The New Zealand themed bar Fern and Kiwi was one of the many places to be on the final night of Music Matters Live in Singapore on Friday night, though if you wanted to see some local music, there was none better. The Made in Singapore showcased displayed some of the finest local talent in…
It was Japanese rock mania when I arrived at Clarke Quay for the second night of Music Matters LIVE. The free, public, outdoor stage would be home to two massive J-Rock acts: flumpool and SID, which saw fans waiting in the heat for hours. They would then move indoors into the Beer Market, where the…
“It’s my first time in Australia and I think I like it.” A few sweet words and she had us hooked. The crowd, that is… and it’s Lorde we loved. I first realised I had a girl crush on this underage, quirky, New Zealand beauty named Ella Yelich O’Connor (aka Lorde) when her catchy tune…
Emma Louise’s vs. Head vs. Heart is easily one of the most captivating records to be released this year, proving that the attention she found with 2011’s “Jungle” was more than luck — she is undeniably talented and utterly deserving of the success she’s having. I attended her show with high expectations, and was not…
When I saw Tonight Alive at Manning Bar just over a year ago, it was easy to see that they had a lot of potential. However, as strong as their performance was, they were still a fairly new band — on stage, their presence merely asked for the audience’s attention. When I saw them this…
Trams suck. Really, they do. The tram heading toward this gig tonight seemed to be slowly moved up The Esplanade like a moose with constipation. Eventually it dawdled to The Palais in the plodding fashion that trams do. The Heart of St Kilda has become a special event, and when it comes around each year,…
Sometimes all people want is a drink and song. Halfway between a small gig and your friend’s living room, the Folk Club embraces all that is cosy about folk music while giving artists the chance to perform at full force in front of an audience they can actually see (and talk to afterwards). Folk Club…
This year’s run of the Groovin’ the Moo festival came to a close at Bunbury’s Hay Park on Saturday. Though the festival has been running for a couple of years now, this was the first time I’d ventured along, drawn in part by an eclectic line-up of both Australian and international artists. The festival was…
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…
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…
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’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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Indie darlings Tegan and Sara have come a long way over the last eight years since their first visit to Australia. It was 2005 and they had come as the support act for Little Birdy. When Katy Steele fell ill and cancelled the dates, the Canadian duo solidered on, becoming accidental headliners. It turned out…
Spring Break forever, or not for forever, that is the question. I had the opportunity to see Spring Breakers last month at the SXSW Film Festival and ever since then I’m been struggling to articulate how I felt about the experience. It’s one of the most divisive films I’ve ever seen. Not only in amongst…
There is a lot that can be said about Stone Music Festival. What happened to the event before tickets went on sale was something quite telling of the nature of the current industry, and what happened after tickets went on sale perhaps showed the organiser’s lack of foresight, albeit a strong ability to adapt. And…
The John Curtin band room is as dark as I have ever seen it. It suited perfectly for some dark chord crunching bands to fill the room with their insanely doomy music. Any god-fearing music lover – is there such a thing? – would turn away at the door if they had no idea what…
Mainstream radio has served the Irish lads from The Script very well in recent years and in turn they have often visited Australian shores to perform; this time with another step up in the capacity stakes playing at the Sydney Entertainment Centre.
The structure of “support-support-headliner” is a common one, so it’s rare for it to produce a well-balanced line up. But Steve Smyth, Gung Ho, and headliners Deap Vally are each as talented as they are stylistically diverse; making their recent show at Oxford Art Factory an unusual delight.
And just like that we’d once again come to the end of the Byron Bay Bluesfest. As the event’s fifth day, it’s fair to say that by now we were both exhausted and used to the exciting lifestyle that the festival offers. It’s never an easy event to say goodbye to, especially after a year…
I’ve been a fan of Emilie Autumn for six years now. I first fell in love with her music at the age of fourteen, and was subsequently mocked for it by my high school peers, who didn’t appreciate her eccentric style. A few nights ago, I had the opportunity to see her live, and as…
Arriving a couple of hours after the music had kicked off (as it seems to be customary for our annual Bluesfest experience here at the AU), Counting Crows (pictured above) kicked things off for our 2013 Bluesfest experience in the beautiful surrounds of the Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm in Byron Bay, now in its 24th…
While I’ll admit to not being a huge listener of country music, I do have an interest. I’ve always found it to have a balanced perspective on life. So when an opportunity arose to see Zac Brown Band, supported by Busby Marou, I was intrigued enough to take it.
British soul-singer-songwriter Michael Kiwanuka was hailed by the BBC as the winner of the BBC Sound in 2012. With his no nonsense, simplified approach to good music, showcasing it in such a beautiful hallowed establishment was sure to be a magical experience.
Fall Out Boy’s hiatus might have only lasted four years, but it was swarming with rumours: was it a permanent break? Or would they be back next week? When their official return was announced earlier this year, I assumed it was a joke. A few weeks later, when I turned up to the Metro Theatre…
With shows like the Sound City Players and Iggy Pop and the Stooges taking my focus at this year’s SXSW, I thought I should probably keep the rock and roll vibes going by checking out one of the finest rock and roll bands in the industry: Eagles of Death Metal. And I wasn’t the only…
