Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Them Bruins Rock Out with “Walk a Line”

There’s plenty to like about Melbourne band Them Bruins’ and their brand new single “Walk a Line.”

I’m the first to admit that it’s not perfect. I love the sultry, simmering verses and the anthemic chorus, but the pre-chorus rubs me up the wrong way. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it’s not my cup of tea. What these guys do right they do so right though that I can overlook the flaws.

“Walk a Line” is the sort of song that’s going to go off live, so it’s a good thing that Them Bruins are touring the East Coast to support its release.

10 April 2015 – Mynt Lounge, Werribee
11 April 2015 – The Workers Club, Melbourne
17 April 2015 – Hotel Tivoli, Adelaide
24 April 2015 – Spectrum, Sydney
2 May 2015 – Trainspotters at Grand Central Hotel, Brisbane
3 May 2015 – Sounds of Sunday, Broadbeach Tavern, Gold Coast

Image used with permission from Mucho Bravado

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Say Lou Lou Make the Most of Musical Genes

It seems like talent runs strong in the Kilbey genes. The twin daughters of The Church frontman Steve Kilbey are Say Lou Lou, a gorgeous electro-pop duo set to release their debut album Lucid Dreaming.

The album doesn’t hit stores until April 12, but today sees the official release of their new single “Nothing But a Heartbeat.”

Don’t make the mistake of thinking they’re simply pretty girls with pleasant voices. Say Lou Lou have had a hand in every aspect of this project, from the lyrics and melodies to the music videos and styling.

I predict we’ll be hearing a lot more about these girls.

Image used with permission from Recon Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tempest Riding, Red Bee, and Let the Number be X Team Up for Massive Metal Tour

Three of Australia’s most exciting metal acts – Perth’s Tempest Rising, Sydney’s Red Bee, and Newcastle’s Let the Number be X – have joined forces for one massive East Coast tour this autumn. The acts will bust eardrums in the capitals and key regional centres this March and April.

Take a listen to this little sampler of their music, and if you like what you hear make sure you get along to the following shows. Let the Number Be X will have to miss the New South Wales shows, but Not Another Sequel, Just Another Prequel will do a fine job filling in. Tickets are just $10 at the door except for Penrith which is free!

19 March 2015 – Barwon Club, Geelong
20 March 2015 – The Music Man Megastore, Bendigo
21 March 2015 – The Worker’s Club, Melbourne
3 April 2015 – Bald Faced Stag, Sydney
4 April 2015 – Tattersalls, Penrith (FREE)
16 April 2015 – Currumbin Creek Hotel, Gold Coast
17 April 2015 – VIBE, Indoroopilly
18 April 2015- Chardons Corner Hotel, Brisbane

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Play “Hide and Seek” with Swim Season

I remember being a young thing and having my mind blown watching the film clip for Michael Jackson’s “Black or White.” The face-shifting special effects employed by Melbourne’s Swim Season in their new music video might not be quite as seamless or sophisticated, but considering the budgets of up-and-coming Aussie acts I’m impressed. “Hide and Seek” is also such a fun, feelgood piece of indie pop. I’m a real fan.

Swim Season won’t be touring the single, but you can catch them doing their thing with Bad Pony at Sydney’s World Bar tomorrow night.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Let the Eurovision Countdown Begin!

I didn’t post about this yesterday because I was too busy processing it. But if you haven’t already heard the news, Australia will compete for the very first time in the Eurovision Song Contest this year. It’s a gesture of goodwill to celebrate the 60th anniversary but one that’s sent me into a tailspin.

I have been a Eurovision tragic for as long as I can remember. I watch every night of coverage, cook European foods over the weekend to celebrate, and blast the hits from the competition at any time of year. On the day of the finale I take a strict media sabbatical – no Internet, no radio, no live TV – to avoid spoilers.

This year I won’t need to. To coincide with our inclusion, SBS will screen the finale live on the Sunday morning. Australia can also vote, although as any Eurovision tragic knows we’re voting for everyone but ourselves. We apparently won’t be eligible to host the next one, although if we pull off the world’s biggest upset the SBS will have a hand in organising it.

