Alex Lahey’s been making pretty big waves in the music scene both at home and internationally lately. She’s been very busy while on the road, with a heap of brand new music in the works. She stopped into Adelaide on Friday night towards the final leg of her Wes Anderson Tour and I was lucky…
It’s a little difficult to accept that at 33 I’m attending nostalgia concerts. But in Adelaide on Saturday evening that’s what I did as Ella and Jesse Hooper made sure that Heidi was, in fact, dead. That said, this was never going to be a nostalgia show. And let me be clear, this was nothing…
“This gig’s like the difference between metallic and metal. Metallic’s still shiny and impressive, but doesn’t have the strength of actual metal,” was the analogy a friend made as we watched UK electro legend Alison Goldfrapp, clad in a head-to-toe metallic suit, perform as a part of VIVID Music at Carriageworks on Friday night. The…
Recently the best former member of One Direction, Harry Styles, came out in support of the strength and undying enthusiasm that young fans have for the artists they like. “Teenage-girl fans – they don’t lie. If they like you, they’re there. They don’t act ‘too cool’. They like you, and they tell you. Which is…
The debut of Nick Murphy’s Missing Link at the Opera House was not so much a concert as it was an odyssey – a journey through the life and death of Chet Faker, and his rebirth as Nick Murphy. Much has already been said about the change in Murphy’s moniker, but from the opening moments…
Don’t think that because The Tote “Upstairs” had a renovation, it’s lost any of its degenerate charm. If anything, the red-lighted, red-walled room has increased its appeal for debauchery, with Horace Bones’ single launch on Saturday night being no exception. The line-up featured some of the loudest and filthiest in Melbourne punk; a standard Saturday…
With Melbourne being a mixing pot of niche scenes, particularly in music, its not often you see them all unite for something. On a Wednesday night, that something, or someone, was Melbourne musician Allysha Joy. Riding in on the wave of re-invigorated R’n’B and neo-soul, Joy had first gained my attention as singer for local…
If there is a personification of the word “chill”, it’s US singer-songwriter, Ryan Adams. His hidden-eye mop hairstyle, mumbling presence and sizable discography took to a security-laden (and now-controversially named) Margaret Court Arena on Friday night and delivered a slick, calming performance. Supporting Adams were popular Australian up-and-comers Middle Kids, who were an absolutely killer…
What do you get when you mix a beautiful voice, with a beautiful venue and a beautiful band? One hell of a beautiful night! UK Artist Sampha achieved just that, bringing his soulful goodness to The Forum in Melbourne last night, delivering an unforgettable performance. Opening the night was PAULi with his soulful tones and…
After 20 years, Air have become something of legends – making a space like the Sydney Opera House the natural fit for their suave style of electronica. And now in their first visit in nine years, their last being for the great V Festival (RIP), Air have finally returned to the iconic venue for two exclusive shows as part of Sydney’s…
When was the last time you had a bad time listening to a party band play party tunes? This is actually a trick question and the answer for you and anyone else is and forever will be ‘never’. That’s right, you never have a bad time listening to a party band. And if Northeast Party…
Playing to an adoring crowd, Golden Syrup and The Ocean Party served up a delightful Friday night filled with seductive sounds at The Tote in Collingwood on May 26th. The cosy, old band room upstairs played the perfect host, creating a laid back atmosphere that complimented the local Melbourne artists. Kicking off the night was…
In the dark corners of Hobart, surrounded by many a fast food restaurant or club, sits the Odeon Theatre, the premiere setting for the majority of all age concerts to grace Tasmania’s capital. In the wake of their new release, More Afraid Of You Than You Are Of Me, The Smith Street Band make their…
Something magical happened at The Gasometer Hotel on Thursday night. The lighting was dimmed to sultry, red stage lights catching the smoke in the air, the oversized disco ball looming overhead, and Donny Benét (the sexiest man in music), was set to take the stage. Silver Linings took to the stage first, to warm the…
There was a song on Phoenix’s Bankrupt album called ‘Trying To Be Cool”, which is a fair description for a lot people you see at gigs. I mean, maybe they really do dress and act like that, but surely there’s an essence to their gig persona where they really are just trying to be cool….
Playing their third sold out night in a row at the Corner Hotel in Richmond, Methyl Ethel treated Melbourne punters to a delightful night of eargasms. Having just toured Europe and a string shows at Groovin The Moo around Australia, the band are no strangers to playing to big crowds. The packed out venue was…
“Welcome to the show that’s not really a show,” laughs Dan Sultan as he casually walks on to the stage and takes a seat at his piano. “This is me just kinda playing songs, so yeah, no refunds,” he jokes. The Memo Music Hall in St Kilda is filled with people eagerly waiting to hear…
In some ways I think I am the wrong person to write this review. I’ve been listening to Green Day since I was 12 years old. As such, I may be a little bit biased. So be it. This band have been shaking the earth with heartfelt punk rock for over 25 years. Now in…
Groovin The Moo kicked off in Adelaide on Friday, with the sold-out festival returning hard and fast with another stellar line-up of national and international acts, plus a very controversial petting zoo and an even more scandalous venue change. The day promised drizzling showers and some of the coldest temperatures Adelaide had experienced all year,…
LCD Soundsystem did a run of shows at the brand new venue Brooklyn Steel. The band showed they’re not losing their edge whatsoever. And, we all know. I was there. I have to preface this by saying LCD Soundsystem was my ‘white whale’. My friend invited me to see them at the Hordern all the…
Forget everything you know about Guy Sebastian. Now, allow me to describe to you an artist whose voice, energy, and undeniable musical talent reaches behind cynicism and invites us to experience pop music as it was always meant to be: powerful, relatable, enjoyable. Titled Sub-Conscious, the intimate preview of his forthcoming album, Conscious, introduced to…
“Do you like math rock? That’s good.” remarked Oh Pep!‘s Pepita Emmerichs with a wry grin, as they drew their support set to a close, jumping into “Seven Babies” and “Doctor Doctor”, two highlights from their 2016 release Stadium Cake. Earlier in the night, “Tea Milk and Honey” impressed, as the Melbourne pair performed a rare…
It may have been April Fools’ Day when King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard played, but these boys weren’t foolin’. This show was added because they’d sold out the night before, showing their live antics and talent have reached fans on the other side of the world. Opening act Orb had a strong following, and…
I never miss a support act when I’m reviewing. Ever. I think it’s important to support the support every chance you get. Almost every artist we admire has been a support act at some point. Tonight, sadly, I missed Anabelle Kay‘s slot at The Toff In Town owing to circumstances beyond my control. I’m sorry,…
Oh how I would have loved to be a fly on the wall when a young Pete Rock lifted that immortal saxophone sample from Tom Scott‘s version of “Today”. The peerless beatmaker used that second-long loop to create what is arguably the greatest rap production of all time, that which became “They Reminisce Over You…
It’s midnight, I’m sitting in a budget hotel, and I have to be up in four hours to catch my flight back home to Melbourne to work. I’ve also just been at the Sydney Opera House to see Kasabian’s second show of their two-nights-only Australian visit. There is so much adrenaline ripping through my system…
The great philosopher Carlos Santana and his colleague Rob Thomas were once quoted as saying, ‘Man it’s a hot one’. And while they were seven inches from the midday sun when they said it, this duo must have been in attendance at this Ball Park Music headlining show as part of the annual Twilight at…
Walking into the studio, you’re welcomed with a flood of pink and green lights swirled within a hazy mist; giving off a still swamp like mystic. The band steps onto the stage, and as soon as the first guitar string is strung it cuts through the mist, bursting with room-filling synths. Suddenly this small studio…
Fresh from their ridiculous set at the Laneway Festival in Melbourne over the weekend, Glass Animals stormed Melbourne Town Hall losing no fans. Opening the Wednesday night shindig was local lad Lanks and there couldn’t have been a more perfect pairing. There is a reason why he cops the accolades he does and although the…
You know those choose-your-own-adventure novels, the ones you read as a kid? With the exception of dying in 90% of the story lines, the Laneway Festival is like that – bear with me here. There’s thirty-six acts, and where you start, stop and travel is entirely up to you. I asked my maths-genius friend to…
