Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jakubi Drop Holiday EP Ahead of Aussie, US Shows

Jakubi’s song “Couch Potato” was one of my favourite jams of 2014, so I’m thrilled to hear that their EP Holiday gets an official release today. It might have taken some time, but there’s a good reason for that. This talented Melbourne band has been working on world domination.

Last year they kept a frantic touring schedule with shows in Australia, the United States, and Canada. They’re keeping up the pace in 2015 with a string of local shows announced before the band are back stateside.

Who knows when we’ll get them back, so if you’re a fan make sure you check Jakubi out at one of the following shows. More US dates will be announced soon too, so keep your ear to the ground Americans!

26 January 2015 – Globe To Globe World Music Festival, Clayton
30 January 2015 – Cool Summer Festival, Mt. Hotham
14 February 2015 – Beachside Youth Festival, Brighton
26 February 2015 – Latrobe Uni O-Week event, Melbourne
28 February 2015 – Northcider Festival, Brunswick
8 March 2015 – Spirit Bar, Traralgon
21 March 2015 – Warrandyte Festival, Warrandyte
28 March 2015 – Forward Music Festival, Ballyrogan
22 May 2015 – Summer Camp Music Festival, Chilicothe
4-7 June 2015 – Mulberry Mountain, Ozark

Image used with permission from Create/Control

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Bay Sessions” – Bobby Alu

Bay Sessions by Bobby AluThe long weekend’s not here yet, but I’m already getting into that cruisy frame of mind thanks to Bobby Alu’s latest EP, Bay Sessions. I’m really glad that this is my first album review for the year, because this summery release is the ideal soundtrack for this time of year.

It begins with the laidback groove of “My Style,” which is something I imagine that Bob Marley might have laid down if he ever visited Motown. The tempo picks up a little in “Step.” Bobby’s as chilled as ever, but it’ll get your toes tapping.

The instrumental “Mana” references the positive spiritual force its title embodies. There’s no English translation for this term from the Pacific Islands, but if you listen to the track you’ll probably come close to understanding it. Incidentally, this song is the perfect kitchen soundtrack. It sounds weird, but I was grating carrot and zucchini for dinner last night and it was like I was at one with the music. Try it.

Bobby’s back on vocal duties for “The Day,” a gentle number about living in the moment. His ukulele is the only accompaniment for this beautifully intimate song. I struggle to pick a favourite on a recording that’s so solid, but “Something” might be it. It just feels so good: soulful and smooth and sassy.

The EP closes with “Tagi,” a Samoan chant Bobby remembers from his childhood. It’s a powerful number that sounds even more impressive when you realise Bobby doesn’t have any back-up musicians as the Samoan elders would have. It’s just him on his DIY island-style drum kit. Too cool.

I’m so passionate about this recording, so I’m thrilled that you can all hear it. Bobby is offering it for free download throughout the duration of the Bay Sessions tour. The full release will then be available for purchase at the tour’s conclusion. In keeping with Bobby’s generous spirit, the tour also features plenty of free shows too.

5 February 2015 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury (FREE)
6 February 2015 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River (FREE)
7 February 2015 – The Odd Fellow, Fremantle
8 February 2015 – Clancy’s Fish Pub, Dunsborough (FREE)
13 February 2015 – Landsdowne Hotel, Chippendale
15 February 2015 – Moonshine Bar, Manly (FREE)
20 February 2015 – Motor Room, Brisbane (FREE)
22 February 2015 – Hotel Brunswick, Brunswick Heads (FREE)
1 March 2015 – Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour (FREE)
4 March 2015 – Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne (FREE)
5 March 2015 – Shebeen, Melbourne
7 March 2015 – Sol Bar, Maroochydore
8 March 2015 –  Bleach Festival, Coolangatta (FREE)

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bonez & Barefoot Alley Bringing Back Rock

Australia has such a rich tradition of creating great rock acts, but in recent years the genre seems to have lost its way. Other than the classic acts who are still slugging it out, who was the last pub rock act that you can recall? Sydney’s Bonez and Brisbane’s Barefoot Alley consider themselves to be part of the new breed of rock, so they’re teaming up to bring the genre back to the masses on their Make a Scene tour.

Bonez have really impressed me with their new single “Lemonade,” a cleverly crafted rock track with funky vocal licks and big crunchy chords. The song’s the first lifted from the band’s soon-to-be-released EP Let’s Get Weird.

“Australia’s ready for a new scene,” explained Bonez frontman Tomi Gray. “Think the 90s grunge scene, the 80s hard rock scene. So many great bands underground toiling away around the nation. We want to be at the forefront of the revival”.

Bonez are taking Barefoot Alley along for most of the ride, a bluesy rock act with the hottest brother and sister team since the White Stripes. They recently wrapped up a team with Lepers and Crooks so they’re going to be in fine form when they hit the stage. They’re preparing to release a new single “Take a Guess” in mid-February.

If you’ve missed good Aussie rock in pubs, make sure you get out and support these exciting new acts at the following gigs.

