Brisbane teen wunderkind Jeremy Neale has got my toes tapping with his immensely danceable new single “The News.” This is pure retro inspired pop brilliance, with the lovely Australian Idol graduate Roxane LeBrasse providing backing vocals. That sugary synth covered melody covers a painful core of heartbreak and loss in the best possible way.
Jeremy’s been jetsetting around the UK and Singapore this year, but he promises he’ll be back on home soil for a tour in February. Watch this space!
Lisa Mitchell Announces Acoustic Shows
After warming up with recent sold out shows in the United Kingdom, Lisa Mitchell is back on home soil and ready to tour the country in acoustic mode to support her dreamy single “Wah Ha.”
Lisa will be joined on stage by guitarist and serial collaborator Tim Harvey. These shows represent a special and rare opportunity to see Lisa doing her thing stripped back in some of the country’s best and most intimate venues.
Make sure you arrive early to see the support act East, a young artist who’s already starting to generate some serious buzz.
Tickets are on sale now for the following shows.
25 March 2015 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
27 March 2015 – Howler, Melbourne
2 April 2015 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
“Local Football” – Sleepy Dreamers
Melbourne indie-folk act Sleepy Dreamers have done it again with their sophomore EP Local Football. It’s an unassuming name, but one which really captures the down to earth nature of this recording. It’s very raw, but endearingly so, with a back-to-basics approach to songwriting that really resonates with me. So few artists tell us stories through their songs any more.
It starts so strong with “Hunk,” a plaintive number that’s so real and raw that it still gives me chills, even though I’ve heard it several times now. Sleepy Dreamers refuses to let us dwell in the dark for too long though. The EP’s other single, “Bike Song” comes next, a uplifting, almost calypso-like ditty which makes me think of steamy summer days. All too often upbeat numbers are all about danceability, but this one has a strong emotional core that ensures it’s no throwaway track.
It’s a bit risky to put the two singles up front, but it’s a testimony to just how good the band are that the second half doesn’t drag. “Red Triangle” is another raw, emotive piece with some stunning harmonies. “Gold” continues the trend, but I think the official closing track “Sleep in Stone” might be my favorite. It’s got a delicateness about it, a real beauty that speaks so eloquently about a lost relationship.
I say official closing track, because there’s a bonus song at the end, “Feathers.” Its easy alt-country vibe doesn’t quite match the rest of the EP, so the bonus track tag makes sense. It’s a decent song, but it doesn’t leave the strong impression that “Sleep in Stone” does. I’d have been tempted to leave it off as the EP prior to this was such a cohesive, emotional unit. Sometimes less is more.
It might not be the perfect EP, but Local Football comes close enough. It’s available now on Bandcamp, iTunes and Spotify.
Image used with permission from Maths and Magic
Luca Brasi Match My Mood with “Benthos”
You know those days where everything seems to annoy you? I’m having one of them. From the NRL only releasing men’s and kid’s Nines jerseys (because clearly women don’t watch) to Optus sending my new phone to my old address (despite confirming the right one when we spoke on Tuesday), my blood’s boiling. I don’t think having my hair ripped out of my face at the salon in 40 minutes is going to change my demeanour either.
Sometimes you just have to go with it, which is why “Benthos,” the new single from Tasmanian punk rockers Luca Brasi is hitting all the right notes for me today. It’s bold and angry and it makes me want to punch my fist in the air defiantly.
If you’re feeling it too, you might want to catch Luca Brasi when they tour all around the country next March.
11 March 2015 – Small Ballroom, Newcastle (FREE)
12 March 2015 – Crowbar, Brisbane
13 March 2015 – Newtown Social, Sydney
14 March 2015 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
15 March 2015 – Wrangler Studios, Melbourne (ALL AGES)
19 March 2015 – The Brisbane Hotel, Hobart
20 March 2015 – CATS @ Rocket Bar, Adelaide
21 March 2015 – Amplifier, Perth
22 March 2015 – HQ, Perth (ALL AGES)
Pulse Mavens Release Awesome New Single “No Hard Feelings”
Fresh from winning a hefty grant through the AMP Tomorrow Fund, Sydney’s Pulse Mavens have released a brand new single “No Hard Feelings.” This killer cut was written about the struggle musicians face trying to achieve their dreams in such a tough, competitive industry.
“I had the absolute pleasure of working on No Hard Feelings with Jenna McDougall from Tonight Alive and Dave Petrovic from Electric Sun. We spent a lot of time on the song, perfecting it as I felt it was a step in the right direction for our band,” explained Pulse Mavens’ lead singer Kait Hudson.
The song comes from Pulse Mavens new EP, which will be released in the New Year. Until then, hometown fans can catch Pulse Mavens performing tomorrow night at UTS Underground.
4 Best Music Videos Made in Melbourne
The musicians generally take the focus in a music video, but when the beautiful city of Melbourne features it can be just as important as the artists themselves. Here are some of my favourite music videos starring Victoria’s capital.
