Melbourne outfit Architecture in Helsinki might not be making waves in their homeland, but after some high profile support slots it’s a different story overseas. The six-piece has won over critics and the punters with gigs at South by South West and support slots for Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah and Death Cab for Cutie.
Their avant-garde brand of pop is brought to the live arena with an eclectic mix of instruments including a glockenspiel, some trumpets, and clapping hands. It’s these unusual combinations that have helped Architecture in Helsinki become cult favourites.
If all that makes you curious, why not catch them live? Architecture in Helsinki is currently touring Europe to support their new album, Places Like This. Then it’s off to the United States and Canada in October before heading back to Australia in November. Talk about busy!
Image source: Philo Nordlund @ Flickr.com
Australia, meet your Australian Idol finalists. Last night we welcomed the final four members of the group to the fray, and prepared for the business end of the competition.
Daniel Mifsud and Mark Da Costa were the audience favourites, scoring the highest number of viewers votes after their performances on Sunday night. I was disappointed, but not surprised. I was sweating on Husny scoring one of the spots, knowing Mark could never convince the other judges to back him, but it was not to be. There’s been so much hype around the other boys though, the result was a little predictable.
Not so the judges’ choices, which came after a sublime performance from last year’s oddbod, Bobby Flynn.
Carl Riseley was the first judges’ pick, something I really didn’t expect. I know he did quite well on Sunday night, but surely one good performance isn’t enough. The judges’ second choice was a lot more obvious. Natalie Gauci has been such a consistent performer throughout this competition, and she certainly deserves her place.
So what did you think? I’d love to know your views on the wildcards, and the top 12 generally? Who shouldn’t have missed out, and who doesn’t deserve a top spot?
After the wildcard round last night, Australian Idol is one step closer to the finals. Tonight we’ll discover the four singers who’ll round out the top 12, and the games will really start. All the singers last night knew they needed to really impress to earn their place amongst the chosen ones. Some people brought their “A Game,” yet others failed to live up to expectations.
Jack Byrnes kicked off the show with his take on The Doobie Brothers’ classic “Long Train Runnin’.” I love Jack’s energy, and he has a really distinctive voice. Yet I find his performance a bit affected. It seems like he’s more interested in the big notes and how the song goes together rather than what’s behind it. He just feels false to me.
No one could say the same thing for our next performer Husny Thalib. It was a very different Husny this week. The flashy campiness of his Lenny Kravitz cover was a world away from his take on “I Believe.” It certainly wasn’t perfect. This bare bones track exposed every one of Husny’s vocal weaknesses. But, for some reason, it didn’t matter. He was just so believable, so passionate, and I found that so much more compelling. You can teach someone how to sing with the right training, but you can’t teach someone how to really interpret the way Husny does. I loved it.
Carl Riseley really surprised me with his swing interpretation of The Everly Brothers’ smash, “Bye Bye Love.” I didn’t particularly like the arrangement, but his vocals were much stronger than I’ve heard before. This kid’s really improving. He’s got to learn some stage presence and how to move, but just look how far he’s come. Last night I finally saw him though Marcia’s eyes.
Sarah Lloyde did her best to show her diversity with the sassy Christina Aguilera hit, “Candyman.” She’s vocally very strong, but the arrangement really let her down. I know it must be hard to compress a song into one and a half minutes, but there was too much dead time here. Even when she was singing, most of it was just ad-libbing and wailing. She’s a real talent, but this just didn’t show us that. I absolutely loved her outfit though.
Another talent who suffered from another underwhelming performance was Dave Andrews. He tackled “The Dolphin’s Cry,” a risky move that didn’t pay off. He certainly had the right intensity in the first verse, but somewhere in there it became karaoke to me.
Early favourite Daniel Mifsud delivered the sort of performance I’d hoped he would. I must admit, I was nervous when I heard he’d chosen “Lay Your Love On Me.” It was more of the same middle of the road soft rock that saw him miss out last time. Yet the arrangement was genius, and that saved this from being more forgettable blandness. Yes, yes, yes.
Natalie Gauci was another early favourite who used the wildcard to show why she deserved to be in the top 12 all along. Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good” was the perfect song choice for her – strong, different, and feminine. I loved the way she used the stage, and she sang flawlessly. Natalie’s never really put a foot wrong in the competition, and I’m almost positive she’ll be in the top 12 after this.
Mark Da Costa closed the show with more straight-up rock, this time a cover of “Evie Part 1.” Mark’s another performer with great energy, but I still can’t see what the judges are raving about. His voice has a wonderful rock and roll rasp, but it seems like he falls off just about every note. He’s good, but I don’t think he’s that good.
So who’ll go through? My money’s on Daniel Mifsud, Mark Da Costa, and Natalie Gauci. The judges rave about these three so much that I’m sure they’ll choose whoever the viewers don’t. The fourth spot is really anyone’s guess. I’d love to think it’ll be Husny, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the safer performers like Sarah or Jack get a run.
