent Cinema, Ballarat (ALL AGES)
10 May 2014 – Deakin’s Costa Hall, Geelong (ALL AGES)
11 May 2014 – Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool (ALL AGES)
14 May 2014 – Lismore Workers Club, Lismore
15 May 2014 – C.ex Club, Coffs Harbour
16 May – Panthers, Port Macquarie
17 May – Panthers, Newcastle (ALL AGES)
18 May 2014 – Entrance Leagues Club, Bateau Bay
21 May 2014 – The Crow Bar @ CSU, Wagga (STUDENT ONLY EVENT)
22 May 2014 – Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre, Nowra (ALL AGES)
23 May 2014 – ANU Bar, Canberra
24 May 2014 – Albury Entertainment Centre, Albury (ALL AGES)
25 May 2014 – Eastbank Centre, Shepparton (ALL AGES)
28 May 2014 – West Tamworth Leagues Club, Tamworth
29 May 2014 – Charles Sturt University, Bathurst
30 May 2014 – Orange Ex Services Club, Orange
31 May 2014 – Dubbo Ex Services Club, Dubbo

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Bon Scotts’ Get Us Ready for the Weekend

With all the excitement of Christmas and New Year’s falling mid-week, weekends haven’t quite meant as much to me of late. I’ve been working sporadically across the break, but with my husband enjoying a couple of well-earned weeks off it’s felt like I’ve been enjoying one big weekend recently. However, the fact remains that the actual weekend is nearly upon us so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to introduce you to The Bon Scotts’ latest single “The Weekend Bends.”

I love its brassy horn and mellow summer vibe, but I might just love the film clip even more than the song itself. Its colourful cast of quirky characters makes it pretty irresistible!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sydonia Offers Album Teaser

Melbourne metal masters Sydonia have given fans an early taste of their long-awaited sophomore album Reality Kicks. The follow-up to 2006’s Given to Destroyers will hit stores and the digital marketplace on February 7.

Sydonia know their fans have been patient, and they’re rewarding their loyalty with the release of a CD/DVD combo pack. The DVD will also be available online via iTunes.

This video doesn’t give too much away, but we’ll learn a bit more when Sydonia releases the feature single on January 8. They’re also promising to tough both the east and west coast through May and June, so there’s plenty of excitement to come.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Lester the Fierce Readies EP

Melbourne abstract pop muso Lester the Fierce floored me with her track “Howl” a few months ago, so I’m thrilled to hear she’s officially launching her self-titled EP.

“The EP was a cathartic experience that I didn’t know I needed,” she explained. “Playing live has lit a fire under what I’ve written and has taken it to a new level in my own mind. I dream about it now. I’m swimming in this crazy world that music has made. This is the murky water I’ve been waiting for my whole life.”

You can get a taste of Lester the Fierce’s creative process and what the EP offers in part one of a documentary which takes you into the studio.

Lester the Fierce will launch her EP for hometown fans at The Worker’s Club on January 3, ably supported by local talents Eliza Hull and Al Parkinson.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Anna Smyrk and the Appetites Anticipate the Apocalypse

Can you believe it’s one week until Christmas? I hope most of you aren’t working as hard as I am. It’s a time of year when we should all be winding down, yet it seems so many people I know are operating on hyper speed.

If you’re feeling a bit ragged, give yourself just a few minutes to listen to “Apocalypse,” the sublime debut single from Melbourne’s Anna Smyrk and the Appetites. She’s got the voice of an angel and it works so beautifully in this moving song. And isn’t it wonderful to hear a modern song with a saxophone in a starring role?

Anna will launch the single with a string of intimate shows dubbed The Garden Party at the End of the World. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, but at least there’ll be good music at the end, right?

