Canberra singer-songwriter MAXO had me at the banjo. This much-maligned instrument is actually one of my favourites, and it brings MAXO’s new single “Never Ever” a little closer to that folk-rock sound perfected by artists like Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers.
The track is a sweet ditty about meeting someone and falling so hard that you’re willing to sacrifice it all. Awww. Couldn’t we all do with that kind of blind optimism on a Monday morning?
Melbourne crooner Ryan Downey has given me chills with his new single “Running.” THe track comes from Ryan’s debut album, out April 13.
It’s a beautiful slow burner, stripped back and delicate yet so powerful. Listen to those lyrics, if you’re not too mesmerised by Ryan’s beautiful baritone. It’s somewhere between Chris Isaak and Leonard Cohen, with a classic quality that’s sure to send many hearts racing.
Sydney gets a chance to get up close and personal with Ryan when he plays Golden Age Cinema this Thursday, March 8. Get your tickets at the door.
Image used with permission from Remote Control Records
There’s something special about siblings that come together to make music. Their voices just sound so right together. Their creative vision tends to be so clear and cohesive. The latest family band to get me excited is Germein, a trio of sisters from Adelaide. You might want to take your pulse if their new single “Talking” doesn’t make your heart skip a beat.
This is such a perfect piece of pop music, with a shimmery upbeat quality masking some darkly powerful lyrics. I am so excited by this track. If you are too, get yourself along to one of the remaining shows on Germein’s national tour.
7 March 2018 – Leadbelly, Sydney
10 March 2018 – The Ark (Adelaide Fringe Festival), Adelaide
17 March 2018 – Smiths Alternative, Canberra
22 March 2018 – The Toff, Melbourne
25 March 2018 – The Loft, Warrnambool
With her rich soulful voice and infectious percussive beats, Karrie Hayward’s new single “Going to the Grave” is more than just another pop song about love gone wrong.
This tune covers the familiar territory of navigating the end of a relationship, but it feels so fresh. This Brisbane-based songstress has created a great groove which is bound to have you tapping your toes by the end of the track.
Karrie has toured from Townsville to the Central Coast, and she’s got her sights set on more gigging adventures this year. Hopefully it won’t be too long before we see her back on the road.
All too often duets albums are released by performers who are friends rather than lovers. They have a certain camaraderie, but any love songs they sing don’t quite ring true. So it’s refreshing to hear Adam & Brooke, the new album by real-life lovebirds Adam Eckersley and Brooke McClymont.
I’m far from the biggest country music fan, but this album quickly won me over. I was smitten by the single “Train Wreck” on its release, but as I listened I discovered there are so many great songs on this album. They explore the good times and the hard times, the sexy times and the struggles. It seems this duo can do everything, from playful tracks like “Love on the Loose” to beautiful ballads like “Smooth.” Stripped back tunes like “Not How I Feel” and “Glad” are particularly affecting.
Separately these country artists have fantastic voices, but the chemistry when they harmonise is off the charts. But this album’s beauty is about more than pretty notes. There’s real truth behind the songs, and that’s so compelling. You hear the yearning, the passion, and the love they have for one another coming through in these powerful tracks.
Between them, Adam Eckersley and Brooke McClymont have 12 Golden Guitars, two APRA awards, and two ARIAs. I wouldn’t be surprised if they add to their already bulging trophy cases with this release. It’s just that good.
Adam & Brooke is in stores now. The talented twosome is currently playing shows together around the country. Here are all the remaining dates.
