Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ashleigh Toole Leaves Australian Idol on Rock Night

Australian Idol rocked this week with special guest mentor and judge Suzi Quatro. But before we could get into the business, someone had to go. This week saw Tim Johnston, Casey Barnes, and Ashleigh Toole land in the bottom three. Despite never putting a foot wrong in the comp, Ashleigh was the unlucky one ousted. My husband wonders whether all of her fans simply intended to vote as he did, rather than picking up the phone. Either way, she definitely didn’t deserve to leave us so soon.

Hayley Warner, our resident rock chick, was a natural choice to kick off the performances. Her choice of a Paramore number was spot on. I think she took everything Suzi said in her stride and delivered a performance even more compelling than the week before.

Casey Barnes is one of the nicest guys in the comp, so finding his rock edge was always going to be a challenge. I’m not sure he did it with Carolina Liar’s “I’m Not Over”, but we saw a little more angst than we have in the past. It was a solid effort for a singer clearly out of his comfort zone.

I loved Kate Cook’s cheeky choice of Jet’s “Are You Gonna Be My Girl.” Like Casey, she wasn’t in her comfort zone, but I had to admire her commitment. While parts of it were a little shouty for me, she certainly didn’t do it by halves. She gets an A for effort.

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Posted on by Lauren Katulka

"The Knight" – Khan Manuel

With Tommy Emmanuel spending most of his time in Nashville these days, Australia is crying out for a guitar virtuoso. With his album The Knight, Khan Manuel steps up to fill those very big shoes.

Just like Tommy, Khan blends genres to create instrumental guitar tracks that combine the contemporary with classical flair.

The album starts out high energy rock numbers in the vein of Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, before moving into more mellow jazz territory. We see the greatest electricity in “Down ‘n’ Dirty.” It’s a straight-up rock number which is recorded live to capture its spontaneity. I cringed at the chat-up banter that preceded “Smooth Talk,” but once those voices faded away it lived up to its sexy moniker.

While Khan does rock well, the more mellow numbers were a little more my speed. “Flamenco Nights” is the turning point, with its traditional Spanish tones acting like a breath of fresh air after the grittier rock tunes that came before. “Midnight Jazz” feels like 1970s George Benson, which is a very good thing indeed. “Wedding Song” is the perfect closer, a romantic piece which is every bit as dreamy as its name suggests.

Khan Manuel is one amazing guitarist, and his talent and passion for his craft is evident in The Knight. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

Image used with permission from Khan Manuel

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kim Moyes Goes Solo For Album Release

Kim Moyes from The Presets is bringing fans his solo songs in one big double album. Selected Jerks 2001-2009 features Kim’s occasional solo ventures from the last nine years. The tunes are “tracks obviously aimed squarely at the dancefloor perfectly offset by a series of wistfully melancholy, downbeat dreamsuites,” or so the press release tells us.

The first disc features original versions, while the second features remixes from the likes of Midnight Juggernauts, Tomboy, Bag Raiders, and Citizen Black. The double collection will hit stores on October 30. To coincide with the album’s release, Kim will tour around the country with Belgium’s Beni. You can see him at the following venues.

30 October 2009 – Neverland, Gold Coast
31 October 2009 – Arcade, Adelaide
6 November 2009 – Villa, Perth
12 November 2009 – Club 4Play, Geelong
13 November 2009 – Sorry Grandma, Melbourne
14 November 2009 – Monastery, Brisbane
20 November 2009 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney

Image source: Darius of the Dark @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Powderfinger Prepare "Golden Rule" CD

The wait is almost over for Powderfinger fans, with the Brisbane band preparing to release their new album, Golden Rule, in November.

“On this record we made our approach from a different angle. We made an effort to steer away from the ‘habits’, whether good or bad, that we had developed when writing together over the years. It gave the songs an entirely new energy that we have never really tapped into before” Bernard Fanning said in a statement.

The band reunited with producer by Nick DiDia (Neil Young, Pearl Jam) for the album. He previously worked with the band on Vulture Street, Odyssey Number Five, and Internationalist.

The album’s first single, “All of the Dreamers,” goes to radio on September 25 ahead of its October 16 digital release. Bernard says the track is “the most consistently upbeat song” they have ever written.

“It’s a sideways glance at the sometimes redundant nature of party politics. It’s not a particularly political song actually, in the sense that it is taking a side, just a general dissatisfaction with the way ‘democracy’ can be blindsided by the self interest that holding onto power can generate. I suppose in that sense it alludes to any kind of relationship, whether it be political, business or personal.”

Golden Rule will hit stores on November 13.

