Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Optimen Get Out of Brisbane on Album Tour

Ever since Brisbane hip hop outfit The Optimen released their sophomore album The Out of Money Experience in April, we’ve been wondering when we’d see them on the road.

Our patience has paid off, with The OPees announcing a swag of dates in July and August. And the good news is that there are even more on the way! We can expect to hear tracks from the new album along with some old favourites.
Grab your tickets for the cleverly named Out of Brisbane Experience tour at the venues for the following shows!

16 July 2010 – FBi Stolen Records Gala Ball @ Gaelic Theatre, Sydney (with Koolism, Thundamentals, Ozi Batla, Daisy Meds, Phatchance feat. Coptic Soldier, Loose Change and Katalyst (DJ SET)
17 July 2010 – Transit Bar, Canberra (with D’Opus and Roshambo)
30 July 2010 – Beach Road Hotel, Sydney (with Undertown, Gabreil Clouston and Edseven)
20 August 2010 – The Espy, Melbourne (with MPhaze)
21 August 2010 – The Rocket Bar, Adelaide

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

My Fiction Announce Aussie Album Launch Tour

Brisbane quartet My Fiction promised us they’d announce more dates soon, and they don’t lie. Fans along the East Coast will get a chance to see the melodic indie rockers play through July and August.

My Fiction are hitting the road to support FireRomanceFire, their soon-to-be-released debut album which features the big single “Every June.” They’ve just released a music video for the song which you can see here!

The Queenslanders are quickly earning a reputation as a band that shouldn’t be missed live, so make sure you get along to a gig and see what all the hype’s about.

16 July 2010 – The Zoo, Brisbane (with Numbers Radio, The Belligerent, and The Judy Dolls)
17 July 2010 – Bon Amici, Toowoomba
22 July 2010 – Club Envy, Sunshine Coast
23 July 2010 – Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay (with Numbers Radio and Polaroid Fame)
31 July 2010 – Pony, Melbourne (with Radio Star and The Ravenous)
5 August 2010 – The Lansdowne, Sydney (with The Moments, The Written Crusade, and The Company)

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Spiderbait, You Am I, and More Rock Out at the Rodeo

While rodeo’s big business in America, it’s never really taken off in a mainstream way in Australia. That might be all about to change with the launch of Rodeo Rockfest, a series of events which brings the best in rodeo and Aussie rock to folks in Queensland and New South Wales.

The shows look like pretty slick productions, with the rodeo staged underneath a big top and various music stages set up to give punters their choice of acts. Those bands are first class too, with Spiderbait, The Beautiful Girls, Bluejuice, You Am I, Gyroscope, and Thirsty Merc and more scheduled to appear.

Rodeos might seem a bit cruel, but organisers say that animal lovers can rest easy.

“Safety of the riders and animals is our number one priority which is why we have introduced new safety features such as a rope arena and pull-away, shot-gun chutes,” explained Rodeo Rockfest organizer Lindsay Clarke.

I’m not sure whether bucking broncos and bull riding is my thing, but the Rodeo Rockfest is just the sort of tour that might convince me to find out.

Tickets for the following shows are available for the bands, the rodeo, or the whole event through Ticketek and the Radio Rockfest website.

30 July 2010 –Turf Club, Ipswitch (with Bluejuice and Mojo Webb)
31 July 2010 –Turf Club, Ipswitch (with Spiderbait, Salmonella Dub, and Mojo Webb)
1 August 2010 –Turf Club, Ipswitch (with Spiderbait, Salmonella Dub, and Ernest Ellis)
13 August 2010 – Showgrounds, Rockhampton (with The Beautiful Girls and The Fumes)
14 August 2010 – Showgrounds, Rockhampton (with The Beautiful Girls, 28 Days, and The Fumes)
15 August 2010 – Showgrounds, Rockhampton (with Gyroscope, 28 Days, and The Fumes)
20 August 2010 – Showgrounds, Cairns (with Thirsty Merc and Josh Rawiri)
21 August 2010 – Showgrounds, Cairns (with Bluejuice, Children Collide, and Josh Rawiri)
22 August 2010 – Showgrounds, Cairns (with Bluejuice, Children Collide, and Josh Rawiri)
10 September 2010 – Turf Club, Townsville (with Gyroscope and Ernest Ellis)
11 September 2010 – Turf Club, Townsville (with You Am I, Shihad, and Ernest Ellis)
12 September 2010 – Turf Club, Townsville (with You Am I, Shihad, and Ernest Ellis)
17 September 2010 – Showgrounds, Mackay (with Thirsty Merc and Mojo Webb)
18 September 2010 – Showgrounds, Mackay (with Thirsty Merc, Jebediah, and Mojo Webb)
19 September 2010 – Showgrounds, Mackay (with You Am I, Jebediah, and Mojo Webb)
8-10 October 2010 – National Park No. 2 Sportsground, Newcastle (bands to be announced)
22-24 October 2010 – Mt. Penang Gardens, Gosford (bands to be announced)
5-7 November 2010 – Panthers, Penrith (bands to be announced)

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Here Come the Birds Impress with New Album “Young People Never Die”

One of the things I love most about writing this blog is discovering new bands. The latest to cross my radar is Here Come The Birds, a rocking quintet from my home town of Newcastle. Since moving to the Central Coast I’ve been a bit removed from my former stomping ground, so it’s wonderful to see acts like this contributing to the city’s rich musical legacy.

Here Come The Birds have just released their new album Young People Never Die, an epic collection of cuts which fuse melodic hooks with the obligatory sense of rock rebellion. This a band that understands light and shade; they’re not afraid to explore darkness but the infectious hooks ensure it never gets too gloomy.

Young People Never Die was recorded with Forrester Savell, a producer who’s worked with the likes of Karnivool, Dead Letter Circus, Helmet, and Birds of Tokyo. He’s clearly given Here Come The Birds a bit of spit and polish, but he’s been very careful to preserve this band’s natural energy and raw honesty.

If you want to taste Here Come The Birds, I suggest heading to their website where you can download their EP just for signing up to the mailing list. If you like what you hear, don’t hesitate to pick up Young People Never Die. It’s awesome!

Image used with permission from Here Come the Birds

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Mark Sholtez Announces Aussie Theatre Tour

Ever since Mark Sholtez told me a tour was on its way, I’ve had folks asking me when it was happening. I had no answers for them, until now. Get ready music lovers, as Mark Sholtez will be playing intimate venues around the country this September.

The tour will showcase the songs from Mark’s gorgeous sophomore album The Distance Between Two Truths. You can nab your tickets for the following shows on July 14 from the usual outlets.

3 September 2010 – Studio @ Opera House, Sydney
10 September 2010 – Thornbury Theatre, Melbourne
17 September 2010 – Judith Wright Centre, Brisbane
18 September 2010 – The Governor Hindmarsh, Adelaide
24 & 25 September 2010 – Manhattans, Perth

Image source: The Harbour Agency

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jonesez Needs Your Help To Make Best Basement Video for “Best Friends”

The singles are coming thick and fast from Jonesez. Just a month after releasing “Be That Guy,” he’s unleashing “Best Friends,” the second single from the album Betty’s Soup, which will hit stores on August 6.

The single is an ode to one of Jonesez’ pals who sold pot to pay his university fees. It’s a surprisingly charming tribute to the unlikeliest of drug dealers.

The film clip will be the third in Jonesez’s Basement Videos series. He’s asking for our help to make it the best ever. Head to Kickstarter or click the widget below to donate; a $5 pledge will see your name in the film clip’s credits, while one of $1750 will earn you Jonesez’s own beloved Fender Telecaster! There are plenty of other rewards up for grabs too, so give what you can to help Jonesez pay for props, lighting, and all the other stuff that signed artists get for free!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Pat Benatar and The Bangles Team Up for Aussie Tour

This has definitely been the year of the 80s comeback tour. We’ve already seen Spandau Ballet, Tears for Fears, George Michael and Whitney Houston play, and Bon Jovi and Simply Red are yet to come. Now we can add Pat Benatar and The Bangles to the list.

Both acts really paved the way for girl pop-rock, so it’s pretty exciting to see them joining forces for Aussie shows this October. My concert calendar is already looking pretty crowded, but I might just have to find a way to squeeze them in! The prospect of hearing hits like “Love is a Battlefield,” “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” “Manic Monday,” and “Walk Like an Egyptian” all on one night is pretty tempting!

Tickets to the following shows go on sale on July 19.

20 October 2010 – Convention Centre, Brisbane
22 October 2010 – Entertainment Centre, Sydney
24 October 2010 – Entertainment Centre, Adelaide
26 & 27 October 2010 – Palais Theatre, Melbourne
31 October 2010 – Sandalford Estate, Swan Valley

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Songs from the 86 Tram” – The Bedroom Philosopher

The concept album appears to be a dying art these days, but no one told The Bedroom Philosopher. With his third studio album Songs from the 86 Tram, the man otherwise known as Justin Heazelwood has created a vivid cast of commuters.

Each song is told from the point of view of a particular character, and The Bedroom Philosopher creates these personalities beautifully. Each is incredibly realised, with a unique voice and outlook. I was particularly fond of the nan of “In My Day,” and the self-important suit of “New Media.” “Sudanese” is another stand-out, a clever satire of multicultural Australia.

While these characters are Songs from the 86 Tram greatest strength, they’re also its biggest weakness. I found it quite difficult to understand the voices of many of the figures; they speak too softly, or too quickly, or with accents that I can’t quite grab onto. The music too tends to overwhelm the lyrics at times, making it difficult to pick up each and every word. There were other instances where I felt I was simply out of the loop. Perhaps it comes from living my life in suburban New South Wales, as a friend from Melbourne insists this album is one of the greatest he’s encountered. However I found that Victorian-centric approach difficult to embrace. Comedy is all about the message, and when you can’t communicate it – whether the message isn’t heard or simply not understood – that humour is lost.

Having said that, there’s a lot to like about The Bedroom Philosopher and his Songs from the 86 Tram. Musically it’s incredibly strong, and there are some genuinely funny moments. This is a very clever disc, but it might not be as clever as it thinks it is.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Laura Imbruglia Shows Her Lighter Side

Natalie might grab all the headlines, but her sister Laura Imbruglia has been quietly plugging away at her musical career for years. Something tells me that’s exactly how she likes it.

She’ll release her new single “I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend” on July 5, the first cut from her second album Lighter Side Of … The single’s playful video sees the Catholic-raised Laura break every commandment in the book, and a few besides including Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbour’s boyfriend and Thou Shalt Not Play Handball with Poor Co-Ordination! We’ll get a sneak peek of the clip when it makes its debut on Laura’s MySpace page on July 2.

If you want to see more rule breaking from Laura Imbruglia check her out each Wednesday in August at the Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills. She’ll be donning a different hat each night; see Country Laura, Karaoke Laura, and other alter egos at the following shows!

4 August 2010 – Acoustic Laura: Acoustic & Lonesome
11 August 2010 – Country Laura: Classic Country Covers
18 August 2010 – Band Laura: Rocken Like Dokken
25 August 2010 – Karaoke Laura: Hosting a night of Karaoke

Image used with permission from Reckoning Entertainment