Posted on by Lauren Katulka

John Butler Trio Back With Awaited Album “Home”

It’s been more than four years since the country’s highest-selling independent artist delivered a new album. But John Butler Trio is rewarding fans for their patience with a brand newie, appropriately titled Home.

Home will drop on September 28, but John Butler won’t leave you waiting that long for some new music. The title track is out right now. And isn’t it special.

I must admit, as the first notes piped through my speakers I was taken aback. Where were the acoustic guitars? What was with the electronic sounds? It was all so dark and brooding. But give it a minute people. Just a minute. Because this is really good stuff. Yes, it’s a departure. But true artists evolve. I didn’t expect this new direction, but I like it a lot.

“Given the very personal subject matter of these new songs I pondered what it might mean to record in mainly a solo format for the first time ever,” John Butler explained. “(This track) scratches the surface of the emotional and sonic landscape that eventually became the bedrock of the album.”

you’re interested in the new material, point your browser to John Butler Trio’s website. The album is available for pre-order now. The website has a whole range of exclusive bundls including signs CDs, LPs, and other merchandise.

If you’ve missed seeing John Butler Trio live, you won’t be kept waiting too long. The band will launch Home with shows in Australia, Japan, Europe, and North America in the last quarter of the year. With just one Aussie show on the current list, I think we can safely say more dates will come shortly. But for now, put these in your calendar JBT fans!

29 September 2018 – Caloundra Music Festival, Kings Beach
3 October 2018 – Bigcat, Osaka
4 October 2018 – Mynavi Bliz Akasaka, Shinjuku-ku
5 October 2018 – Mynavi Bliz Akasaka, Tokyo
11 October 2018 – Barrowlands, Glasgow
12 October 2018 – Albert Hall, Manchester
13 October 2018 – Vicar St, Dublin
15 October 2018 – Great Hall, Exeter
16 October 2018 – O2 Academy Bristol, Bristol
17 October 2018 – Eventim Apollo, London
19 October 2018 – Palladium, Koln
20 October 2018 – Mehr! Theater, Hamburg
21 October 2018 – Huxleys, Berlin
22 October 2018 – Tonhalle, Munich
23 October 2018 – Arena Wien, Wien
26 October 2018 – Atlantico, Rome
27 October 2018 – Gran Teatro Geox, Padova
28 October 2018 – Alcatraz, Milan
30 October 2018 – Den Atelier, Luxembourg City
31 October 2018 – Paradiso, Amsterdam
1 November 2018 – AB, Brussels
2 November 2018 – Halle 622, Zurich
3 November 2018 – Les Docks, Lausanne
6 November 2018 – La Laiterie, Strasbourg
7 November 2018 – La Cooperative de Mai, Clermont-ferrand
8 November 2018 – Le Radiant, Caluire et Cuire
9 November 2018 – L’Olympia, Paris
10 November 2018 – L’Olympia Bruno Coquatrix, Paris
16 November 2018 – Warner Theater, Washington, D.C.
17 November 2018 – The Fillmore, Philadelphia
20 November 2018 – Beacon Theatre, New York
21 November 2018 – Orpheum Theatre, Boston
23 November 2018 – Corona Theatre, Montreal
24 November 2018 – National Arts Centre, Ottawa
25 November 2018 – Danforth Music Hall, Toronto
27 November 2018 – Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor
29 November 2018 – The Chicago Theatre, Chicago
30 November 2018 – Taft Theatre, Cincinnati
1 December 2018 – The Caverns, Pelham
2 December 2018 – The Tabernacle, Atlanta
4 December 2018 – Soul Kitchen Music Hall, Mobile
5 December 2018 – The Joy Theater, New Orleans
7 December 2018 – Paramount Theatre, Austin
8 December 2018 – House of Blues, Houston
9 December 2018 – House of Blues, Dallas
13 December 2018 – Rialto Theatre, Tucson
14 December 2018 – The Theatre @ Ace Hotel, Los Angeles
15 December 2018 – Fox Theater, Oakland

Image used with permission from KAOS

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ruel Shows No Signs of Fatigue With Third EP Single & Tour

Forget about Bieber. London-born, Aussie-raised teen Ruel is creating much better music at 15 than Justin was at that age. He’s also writing the track and playing several instruments. And people are starting to take notice. Tyler, The Creator has just recruited him for his Camp Flog Knaw Festival, happening this November. But before that he’ll play shows around Australia.

If you’re not familiar with Ruel yet, his new single “Younger,” the third single lifted from his EP Ready, is the perfect introduction. It’s such smart pop music, with lyrics that speak to his core teen audience but also make people like me well past those years feel nostalgic. His voice is stellar and the production, which Ruel has a major stake in, is flawless.