In the year 2000, you couldn’t turn on the radio without hearing one of Vanessa Amorosi’s massive pop hits “Absolutely Everybody” and “Shine.” Now some seven years later she’s back with a new album, Somewhere in the Real World, and a new rock sound.
For Vanessa’s fans, this won’t come as any great surprise. Before fading into obscurity, the teen sensation seemed more at home covering Janis Joplin than singing her own smash singles.
Hopefully the new album will be a better fit for this talented Melbourne artist. She’s certainly worked with some big names to make it happen. Greg Wells (Mika, Timbaland, Pink, The Veronicas), Cliff Magness (Pink, Avril Lavigne) and Chris Lord-Alge (Green Day, Pink, Avril Lavigne) all had a hand in writing and recording Somewhere in the Real World.
Vanessa’s latest album is released October 13, but fans can get a taste of it when the first single, “Kiss Your Mama,” hits stores on September 8. Vanessa fans can catch her live when she tours the country in October. Check her website for all the dates and venues.
Last Friday night seasoned concert goer Lisa Mayer, saw Silverchair and Powderfinger at Brisbane Entertainment Centre. I caught up with her for a chat about Powderfinger’s hometown gig.
Lisa’s a big fan of both bands, but she expected Silverchair’s performance would have the edge. The Newcastle lads opened the show with a rocking set, which included big hits “Without You,” “Greatest View,” and their latest smash “Straight Lines.”
While the band did their best to entertain, the local crowd seemed largely unmoved.
“Silverchair did rock, but the audience kind of didn’t. I wanted to stand up and dance but it wasn’t that kind of audience,” Lisa told me. “Other than that, I was really happy with Silverchair and I didn’t think that I could enjoy Powderfinger as much as I enjoyed them.”
When Powderfinger took to the stage, the audience became “the kind of hometown crowd that a band would be proud of.”
And the band delivered a set worthy of their adoring fans. A stripped-back acoustic version of “Sunsets” was “absolutely spine-tingling,” and “On My Mind” was a surprise with “Midnight Rambler” in the middle. But the real crowd-pleaser was “My Happiness” which encouraged a spontaneous sing-a-long.
Lisa said the song “saw the entire entertainment centre singing along while the band stood in amazement that everyone was singing their own song back to them, full volume. That had to be a spine-tingling moment for them. They all looked so happy to be there, so happy that they were with fellow Brisbanites and playing at the Entertainment Centre for the first time.”
So how much did Lisa love the show? Well, she’s going back to see the bands at the Gold Coast and Toowoomba later this week. Now that’s dedication.
Damien Leith’sAustralian Idol win ushered in a new era for the reality TV show. For the first time, the victor wasn’t shoved into a recording studio to record a prewritten album in a week. Instead, Damien was given the freedom to create a collection of songs that represented him. Some nine months after he took the Idol crown, Damien’s album Where We Land is in stores and sitting pretty at the top of the charts.
So in sales terms, Sony’s gamble has paid off. Australia hasn’t forgotten about Damien. Instead, they were eagerly awaiting this release. I’m happy to say, the wait was worthwhile.
I wasn’t Damien’s biggest fan during his Idol stint. I certainly didn’t dislike the guy, but I preferred eclectic Bobby Flynn and old-school rocker Chris Murphy. But I really like this record. It’s given Damien a chance to be himself, rather than a karaoke singer, and he’s a richer artist for it.
Time away from the Idol spotlight has given Damien a chance to grow, both professionally and personally. His trademark falsetto is as pure as ever, but he’s managed to reign it in somewhat. Perhaps on Idol Damien felt he needed to rely on those vocal tricks. Now he can focus on crafting tender lyrics and clever melodies.
His personal life has certainly given him fuel for that. After the birth of his second son Jagger, Damien penned the sweet tune “Not Just For the Weekend.” “Beautiful” is a tender ode to his wife. I loved the gentle sadness of “I Still Miss Us,” and “Cold Cold Heart” is rollicking good fun.
Damien made his name from cover versions, and fans will appreciate the ones he’s chosen here. The sparse rendering of Fleetwood Mac’s “Songbird” is breathtaking, and the album’s bonus track “Danny Boy” is a fitting nod to his Irish heritage.
Where We Land is a great indication of the potential of Australia’s revamped Idol franchise. If we can unearth this country’s hidden stars, and give them the time to develop albums of this calibre, the future of our local industry looks bright.
Can you believe it was ten years ago today that Princess Diana passed away? Such a long time ago, but I can vividly remember waking up from an afternoon nap and hearing the news on the radio. I was convinced I’d heard wrong, that I was still groggy from sleep. But of course, the terrible news was true.
Around the world, tributes are pouring in from people united by the grief they still feel, and the inspiration they still take from this stunning lady. Australian singer/songwriter Nathan Flynn has added his voice to this global outpouring of emotion with his new single, “The Princess.”
