Courtney Barnett Wins Me Over with “Depreston”

It’s taken a long time for me to “get” Courtney Barnett. I’d see her kicking goals in the U.S. and people raving about her here, but couldn’t quiet see what they saw. I appreciated her quirky songwriting and musicality, but I was missing the emotional connection I need to get really invested. However, I found it with her new single “Depreston,” an ode to a bargain-priced estate sale home and the memories it holds in Preston, Victoria.

“Depreston” is the follow up to “Pedestrian At Best,” and both tracks are lifted from her long-awaited debut album Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, which hits stores tomorrow. Courtney’s playing SXSW, but she’ll be back on home soil to promote the album with a national tour in May. Teeth & Tongue will support Courtney at the following shows.

24 April 2015 – Wrestpoint, Hobart
1 May 2015 – The Gov, Adelaide
2 May 2015 – The Bakery, Perth
8 May 2015 – The Metro, Sydney
9 May 2015 – The HiFi, Brisbane
15 & 16 May 2015 – The Forum, Melbourne

The Money Go Round Release Winning Clip for “Velvet Sky (Reprise)”

Bondi band The Money Go Round have just released the video for the new single “Velvet Sky (Reprise),” and it’s an early contender for best video of the year. Its magical animation thoroughly charmed me. I’ll never look at the little men on signs quite the same way again!

This song is well overdue, as the band haven’t released anything since 2013. Releasing a claymation video which took more than a year to complete might have something to do with it, but that’s not the whole story. They also had a string of lineup changes in the last couple of years, so it’s great to see them back on track.

Prog Rock Royalty Becomes Three Tonne Deep

Local progressive rock act Three Tonne Deep are making a splash with their debut single “Time.” Perhaps that’s not surprising though, as the band are something of a supergroup: Forbes McKail (Rook, The Khyber Belt), Clint Vincent (Dead Letter Circus, Melodyssey), Scott Davey (ex-Dead Letter Circus, Mr Hyde) and Govinda Doyle (ARIA Award winning producer).

The song’s as epic as you’d expect from musicians of this pedigree. I love the way it blends Eastern influences with those delay-soaked guitar melodies. The empassioned vocals are also some of the best you’ll hear. If you’re a drummer, you can play along at home, as the band’s made the drum chart available for free download.

Are you excited to hear more from these talented prog rockers?

Isaiah B Brunt Brings Back Real Blues

With a name like Isaiah B Brunt, it’s not surprising that the Sydneysider is making blues the way it was supposed to be. He’s got this mellow Delta groove in his music that hearkens back to the greats. When he set about recording his debut album Just the Way That it Goes, he knew New Orleans was the only place to be. I haven’t been lucky enough to hear any of the album tracks, but his cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Hear My Train A Comin’” is pretty magical.

The album drops on March 26, when he’s launch it at Spring Street Social in Bondi Junction. The album launch is set to be a pretty special night with Isiah performing some acoustic songs along with tracks with a full band. Be there or be square!

Asta Embraces Inner Diva with “Dynamite”

Triple J Hugh School Unearthed graduate Asta is moving up to the big leagues with the release of her new single “Dynamite.”

It’s ridiculously catchy, which should come as no surprise because it was co-written by Andrew Klippel who had a hand in hits from Human Nature, Euphoria, and Lash back in the day. Andrew also worked with Chaka Khan and Earth Wind & Fire, which explains the single’s disco diva vibe.

That 80s soul influence is tempered by guest rapping from Allday. It’s an unlikely pairing, but one that works brilliantly here.

You can find out more about what Asta’s all about when she launches “Dynamite” at the following shows.

26 March 2015 – Tasmanian International Arts Festival Spiegeltent, Hobart
27 March 2015 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
28 March 2015 – The Hills are Alive, Kernot
2 April 2015 – Newtown Social Club, Newtown

YouTube Sensation BriBry Announces Aussie Tour

I must admit, I’m a little out of the YouTube loop. I’m fascinated by the fact that people can become celebrities and amass thousands of followers because they post amateur videos, but I couldn’t tell you the handles of any of them. So when I discovered that Irish YouTube sensation BriBry was planning to tour the country, I figured I’d check him out. Apparently he’s been here twice before when he sold out shows, so it seems I might be one of the last ones to discover his genius.