See these shows while you can still catch him in small venues. This guy is destined for the stadiums. Trust me.

27 September 2018 – The Corner Hotel, Richmond (Under 18s matinee)
28 September 2018 – The Corner Hotel, Richmond (Licensed 18+)
29 September 2018 – Astor Theatre, Mt Lawley (Licensed ALL AGES)
4 October 2018 – The Gov, Hindmarsh (Licensed ALL AGES)
5 October 2018 – 256 Wickham, Fortitude Valley (Licensed ALL AGES)
10 October 2018 – Enmore Theatre, Newtown (Licensed ALL AGES)

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Cookin’ On 3 Burners Teams Up With Kaiit For Funky New Single “Warning”

If “Warning” doesn’t have you grooving around your office this Friday afternoon, you’ve got more willpower than me. The latest single from Cookin’ On 3 Burners features silky smooth vocals from up-and-coming soul chanteuse Kaiit. While the musical pairing is brand new, Kaiit and the Burners developed a lasting friendship through the Dig Deep mentorship program.

This is such a cool track, one that pays tribute to the foundations of funk, jazz, and soul while somehow feeling fresh. I love it. If you do too, make sure you catch Cookin’ On 3 Burners celebrating the single’s release at the following shows.

31 August 2018 – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
7 September 2018 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
8 September 2018 – Caravan Club, Oakleigh
20 September 2018 – Leadbelly, Sydney
21 September 2018 – Mitchell Creek Rock n Blues Fest, Kandanga

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

KRSTN Releases Soulful New Single “Second Chance”

Melbourne soul-pop act KRSTN oozes cool in her new single “Second Chance.” It’s got a great early naughties RnB vibe with its rap break and easy groove.

“Second Chance is a song I wrote about conflicting thoughts – despite knowing someone has done you wrong and the reasons for that are clear, you’re still willing to work it out and give them a second chance,” KRSTN explained. “I think everyone has felt this about someone at some point, whether romantically or otherwise.”

With a Bachelor of Music in classical piano under her belt and a performance history that dates back to when she was just six years old, I have a feeling this song just scratches the surface of what KRSTN can do. I really enjoy it, but I can’t wait to hear more.

Image used with permission from the A&R Department

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Rock Out With Loser

Strap yourself in for two-and-a-half minutes of blistering rock courtesy of Melbourne band Loser. Their debut single, also called “Loser” is a sucker punch of chunky guitar riffs and slacker lyrics that I find irresistible.

There’s a spontaneous energy about the band that might come because they’re a relatively new outfit. Frontman Tim Maxwell (Apart From This/Grim Rhythm) wrote the songs in late 2017 and got Chris Cowburn (The Smith Street Band) and Craig Selak (The Bennies) involved. Just three weeks later after three jam sessions, they were in the studio. Keeping with the band’s philosophy that time’s not there for wasting, they filmed the clip at Max Watts in Melbourne just a week later.

Tim says the song is about “feeling isolated, overwhelmed and conflicted between what you feel is right within yourself, and what everyone else is constantly telling you.”

It’s just the thing you need to fire you up on the home stretch to the weekend!

Image used with permission from Deathproof PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Iron Eye Rock You With “Conscience Cleaner”

The Iron Eye have supported an impressive list of acts including Shihad, DZ Deathrays, Harts, Like Thieves, and Dallas Frasca. However, with the release of their new single “Conscience Cleaner,” the Brisbane rockers are showing why they deserve to be headliners.

It’s a ball-tearing track that doesn’t take a backwards step. The band seems to just hit the accelerator and go! It’s earned them a spot on Spotify’s All New Rock playlist, which puts them alongside world famous acts like Alice in Chains, Dashboard Confessional, and Hands Like Houses.

Fresh from a Sydney show last week, The Iron Eye will play more gigs in Australia and New Zealand to celebrate the release of “Conscience Cleaner.”

12 September 2018 – Evelyn Hotel, Melbourne
14 September 2018 – Galato’s, Auckland
15 September 2018 – Churchill’s, Christchurch
5 October 2018 – Crowbar, Brisbane

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Gotcha Covered” – The Screaming Jets

You might recall me getting excited about the release of The Screaming Jets’ new album Gotcha Covered. As a kid growing up in Newcastle, these guys were heroes to me. The track listing of Aussie rock classics was inspired, radio-friendly but full of curveballs. You might wonder why, since it’s been out for a couple of weeks now, I haven’t put down my thoughts until this moment. The simple answer is, I’ve been having too much fun listening to it.