22 December 2013 – Open Sesame Festival @ Bar Open, Melbourne (4 pm til midnight)
3 January 2014 – Treehouse, Byron Bar (FREE @ 7:30 pm)
4 January 2014 – Sol Bar, Maroochydore (FREE @ 6 pm)
5 January 2014 – Queen Street Mall (FREE @ noon)
6 January 2014 – The Cave, Gold Coast (8 pm)

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Midnight Juggernauts Release Catty Clip

I can’t say I’ve ever really gotten Midnight Juggernauts. Maybe I never will. But I’ve come close watching the video for their new single “Systematic.” I actually don’t mind the song, and the clip is a stroke of genius. It really does prove that everything online is better with cats!

“They had an idea to throw dozens of cats around and we were curious to see how they could do that without offending animal cruelty groups,” explained Vincent Vendetta. “My initial reaction to the video was to laugh throughout—and obviously no animals were harmed.”

“Systematic” comes from the EP of the same name, which is in stores now. Midnight Juggernauts will promote it as the headliners at Siberia Presents: A New Year’s Eve Party at Melbourne’s Prince of Wales on December 31.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Meet The Night

In the tradition of hot indie acts like Arcade Fire and Bright Eyes comes The Night, a Sydney band that makes music that’s epic and really interesting.

The act began as one songwriter’s attempt to pen tunes that “would bridge the gap between good music and good storytelling, by allowing one to complement the other.” The band formed in mid-2011, and they’ve been working slowly and steadily on music that’s worth hearing. “Like This” is out first taste of The Night’s EP I Am and Say, which is scheduled for a December 23 release.

This soaring single proves The Night are a band with a lot of potential.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

South Africa’s Mango Groove Head to Australia

Like everyone across the world it seems, I was saddened to hear news this morning of Nelson Mandela’s passing. I thought about writing about it, but then decided that others probably had more to offer on the subject than a music blogger from Australia.

But then I came across an e-mail telling me Mango Groove are heading to our country next year. I must admit, I hadn’t heard of them, but then I read through their list of achievements and it seemed fortuitous that I stumbled across them today. They played at Freddie Mercury’s tribute. They played at the Hong Kong reunification concert, and at the Paris SOS Racism concert. And perhaps most importantly, this South African act played at Nelson Mandela’s inauguration.

And so I watched their performance from the Montreux jazz festival in 1992 and marvelled at their joy and positivity. It was a similar energy to the one which radiated from Mr Mandela. I remember being a young girl and not really understanding who he was, but loving his big wide smile. I’ll bet he liked this band.

So have a listen and remember the joy, and if you like what they do consider checking out Mango Groove when they visit Australia next year.

21 February 2014 – Red Hill Auditorium, Perth
23 February 2014 – Forum Theatre, Melbourne
28 February 2014 – Big Top Sydney @ Luna Park, Sydney
1 March 2014 – Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane
4 March 2014 – Norwood Concert Hall, Adelaide

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Thom Lion Impresses with “Folk Divorce”

I was a bit slow to get around to checking out the video for Thom Lion’s new song “Folk Divorce”, but I figure sometimes it’s a case of better late than never. Happily this is one of those times.

This ticks all the boxes for me. The music is stellar. I find Thom’s voice so compelling, a little rough around the edges and oozing honest emotion. The music’s organic and perfect in its simplicity. And then we’ve got this clip which is colourful, quirky, and so much fun.

Adelaide’s Thom Lion’s definitely one to watch.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Thyrsday Peels Back the Layers with “Skin”

Thyrsday don’t officially release their debut single “Skin” until Monday, but since their band name is so similar to today’s, and since it’s just so good, I couldn’t resist getting in early.

This is beautiful stuff, with standout vocals and hard-hitting, honest lyrics. I wasn’t surprised to hear the song was written in just minutes after an emotional confrontation. It feels like a real outpouring, although it’s a lot more poetic than most of us could muster under the circumstances!

“In many ways, writing Skin was a breakthrough for me,” explained the songwriter and Thyrsday’s lead vocalist Nikki Malvar. “It was a cathartic experience and it just wrote itself. I think there’s beauty in remaining cryptic about the actual story behind it, but I’ll say as much that I think the sentiment of disappointment and redemption is relatable to a lot of people.”

I certainly connected. How about you?