I intended to watch just one video to get a taste of what he does, but I think I’ve watched around 10 clips now: original songs, cover version, and candid clips where he speaks to his future child and shows viewers his apartment. I’m thoroughly charmed, both by his music and his personality. Knowing that he donates all his YouTube revenue to charity just makes him that much sweeter. He actually founded his own non-profit #CutCakeNotWrists to help young people dealing with depression. Could he be any more wonderful?

BriBry will tour Australia with his equally talented fiancé Candice and fellow YouTube sensation Dodie Clark. Here are all the places you can see him play.

26 June 2015 – Fowlers Live, Adelaide
27 June 2015 – Old Museum, Brisbane
28 June 2015 – The Lair @ Metro Theatre, Sydney
29 June 2015 – Wrangler Studios, Melbourne

Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment

Columbus Tour East Coast

Brisbane punk band Columbus have really impressed me with the heartfelt vocals and razor-sharp lyrics showcased on their new EP Home Remedy. It seems I’m not the only one, as the band has just signed a deal with North American booking agency The Agency Group, who represent guys like Less than Jake and Anti Flag.

But before the boys take off to the States, they’ll play some local shows along the East Coast. Entry is $10 for all gigs except for Toowoomba which is free.

17 April 2015 – Captain Cook Hotel, Sydney
18 April 2015 – Small Ballroom, Newcastle
23 April 2015 – The Workers Club, Melbourne
1 May 2015 – The Spotted Cow, Toowoomba (FREE)
9 May 2015 – The Foundry, Brisbane

Image used with permission from Habit Music Company

Skipping Girl Vinegar Encourage Us to Dance

After a massive week, I feel like I’ve well and truly earned my weekend. Skipping Girl Vinegar have created the perfect soundtrack for today’s revelries too: their latest single “Dance Again.” It’s such a great high-energy, positive song that encourages you to get on your feet and jump around.

It’s our first taste of Skipping Girl Vinegar’s forthcoming album The Great Wave. Punters will get a sneak peek of more material when the band takes to the Bluesfest stage this April.

We Do This Do It Well

Indie pop act We Do This hail from Adelaide, but they’re a pretty international affair. Daniel Colagrossi is a local, but his John De Michele hails from the United States and J. Tortabu’s from Venezuela.

While such diverse influences you might expect the band to have a bit of a world music flavour, but their brand of indie pop reminds me a whole lot of The Cure.

The new single “I’m Not Going Anywhere” gives us our first taste of the band’s forthcoming EP Fault Lines, which gets an Australian and American release in May.

Super Best Friends Sound Off with “Dog Whistling”

Punk music has a rich tradition of challenging the status quo and criticising social injustices. So it’s great to see Super Best Friends taking up the baton with their latest single “Dog Whistling,” a scathing attack on xenophobia and the government’s “Stop the Boats” campaign. The vocals are more than a little rough, but the lyrics cut through.

“Dog Whistling” comes from Super Best Friends’ debut album Status Updates, which will hit stores on March 20. The band will support its release with the following local shows.

26 March 2015 – The Old Bar, Melbourne
27 March 2015 – The Bakery, Perth
28 March 2015 – 459 Bar, Perth
29 March 2015 – Hyperfest, Perth (ALL AGES)
9 April 2015 – Oxford Arts Factory Gallery Bar, Sydney N
10 April 2015 – Transit Bar, Canberra
11 April 2015 – Rad, Wollongong
15 April 2015 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
16 April 2015 – The Black Swan Hotel, Bendigo
17 April 2015 – Crown & Anchor, Adelaide
18 April 2015 – The Reverence Front Bar, Melbourne
23 April 2015 – Ric’s Bar, Brisbane
24 April 2015 – Byron Bay Brewery, Byron Bay
25 April 2015 – 4ZZZ Punk Party, Fortitude Valley (ALL AGES)
26 April 2015 – Sounds of Sunday, Broadbeach Tavern, Gold Coast