Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Mitchell Smith Exits The X Factor

Tonight I finally got my wish as Mitchell Smith departed The X Factor. That sounds kind of mean, but honestly I felt that under the guidance of Kyle Sandilands, Mitchell was as good as he was going to get. Kyle still didn’t seem to appreciate the kind of artist Mitchell really was, so we were never going to see him improve.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 24: Kyle Sandilands appears on the 2Day FM Kyle and Jackie O Breakfast show at World Square on September 24, 2008 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Gaye Gerard/Getty Images)


Having said that, I think Natalie needs to work fast to help India-Rose Madderom cut through. She seems like a lovely girl with a lovely voice, but there’s just something about her that isn’t really resonating. It’s all just a bit bland.

Next week the finalists will be tackling the brilliant theme of “Songs from the Movies.” Let’s just hope they can live up to it!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“TheStoryOfMyLife” – Tenda McFly

Just as you can’t judge a book by its cover you can’t judge a rapper by his name. The moniker Tenda McFly is a bit naff, but the Brisbane based rapper behind it is one of the most accessible and inventive I’ve heard in some time.

The use of indie pop tunes in his latest release TheStoryOfMyLife makes the music particularly different, whether he’s taking a small sample or remixing an entire song as with Regina Spektor’s “Fidelity” or “Popular” from the musical Wicked. I’d never have imagined a rapper would turn to Broadway for inspiration, but I’m thrilled that he did. It’s very cool. But Tenda McFly doesn’t have to look to the work of others to impress. His tune “Welcome” is a real standout, summery and playful.

It’ll probably take a few listens before I catch all the rapid-fire lyrics, but I have a feeling it’ll be worth the effort. Some of the sexual references get a bit tiresome, sounding almost like the diary entries of a hormonal teenage boy, but there’s enough other, more interesting content to divert our attentions.

Tenda McFly calls TheStoryOfMyLife a mixtape, which is perhaps a more fitting title than an album. Just like any good mixtape it reveals much about the creator and his place in the world, whether he’s buying fake Raybans from eBay or scouting for girls. So often rap music spends so much time commentating about the world around that it forgets the person in the center of it. There’s an intimacy here that I really warm to, and which makes TheStoryOfMyLife worth a few listens. It’s available for free download through Tenda McFly’s Bandcamp page.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The X Factor Rocks

This week The X Factor contestants came ready to rock. But did they succeed?

Sally Chatfield started the show with a bang with Paramore’s “Decode.” I agree with Ronan that it was a bit safe, but when she delivers it’s hard to be too critical. I thought she definitely brought her own flavour to it and sounded brilliant.

I was so inspired and hopeful while watching Mitchell Smith’s package, listening to him speak about how he’d gone walkabout and was coming back to the music he loved. But his performance of “Jessie’s Girl” let me down all over again. I am the biggest 80s loving Rick Springfield fan, but this just wasn’t the song for him. I can enjoy anyone doing this song, but it also felt cheesy and a bit artificial. It was just okay for me, and any points I gave it are mostly because I love the song.

Hayley Teal brought things back with Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love.” She’s such a sexy girl, but I felt like this is the first time we’ve had a performance to match that sex appeal. It was smouldering and natural and just sublime. She might have always envisioned herself as the soul girl, but I think there’s a rock chick begging to be explored.
Continue reading “The X Factor Rocks” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

More Magic from That 1 Guy

Have you heard of That 1 Guy? Otherwise known as Mike Silverman, That 1 Guy takes the concept of a one-man band to the next level with his incredible Magic Pipe.

It sounds like a piece of drug paraphernalia, but in reality it’s a seven-foot tall collection of swiveling pipes, metal gears, bass strings, and buttons all connected by a rainbow of coloured wires. If you’re having trouble picturing that just check out this video!