All the Jets hallmarks are here: the driving drums, the chunky guitars, Dave Gleeson’s unmistakeable vocals. Add in an impressive collection of songs and you’ve got all the right ingredients for your next barbecue soundtrack.

It bounds out of the gate with a gritty, frenetic take on The Easybeats’ “Wedding Ring.” I love the extra dirt The Jets put on this one. Their take on Razor’s Edge might be my favourite track on an outstanding album. I’d forgotten how much I love this song; their punchy version was a great reminder. But then there’s “Overkill,” perhaps controversially my favourite Men at Work song, given such a great treatment. And then there’s “Errol,” a wonderful take on the Oz Crawl classic. The more I think about it, singling out just one track seems cruel.

“Shadow Boxer” was always going to be a natural fit for the band fronted by The Angels’ current lead singer. It works so well. “The Right Time” is another song which feels like it was made for the Newcastle rockers. The Jets even have a way of making songs I’ve never liked, like the Radiators’ questionable classic “Head” endearing!

Playing on the sacred ground here has some challenges. Risks are essential, but they don’t all pay off in my opinion. While I appreciate the intent of the swampy, bluesy “Darling It Hurts,” slowing down the tempo makes this incredible Paul Kelly track feel a little laboured. But then The Jets take a chance on an epic 14-minute take on “Guitar Band” to close the album, and you’re glad they did.

Gotcha Covered will make the perfect Father’s Day gift for your old man. Just don’t be surprised when you want a copy for yourself too.

The Screaming Jets are currently touring the nation with Boom Crash Opera. Here are all the remaining dates.

17 August 2018 – Kingsford Juniors, Sydney
18 August 2018 – Rooty Hill RSL, Rooty Hill
24 August 2018 – Parkwood Tavern, Gold Coast
25 August 2018 – Hamilton Hotel, Brisbane
31 August & 1 September 2018 – The Gov, Adelaide
7 September 2018 – Ravenswood Hotel, Ravenswood
8 September 2018 – Charles Hotel, Perth
14 September 2018 – Miranda Hotel, Sydney
15 September 2018 – Revesby Workers, Sydney

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Matt Joe Gow Sounding Better Than Ever With Brand New Single “Ride On”

With two solo records under his belt, Melbourne-based muso Matt Joe Gow is a seasoned performer. His experience shows in his latest single “Ride On,” an accomplished slice of Americana that feels like an instant classic.

“Ride On” is the first track lifted from Matt Joe Gow’s new album, Break, Rattle and Roll. Out October 5, it sounds like it’ll be something special.

“I wanted to throw everything I could at this record,” he explained, “to do these songs justice and make the best record I could. And I feel I achieved that.”

Matt will announce some shows soon to bring his new music to the masses.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Georgia State Line Tug at the Heartstrings With “Dry My Tears”

Melbourne Americana outfit Georgia State Line are back with a beautiful new single, “Dry My Tears.”

This track transports me to another place and time. It’s got a beautiful vintage vibe that evokes old-style saloons. The lyrics and Georgia Delves’ flawless vocals also capture those bittersweet feelings when you’re caught between wanting to hold on to a relationship and knowing it’s time to say goodbye. Pedal steel guitar also gets me every time.

Georgia State Line have a few shows coming up, including the big “Dry My Tears” launch at The Old Bar later this month.

18 August 2018 – Major Tom’s Kyneton
26 August 2018 – The Old Bar, Fitzroy
13 October 2018 – Seaworks, Williamstown

Image used with permission from This Much Talent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Chilean Expat Constanza Herrero Sings of “Packing Up” For Oz

Chilean-born singer-songwriter Constanza Herrero speaks of the excitement and uncertainty she felt moving to her current Australian home in her new single “Packing Up.”

Moving to Australia to study at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts was a leap of faith for the artist who was part of an MTV Latin America award-winning band and star of a Nickelodeon TV series in her homeland. However, after selling out her self-titled EP launch party at Fremantle’s Fly by Night last November, it seems she’s on the right track.

I really love the cheery Latin-American influence in Constanza’s catchy new pop single. She said she hopes the song encourages others to overcome challenges in their own lives.

“In order to move forward you need to face your circumstances, otherwise you will only be running away. It’s not about forgetting your past, but learning from it,” she explained.

The beautiful music video was filmed in Constanza’s homeland. Making it was a special process for Constanza, who still feels the challenge of leaving Chile behind and making a new home in Australia.

Constanza is a regular on the Perth music scene but hopes to bring her live shows to venues around Australia and the United States in the near future. Hopefully this is the song that makes it all happen for her.

Image used with permission from The A&R Department