Image source: Jeanie Mackinder @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sneaky Sound System Become a Duo

Sneaky Sound System are down one member. MC Double D (AKA Daimon Downey) has left the band to pursue other interests.

Connie Mitchell and Black Angus plan to continue as a duo, although their hairy ex-bandmate will join them for several upcoming festival appearances.

The new twosome will head to Europe later this month, for a tour which kicks off in Ibiza, Spain. Nice work if you can get it, right? Then it’s back to Oz in October ahead of the summer festival season.

Image source: Foraggio Fotographic @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Them Crooked Vultures Ready to Rock Oz

Rock supergroup Them Crooked Vultures are bringing their show to Australia in 2010. The band features Foo Fighter Dave Grohl, Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age, and John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin. I think it’s safe to say the concerts will rock, and rock hard.

But if you’re hoping to hear music from the members’ original bands you may be disappointed. Their set features 90 minutes of original new music from their debut album, Never Deserved The Future, which will hit stores later this month.

Given the timing of the dates, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see the band on the Big Day Out bill. But before I go getting ahead of myself, you can grab your tickets for these dates from September 22. Ticketmaster are selling the majority of shows, with Ticketek taking care of Sydney.

19 January 2010 – Challenge Stadium, Perth
22 January 2010 – Festival Hall, Melbourne
25 January 2010 – Riverstage, Brisbane
26 January 2010 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney

Image source: ZUMA Press

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Cold Chisel Rumoured to Reform for Supercars

The rumour bill is buzzing that The Bee Gees may not be the only classic Aussie act reforming. Word is that Cold Chisel may be getting the band back together for a one-off show at Sydney’s V8 Supercars event.

Who cares that Jimmy Barnes, Ian Moss, and the boys haven’t had a new album since The Last Wave of Summer in ’98? I caught them on their Ringside reunion tour way back in 2003 and they still rocked just as hard as ever.

The V8 Supercars Championship Series will hit Homebush between December 4 and 6. Fans may want to reserve the dates, just in case.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Robin Gibb Confirms Bee Gees Reunion

If you thought the death of Maurice Gibb spelled the end of The Bee Gees, you’d be mistaken. Robin revealed that he and Barry are planning to reform the band, six years after their brother’s death.

“The two of us are getting back together again. I was with Barry in Miami a couple of days ago. It was an emotional thing because Maurice wasn’t just a brother, he was a comrade in arms really,” Robin Gibb told BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra. “We have got through the breakwater of the emotions and now we can go forward.”

Hopefully when the reunion happens, the band will return to where it all began for some Australian shows!

Image source: ZUMA Press

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jimmy Barnes and Guy Sebastian on Top of ARIA Charts

It’s a rare week in Australia, with Aussies taking the top spots on both the albums and singles ARIA charts.

Rock veteran Jimmy Barnes earned his ninth solo number one album this week with The Rhythm and the Blues. That surpasses John Farnham’s eight solo number ones, making Barnesy our most successful solo male artist. But was there ever any doubt this album would be a hit? It doesn’t take a genius to work out that an album of old school rock and roll covers released just before Father’s Day is going to sell by the truckload. The real test for this CD will be how it does next week, and the week after.

Keeping Jimmy company on the albums charts we’ve got Kate Miller-Heidke’s Curiouser sitting at number five, up one possie from the week before. They’ve slipped three places, but Jet are still hanging in there with Shaka Rock. Their third album sits at number eight.

Meanwhile Guy Sebastian is sitting at the top of the singles charts with his infectious single “Like It Like That.” It’s taken Guy four weeks to achieve the position. It’s somewhat of a return to form for Guy, who hasn’t released a number one single since 2004’s “Out With My Baby.”

Kate Miller-Heidke’s making her presence felt on the singles charts too with “The last Day on Earth” inching ever closer to the top spot. It’s sitting at number three this week, one better than the week before.

Click below to see the complete top 10.

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Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Adam Brand Wins Dancing with the Stars

Adam Brand has shown his skills extend beyond singing. The country artist has taken home this year’s Dancing with the Stars trophy. He edged out Channel Seven TV personalities Kylie Gillies and Matt White to claim the title.

Adam, who said he was surprised by his success in the competition, dedicated the win to his late nephew who succumbed to cancer at age two. All money raised by his appearance on the show benefited children’s cancer research.

“At the start of this competition, I said it doesn’t matter what they do. They can put me in high heels and a ballerina dress for all I care because the reason we started this was for where the money went – charity,” he said.

“So every step, every awkward move that I’ve done here doesn’t matter because he’s up there watching it. This is for little Harry.”

Image source: BRANDette34/Wikimedia Commons