“The Princess” is a tribute to Princess Diana’s life, and the millions of people she touched around the world. Prince William, Prince Harry, and The Queen have personally endorsed the song.
As Diana was so active in supporting charities, it’s fitting that sales from the single will benefit two important charities. One dollar from the sale of each single will go to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. An additional dollar will help establish a new music school for underprivileged and indigenous children in South East Queensland.
The single is available from Tension Records online and Leading Edge music stores around the country.
After some truly breathtaking performances, Holly Weinert and Brianna Carpenter took their rightful places amongst the Australian Idol top 12 last night.
I was so thrilled to see these girls make it through. They bring something truly unique to the top 12, and I can’t wait to follow their progress in the competition. You know, with so much talent amongst the Idol ranks this year it’s going to be really difficult to vote people out every week!
Before we do though, we’ve got the wildcard round on Sunday. Last night each judge chose two people to have a second chance at Idol glory. I was thrilled that the judges did it this way. It’s allowed us to have a very different bunch of contestants – not the contestants the majority wanted but the contestants that one person believed in enough. I’m also glad the wildcards weren’t chosen on the basis of gender. It seems crazy to me that Idol franchises seem so concerned with an even gender mix.
And so, Australia, your wildcard contestants are: Daniel Mifsud, Husny Thalib, Carl Riseley, Natalie Gauci, Mark Da Costa, Jack Byrnes, Dave Andrews, and Sarah Lloyd. It’s really a mixed bag, isn’t it? I’m thrilled that Husny, Daniel, and Natalie have another shot at making it through. I’m also expecting big things from Dave and Jack. Bring on Sunday!
After a couple of days predicting, I actually got it right last night! I was thrilled that the two Central Coast boys, Ben McKenzie and Marty Simpson, were voted through the top 12. Well done boys! Australia definitely got it right this time.
With the announcement out of the way, it was time to hear the final group of girls. Sarah Lloyd started us off with a gutsy rendition of Jennifer Hudson’s Dreamgirls hit, “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going.” I thought she performed really well, but I just don’t find her very interesting. There was nothing to fault here, but I wouldn’t go out and buy her albums.
Morgan Hosking is more my kind of performer. Funnily enough though, while she has the interest factor, the vocals let her down. She insisted a bad case of nerves marred her performance of Alanis Morissette’s “You Learn,” and maybe that’s all it is. The sad thing is, we hadn’t seen a lot of Morgan before last night so Australia’s going to take her on face value. I think she could have brought something very cool to the competition, but she won’t go through with this effort.
After some half-good acts, Holly Weinert was a breath of fresh air. During the audition rounds this chick from Mildura got lost amongst all the other guitar girls. Yet last night she held her own and established herself as a unique force in the competition. I loved everything about her stripped-back version of “Easy.”
While Holly provided a point of difference, our next singer Madison Pritchett showed she’s incredibly bland. Her voice is really nothing spectacular, and her stage presence didn’t impress me either. Her take on Avril Lavigne’s “When You’re Gone” was far too sugary sweet. I can see this girl modelling for Dolly magazine, not on the world music stage.
From the bland to the extraordinary, enter one of my favourite contestants, Brianna Carpenter. Some of my first loves let me down this week, so I was thrilled at this performance. Regina Spektor’s “Fidelity” was the perfect song for her: unique, kooky, and playful. I just hope that Australia understands how great this was and votes her through, as the competition really needs someone like her.
Seasoned Idol performer Rosie Ribbons closed with a very different take on REM’s indie anthem “Everybody Hurts.” There’s no denying that Rosie’s a great singer. But it feels like she’s putting together a collection of impressive notes, rather than really singing and connecting with a song. Maybe that’s enough to do well over in Britain, but this kind of superficial performance won’t impress Australia. I found it downright painful.
I really hope Holly and Brianna join the top 12 after last night. Their performances were the only ones that really had star quality for me. Having said that, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Sarah took one of their places. Disappointed, but not surprised.
So tonight we’ve got the girls’ verdict, and the wildcard announcements. Given the talent that’s been rejected, Sunday’s going to be one hell of a night!
Megastar rappers Akon and The Game have touched down in Australia with one thing on their minds. And one could be forgiven for thinking it’s not their massive Roc Tha Block tour.
The notorious bad boys have asked for packets of condoms and a love seat to be provided as part of their rider.
But that’s not all. According to The Herald Sun, the tour’s organisers have been scouring Melbourne’s high-class gentleman’s clubs for ladies to entertain the visiting stars.
It sounds like these guys are looking to make the most of their short stay in Australia. When they’re not sampling the locals, Akon and The Game will appear with Sisqo, Naughty by Nature, and Pitbull at the Roc Tha Block shows. The tour kicks off at Melbourne’s Vodafone Arena tonight.