I’m also keen to see who we’ll be sending to represent us. Since the event happens in May I assume it’s too late to run a national song contest as other nations do. Jessica Mauboy did us proud last year, but I think we need someone fresh. I’ve seen online campaigns for everyone from TISM to David Campbell to Em Rusciano. I’m open to anything. Should we go theatrical and choose Dami Im, Anthony Callea, or Sia, or perhaps we should buck that trend as The Netherlands did fielding The Common Linnets last year (I told you I was a Eurovision tragic). I’ve heard people suggesting Dan Sultan, Jimmy Barnes, and Gotye, which all have merits. We’ve also got to find someone who’s willing to really embrace everything that Eurovision is.

We might not really be part of Europe, but I think it’s awesome that our nation’s longtime support of the competition is being rewarded. I haven’t been this excited since Aussies penned that song for Greece’s Sakis Rouvas in 2009. Let the countdown begin!

Image source: Wikimedia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Mzaza Get me Excited About World Music

You know what I don’t write about enough? World music. I’m not sure whether Australians just aren’t making enough of it or whether it doesn’t find itself on my radar, but considering we’re a multicultural society it’s severely underrepresented.

Honestly, my exposure to world music doesn’t go too far beyond the annual Eurovision and San Remo song contests, but the songs in languages other than English are often my favourites. So I was thrilled to come across Mzaza this week. It seems I’m a little late to the party, as the Brisbane band are preparing to release their third album Ghosts on March 20 but better late than never right?

The album’s first single “Enfants du Chemin” (which translates to children of the road) gives you a taste of what this band’s all about. It’s fronted by Pauline Maudy, who has French and Spanish Sephardic roots and the voice of an angel. She sings in French, Spanish, Ladino, Turkish, and even English. Then there’s that rich instrumentation which takes its cues from France, the Balkans, the Middle Easy, and Sephardic Spain. It’s very cool, and worth a listen, especially if you don’t normally play this sort of stuff. Open up your minds folks.

Mzaza will support the release of Ghosts with shows all around the country next month. Check them out!

26 & 27 March 2015 – Brisbane Powerhouse, Brisbane
2 April 2015 – The Spotted Mallard, Brunswick
4 April 2015 – The Flying Saucer Club, Elsternwick
24 April 2015 – Django Bar, Marrickville
26 April 2015 – Rhythm Hut, Gosford

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

360 Reschedules Dates for Extended Retopia Tour

360 has shuffled around his tour dates to accommodate a new expanded tour which takes in the best regional towns in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia. The newly rebranded Retopia tour takes in 24 dates over six weeks.

If you got tickets to the previous shows, they’ll still be valid for the rescheduled gigs. If you can’t make it, refunds will be available from point of purchase until Friday March 13. Sadly 360 now won’t be able to visit Albany, but anyone with tickets for the Studio 146 show can also get a refund.

Tickets for all these gigs go on sale tomorrow.

2 April 2015 – Kay St, Traralgon
3 April 2015 – Whalers Hotel, Warrnambool
4 April 2015 – Barwon Heads Hotel, Barwon Heads
5 April 2015 – Westernport Hotel, San Remo
10 April 2015 – The Jack, Cairns
11 April 2015 – Street Party, Townsville
12 April 2015 – Magnums, Airlie Beach
16 April 2015 – Harvey Road Tavern, Gladstone
17 April 2015 – The Triffid, Brisbane
18 April 2015 – Racehorse Hotel, Ipswich
19 April 2015 – The Northern, Byron Bay
22 April 2015 – Plantation Hotel, Coffs Harbour
23 April 2015 – Cambridge, Newcastle
24 April 2015 – Waves, Wollongong
25 April 2015 – The Metro, Sydney
26 April 2015 – The Doylo, Doyalson
29 April 2015 – The Rosemount, Perth
30 April 2015 – Prince Of Wales, Bunbury
1 May 2015 – Players Bar, Mandurah
2 May 2015 – Dunsborough Tavern, Dunsborough
7 May 2015 – Commercial Hotel, South Morang
8 May 2015 – Chelsea Heights Hotel, Chelsea Heights
9 May 2015 – The Hi-Fi, Melbourne
15 May 2015 – Hallam Hotel, Hallam

Image used with permission from Crucial Music
Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Last-Minute Valentine’s Day Ideas for Music Lovers in Melbourne

Valentine’s Day might be a Hallmark holiday, but it’s easy to get swept up in the romance of the occasion. My wonderful husband is earning serious brownie points by spending the day with me at Taronga Zoo, then catching Anthony Callea playing the songs of George Michael as part of the Twilight at Taronga series. You might think all that is a super-romantic gesture, but I think he’s just happy I made the suggestion so he didn’t have to plan something.