That 1 Guy’s coming at you with a brand new album Packs a Wallop, which does just what it says. It was recorded in Atlanta, Georgia with Billy Hume, who’s worked with the likes of Nelly and Ludacris. It was an interesting creative process for That 1 Guy, as for the first time he went into the studio with ideas rather than fully fledged tracks.

“I went in there with zero – nothing finished – and I lived there for a month,” he explained. “It was really hard work, really long days, and I forced myself to craft some stuff.”

The new approach worked, as Packs a Wallop is perhaps That 1 Guy’s most spontaneous and creative work.

“Human beings do our best work when we’re challenged and pushed up against the wall,” he said. “By nature, we’re hunters and gathers, spending each day looking for the next meal. It’s easy to be lazy when you don’t have to come up with something creative right away.”

That 1 Guy is bringing the new songs, and a brand new pipe, to the people at the following shows. Make sure you arrive early to catch the amazing Mr. Percival at all but the Port Macquarie and regional Victoria shows.

18 November 2010 – The Transit Bar, Canberra
19 November 2010 – AWME Festival @ The Edge, Federation Square, Melbourne
20 November 2010 – Republic Bar, Hobart
21 November 2010 – Republic Bar, Hobart
24 November 2010 – Fly By Night, Fremantle
25 November 2010 – Governor Hindmarsh, Adelaide
26 November 2010 – Pier Hotel, Frankston
27 November 2010 – Shine On Festival, Ballarat
28 November 2010 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
29 November 2010 – The Brewery, Byron Bay
1 December 2010 – Villa Noosa, Noosa
2 December 2010 – Miami Sharks, Gold Coast
3 December 2010 – Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns
4 December 2010 – Globe Theatre, Brisbane
5 December 2010 – Cambridge Tavern, Newcastle
8 December 2010 – Gearin Hotel, Katoomba
9 December 2010 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
10 December 2010 – Factory Theatre, Sydney
11 December 2010 – Festival Of The Sun, Port Macquarie
27 December 2010 – 1 January 2011 – Woodford Folk Festival, Woodfordia

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Free Ryan Meeking

We all love something for nothing, right? And that’s especially true when it’s good music!

Ryan Meeking’s delivering with a free download of his new song “This Time” for everyone who signs up to his mailing list. Now I suppose you could argue that if you’ve gone to the effort of joining his list, it’s the least he could do. But with Ryan promising to keep us updated with his tour schedule, new releases, and other goings on I think it’s a pretty good deal.

And besides, the tune is just the kind of organic acoustic goodness that we all need on a Saturday!

Image source: Premier Artists

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Get Ready for Summer with The Rooftops

Are you all getting excited about summer? It’s so close that I can feel it. I put on one of my favourite sun dresses last week, and was so thrilled to be able to step out with bare legs! If you’re not in a summery mood yet, Brisbane band The Rooftops should get you there with their new single “Something So Familiar.”

If you want to give it a listen just head to their website to download it for free from the main page. I love it when a band is so generous, particularly when they’re this good. That infectious groove and rich brassy sound are music to my ears, so to speak!

“Something So Familiar” comes from the band’s forthcoming third album, which only makes me wonder where they’ve been all my life! If you dig them, you can catch them doing their thing live at the following shows.

22 October 2010 – The Spotted Cow, Toowoomba
23 October 2010 – The Armidale Club, Armidale
29 October 2010 –The Renaissance Festival, Melbourne
30 October 2010 – The Brunswick Hotel, Melbourne
5 November 2010 – The Queens Arms, Adelaide
6 November 2010 – The Jetty Bar, Glenelg
12 November 2010 – Front Gallery, Canberra
13 November 2010 – The Mac, Sydney
14 November 2010 – The Junkyard, Maitland
19 November 2010 – The Loft, Gold Coast
20 November 2010 – The Club House, Brisbane
4 December 2010 – Bump Nights, Noosa

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Glenn Esmond’s Bit on the Side

The Butterfly Effect’s Glenn Esmond has a brand new band. He’s currently broadening his horizons with the new act A Family of Strangers.

