Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Van Halen and Alice Cooper Join Soundwave Revolution

As if the line-up for Soundwave Revolution wasn’t already big enough, organisers have a few more big names to the bill. Van Halen and Alice Cooper will bring some much needed old-school cred to proceedings.

The presence of both artists is sure to excite fans. This is the first time David Lee Roth has performed with his Van Halen bandmates in Oz, and Alice is set to showcase his Welcome Two My Nightmare album. I’m crossing my fingers for some side shows, as I have a feeling the Soundwave set isn’t going to be enough for me!

Hole, Bad Religion, Danzig, and Sisters of Mercy are also amongst the new additions to the bill. They’ll join Dashboard Confessional, Panic! At the Disco, The Used, Face to Face, Yellowcard and a bunch of other acts on this travelling festival tour.

No doubt all those new announcements are going to escalate the frenzy when tickets go on sale on June 2.

24 September 2011 – Brisbane
25 September 2011 – Sydney
30 September 2011 – Melbourne
1 October 2011 – Adelaide
3 October 2011 – Perth

Image source: Samboob @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Delta Goodrem Impresses on American “Dancing with the Stars”

Delta Goodrem got a lucky break recently, when she was asked to sing “I’m Not Ready,” her new duet with Michael Bolton, on America’s Dancing With the Stars. The unlikely duo stepped up when Adele pulled out of the slot due to illness.

The song’s a bit predictable and over-the-top, but I expect little else from a Michael Bolton production. It’s a great showcase for Delta’s vocals though, and with the ratings DWTS gets abroad it could be just the thing to launch her into the big time.

Dmitry Chaplin’s chest isn’t too bad either. Yes, this video really does have something for everybody!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

[Me]’s Live Music Month, and New Shows

Melbourne rockers [Me] are feeling pretty generous this month. They’ve dubbed May Live Music Month, and are handing out free live tracks to their fans.

To score the songs you simple need to click the download button above or add your details to the band’s e-mail list via their website. Then just wait for the tunes to roll in! Each download includes cover art hand-drawn by local artist Steve Walker and access to a community page to chat about the songs.

But that’s not the end of [Me]’s altruism. They’re also offering their Facebook fans a whole bunch of bonuses. Simply “like” the band to receive a free download of the EP track “Carousel,” access to the fan-exclusive video for the EP’s title track “Naked,” a free desktop wallpaper, and a 10% discount on [Me] merchandise.

After the band’s shown you so much love, isn’t it about time that you gave them something back? There’s no better way to thank the lads for all their freebies than catching them in the flesh. [Me] will play the following shows next month to support their Naked EP release.

10 June 2011 – Tone, Surry Hills
12 June 2011 – The Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Until Morning Comes” – Cilla Jane

Suffering from a bad case of Mondayitis, I needed something to ease me back into my working week. I found it in Until Morning Comes, the delightful sophomore effort from Melbourne singer-songwriter Cilla Jane.

The follow-up to her acclaimed debut When the Night Falls is like a fine wine, the sort of music that will appeal to discerning ears and only gets better on each listen. Cilla gets to the heart of the song, refusing to muddy it with too many instruments or too much studio trickery. This is an organic recording, where Cilla Jane’s lyrics and sweet, ethereal vocals are allowed to speak for themselves.

I loved the honesty of her words, the pictures she paints and the universality of her lyrics. I was also impressed by her musicianship. Looking through the CD sleeve I realized she wasn’t just the words and voice behind this recording; she was there strumming away on acoustic and electric guitars, playing the piano and glockenspiel too. This album is clearly her baby, and that commitment to the songs and the recording that houses them shines through. This isn’t about fulfilling record company obligations or selling volumes; it’s about making music that touches the listener.

It’s hard to pick highlights on an album that fits together so cohesively, but a few tracks made my heart beat a little faster. I loved the playful keyboard backbeat and optimistic longing of “Back to Me” and the gentle bluegrass notes of “Pot of Gold.” “Made of Glass” is also just beautiful, with its stunning imagery and genuinely affecting vocals mixed so sweetly with brass tones.

Cilla Jane has created a stunning album in Until Morning Comes, one that goes against the grain with exquisite lyrics, breathtaking vocals, and real heart. She’s currently touring it around the country. You’re in for a special night if you attend the following shows.

21 May 2011 – The Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
4 June 2011 – The Venue @ Salamanca Arts Centre, Hobart
11 June 2011 – The Wheatsheaf Hotel, Adelaide
25 June – Bar 303 , Northcote
6 July 2011 – The Vanguard, Sydney
9 July 2011 – The Front, Canberra

Image source: The Dwarf

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Paper Scissors Tour “In Loving Memory”

“Lung Sum” was one of my favorite tracks of 2010, so I’m thrilled to see The Paper Scissors, the men behind the tune, finally releasing that new album. In Loving Memory will hit stores around the country June 17.

This disc sounds right up my alley as it breaks away from those collections of three-and-a-half minute singles. Instead it paints epic rock soundscapes which explore the universal themes of love, family, death, and sex.

