Margaret Court Arena on Thursday night looked very different to the Margaret Court Arena on Wednesday night. Gone was the disco ball that hung over LCD Soundsystem’s stage; in its place was a full lighting production and screens on to which brilliant computer-simulated visuals would eventually project. We are here for Sigur Rós and we…
It’s been four years since Two Door Cinema Club have blessed the ears of their Melbourne fans, so it came as no surprise that the Irish pop-rock outfit went all out to make their show at Festival Hall one to remember. Planting their feet on our shores initially for their appearance at Splendour in the…
For Melbourne music fans, Splendour sideshow week is like Christmas, the abundance of exciting international artists hitting the city is like no other, Banks at The Forum being a particular standout on the schedule. Opening the evening was Zimbabwe-born, NZ-raised rapper TAPZ who revelled in the eager early-comers converged on the floor. Recent single “Run…
I tell ya what, Margaret Court Arena is going to be going through it over the next few months or at least, until the Melbourne venue is renamed. With Sigur Rós‘ much-anticipated show at the arena taking place this evening, an event that has directly called Margaret Court out herself and has taken steps to actively support…
Time helps build a cult of personality; a paradigm in which how you remember things can be altered dramatically from how they actually are. With more than six years since their last visit, plenty of time has passed since LCD Soundsystem had the chance to play to a Sydney crowd. And while the music industry…
You know that old rule your mum used to tell you: ‘If you can’t say anything nice, then don’t say anything at all’? While it sure is nice to be spoken to politely, Sigur Rós must have listened really well to their mums, as they played the nicest and most awe inspiring of sets you’ll…
From its humble beginnings as a one-night showcase at LA club The Echo, FYF Fest has evolved both in venue and scope with a diverse lineup spanning 3 days at Downtown’s Exposition Park. Day One’s Friday afternoon began with the punch of Sydney’s own Royal Headache, followed by the soothing touch of Canadian outfit BADBADNOTGOOD, whose…
“Hello everyone, grab a seat!” Jeremy Neale says from the bed of a hotel room. His set list is peeping out from the “What do you call this thing?” The 20 odd guests call out… “Throw!” “Rug!” “Blanket!” “A throw?” he says, “Too fancy for me. One day I’d like to own a throw”. This…
The Metro Theatre is one of the more intimate venues but on Friday night people were definitely getting close and personal for Rag’n’Bone Man’s Splendour Sideshow. I walked in to a purple haze of the packed theatre with support act hip hop artist L-FRESH the LION signing off after spitting what I’m sure were some fire…
As the usual circus that is Splendour In The Grass rolls through this vast country of ours, so too does some of the best bands currently walking the earth. One of these said bands is HAIM, and I’ll tell you what, they know how to play a live show. Here at their only headline date…
With today’s announcement of a massive tour in April/May (which may or may not coincide with Groovin’ The Moo), tonight’s relatively intimate sole headline show at the Metro for U.K. duo Royal Blood turned out to be something of a preview for their big shows ahead in the new year – playing venues five times…
Jon Stevens kicked off his Starlight Album Tour at the Palms in Melbourne, with special guest, long-time friend Kate Ceberano. Opening the show with some classic covers, Phil Ceberano and band brought a level of excitement and intensity often lacking by opening bands.
