I don’t know what’s in the water in Rockhampton, but it’s giving us some incredible music. First there was Busby Marou, and now we’ve got The Short Fall, made up of brothers Angelo and Ryan Conway.
“The Meadow” is the first track lifted from their EP Make a Move. It sounds like the atmosphere of the Byron Bay studio has seeped into the duo’s music. This is lovely and mellow, with harmonies that remind me of Crowded House. It sounds incredible, and it’s anchored by some amazing lyrics. Who could ask for more?
Evermore have embraced modern technology with the release of their latest music video for the single “Hey My Love”.
The Kiwi expats have invited fans to submit Instagram photos of the people and places they adore using the #heymylove. The first of these photos have been cut together to create the first “Hey My Love” video. The lads are then planning on releasing a new version every four weeks while fans are keen to send their photos in.
“I think as musicians we need to move with the times and embrace the concept that music is best released and consumed in the medium of its day” said Evermore founding member Peter Hume, who’s also served as the film clip’s director.
This is a long way from the alphabet song we were all taught as kids. There might be cute puppets in the clip, but you’ll want to cover your own children’s ears if they’re around. It’s a delightfully bitter break-up song that links the letters to some fairly choice words.
With an east coast tour in the works and a European leg not too far behind that, it seems we’ll be seeing a lot more of Texas Tea in the coming months.
Victorian duo Since the River are behind the haunting new song “Ithaca.”
This beautifully dark track took me back to the time I spent devouring Tori Amos music in my late teens. It’s so moody and brooding and mournful, but there’s something quite romantic amongst all that tragedy. It’s only enhanced by the gorgeous video, which was directed and produced by the talented band. They transformed Victoria’s Half Moon Bay and South Gippsland region into a place I didn’t even recognise. Wow.
Since the River are a band that’s definitely piqued my interest. How about you, dear readers?
I was so impressed last year when I heard “Armour Weight”, the first single from Tim Guy’s fourth album Dreaming of a Night Mango. It was laid back, free of pretention, and just beautiful. We get more of the same with Tim’s latest single “Many People I Know” You know what they say about not fixing what ain’t broke!
The song is a gentle number which Tim penned way back in 2011. He’d just moved back to Melbourne after living in Auckland, and he felt somewhat displaced in this town he once called home. It’s a slow burner, but a stunner nonetheless.
If you love these songs you’ll want to grab the album and see the shows. Dreaming of a Night Mango hits stores on April 5, which is not so coincidentally around the same time he’s setting off for a national tour. Here are all the places you can see him play!
4 April 2013 – Lock n Load Bistro, Brisbane (FREE)
5 April 2013 – Sol Bar, Maroochydoore (FREE)
6 April 2013 – Gov’s Espressso, Gold Coast
11 April 2013 – Yours & Owls, Wollongong
12 April 2013 – The Green Room Lounge, Sydney
13 April 2013 – The Front Gallery & Cafe, Canberra
14 April 2013 – Albion Hotel, Albury
18 April 2013 – The Grace Emily Hotel, Adelaide
19 April 2013 – The Old Mt Gambier Gaol, Mt Gambier
24 April 2013 – Grace Darling, Melbourne
This is music people. It’s got all the right ingredients: a warm, welcoming voice, honest lyrics, great melodic hooks, all pulled together with the gentle strum of an acoustic guitar. It’s perfectly complemented by the retro-style clip, which takes us on a journey around the world through the lens of a Super 8 camera.
I have to get my hands on Jordan’s album Cold Lights On Curious Minds. If those singles are any indication, it’s shaping up to be one of 2013’s breakthrough albums. And remember, Jordan’s kicking off his tour with Jack Carty tonight. Here are all the places you can see these hot young talents playing!
22 March 2013 – The Workers Club, Melbourne
23 March 2013 – The Loft, Warnambool
24 March 2013 – The Grace Emily, Adelaide
28 March 2013 – Manhattans Wine Bar, Launceston
30 March 2013 – Republic Bar, Hobart
3 April 2013 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
4 April 2013 – Cafe Le Monde, Noosa Heads
5 April 2013 – The Spotted Cow, Toowoomba (FREE)
6 April 2013 – The Loft, Gold Coast
11 April 2013 – The Beach Hotel, Byron Bay (FREE)
12 April 2013 – Lennox Hotel, Lennox Head (FREE)
13 April 2013 – 5 Church St, Bellingen
14 April 2013 – Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour (FREE)
18 April 2013 – Lizotte’s Restaurant, Newcastle
20 April 2013 – Brighton Up Bar, Sydney
26 April 2013 – The Aztec, Forster (FREE)
27 April 2013 – The Pier, Port Macquarie (FREE)
28 April 2013 – The Fig, Port Macquarie (FREE)
3 May 2013 – Yours and Owls, Wollongong
4 & 5 May 2013 – Front Gallery, Canberra
Melbourne act Pretty City are encouraging us to sit up and take notice with their double A-side debut single “Part Of Your Crowd/Ignoring My Friends.”
In the absence of big label backing, Pretty City are making music the best way they know how. “Part Of Your Crowd” was recording entirely on a iPhone rather than sophisticated studio equipment. It’s not fancy, but raw talent shines through here.
Often music videos must wait until a band’s established, but they’ve created one of those too thanks to up and coming young filmmaker Pete Schand. It’s nothing that we haven’t really seen before, but it does give us some insight into the band’s work on their forthcoming EP, which should hit stores mid-year.
Pretty City will take time out of the studio to promote their new single at Fitzroy’s Gasometer on March 24.
Do you like this song? Then you’ll want to keep reading.
That’s “Mount Beauty,” the first single from Jen Cloher’s third album. However if her fans don’t pitch in and support her, that album might not ever be made.
Jen’s the latest Australian artist to ditch studio control to create an independent album, with the kindness of strangers. The idea makes sense for Jen, as she says her fans have allowed her to enjoy life as an indie act.
“My success rests entirely upon the interest you have shown in my work, that support has enabled me to continue to create, release and tour my music in Australia.”
Through the Pozible platform Jen hopes to raise $15,000 to get her latest record made. She’s currently about five grand shy of her target, but you can help her get there.
So what’s in it for you? Well aside from the good karma and great music to follow, you could star in Jen’s next film clip, hear the album on vinyl while her band cooks you a Mexican meal, or have Jen write a song especially for you.
Feel like getting fired up? Then wrap your ears around the aptly named “Fire!”, the explosive new single from Riki and the Rants.
This is so much fun with its spandex and feathers and blue-faced men. It’s old school rock and roll, dynamic and theatrical with a spirit that Freddie Mercury would be proud of.
And best of all, it’s just been released digitally today. If you’re in Melbourne I suggest you get to The Toff on March 19 for what’s sure to be an entertaining launch show!
So having The Hoff endorse your music probably means as little as having him rubber stamp your acting ability. However I’m still a little impressed by the nice things David Hasselhoff says about our own Jacob Butler in this video promoting his new album Reason.
If you’re not as excited about The Hoff’s presence as I am, this vid’s still worth watching for the sneak peek of Jacob’s latest single “Kites”. The track sounds great, but it can’t hold a candle to the star power of The Hoff. Perhaps these guys should record a duet for the next album!