Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Ruckus Release “Steady Hands” for HeadSpace

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.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Lucy Neville Releases Single for Beyond Blue

I don’t normally write about singles I can’t share with you, but when it came to “There’s Light” by Lucy Neville I thought it was important to make an exception.

Lucy took inspiration from her mother’s lifelong battle with depression.

“It was a very personal and challenging theme to write a song about, but I ultimately wanted it to be a message about hope and a light at the end of the tunnel,” she explained in a press release.

“There’s a stigma attached to mental illness, because it’s not something that everyone can understand: it’s not black and white. It’s different for everyone who goes through it, which can make it difficult to understand for those who have not yet experienced it.”
Lucy used the recording time she won after taking out the City’s and Sydney Youth Music’s Our Kind of Music gig to lay the song down.

Fittingly, all proceeds from the sale of “There’s Light” will benefit Beyond Blue. So it doesn’t matter that I can’t share it with you here, because you should reach into your pocket and pay for it if you want to hear it. You get some new music, Beyond Blue gets cash, and everybody wins.

Image used with permission from Ditto Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The New Savages Unleash Music Video

The New Savages have just released their very first music video to accompany their new single “Smokestack Lightnin’.”

This song sounds like it’s come out of America’s Deep South rather than Melbourne. I love its old school blues feel. It’s the second track lifted from The New Savages debut EP, In My Time of Dyin’.

The New Savages are playing a few shows this month ahead of a more extensive national tour later this year.

17 October 2015 – Marysville Bakery, Marysville
24 October 2015 – The Rooks Return, Melbourne
29 October 2015 – The B.East, Melbourne
31 October 2015 – The Drunken Poet, Melbourne

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Wes Carr Plays George Harrison Shows Around Oz

It’s a bit controversial, but I was raised to believe George Harrison was the best Beatle. Dad told me All Things Must Pass is one of the greatest albums ever released, and that love songs didn’t come better than “Something.” It sounds like Wes Carr might have something like the upbringing I did, because he’s bringing a tribute show, Here Comes the Sun, to intimate venues around the country next year.

“To me, George was a spiritual leader in his own way, as he was a guiding light for so many. Through his music he questioned life and challenged modern day thought,” Wes explained in a press statement. “I believe George’s music has more relevance now than it ever did – for all of these reasons, I knew I had to pay tribute to the life and work of George Harrison through a live show.”

Tickets are on sale now for these special performances.

1 April 2016 – The Glasshouse, Port Macquarie
2 April 2016 – Capitol Theatre, Tamworth
8 April 2016 – Dubbo Regional Theatre, Dubbo
9 April 2016 – Performing Arts Centre, Cessnock
15 April 2016 – Laycock Street Theatre, Gosford
16 April 2016 – Wenty Leagues, Wentworthville
22 April 2016 – Club Sapphire, Merimbula
23 April 2016 – Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Wollongong
24 April 2016 – Milton Theatre, Milton
29 April 2016 – Jetty Theatre, Coffs Harbour
30 April 2016 – Byron Theatre, Byron Bay
6 May 2016 – Orange Civic Theatre, Orange
7 May 2016 – Young Ex Services Club, Young
13 & 14 May 2016 – Sydney Opera House Studio, Sydney
20 & 21 May 2016 – Judith Wright Centre, Brisbane
25-29 May 2016 – Chapel Off Chapel, Melbourne
3 June 2016 – Phee Broadway Theatre, Castlemaine
4 June 2016 – Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool
9 June 2016 – Burnie Arts Theatre, Burnie
10 June 2016 – Launceston Country Club, Launceston
11 June 2016 – Wrest Point Showroom, Hobart
17 June 2016 – Empire Church Theatre, Toowoomba
18 June 2016 – The Events Centre, Caloundra
24 June 2016 – Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre, Wangaratta
25 June 2016 – Capital Theatre, Bendigo
30 June 2016 – Albany Entertainment Centre, Albany
1 July – Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, Bunbury
2 July 2016 – Heath Ledger Theatre, Perth
8 July 2016 – Prince Of Wales Opera House, Gulgong
9 July 2016 – Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre, Bathurst
15 July 2016 – Wonthaggai Community Arts Centre, Wonthaggi
16 July 2016 – West Gippsland Arts Centre, Warragul
22 July 2016 – Wesley Performing Arts Centre, Horsham
23 July 2016 – Forge Theatre, Bairnsdale
29 July 2016 – Griffith Regional Theatre, Griffith
30 July 2016 – The Q Theatre, Queanbeyan
5 August 2016 – Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide
6 August 2016 – Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre, Mount Gambier
12 August 2016 – Chaffey Theatre, Renmark
13 August 2016 – Mildura Arts Centre, Mildura
19 August 2016 – Keith Michell Theatre, Port Pirie
20 August 2016 – Middleback Arts Centre, Whyalla
26 August 2016 – The Cube, Wodonga
27 August 2016 – Civic Theatre, Wagga Wagga

Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Limbo” – Bad Pony

I’ve had one of those mornings where I’ve spent time chasing my tail answering emails which forced me to go back to work that I thought was behind me. It’s only just gone 9, but I feel like I’ve lost the head start I needed to get the mountain of work I have waiting for me under control.

In amongst the frustration, I thought it would be the perfect time to listen to Bad Pony’s Limbo EP. Every one of the singles I’d listened to put a smile on my face, so I hoped it might temper some of the aggravation I felt.