The outfit came to be when Glenn found himself coming up with new songs that didn’t quite fit with TBE. The solution was obvious; he needed to create a new one.

“A Family of Strangers has been a fantastic opportunity for me to go back to basics and create something from the ground up. I wrote and recorded the songs, I’m promoting the music and I’m managing myself,” Glenn explained. “The satisfaction of heading back to the beginning, trying some new ideas and building it up from a grassroots level is pretty immense. The idea of these songs being heard and resonating with an audience is exciting to me and so, more than anything, this debut EP is about paying dues and getting out there to people one on one and connecting.”

Side projects can be a bit hit and miss, but I love this song “Don’t Forget,” from A Family of Strangers’ forthcoming EP New Techniques for Beginners and Champions. It’s got such an epic, melodic rock sound. It’s a bit more commercial than a lot of The Butterfly Effect stuff, but that only makes it that more accessible. If this is a taste of what’s to come when the EP hits stores on November 12, we’re all in for a treat.

If you like what you hear, you can check out the rest of the tunes when the band plays live in Queensland and Victoria next month.

5 November 2010 – Hard Rock Cafe, Surfer’s Paradise
6 November 2010 – X&Y Bar, Brisbane
11 November 2010 – Bended Elbow, Geelong
12 November 2010 – Evelyn Hotel, Melbourne
13 November 2010 – Pelly Bar, Frankston

Image used with permission from Stephen Green Consulting

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Paper Scissors Tour “Lung Sum” Single

Sydney indie rockers The Paper Scissors are busy travelling about the country in support of “Lung Sum,” the first single from their sophomore album In Loving Memory. This is great stuff; really original and melodic and quirky. Take a listen!

The lads will showcase tracks from their forthcoming album release, and of course a few old favourites, at the following shows. If you like what you hear make sure you get out there and support them!

15 October 2010 – Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne
21 October 2010 – Lambda Lambda Lambda, Brisbane
22 October 2010 – Great Northern, Byron Bay
23 October 2010 – Clubhouse, Toowoomba
29 October 2010 – Hermann’s, Sydney
5 November 2010 – Curtin University, Perth

Image used with permission from Stephen Green Consulting

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Doves and Kool & The Gang Announced for Playground Weekender

Doves and Kool & The Gang will head up the 2011 line up for Playground Weekender.

Next year’s festival has a really interesting bill, with international acts De La Soul, Kate Nash, Caribou, and Roy Ayers joining local acts Hungry Kids of Hungary, Danimals, and Strange Talk. More bands will be added to the line-up in the coming months.

It’s all happening in a picturesque spot near the Hawkesbury River from February 17 to 20. Tickets go on sale on October 18, and are strictly limited to keep things feeling chill. I’d get in early if I were you, as there are big savings on the three and four-day first release tickets.

Image used with permission from Light Parade

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

One Last Brittle Tour for 2010

Alternative rock act Brittle will take to the road one more time this year to promote their current EP, The Owls, which is still available for free digital download through the band’s website.

I figured after the massive 22-date run they did earlier this year they’d be exhausted, but I guess not! It seems these lads live to be on the stage, with lead vocalist Ben “Tokyo” Whiting commenting, “We are a band that is driven by playing live. If you like our band you MUST see us live!!”

You’ve been told! Make sure you arrive early to the following shows to check out the support acts Ikarii and Click on Colour too!

19 November 2010 – The Barn, Bayswater (18+)
21 November 2010 – Fist2Face, Ringwood (All Ages)
24 November 2010 – The Great Northern Hotel, Newcastle (18+)
26 November 2010 – St James Hotel, Sydney (18+)
27 November 2010 – Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne (Under 18s)
27 November 2010 – Revellers, Melbourne (18+)
11 December 2010 – The National Hotel, Geelong (18+)

Image used with permission with AAA Entertainment