Back in the country for the first time since their co-headline tour with Nine Inch Nails in 2014, Queens of the Stone Age are on the road this week for a run of shows which tease their upcoming album Villains (due out August 25th). The tour kicked off with their first ever show in Darwin,…
Tucked under The Chippendale Hotel in Sydney there is a den. It is darkly lit to set the mood with music posters on the roof and graffiti sprawled all over the walls. On Friday night, it was filled with hippies, hipsters, goths and everyone in between. All to see the dynamic duo that is Willow…
Melbourne’s Better Half were lucky (?) enough to receive the tough task of warming up The Corner Hotel’s stage for international acts Touché Amore and Turnover. No biggie, that wouldn’t have been terrifying at all. A subdued stage presence matched the mellow crowd, which is understandable, considering vocalist Christopher Vernon was fresh off the back…
I think it was Mac DeMarco who breached the final barrier of bringing smooth yacht rock back to the realm of the hipsters, but I’m glad he did. He proved that just like every genre which gets a blanket opinion, there were reasons it got popular in the first place which are lost in the…
Who doesn’t love a cover song? I have a theory that in any festival set, if a band (irrespective of their size or street cred) covers a classic song, the crowd will froth on it and that will be the biggest moment of the set. Playing their own headlining show at the Enmore Theatre, Furnace…
Adelaide trio DONNARUMMA launched their new EP Billy Billy at one of the city’s most beloved music venues – The Grace Emily – on Saturday night; an evening that was full of love and support for the players who have established themselves as more than just familiar faces on the circuit. Coming together with a wealth of…
Before anything, let’s take a moment and raise a glass to Furnace and the Fundamentals for not just changing the face of live music, but giving the public want they want – all killer, no filler. Gracefully traversing a well-blended medley of greatest hits, the spicy six piece took to an eager Max Watts on…
Relative newcomers SPIT opened the evening, their saccharine garage-punk even more evolved than when I saw them play last. With a triple mustang combo, they were a wall of sound, held together by the razor sharp drumming of Jonnine Nokes. One of their hallmark features is the alternating, dynamic vocals, shared between guitarists Chloe Turner…
Ten seconds in: hands are thrown in the air, heads are banging, hair whipping, water bottles spraying, a couple both wearing spikey chokers are making out – as soon as Grinspoon hit the stage the crowd instantly transitioned from relatively chilled, to nostalgic 90’s punk rock! Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of their album, Guide to Better…
In what could easily be described as one of the most exciting co-headline tours we’ve seen this year, hip-hop heavyweights Remi Kolawole and Sensible J (collectively known as REMI) and Sampa The Great joined forces this winter for the Fire Sign national tour. The duo are no strangers to collaborating, most recently teaming up for…
Playing their biggest headline run to date, Big Scary kicked off their Animal tour at the Forum Theatre in Melbourne on Friday June 16th. Gracing the stage with a five-piece band and a shadowy backdrop, the live show proved to be just as brooding as the much loved album of the same title. Supporting Big…
As part of her The Soloist National Tour, Sarah Blasko left her audience head over heels in love after her performance at the Melbourne Recital Centre on Thursday night. Performing without a band for the first time, Blasko laid bare her iconic voice and melted the hearts of everyone present, triggering a stand ovation. Opening the…
With Sydney’s nightlife and arts community severely depleted in recent years on the back of a government seemingly going out of their way to deny any support to the community, one of Sydney’s more famed venues reopened its doors to a packed band room upstairs, and a bustling bar and bistro downstairs. Back after a…
I’m calling it here. Laura Marling will go down as one of the greats. For someone to be so prolific, accomplished, lauded and respected by fans and critics alike at the age she is, it’s a testament to how great she is in a live setting. Playing a headlining show as part of Vivid Live,…
On Sunday of the Queen’s birthday long weekend, Vivid Sydney took their creative lighting installations to a new level combining with them with some top dance music artists for an ultimate audio visual experience at Curve Ball. After the success of its debut in 2016, the guys from Fuzzy who take care of Field Day, Harbourlife…
San Cisco have captured Australian audiences with their quirky, bright hooks and unique bouncy sound. Their carefree energy and irresistible charm make them one hell of a fun band to see live, and their set on Saturday night at The Village Green Hotel in Mulgrave was no exception. The night began with Perth based artist…
The Necks Have this sense of touch and repetitive nurturing that makes them a special trio of musicians. Standing still for a moment, silent, the band collect themselves like they normally do. It’s then a case of ‘go with the flow, man’ when the twinkle of the pianos start sparkling away. This is what this…
Full disclosure. I’m not the world’s biggest pop punk fan. Hell, until I found Modern Baseball and Basement, I avoided the overtly emotional genre like carpet cleaners avoid The Tote. Joyce Manor are one of the select acts on the pop punk spectrum I can’t get enough of – something in the combination of their…