This five-track EP showed me that Bad Pony are much more than the party band I’d pegged them as. The EP leads with the singles, “Michael Moore,” “Down to You,” and “White Russian.” Listening to them all together like this was a wonderful reminder of just how much I’m digging this band. But then the EP takes a turn and shows Bad Pony can do darkness just as well. The title track “Limbo” is so poignant. The delicate first verse, before the guitars kick in, took my breath away, but it builds beautifully after that. This is a song that packs a real emotional punch. The desperation of closing track “Guard Down” really struck a nerve on this morning where I’m feeling less than chipper.

I liked what I knew of Bad Pony, but the Limbo EP has turned that like to love. It’s a lovely little taster of what this band is all about that has me hanging out for more.

Bad Pony are currently touring the EP all around the East Coast. Here are the places you can still see them play.

16 October 2015 – Beach Hotel, Byron Bay
17 October 2015 – The Farm, Byron Bay
18 October 2015 – Sounds of Sunday @ Broadbeach Tavern, Gold Coast
6 November 2015 – Moonshine Bar, Manly
19-22 November 2015 – Australian Music Week, Cronulla
28 November 2015 – The Roxbury Hotel, Glebe
4 December 2015 – The Pier, Port Macquarie
5 December 2015 – The Small Ballroom, Newcastle
31 December 2015 – New Year’s Eve, Sydney Harbour

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Anna Cordell Launches These Walls in Sydney Tomorrow Night!

For most of us in Australia, mid-week nights are spent vegging out in front of reality TV. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to actually get out and do something more memorable?

Sydneysiders, consider this a reminder that Anna Cordell is launching her EP These Walls at The Vanguard tomorrow night with support from William Crighton and Sarah Belkner. Tickets are available from The Vanguard website. This promises to be a night of live music that’s much more memorable than watching Sam Frost break another man’s heart.

Be there or be square!

Image used with permission from Anna Cordell

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Grace Releases New Single “Boyfriend Jeans”

I enjoyed Grace’s cover of “You Don’t Own Me” as much as the next girl, but I couldn’t help but feel like this debut single didn’t really show me what this Brisbane singer was all about. It was a cover rather than an original, cleverly produced to appeal to a new generation. Her voice got a little bit lost in all that. So I’m thrilled to see she’s gone in a completely new direction with the release of her second single “Boyfriend Jeans.”

This video only has the audio, but I think that works in its favour because you can really focus in on the track’s story. It’s a beautifully written song which shows impressive depth considering Grace wrote it when she was just 16. In all the production of “You Don’t Own Me,” I don’t think I got to appreciate just how good Grace’s voice is either.

Personally I think “Boyfriend Jeans” is a much stronger song. That’s not to say it should have been the first single. “You Don’t Own Me” was just what Grace needed to get our attention. But now that she has it, she can show us what she’s really got.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Like a Version Beats Out Cold Chisel for Number One Album

I was sure that Cold Chisel would take out the top spot on the ARIA charts this week, but another Aussie release has swooped in and overshadowed these local legends. Chisel had to be content with The Perfect Crime charting at number two after Triple J Like a Version Vol. 11 claimed the top spot. Last week’s number one, Ire by Parkway Drive, fell to number three. How good is it to see three local releases at the top of the albums charts?

Jessica Mauboy is the lone Aussie on the top 10 singles charts. Her latest track “This Ain’t Love” climbed three spots to sit at number five this week.

Here are this week’s top 10s.

Top 10 Albums
1. Triple J Like a Version Vol. 11 – Various
2. The Perfect Crime – Cold Chisel
3. Ire – Parkway Drive
4. We Are the Generation – Rudimental
5. I’ll Take Everything – James Blunt
6. Get Up – Bryan Adams
7. Silence in the Snow – Trivium
8. 1989 – Taylor Smith
9. Beauty Behind the Madness – The Weeknd
10. Stories – Avicii

Top 10 Singles
1. “Downtown” – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee & Grandmaster Caz
2. “What Do You Mean?” – Justin Bieber
3. “On My Mind” – Elly Goulding
4. “Sugar” – Robin Schulz feat. Francesco Yates
5. “This Ain’t Love” – Jessica Mauboy
6. “Hotline Bling” – Drake
7. “Locked Away” – R. City feat. Adam Levine
8. “Hula Hoop” – Omi
9. “Wildest Dreams” – Taylor Swift
10. “The Fix” – Nelly feat. Jeremih

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Casey Barnes Releases Bluesy New Single “The One You Love”

If you were as big of an Australian Idol nut as me, you might remember Casey Barnes from season 7, the year Stan Walker took it out. He didn’t progress very far in the program, but he’s continued to hone his craft and work with top names in the music industry.

His latest single “The One You Love” sees him teaming up with producer Nick DiDia, who’s worked with local talents like Powderfinger and Kasey Chambers as well as international luminaries including Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, and Rage Against the Machine.

“Working with Nick DiDia on this track has honestly been a dream come true especially when you stop and realise who he’s worked with over the years. We’re so blessed to have a producer like him in the country and he’s taken this song exactly where I wanted it to go,” Casey explained in a press release. “I really feel this is one of the strongest singles I’ve released to date. I can’t wait for you all to hear it now.”

I’ve heard a few of Casey’s post-Idol songs, and I agree with him that this is one of the best. It has such a cool bluesy vibe and really strong, sexy vocals.

Casey recently signed an exclusive worldwide management deal, so we’ll hopefully be seeing a lot more of him. Before world domination though, he’s playing the Perth Telethon next week, the Rural Weekly Pro Bull Riding Series Finals in Rockhampton on October 24, and supporting Rick Price at the Gold Coast Arts Centre on November 14.

Image used with permission from Arrow Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Citizen Kay Tours New Album “With the People”

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