26 January 2015 – Blues Rock Fest @ Redland Bay Hotel, Brisbane
29 January 2015 – Sonny’s House of Blues, Brisbane (Bonez only)
30 January 2015 – The Spotted Cow, Toowoomba
31 January 2015 – Sonny’s House of Blues, Brisbane
5 February 2015 – Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney (Bonez only)
6 February 2015 – Brighton Up Bar, Sydney (Bonez only)
7 February 2015 – Dicey Rileys, Wollongong (Bonez only)
19 February 2015 – Transit Bar, Canberra
20 February 2015 – El Topo, Bondi
21 February 2015 – The Pier, Port Macquarie
28 February 2015 – Captain Cook Rooftop Party, Sydney
1 March 2015 – Flow Bar, Old Bar
4 March 2015 – Hamilton Station, Wollongong
5 March 2015 – The Espy, St Kilda
6 March 2015 – Brunswick Hotel, Melbourne
7 March 2015 – The Catfish, Fitzroy
8 March 2015 – The Lucky Coq, Prahran
11 March 2015 – RAD, Wollongong
13 March 2015 – Irish McGanns, Roma
14 March 2015 – Mary’s Commercial Hotel, Dalby
15 March 2015 – Miami Shark Bar, Gold Coast
20 March 2015 – Redland Bay Hotel, Brisbane
21 March 2015 – Mojo Burning Festival, Brisbane
22 March 2015 – Sounds of Sunday, Gold Coast (Bonez only)

Image used with permission from Beats Cartel

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sally Seltmann Hopes New Song will Make You Happy

Sally Seltmann isn’t looking to change the world or even your thinking with her music these days. Her sweet new single “We Are the Music” simply wants to brighten your day.

“It’s where my head’s at right now” she explained. “I just want to make music that makes people happy.”

This is Sally’s first release since last year’s acclaimed album Hey Daydreamer. I love the direction Sally’s taken here. The lyrics are romantic without being corny, and the driving dance beat inspires me to cut loose in my lounge room. I can’t wait to hear more music like this from her.

Image used with permission from Remote Control Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Will Taylor Swift Crack Hottest 100? And Why All the Fuss?

I’ve read with interest all the hoo-ha surrounding the campaign to have Taylor Swift’s “Shake it Off” included in the Triple J Hottest 100. At the time of writing it’s unclear whether the song will be deemed ineligible due to KFC inadvertently breaking official voting rules, whether Taylor will take her place in the countdown, or whether those ardent supporters simply won’t have the numbers to see her cracking the list.

Either way, I’ve been a bit bemused by the staunch Triple J supporters who insisted that Taylor has no place in “their” countdown. I admire that sense of loyalty to an ideal of what Triple J is, but I can’t help feeling that it’s a bit misplaced here. I pay very little attention to what’s commercial and what’s not. I’ll love something because it’s good, not because it’s mainstream or underground or even Australian. And I must admit, one of the songs I loved this year was “Shake it Off.” So much so that for the first time in my life, I found myself forking over money at my local JB for a copy of 1989. “Shake it Off” deserves a place amongst the top 100 songs of the year, and to suggest otherwise seems a bit elitist to me, like pop music is somehow less valid than other genres.

Pop music might not be Triple J’s go-to genre, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t belong in their countdown if the voters want it there badly enough. Personally I struggle to see too much of a difference between “Shake it Off” and “Uptown Funk,” which everyone is sure will come close to the top 10. Is it Mark Ronson’s name attached that makes this number one smash a bit cooler? In previous years we’ve had big commercial singles like “Pretty Fly for a White Guy,” “Thrift Shop” and “Amazing” take top honours, yet no one batted an eyelid. Some argue that the song shouldn’t make the countdown because it wasn’t played on Triple J, but neither were Alanis Morissette, Green Day, Foo Fighters, and U2 songs that made the cut in the past.

So why the outrage? Does it all come down to the fact that this is a pretty young blonde singing a song without a hint of edge? Can that really be so threatening? It reeks of musical snobbery to me. Personally I hope “Shake it Off” does make the countdown. It’s one of the most well-crafted songs of the year, regardless of its genre or artist, and that’s what counts.

Image source: Angela George @ Wikimedia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

A Music Lover’s Guide to Melbourne’s Laneways

Melbourne’s laneways date back to the Victorian era, but their historical and cultural significance has only been celebrated in recent years. They take pedestrians off the well-worn roads and house a treasure trove of cool sights. Many travel companies run laneways tours, but if you’d prefer exploring them at your leisure consider this article your virtual guide.

Where to Stay?

There are plenty of hotels in Melbourne located close to Melbourne’s laneways. The Crossley Hotel Melbourne is on Little Collins Street, but just metres from the wine bars and theatres of Punch Lane. If you’d prefer to a laneways stay, book a room at Causeway Inn on the Mall or Ibis Styles Melbourne, The Victoria Hotel. While it’s got a Little Collins Street address, the Victoria’s actually on the corner of this street and Athenaeum Place.

Once you’ve got your accommodation sorted, it’s time to start exploring!