2 March 2018 – Armidale Ex Serviceman’s Club, Armidale
3 March 2018 – Southwest Rocks Country Club, Southwest Rocks
8 March 2018 – Leftys Old Time Music Hall, Brisbane
9 March 2018 – Lone Star Tavern, Gold Coast
10 March 2018 – South Acacia Ridge Sports Club, Brisbane South
16 & 17 March 2018 – The Pelican Playhouse, Grafton
6 April 2018 – Young Services Club, Young
7 April 2018 – Civic Theatre, Wagga Wagga
12 April 2018 – Toff in Town, Melbourne
13 April 2018 – York on Lilydale, Mt Evelyn
14 April 2018 – Gateway Hotel, Geelong
26 April 2018 – Brass Monkey, Cronulla
27 April 2018 – Leadbelly, Newtown
29 April 2018 – Oaks Hotel, Albion Park Rail
11 May 2018 – Brothers Leagues, Cairns
12 May 2018 – Dalrymple Hotel, Townsville
13 May 2018 – Mt Pleasant, Mackay
15 May 2018 – Glenmore Tavern, Rockhampton
16 May 2018 – Hervey Road Tavern, Gladstone
17 May 2018 – Melbourne Hotel, Bundaberg
18 May 2018 – Caloundra RSL, Caloundra
19 May 2018 – Highfields Tavern, Toowoomba
31 May 2018 – Coomealla Club, Dareton
1 June 2018 – Wheatsheaf Hotel, Adelaide
3 June 2018 – Boston Bay Wines, Port Lincoln
6 June 2018 – Ceduna Memorial Hall, Ceduna
10 June 2018 – Mumballup Tavern, Donnybrook
14 June 2018 – Settler’s Tavern, Margaret River
15 June 2018 – Prince of Wales Hotel, Bunbury
16 June 2018 – Odd Fellow, Fremantle
19 June 2018 – Kalgoorlie Hotel, Kalgoorlie
22 June 2018 – Musicians Club, Broken Hill
23 June 2018 – Cobar Bowling & Golf Club, Cobar
29 June 2018 – Woodburn Evans Head RSL, Evans Head
30 June 2018 – Bush to Bay Music Festival, Hervey Bay
7 July 2018 – Dubbo RSL, Dubbo
Image used with permission from Universal Music Australia
Tomorrow Brisbane singer-songwriter Neighbour officially unveils his first single of the year, the dreamy “Confidence.” It’s a gorgeous folky track that starts small but builds to a powerful, drum-driven crescendo. The lyrics insightfully explore relationships and the way they impact our sense of self.
Neighbour will celebrate the release of “Confidence” with a house show at 28 Westbourne Street, Highgate Hill. It’s sure to be an amazing night, with Asha Jefferies and Hazlett also playing some tunes. Visit the Facebook event page to learn more!
I’ve been impressed with Sydney’s Ocean Alley since the release of their sophomore EP In Purple way back in 2015. But the strength of their new single “Confidence” makes me wonder whether their new album Chiaroscuro may be their most accomplished to date.
There’s a, dare I say it, confidence in this track. The groove is laidback but the band so tight. The song’s lyrics won’t change the world, but the vocals are utterly sexy. I’m also a sucker for any clip that involves roller skating.
Chiaroscuro drops on March 9. Ocean Alley will tour the album around the country with appearances at Groovin the Moo and some headlining dates.
14 April 2018 – The Tivoli, Brisbane
21 April 2018 – The Enmore, Sydney
27 April 2018 – Groovin The Moo, Wayville
28 April 2018 – Groovin The Moo, Maitland
29 April 2018 – Groovin The Moo, Canberra
5 May 2018 – Groovin The Moo, Bendigo
6 May 2018 – Groovin The Moo, Townsville
11 May 2018 – Metropolis, Fremantle
12 May 2018 – Groovin The Moo, Bunbury
19 May 2018 – The Forum, Melbourne
Image used with permission from Bianca Blancato
The Avenue have me punching my fist in the air with the release of their awesome new synth-rock anthem “Love.”
This song is seriously catchy, with killer vocals from Sam Thomas and lyrics about desire that are so relatable.
“’Love’ is by far our heaviest and most punk/grunge song,” Sam explained. “It’s about the feeling of your body screaming out for a person but your mind detesting the thought of them.”
“Love” is the first track lifted from The Avenue’s sophomore EP, Names. They’re currently on the road celebrating its release. You can catch The Avenue at Ric’s Bar in Brisbane on March 3 before the big EP launch at the Evelyn Hotel in Melbourne on March 10.
Image used with permission from Beehive PR
Monday might have kicked my arse, but Tuesday has me feeling back in my groove. While it can’t be held entirely responsible, I do think discovering “Seduced by the Light Side,” the title track from Queensland multi-instrumentalist Reichelt’s new album has something to do with the spring in my step.
This is such a joyful retro track guaranteed to put a smile on your dial. It explores themes of reluctantly doing what’s right with its mellow verses and epic singalong chorus. The scenery in the video is also stunning. What do you think of it?
Image used with permission from the A&R Department
In my teenage years, it wasn’t unusual for me to see several shows back-to-back. Now in my late 30s, after two days at the Red Hot Summer shows, I’m feeling every one of my years. I’m tired. My feet hurt. My lower back is achy. I’m thankful that I gave myself a little time to recover before going back to work, because I need it. Was it all worth it though? Absolutely!
I decided to write a combined review of both shows because while the weather varied, this was essentially the same concert. It makes sense really, with each act crafting a set full of the right songs to delight the fans.
But as I mentioned, the weather. It really went from one extreme to the other, and neither was ideal. This is the risk with staging an outdoor concert. The gods might smile down and gift you the perfect sunny day, not too hot or too cold. Or you might get the sort of heatwave conditions I experienced at Mt Penang Parklands on the Central Coast. The kind that make you feel so lightheaded you wonder whether you’ll make it to the first band. Or you might get the kind of gloomy cold day with torrential rain that soaked us to the skin at Cockatoo Island in Sydney. Neither is ideal for a live show, but if you get right the things you can control, the crowds won’t mind too much.
The organisers of Red Hot Summer must be commended for that. The line-up was exceptional, perhaps even better than the one I saw in 2017. There was a diverse array of food vendors serving quality eats fast. There were plenty of toilets. We weren’t left waiting too long between acts; the MC’s giveaways helped keep us all interested until we were ready to rock again.
I also appreciate that Red Hot Summer is more than a nostalgia fest. Every year I look forward to discovering new talent. In 2018, Red Hot Summer delivered with Taylor Sheridan, an up-and-coming singer-songwriter from country Victoria. It’s always easy for an entertainer with pop-rock leanings playing an acoustic guitar to pique my interest. But to hold it takes something special. While his cover of “Billie Jean” was inspired, I was impressed with his excellent originals which rewarded anyone willing to listen to the lyrics. “Beauty of the Plan” and new single “Friends Like Me” were standouts. Finishing with a cover of “April Sun in Cuba” was the perfect way to win over anyone who wasn’t already on his side.
1927 are one of my favourite childhood bands, and as I discovered last year they’ve lost nothing. The band are tight and Eric Weideman’s voice is still so powerful. I wish I was feeling better for the Mt Penang show, as I felt I didn’t get to enjoy their set quite as much as I should have. I made up for lost time in Sydney though, jumping around and pumping my fists in the air during “You’ll Never Know.” “Compulsory Hero” gave me chills both shows. And those massive singles, “That’s When I Think Of You” and “If I Could,” has us all singing along.
The Black Sorrows were one of the standouts of last year’s Good Times tour, and they stamped their authority on the Red Hot Summer stages too. Joe Camilleri might be one of Australia’s most charming front men. I could watch him sing, wail on his saxophone, and dance around with wild abandon all day. Add in the divine voices of Vika and Linda Bull and you’re always going to have a good time. It was another superb set, with hit singles and some lesser known cuts represented. I loved watching the chemistry between Linda and Joe during “Baby It’s a Crime” and seeing Vika totally owning “Never Let Me Go.”
The Baby Animals were the only one of the big acts I’d never seen live before. Now that I have, I wonder why I left things so long. Suze DeMarchi oozes cool, even if she’s battling the heatstroke that plagued so many of us at Mt Penang. She’s definitely one of the most charismatic people I’ve ever seen performing. The way she moves, her commanding voice, her look, it’s all so impressive. The big hits like “Early Warning” and “Painless” sounded every bit as good as they did on the records, but had that extra special something that can only come from a live show. New single “Tonight” proved this is a band still in its prime, not one that needs to simply trade on nostalgia.
Daryl Braithwaite is such hot property right now. I’m not quite sure when it happened, but somewhere along the way he became really cool again. Millennials fell in love with “The Horses,” and there were plenty of them at the show, waving inflatable hobby horses and wearing rubber horse heads as they clapped along. But Daryl is much more than “The Horses.” While that song was the natural closer, it came after Dazza reminded us of his stellar career with Sherbet and solo smashes. Songs like “Summer Love” and “One Summer” are made for festivals like this.
The roar that came from the crowd suggested it wasn’t just the women with custom-made John Farnham shirts hanging out for Farnsy. There’s a certain air of excitement when he takes the stage, an indescribable feeling that magic will happen. Ably supported by his band of recognisable faces, musicians and vocalists who have been with him for decades, John belted out hit after hit. His was the sort of set you can sing along to, no matter whether you’ve ever bought a Farnsy album. These songs are in our DNA, from tender ballads like “Burn For You” to the show stoppers like “The Voice.” In between John chatted happily to the crowd, cracking jokes easily, then speaking with sincerity of the gratitude he has for those of us who stood in the heat or rain to hear his music. When the sets of most artists didn’t change, John made each show unique for his fans. The Central Coast was treated to “Don’t You Know It’s Magic” and the much maligned “Sadie the Cleaning Lady.” For Sydney it could be nothing other than “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head.” They did, but with John to keep us company it was easier to grin and bear it.
The two Red Hot Summer shows in New South Wales didn’t happen under ideal circumstances, but by getting the essentials right the organisers ensured the crowds had the best time they could have hoped for. Bring on 2019, hopefully with better weather than this year brought!
Image source: Stephen Katulka