That got me thinking, maybe I could plan a great Valentine’s Day for Victorian music lovers as part of the #HipmunkCityLove project. If you’re running low on inspiration, there’s still time to put these romantic musical ideas into practice!

Book a Hotel

Hotels in Melbourne might get a little expensive over Valentine’s Day, but it’s totally worth it for the romance it adds to an evening. Rooms are filling fast though, so I wouldn’t delay if you’re planning to book. There are still vacancies at many of the city’s top hotels including Bayview on the Park, The Hotel Charsfield, and the ultra-ritzy Grand Hyatt Melbourne.

See Boys in the Band at the Zoo

Photo by Wyld Family Travel via Trover.com

Melbourne Zoo has its own twilight concert on Valentine’s Day: Boys in the Band. This nostalgia fest features the songs of classic boy bands like Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, The Bee Gees, the Beatles, and Jackson 5. You can enjoy a picnic while you watch and feel good knowing that you’re helping the zoo save the eastern barred bandicoot from extinction.

Enjoy Modern Boy Bands

If your partner likes their boy bands a bit younger then it’s not too late to snap up some tickets to One Direction at Etihad Stadium. Ticketmaster only has nosebleed seats left, so point your browser to TiqIQ instead. This site has some decent tickets for sale, including a few in the front row and some that are 26 percent cheaper than their retail value.

See Symphony for Free

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra are one of the best in the country, and you can see them for free this Valentine’s Day. The MSO will play a romantic show dubbed A Musical Valentine in the Sidney Myer Music Bowl featuring music from Romeo and Juliet, Porgy and Bess, to name a few. Gates open at 4pm for the 7pm show. This free gig will get packed, so make sure you arrive early to secure your possie.

Get Jazzy at the Paris Cat Jazz Club

The Paris Cat Jazz Club is also getting into the Valentine’s Day spirit with its romantic evening of entertainment. You can catch Love Songs in the Key of Dean in the Basement from 7:30 or the John Montesante Quintet and Yvette Johansson teaming up for love songs from jazz greats like Billie Holliday, Ella Fitzgerald, Anita Baker, and Doris Day from 8:30pm in the Parisian Loft. The club no longer takes phone or email bookings, so visit the Paris Cat website to secure your tickets.

Do you go all out for Valentine’s Day or prefer to ignore the event? Let me know in the comments below.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Double Lined Minority Tour “Caught in the Ceasefire”

Double Lined Minority are heading out on the road to support the release of their sophomore EP Caught in the Ceasefire, which hits stores today. The EP features the new single “Voodoo,” which reminds me of something that might have been released by Panic at the Disco or Fallout Boy.

The five-track EP is a collection of semi-biographical, lyrical vignettes which capture frontman Eddie Salazar’s experience of life, love, and temptation. Fans can hear them all at the following shows.

7 March 2015 – SUB Beanbag Gigs, Melbourne (ALL AGES)
8 March 2015 – Valve Basement Bar, Sydney (LICENSED ALL AGES)
12 March 2015 – The Beetle Bar, Brisbane (18+)
13 March 2015 – Griffith University, Gold Coast (ALL AGES)
14 March 2015 – Upstairs At 199, Brisbane (ALL AGES)

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Meltdown: Hot New Soul Find

Melbourne soul outfit The Meltdown have sent my temperature soaring with their smoother than smooth new single “Better Days.” The accompanying video is actually the final live take of the song. Pretty fitting that an act with such a classic sound should take such an old-school approach to their music video, don’t you think?

“Better Days” is lifted from their EP which should be released next month. They’ll play a hometown show to celebrate its release at Shebeen on March 12. This is one of those times I’d kill to live in Melbourne. Hopefully they’ll travel north for some shows soon!