Music

Dear Ball Park Music, “I don’t really know you but I like to have imaginary conversations in my head… Where I tell you off and you go home with your tail between your legs” (Sea Strangers)… Well… I don’t really plan to tell you off, but that has been my stuck rolling around my head…

So it’s Friday, the official start day of the Glastonbury Festival. Overnight and all through the morning the final punters arrive, bringing the total on site population to around 177,500 people, making the festival site the third largest city in the South West. So with all those people it can be a little overwhelming and…

I remember listening to Regurgitator when I was in primary school and being told off by my mother for playing obscenities in her house. So when it was announced earlier in the year that the boys were back, moving to Melbourne to work on a new record, with a couple of live shows thrown in…

Glastonbury, mythical home of the Holy Grail in Arthurian myth, in reality home to the holy grail of musical festivals the world over. Music Lovers and self confessed hippies descend on rural Somerset for a long weekend of music, more music and the greatest of atmospheres. I know it sounds trite but there really is an atmosphere surrounding Glastonbury, everyone…

Firstly I have to clear something up. I’m not exactly what you’d call a fan of techno, trance, dance, hard dance, gabba or anything similar to the aforementioned. The intense ch and ts that doesn’t let up is boring and somewhat irritating and I find the repetitive hooks, bass and ‘melodies’ to be a touch…

Ahead of the release of their new album Church With No Magic on July 19th through Warp Records, Larry Heath chats to Laurence Pike, the man you’ll often find behind the drums of Sydney’s PVT (formerly Pivot). We chat about the upcoming album, the name change, Bill Murray, playing at SXSW and more! Hi Laurence,…

The long anticipated debut LP from up-and-coming artists Amy Meredith is Restless, and it finally dropped yesterday! A week before the release, Larry Heath had a chat to drummer Kosta Theodosis about the album, touring plans and Xylophones.  You’re not on tour at the moment, so how have Amy Meredith been spending the weeks leading up to the…

STONEFEST 2010 – Bigger, Brighter, Bolder! SATURDAY 30 OCTOBER at the University of Canberra The Frontier Touring Company, in association with the University of Canberra’s entertainment division UC LIVE!, are thrilled to announce the lineup for this year’s hotly anticipated Stonefest festival scheduled for Saturday 30 October 2010 and held on the University’s grounds. The…

Just over a year ago, FBi Radio in Sydney launched one of the most creative media campaigns the country had seen since “Kevin 07”. And it certainly surpassed that by a long margin (where are ya now Kev!?). It was a stunt entitled “Ask Richard”, in which the listeners of FBi were asked to go…

Just before the WAMi Awards at the Capitol, I sat backstage with Patrick and Jamie – the Vocalist and Drummer, respectively, of highly acclaimed Perth band Sugar Army. Armed with a shitload of nominations (none of which they won, unfortunately – robbed!), and the headlining spot at the awards, we had a chat about what…

While over in Perth for the 2010 WAMi Festival I sat down in the recording studio of The Novocaines. After hearing some of their new killer tunes, I chatted to the lead vocalist and guitarist of the group, brothers Corey and Jay Marriott, respectively. They dished the dirt on playing with Them Crooked Vultures, gave…

With their new album, The Crystal Axis, well and truly in the collective consciousness of the Australian music community, we chatted to Daniel Stricker of Melbourne outfit Midnight Juggernauts. We talk about the new album, their upcoming tours, and the Sydney based Fashion Launches Rocket Launches project. I understand you’re about to head over to…

Shortly after Song Summit in Sydney, we caught up with Cameron Potts of Dead Letter Chorus – the man responsible for the Vocals, Guitar and Harmonica. Indeed he’s a busy man on the stage, and we had a chat about the touring life, their pals Two Hour Traffic, successes in Canada and their upcoming album….

Adelaide has laid claim to some exceptional Australian bands over the years, and now it can proudly add young locals Steering By Stars to its credit. One of the more intriguing bands to come from the city of churches, the five piece are also one of the city’s most interesting live acts, a label that’s…

As Sydney’s infamous Annandale Hotel celebrates its tenth birthday, bands from around Australia are joining in on the party, in a series of live performances for the venue. For some, like The Vines and Regurgitator, it’s a chance to relive the glory days when they were up and coming local artists. And for the new…

I can’t say Hot Damn! is the place I would normally choose to spend a Thursday night. I don’t spend hours on my hair, I don’t have any tattoos or piercings, I don’t like bands like AFI and I don’t wear eyeliner. I couldn’t stick out more if I tried! But when I heard UK’s…

They were just confirmed for Falls Festival, their debut album is in stores now – and you can get a taste of San Diego’s finest with three shows in Australia next month. In advance of the tour, we chatted to drummer Brian Hill about playing SXSW, David Letterman, living in LA and growing up in…

Now I know the World Cup was on and all, but with such an amazing lineup, I’m quite surprised the Home Nightclub was without an endless queue! Indeed, the place wasn’t packed, but the night was certainly packed in with an eclectic mix of artists from around Australia – and even the world! Taking the…

Having filled up on the meal the Song Summit Conference had provided me, I was fairly content to relax, take a seat and enjoy the first band to grace the main stage, The Jezabels. In fact, despite plenty of other bands playing at the two other stages during the 3-or-so-hour event, I was perfectly content…

The second Sydney Song Summit has come to an end, leaving many to ask – so what was it all about? From my own viewpoint, I hadn’t even heard of the conference in its first appearance, back in 2008, and I could imagine many of you are in the same boat in 2010. So please,…

Returning to Australia for their first tour since 2003, I’ve got to say: Train are a comeback I didn’t see happening. The ARIA Platinum, Number 1 hit single “Hey, Soul Sister” has launched them back into the Australian and international consciousness. In fact it’s their most popular song to date. This is especially surprising when…

Ahead of the release of their third album Barbara, and their appearance at Splendour in the Grass next month, We Are Scientist’s Keith Murray took time out of his busy schedule to call AU HQ and chat to us about the new album, returning to Australia, the illiteracy of the Jackass crew and the World…

My favourite album of 2010 (so far), it goes without saying that I was stoked to chat to Derek Miller, one half of Sleigh Bells, about their debut LP Treats. While he was on a short break in Jupiter, Florida, he gave the AU review a call, and chatted to us about the album, Spike Jonze,…

Local heroes Cassette Kids returned to the Oxford Art Factory on Friday night, performing to a sold out crowd who gave the four piece a true pop star reception. To thank us, they brought lasers. But we had some supports to get through first! Kids of 88 opened up the night, and I have to…

It’s been quite some time since I had a night at Oxford Arts Factory and for me the night started half way through Three Fingers session behind the decks. These were two guys throwing out some good tracks and although the floor was a bit empty, this was no indication of their set. Rocking an…

Spending Thursday night on Brunswick street is always a pleasure, particularly when the Evelyn serves $2.50 pots to stave off the subzero temperatures of a harsh Melbourne winter. First up in the band room were NSW wild men Royal Chant. Royal Chant are Andrew, Brendan, Matt and Mark and their live show was endlessly disappointing….

Another Friday at the pub, and the line down Swanston street was huge as an eager bunch of fans queued up early, eagerly awaiting the gorgeous songstresses that awaited us that evening. First up were a band called Brackets. This haphazard group of men seemed to be on a personal mission to deafen the audience…