“We’ve shed any insecurities and have pieced together an album that embodies us as a band,” explained singer-songwriter Jai Pyne. “The way our sound has evolved and the fact that it reflects our learning and growth explains why it’s taken so long to realise this album.”

Thankfully the Sydney band is making up for lost time with a full-scale album tour. Tickets are available from the venues for the following shows.

17 June 2011 – Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney
18 June 2011 – Transit Bar, Canberra
24 June 2011 – East Brunswick Club, Melbourne
25 June 2011 – Jive, Adelaide
1 July 2011 – Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay
2 July 2011 – Step Inn, Brisbane
13 July 2011 – Beach Road Hotel, Bondi
15 July 2011 – Great Northern Hotel, Newcastle
16 July 2011 – Brass Monkey, Cronulla

Image used with permission from Stephen Green Consulting

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Cat Empire’s Felix Riebl Readies First Solo Album

Felix Riebl shows us what he can do without his Cat Empire mates with the release of his first solo album Into the Rain.

The solo effort sees Felix stripping the music back and focusing on the songs and their stories, an approach which definitely resonates with me. It’s going to be interesting to see what Felix sounds like when he’s not buoyed by all that brass, but I’m pretty excited to find out.

We’ll get our first taste of the album when the single “Wide Open Rivers” hits the internet on June 3. That should tide us over until the album release on July 15.

Image used with permission from Two Fish Out of Water

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Dead Leaves Cover Talking Heads


Melbourne band The Dead Leaves have got me excited about their debut album with the release of a teaser track, a cover of the Talking Heads hit “This Must Be the Place.”

It’s a more atmospheric take on the song, with some really lush instrumentation and amazing vocals that really get to the heart of the tune. It must have been a daunting task to take on a song by such an iconic band, but The Dead Leaves have really impressed me here. It’s controversial to say it improves on the original, but it definitely holds its own.

The as-yet-untitled album was recorded with the assistance of producers Scott Horscroft (The Presets, Birds of Tokyo, The Panics) and Eric J Dubowsky (Art vs Science, Weezer). Listen out for guest vocals from the lovely Gin Wigmore and Emma Louise.

We can expect to see The Dead Leaves’ album in stores in the next few months. In the meantime, let this wash over you!

Image used with permission from Remedy Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Remember Mum on Mother’s Day

I really hope you’re going to spend time with your mother tomorrow, or at least give her a phone call. But if you’re too lazy to do that, Warner Music’s made it easy to touch base with her.

The record label has put together a cute Mother’s Day website where you can send e-cards featuring some of her favourite singers, including Michael Buble, Josh Groban, and Patrizio Buane.

Best of all, everyone who sends a card can win a trip to Melbourne to see James Blunt. You’d just better take her along if you win!

Image used with permission from Warner Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Mission in Motion Tour “What Do You Do”

No one can accuse The Mission in Motion of sitting on their laurels. It’s only May but already the Sydney based band has played their local Big Day Out festival and shows along the east coast. Now with the release of their new single “What Do You Do,” The Mission in Motion are preparing to travel even further afield with a national tour.

“What Do You Do” is the third single released from the band’s acclaimed debut Somewhere Safe. It showcases a softer side of this rock outfit, with acoustic guitars and stripped back percussion drawing attention to the amazing vocals of Caitlin Harnett. You can download the track for free now at The Mission in Motion’s Bandcamp page.

The Mission in Motion will kick off the tour in Melbourne tonight before traveling to all the major capitals and a few select regional towns. Here are all the places you can catch them!

6 May 2011 – The East Brunswick Club, Melbourne (18+)
7 May 2011 – Fowlers Live, Adelaide (Licensed/All Ages)
14 May 2011 – The Zoo, Brisbane (18+)
21 May 2011 – Amplifier Bar, Perth (18+)
22 May 2011 – Mojo’s, Fremantle (18+)
27 May 2011 – The Oxford Art Factory, Sydney (18+)
28 May 2011 – Blush Nightclub, Gosford (18+)

Image source: The Mission in Motion Bandcamp page

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Moniters Promote “Sex City Lovers” with East Coast Tour

The Moniters are on the move to promote their debut EP Sex City Lovers. The band will play a string of shows along the East Coast over the next couple of months, starting with tonight’s hometown gig in Brisbane.

This track “Lights Go Down” gives us a taste of what we can expect from this outfit. It’s a little bit angsty with a real focus on melody, something like I expect the lovechild of Placebo and Duran Duran might sound like. I’m really digging the wailing guitars and dark, brooding vocals. That’s not surprising though, because I was also impressed by the band’s debut single “Exit the System” last September.

If you like what you hear there are more songs on the band’s MySpace page, or better yet, get yourself along to one of the following gigs!

6 May 2011 – Beetle Bar, Brisbane
14 May 2011 – Spotted Cow, Toowoomba
3 June 2011 – Kings Beach Tavern, Caloundra
9 June 2011 – The Armidale Club, Armidale
10 June 2011 – Great Northern, Newcastle
11 June 2011 – Lansdowne Hotel, Sydney
15 June 2011 – The Empress, Melbourne
22 July 2011 – Rics Bar, The Valley

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash