Merry Christmas to all my Oz Music Scene readers! I hope you’re all stuffing yourselves silly, playing with shiny new toys, and spending time with loved ones.
To celebrate and spread a little festive cheer I thought I’d post this clip of Tripod performing “Fabien” from one of my favourite Christmas albums, For the Love of God. Enjoy!
The Wellingtons are spreading some festive cheer by offering free downloads of their Christmas track, “I Guess It’s Christmas.”
This is another slice of energetic power-pop from the Melbourne band who gave us the current radio hit “Come Undone.”
Just head to the Dust Devil Music site and click on the link at the top of the page to grab the free tune!
Image source: Premier Artists
Rose Tattoo guitarist and founding member Mick Cocks has lost his battle with liver cancer. He passed away in a Sydney hospital, just eight months after being diagnosed with the disease.
“We’re very sad to announce that Rose Tattoo founding member and guitarist Mick Cocks lost his battle against liver cancer and passed away today, on December 22th,” a statement posted on the band’s website yesterday read.
The band’s manager Stephen White called Mick a “true Australian rocker.”
“It is devastating. You know, what can you say though?” he told Fairfax Radio Network. “Mick got ill about a year ago and it was looking pretty good for a while but he got very ill.”
The band’s having a rough trot of late. Mick is the fourth member of the band to die in just three years, following the deaths of Ian Rilen and Pete Wells in 2006 and Lobby Loyde in 2007. My thoughts are with the remaining members of the band, and Mick’s family.
Image source: The Harbour Agency
The Avett Brothers are the latest act to announce a couple of Bluesfest sideshows.
Their name might not be familiar, but after several tours with Dave Matthews Band they’re destined to become one of 2010’s big things. Their unique rootsy sound has been described by the San Francisco Chronicle as having the “heavy sadness of Townes Van Zandt, the light pop concision of Buddy Holly, the tuneful jangle of the Beatles, the raw energy of the Ramones.” That’s some blend!
The North Carolina-based band are out here to promote their latest album I And Love And You, which hits stores on February 19.
Make sure you catch The Avett Brothers at the following shows. Sideshow tickets are available through Ticketek.
2 & 3 April 2010 – Byron Bay Bluesfest
5 April 2010 – Factory Theatre, Sydney
6 April 2010 – Prince Bandroom, Melbourne
Image source: ZUMA Press
Keith Urban showed he’s one of music’s genuine nice guys by buying a teenager a new guitar pedal.
The Nashville-based country singer was shopping at Brisbane’s Tym Guitars when he noticed the teenager playing with the fuzz pedal.
“Keith came back down the counter and was chatting away and had picked out a guitar he liked,” store owner Tym Brennan recounted to ABC Radio. “He had heard the kid trying out the pedal for some time and he just leaned over and whispered, ‘How much is the pedal that kid’s looking at?’ “I said, ‘It’s $450, it’s not a cheap one’, and he just whispered, ‘Put it on my card.’
“Obviously I was quite shocked.
“I said, ‘Do you want me to tell him?’, and he said, ‘No, wait ’til I leave.'”
Keith shook the boy’s hand, wished him a merry Christmas, and left. Once the store owner gave him the happy news, the young kid promptly called his dad to say Keith Urban had bought him a birthday present.
What a cool story!
Image source: Pacific Coast News
On Saturday night Wes Carr and Ian Moss wound up their touring partnership with a show at Davistown RSL. This Central Coast club seemed an unlikely choice for such a significant gig. The buzzing acoustics, the likes of which you’d never hear in a more upmarket venue, filled me with early trepidation. But as the night wore on it I forgot about the imperfections and had a fantastic time.
Wes Carr kicked off the night with a passionate acoustic set. Considering his set drew not from his Australian Idols covers repertoire but from his debut album The Way The World Looks, Wes won over the audience remarkably quickly. It didn’t take long for him to pack the dance floor with folks who may not have known the music, but appreciated the tunes all the same. His bluesy take on “Jumping Jack Flash” was a highlight for the predominantly older crowd, but for me personal favorite “Hurricanes” and the energetic “Feels Like Woah” were something special. I also loved a new song he wrote with Josh Pyke; I can’t wait to see what else came out of that writing session.
It was clear that this was an audience that wanted to party, and Mossy picked up on that. I’ve seen him in acoustic mode for the last few tours, so hearing him electric again was almost a shock. But boy that man can rock. He performed some of the most upbeat tracks from his latest covers album Soul on West 53rd, along with some of his best loved solo and Cold Chisel classics.
The acoustic guitar came out every now and again, but for the most part the evening was about rocking out. Personally I wish he’d played some of the slower cuts; his covers of “Let’s Stay Together” and “What Becomes of the Broken Hearted” are incredible. But I can’t fault Mossy for giving the people what they wanted!
A spontaneous “guys against girls” singing contest during “Saturday Night” was lots of fun. While no winner was officially declared, I’m pretty sure we edged out the blokes.
Mossy brought back Wes Carr for the first encore. Witnessing them singing “Flame Trees” together was one of those very special musical moments, the ones were you are so conscious of experiencing something amazing. Wes stuck around for Otis Redding’s “Shake,” another classic cut given new life by these talented performers.
It may not have been technically perfect, but Saturday Ian Moss Wes Carr show was so much fun that it’s easy to forgive the flaws.
Image source: Lauren Katulka
Sony Music Australia will celebrate the 75th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s birthday with the release of Elvis Presley: 50 Australian Top Ten Hits 1956-1977.
The double CD set is a chronological history of The King’s Australian chart success, with absolutely every Australian hit there from “Heartbreak Hotel” to “Way Down.” It comes complete with an 18-page booklet featuring specially written liner notes and photos.
While Elvis never visited Australia, it remains to this day one of the biggest supporters of his music. This album is a great tribute to one of music’s most iconic stars.
Elvis Presley: 50 Australian Top Ten Hits 1956-1977 hits stores on 8 January, 2010.
Image source: ZUMA Press
The Annandale Hotel in Sydney is getting into the Christmas spirit with its annual Smith Family Drive.
When you see a show at the Annandale this weekend, make sure you bring along your presents to place under the tree. In return for donating, Annandale staff will shout you a schooner of Tooheys Extra Dry. 
There’s plenty to see at the Annandale this weekend too. On Saturday arvo The Annandale All stars, made up of members from Bluejuice, The Mess Hall, Frenzal Rhomb, and The Beautiful Girls will be bringing their own personal touches to retro tunes from the 70s, 80s, and 90s.
Later that evening Bah Humbug brings you the best emerging local artists. For just $8 you can see eight new bands: Under Lights, Sierra Fin, Sticky Fingers, Made In Japan, Radio National and Indigo Rising.
Then on Sunday Front End Loader and Peabody will play from 5.
With all that entertainment on offer, why not take your pressies down to the Annandale and enjoy some great tunes at the same time?
Image source: Vickie Matthews @ Stock.xchng
Damien Leith promised more tour dates and now he’s delivered.
Along with the support slots for Ronan Keating’s Day on the Green shows, Damien will play a stack of shows from February to May in support of his critically acclaimed album Remember June.
I know there are plenty of Damien Leith fans reading – here are the dates you’ve been waiting for!
16 January 2010 – Sandalford Winery, Perth (Day On The Green)
17 January 2010 – Sandalford Winery, Margaret River (Day On The Green)
23 January 2010 – Bimbadgen Winery, Hunter Valley (Day On The Green)
24 January 2010 – Centennial Winery, Bowral (Day On The Green)
26 January 2010 – Siromet Winery, Brisbane (Day On The Green)
30 January 2010 – Leconfield Wines, Adelaide (Day On The Green)
31 January 2010 – Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley (Day On The Green)
11 February 2010 – Toowoomba City Golf Club
12 February 2010 – Redcliffe Cultural Centre
13 February 2010 – Sunshine Coast Function Centre
14 February 2010 – Victoria Point Sharks Club, Brisbane Bayside
19 & 20 February 2010 – Penrith Gaels
26 February 2010 – Marconi Club, Bossley Park
27 February 2010 – Club Sapphire, Merimbula
12 March 2010 – Country Club, Launceston
13 March 2010 – Wrestpoint Entertainment Centre, Hobart
17 March 2010 – The Mean Fiddler, Rouse Hill
19 March 2010 – Mingara Recreation Club, Tumbi Umbi
20 March 2010 – Revesby Workers Club
26 & 27 March 2010 – Norwood Live, Adelaide,
9 April 2010 – Kingsford, Souths Juniors
10 April 2010 – Dee Why RSL
14 April 2010 – Clarendon Guesthouse, Katoomba
15 & 16 April 2010 – Brass Monkey, Cronulla
17 April 2010 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
23 April 2010 – Coffs Ex Services, Coffs Harbour
24 April 2010 – Ballina RSL
30 April 2010 – Brothers Leagues Club, Cairns
1 May 2010 – Dalrymple Hotel, Townsville
2 May 2010 – Magpies Sporting Club, Mackay
4 May 2010 – Proserpine Cultural Centre
5 May 2010 – Rockhampton Leagues Club
6 May 2010 – Gladstone Entertainment Centre
7 May 2010 – Hervey Bay Boat Club
8 May 2010 – Gympie RSL
9 May 2010 – Tewantin Noosa RSL
Image source: The Harbour Agency
Community radio favourites Blackchords, Grand Atlantic, and Sierra Fin will join forces to take their tunes to the masses this summer on the Lost on the Pretty Little Coast tour.
Melbourne’s Blackchords have just returned from a string of dates in the United Kingdom and France, so it’s only a matter of time before they make it big at home. Beat Magazine calls them “a band of substance and earnestness,” adding that they’re the sort of band “you honestly hope will be making music for many years to come.” They’re out promoting their new single “Pretty Little Thing” from their self-titled debut album.
Brisbane’s Grand Atlantic have received praise worldwide for their new album How We Survive. Their big guitar riffs and addictive pop melodies make them an act to watch. The band is joining the tour to support their new single “Coast is Clear.”
Rounding out the bill is Sierra Fin, an exciting Sydney quartet who’s enlisted a symphony orchestra to complete their ambitious debut recording. Their live shows bring together ukuleles, Buddy Holly inspired antics, and a sense of theatre. Jonathon Moran of The Sunday Telegraph says “they bring something new and unique to Australia’s music scene.” It sounds like he’s right on the money there!
The Lost on the Pretty Little Coast tour takes in the East Coast this summer. Tickets are available from the venues.
22 January 2010 – Miami Tavern, Gold Coast
23 January 2010 – The Globe, Brisbane
24 January 2010 – Bon Amici, Toowoomba
28 January 2010 – Live At The Wall, Sydney
29 January 2010 – Northern Star, Newcastle
30 January 2010 – Oxford Tavern, Wollongong
6 February 2010 – The Curtin Band Room, Melbourne (Sierra Fin will not appear at this show)
Image used with permission from Chrissie Vincent Publicity