Year: 2013

“Music has always been a matter of Energy to me, a question of Fuel. Sentimental people call it Inspiration, but what they really mean is Fuel. I have always needed Fuel. I am a serious consumer. On some nights I still believe that a car with the gas needle on empty can run about fifty…

Ah, Tenacious D. The infamous rock and roll duo (although perhaps they are best described as a “rock and roll tribute act”), comprised of Kyle Gass and Jack Black were last seen on our shores supporting the Foo Fighters at the end of last 2011. Since then they have released a new record (Rize of…

The past two years for Buchanan have been intense; “The highs were high, and the lows were shitty” according to Josh Simons, leader of the band but now that a debut album has emerged from the process, mastered at the all-famous Abbey Road Studios, the group is only looking forward to an even more prolific…

Owl Eyes’s debut record Nightswim has a very laid-back atmosphere, so I was under the impression that her live show would be just as smooth. Between the performances of her support acts, the technical mishaps, and the surprising amount of energy she possessed, the night was somewhat scattered — but ultimately, enjoyable.

I first heard Bec and Ben’s “This Is Why I Love You” last year, on a compilation released by My Sydney Riot. I’ve been a fan since then, but it’s only recently that I’ve had the chance to catch them live. Supported by Burn Antares and The Chitticks, they filled the FBi Social with rock…

I’ve always felt like Frightened Rabbit are one of those bands who fit into one of two categories: either you’ve seen them live and rave about them, or they’ve slipped under your radar and you’ve never really heard of them. They’re a band whose Scottish folk sensibilities seem to have connected to a growing audience…

Stephen K Amos is one of the long running comedians who often swings by Australia for the Melbourne International and Sydney Comedy Festival circuits. He’s been embraced by our audiences thanks to his charming and witty tales and he’s back this time with his show The Spokesman to prove that he’s not worthy of being idolised.

Welcome from Luke (Buchanan‘s handsome lead guitarist) and my own track-by-track breakdown of our band’s debut album. We started writing this album while on tour, stopping en route to Sydney (albeit slightly off course) in Lorne around June 2011. That weekend we wrote Run Faster. A little over 18 months later, and a few days…

Monday night saw Beth Orton kick off her current Australian tour at St. Joseph’s Church in Subiaco, Perth. It was quite simply put an exquisite night of music, with Orton, despite fighting off a cold and jet lag, in fine form. Though as the night progressed it became quickly clear that church pews aren’t designed…

I feel like we hear about it all the time. Legendary Australian venues being forced to undergo expensive changes from their local council to cater to new residents who are bitching and moaning in the area. Some may argue this is the price we pay for an ever expanding urban sprawl, but when a venue…

As we get set to hit the road to Singapore for the annual Music Matters conference and festival, we caught up with one of the artists set to play the event, Kevin Lester aka “TheLionCityBoy” to talk about it, the Singapore music scene, being a part of TEDxSingapore, his recent jaunt to SXSW and much…

Our good friends Jinja Safari are about to release their long awaited debut album on May 17th through Island Records Australia, and to help get you all even more excited about it, New York’s Yeasayer have put out a remix of Jinja’s latest single “Plagarist”. You’re going to want to hear this one: Australia/NZ pre-order…

With C3 Presents a huge part of Big Day Out now in Australia, the US festivals Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits now play a huge part in lending us our predictions for the yearly Australian event (C3 also put on the two mentioned events). With Lolla already announced, today we also have been graced with…

…Like Clockwork. Out 6/4. Preorder & receive My God Is The Sun now. iTunes: http://smarturl.it/QOTSAlikeclockwork Matador Store LP/CD: http://smarturl.it/QOTSA Amazon CD: http://amzn.to/102mP6O

the AU review sits backstage and talks to Sydney band Tales in Space to talk about their upcoming tour with Enola Fall (kicking off on May 16th), their music, their live show and much, much more… Tour Details: http://www.talesinspace.com/ Filmed on 20th April 2013 at the Upstairs Beresford in Sydney, Australia, Camera/Interview: Larry Heath Edit:…