4. “Happy Birthday Helen” – Things of Stone and Wood
“Happy Birthday Helen” is as much a love song to the city of Melbourne as it is to Helen. The band makes their way all over the city as they name drop about the Yarra River and the Taj. It was one of my favourite songs of the ‘90s, and I think it stacks up particularly well, don’t you? The only thing that beats it might just be that awesome parody The D-Generation did on The Late Show!
3. “Chances Are” – Invertigo
Invertigo were my great Melbourne love. They released just one album, yet I lost count of the number of times I saw them rocking out in pubs and festivals around the country. They even inspired one of my Melbourne holidays!
On that particular occasion friends took me to the spot where lead singer Christian Argenti walked while sopping wet in the “Chances Are” video. My memory’s a little hazy, but something tells me it wasn’t far from the Quality Hotel Batman’s Hill on Collins. At any rate, he walked, he looked gorgeous, and I was there. This clip might not show off the best of Melbourne, but it takes me back to a great time in that city.
2. “I Wanna Be Loved” – Elvis Costello
Aussies aren’t the only ones who film their clips in Melbourne. Long before Beyonce was in Brunswick, Elvis Costello sat in a phone booth in Flinders Street Station. It sounds pretty boring on paper, but it’s fascinating watching the singer be joined by different people in the booth.
Apparently filmmaker Evan English made Elvis stay up all night before the shoot and didn’t disclose who’d join him in the booth or what they’d do. Elvis actually said “What you see isn’t actually acting; it’s genuine emotion for what it’s worth.” The clip’s surreal but also one of the best made in Melbourne.
1. “It’s a Long Way to the Top” – AC/DC
AC/DC’s classic rock clip may be the most famous music video set against the backdrop of Melbourne. Bon Scott, Angus Young, and the gang travelled down Swanston Street on a flat-bed truck, which is only fitting considering the street’s buzzing live music scene. It’s where you’ll find venues like The Hi-Fi Bar and the Toff in Town and hotels like the Rydges on Swanston.
The clip’s so iconic you might not realise it was one of two music videos recorded for the song. The second, filmed on the same day as this one, featured the group miming the song on a stage in Melbourne’s City Square. It might have the members of the Rats of Tobruk pipe band as well, but it doesn’t sound anywhere near as cool. If you want to hunt it down you’ll find it on the Backtracks box set.
This post was written as part of the #HipmunkCityLove project. What’s your favourite Melbourne music video?
Christine Anu Spreads Festive Cheer with “Island Christmas”
I don’t mean to alarm you, but Christmas is just two weeks away. If you’re stressed because there aren’t enough shopping days left and you’re dreading family get-togethers, then check out Christine Anu’s new film clip. “Island Christmas” should get you in the mood for the season as we celebrate it here in Australia. The clip definitely speaks to me a lot more than some depiction of a winter wonderland!
“Island Christmas” is the title track from Christine’s brand new Christmas album, which is in stores now.
Storm the Sky Covers The 1975
Melbourne band Storm the Sky like to rock, hard. Their usual stuff is much too heavy for my tastes, but I love the new side of themselves they’re showcasing with their unexpected cover of The 1975’s “Robbers.” There’s a little edge there, but it’s balanced out beautifully by their tender take.
I don’t expect to hear many numbers like this on their debut album Permanence, but if you love it when Storm the Sky cranks the volume the album’s out on January 16.
“Time Has Come” – 1200 Techniques
1200 Techniques new EP Time Has Come won’t drop until the New Year, so I was thrilled to enjoy a preview stream this month. I remember being so excited by this act in the 90s. I hadn’t warmed to a lot of hip hop acts, but I found the way that they combined rapping with funk and soul so accessible.
A lot has changed since then. Hip hop has well and truly been embraced by the mainstream. I wondered whether 1200 Techniques could still feel as unique in the modern musical landscape. Time Has Come gave me the answers I was looking for.
The title track and single is the ideal opener, a great reflection on the 1200 Techniques journey. It is an excellent introduction to the band for new listeners and a catch-up for the rest of us. “Undress My Soul” is so sexy cool, and “Speed of Light” should pack the dance floors. By the time I got to the closing number, “Move On,” I was enjoying myself so much I didn’t mind hearing the standard version and the DJ Peril remix. The song’s a lovely bookend to “Time Has Come,” a track which looks forward and welcomes the next chapter of the 1200 Techniques story.
Time to work on solo projects and other endeavours has undoubtedly been good for 1200 Techniques. They seem to have a new creativity and energy that should delight long-time fans and help them find a brand new audience.
1200 Techniques’ Time Has Come EP hits stores on 23 January 2015.
Image used with permission from Paris is Patient
The Lulu Raes Release Year’s Sweetest Vid
We’re not quite to the end of the year, but I don’t think we’ll see a music video that’s more fun that The Lulu Raes’ clip for “Reputation.” The Sydney four-piece take us into a colorful world with dancing lolly musicians, boomboxes, and much more. And they did it all on a budget of $16! Incredible!
The song’s also so damned likable. Just see if you’re not smiling by the end. The band’s not touring at this point, but local fans can check out not one but three hometown shows over the next two months.
12 December 2014 – Waywards (The Bank), Sydney
17 December 2014 – Beach Road Hotel, Sydney
26 December 2014 – Australia Day Concert, The Rocks