AC/DC Lane

AC/DC Lane deserves to feature on any music lover’s Melbourne itinerary. Once called Corporation Lane, it was rechristened in October 2004 in tribute to the classic Aussie rock act. The trademark lightning bolt was left off as it contravened the Office of the Registrar of Geographic Names’ policy, but 10 years after the lane got its name this decision was reversed.

While its name is a big drawcard, AC/DC Lane also attracts music lovers keen to check out shows at Cherry Bar. It claims it’s “pretty much the best rock n’ roll bar in the world,” although its soul nights also cater for people who prefer their music a little smoother.

Block Place

It’s worth wading through the alfresco cafes on Block Place to stop by Basement Discs. This store celebrates music of all types, with an extensive catalogue of new and classic rock, pop, jazz, blues, country, folk, and world music CDs and records. It’s also a great place to pick up a lovingly refurbished vintage stereo or catch a free old-school in-store appearance. Leading acts like Stephen Cummings, Jimmy Webb, Andy White, Mick Thomas, and John Scofield have all played here over the years.

Goldie Place

With news of the imminent closure of the iconic Bennett Lane Jazz Club, jazz lovers will be looking for another place to get their fix. The Paris Cat Jazz Club on Goldie Place might just fit the bill. This intimate club’s nurtured the careers of many up-and-coming Aussie jazz artists and hosted big name international acts like Robbie Williams.

Coming Soon … Amphlett Lane

While it doesn’t have its sign yet, the City of Melbourne gave approval last year for Laneway CL1639 to be renamed Amphlett Lane. The stretch between Harwood Place and Spring Street will pay tribute to the late Divinyls frontwoman, Chrissy Amphlett.

It’s a fitting spot as it’s just behind the Princess Theatre, where Chrissy played many times with the Divinyls and also appeared in The Boy from Oz. Chrissy and her husband Charlie Drayton also signed their marriage licence in the theatre.

Expect plenty of fans to take happy snaps posing with the street sign when Amphlett Lane is officially unveiled.

This article is part of the #‎HipmunkCityLove‬ project. Which Melbourne laneway do you love?

Photo by Jerrah Biggerstaff via Trover.com

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Voice’s Julian Simonsz Announces East Coast Tour

The Voice graduate Julian Simonsz has been a busy bee since his stint on the reality TV how. He released his self-titled debut EP, which features the single “I Do It For You.” The track didn’t exactly set the charts ablaze here, but it reached number two on Sri Lanka’s YESFM, the country’s leading music station, and number 17 on the iTunes singer/songwriter charts. Not bad for a song that was released with very little fanfare or mainstream support if you ask me.

After playing second fiddle to Chingy at his recent gigs and a host of festivals, Julian’s ready to step into the spotlight with his own headlining shows. The Get Home tour takes in some of the East Coast’s most acclaimed venues this March.

5 March 2015 – The Toff in Town, Melbourne
13 March 2015 – The Basement, Sydney
19 March 2015 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane

Image used with permission from 123 Agency

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Eves the Behavior Drops “TV”

Angelic vocals and powerful lyrics combine in “TV,” the new single from local synth chanteuse Eves the Behavior.

“TV is a visual song,” she explains, “Dropping off a cliff into the ocean at midnight, driving down Lost Highway, cinematic and always shifting.”
I love the way the driving drums and retro synths support Eves the Behavior’s sweet vocals. Her lyrics are also something else.

“TV” is officially released tomorrow. Eves the Behavior will be appearing at Laneway Festival 2015, so if you’ve got tickets make sure you check her out.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Siren Lines Soar with “Always the Same”

Sydney outfit Siren Lines have me tapping my feet today to their brilliant new single “Always the Same.” It’s got just the right amount of reverb, driving drums, and sublime vocals that remind me a little of Boy George’s honeyed voice. Is it just me?

I’m told Siren Lines are working at a cracking pace on their debut album, but they’ll take a little time out from the studio to celebrate the single’s release. Their East Coast tour kicks off tomorrow night in their home town.

17 January 2015 – Oxford Art Factory Gallery Bar, Sydney
31 January 2015 – The Triffid, Brisbane
7 February 2015 – The Worker’s Club, Fitzroy
8 February 2015 – The Espy, St Kilda
15 February 2015 – Bondi Open Air Cinema, Bondi

Image used with permission from Collision Course PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Smith Street Band Sticks it to Tony Abbott

I generally have a bit of an aversion to songs with title containing profanity. Call me old-fashioned, but I generally feel like it’s unwarranted and uncreative, just there to shock rather than really making any clever point. So any song with bad language in the title has a hard time convincing me it deserves a place on this blog. The Smith Street Band’s latest single “Wipe That Shit-Eating Grin Off Your Punchable Face” did just that.

This is just the sort of thought-provoking music I love to hear. The true spirit of punk music runs through the lyrics which criticise Tony Abbott and his policies on asylum seekers. It all needed to be said. And it’s not just paying lip service to the issue either. All of the digital sales until the end of February and a large part of the physical sales will benefit the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, the country’s leading organisation for asylum seekers.

Digital copies are available now, and you can pre-order the 7” single through the Poison City Records store. This is one song worth supporting.