It’s time once again for my feature column “Larry Likes!” in which I share recent musical discoveries with you – both locally and internationally. In this second edition I move to Melbourne to introduce you to Spender, the production moniker for Tommy Spender who released a new single last month, “Bed & Chair”. I’m a…

As reported earlier last month by The Guardian, Beyoncé “has banned professional photographers from her current world tour.” Instead, publications are able to use photos from the only accredited photographer on the tour, Frank Micelotta. Plenty of tours suffer from similar restrictions on photographers, but the controversy here is that the ban comes in the…

Adelaide fans were lucky to very lucky to see Black Sabbath, and they knew it. Having originally being left off of the tour, Adelaide fans petitioned hard and got their wish with the Tuesday night gig at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre being added as the final date on Black Sabbath’s Australian tour. The venue was…

Now that Splendour has sold out, we have the pleasure of enjoying a slew of sideshow announcement that make those of us who were sad about not going to Splendour, a little less sad… because many of our favourite bands are coming much closer to home! Today we have announcements for James Blake, Haim, MS…

In 2012, Adelaide’s 5/4 Entertainment teamed up with Splendour in the Grass’ Paul Piticco to put on a “bite sized” Splendour in Adelaide, dubbed the “Spin Off Festival”. The first year featured, Lana Del Rey, Kimbra, Band of Skulls and more. 2013 will see the festival returning to give Adelaide fans a reason to celebrate….

Larry: Thanks for taking the time to have a quick chat about everything you’re up to. I wanted to start off by going through the chronology of it and start with the origins of it. Can you tell us a little about how Avec Pleasure got started? Anne: It’s kind of interconnected with my background…

Yes, Christian religious institutions have their chequered history, and horrible memories of stories within the Vatican permeate society nowadays. But let’s not talk about that – this is a gig review. Something that religious institutions have going for them is that gigs within their churches are normally good or very good. The simple fact that…

Sometimes it’s the little shows that can take you by surprise with their quirkiness and ability to combine the things we love all into a neat little package. Cameron James brings us Nite Zoo a stand up comedy performance that twists the tv chat show format into an interactive live action extravaganza with music and games and deep probing…

One of the best feelings in the world is going travelling and stumbling across a great live music venue and discovering a hypnotising local band or getting lost in the mosh pit of a larger venue and making best friends with your fellow sweaty moshers. But sometimes, the travel gods don’t shine so favourably on…

If you’re anything like me, you’ve been waiting the vast majority of your life for a film based on Orson Scott Card’s classic sci-fi novel Ender’s Game. Its production was in the better part of development hell for the last decade, but it finally got off the ground a year or so ago when Hugo’s…

The Lazy‘s are a five piece rock outfit from Terrigal, NSW, who are currently working on their new album in New York City! The band shot us some photos and some notes about their adventures, and here’s what the band’s Mat Morris has had to say about the trip so far: “After hardly having any…

If I had to describe Matt and Kim in one sentence it would be this: they are one of the world’s greatest live bands who you’ve probably never seen. And it’s not like anyone would blame you for it. Sure, you might know a couple of songs, and they’re always fun to listen to, but…

Much loved Seattle festival Bumbershoot, now in its 43rd year, has revealed it’s massive 2013 lineup, featuring everyone from legendary power-pop band The Zombies to hometown heroes like Death Cab for Cutie (playing their seminal album Transatlanticism in its entirety) and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members Heart, Grammy-winning band fun., rising hip hop…

The sight of Enmore Road tonight was a sea of school aged punters showing copious amounts of butt cheeks and puppy fat. “I obviously didn’t get the memo to wear denim hot pants to The Kooks tonight” was my very ‘clever’ status I posted on Facebook. I entered The Enmore Theatre and reminded myself that…