Music

It’s day 5 of Sydney Festival, and the first round of artists are coming to an end. Tonight marked the final performance in the Spiegeltent of Montreal’s Patrick Watson, who went on to play at Beck’s Festival Bar (replacing The Middle East and supporting Grizzly Bear) for his final Sydney gig – and we were…

The following is one review where no amount of hyperbole will do true justice to the overwhelming feeling that comes from experiencing a live event such as this. Tonight, Grizzly Bear brought Sydney to its emotional knees in an evening of beautiful intensity that is so rarely found live – especially in a unique setting…

I love Karen O. There is no denying that she’s the queen of cool in the world of music today. And tonight she was back to prove to Sydney why – playing to a sell out crowd at the Hordern Pavillion – their largest show in the city to date. But first up were Sydney’s…

After an incredibly hectic (but fun) 2009, the Sydney Festival organisers took a step back for their third Festival First Night: going for quality, not quantity – getting rid of the Fuzzy stage, spreading out the stages at Martin Place, and giving the City of Sydney a night it won’t soon forget.  For me, the majority of…

When you speak of the Summer festival season, there is one festival that reigns supreme: The Big Day Out. Now in its 18th year, it’s a festival which indeed lives up to its name. The biggest acts in the world, under what feels like the hottest sun in the world – it’s Australia’s time to…

Chairlift and The Phenomenal Handclap Band are two artists who have had a very interesting 2009. Underground hits in their home state of New York, the bands quickly reached international airwaves with singles “Bruises” (as featured in an Apple ad campaign) and “15 to 20”, respectively. And now, riding the successes of each, they’re jet…

They’ve been keeping quiet for some time now, but Sydney outfit The Holidays are well and truly back for our listening pleasure. With 2 EPs under their belt, a shitload of touring behind them, and new single “Moonlight Hours” receiving a good amount of airtime, The Holidays are finally ready to launch into a territory…

Its been a while since Editors were last on Australian shores, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome them back (and for this reviewer, it’s my first experience with the Birmingham based group… so I must say I was ever the more excited). But first up were Melbourne duo Big Scary – a band…

As Andrew Bird told the just about sold out crowd that “it’s not every day you get to play in a venue that’s also an international icon” – I was reminded just how special a venue the Sydney Opera House is, and how lucky we are to not only have the venue in our vicinity,…

As I rolled out of bed yesterday morning, complete with a throbbing headache and an innate desire to remain in bed for at least another 24 hours, I peaked out the window to see clouds looming over the city. As with any hangover, not a great way to start the day. Little was I to…

Melbourne’s indie darlings The Temper Trap showed their hometown some loving with a secret Fall’s Festival side show at the intimate Corner bandroom. The excitement was palpable as the boy’s took to the stage and the sell out crowd listened in a hushed reverence as they began with an instrumental piece that quickly turned into…

Ahead of their forthcoming tour, which includes a stint in Sydney at the intimate boutique festival that is Days Like This!, Andy Cat of Ugly Duckling chats to the AU review about how the present is making him ill, how the past still rests in his beeper, and what the future holds for the prolific…

The electro trio are coming our way in January – better get your dancing shoes on! Larry had a chance to chat to the band ahead of their tour. Here’s what went down…. So you’re about to head down to Australia for the first time, playing a few club shows, Pyramid Rock on New Years,…

We’d like to dedicate this article to the memory of Rowland S Howard – One of Australia’s finest musicians who lost his battle with liver cancer today. For many of us at the AU review, his shows around the country were highlights of the year – and we feel honoured to have been able to…

As 2009 draws to an end, Jet have been chosen by Kia Soul’s Live at the Chapel to close out their 2009 season – which saw appearances from the likes of Lady Gaga and John Mayer. Some may question this choice based on the band’s recent notes – but while Shaka Rock appeared on many “Worst…

This February, there are two major festivals vying for your dollars, travelling around the whole country. In one corner, Soundwave – bringing pure Rock and Roll to all major cities. In the other – Good Vibrations – the well established institution bringing the dance. Now of course some of you will be tempted to head…

In part two of our best of 2009 series, once again we ask the AU crew to give us their favourite songs of 2009. Each contributor gave us their top 5 songs of the year, including a little ditty about their number 1 choice. But first, here’s a look at the song of the year,…

There are few gigs these days that get me truly excited – I’m sort of at that point now where 90% of the bands who I’ve loved over the years; I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to experience them live. But much like Radiohead, Animal Collective have remained an elusive beast, with whom I’ve hungered a meal….

Nestled in the back room of the La Campana Restaurant in Sydney is the latest addition to the Sydney live scene: the GoodGod Small Club – combining the charm of the Spanish restaurant, with the intimate nature of a “back room” venue. It’s fantastic to see locations like this popping up around Sydney, and we…

The wonderful AU crew have joined forces to choose the best 5 albums of the 2009! Plus, selected contributors give you their personal choice for album of the year. It may surprise! Manchester Orchestra – Mean Everything to Nothing One of the hidden gems of 2009, Manchester Orchestra’s third LP Mean Everything to Nothing, showed…

Most people would find it surprising that the 2009 edition of Homebake was the first time I’d ever paid visit to the iconic Sydney festival. But indeed, this was the first December in which I made the journey to the Domain, to see all that was ‘hot’ in Australian music right now. And boy, are…

Powderfinger rocked the Sydney Entertainment Quarter for Take 40 LIVE over the weekend. Here are a few pics from the show! You can watch the whole thing on Channel 9 – Thursday, December 17th at 7:30pm and Channel [V] on Saturday 19th December at 5pm. And again congratulations to the winner of the VIP double…

Much like Live at the Chapel, the Max Sessions have become an event synonymous with “live music for TV” in Australia – and in this, their 40th show, and their last for 2009, they seem to have no plans to stop anytime soon. And why would they? This is the television series that launched with…

Having the privilege to enjoy the heat of Summer on New Years Eve is something deeply embedded in the Australian experience – and something we shouldn’t take for granted. So why have the same, boring old NYE, when you could be rocking out to the worlds finest bands, in some of the countries most beautiful…

The following review is a two-in-one. In the Oxford Art Factory gallery, we had Bird Automatic closing out their month long residency with a rollicking set. Meanwhile, in the main room, The Veils and Oh Mercy were playing to a just-about-sold-out crowd, in a dual headlining show. Larry Heath attempted to review both gigs at…

Taking a moment away from his recording studio in Coffs Harbour, Johnny Mackay from Melbourne’s Children Collide had a chat to us at the AU review – speaking on the bands recent USA tour, the state of the Australian live scene, and how he doesn’t mind Children Collide becoming a “Video Game Band”. Read to…

When I was in Los Angeles in 2006, I passed up the opportunity to see Zero 7, accompanied by Jose Gonzalez and Sia, at the Hollywood Bowl. Oh, how I still regret this decision. But the result of this decision meant that this gig at the Enmore would be the first time I’d have the…

I arrived at the Enmore Theatre on a warm Thursday evening, greeted by an equally warm venue (air conditioning problems!), and a crowd who were enjoying Sydney’s Mental As Anything – who opened up what was essentially a triple bill, the eccentric group playing through a good selection of their hits. Come to this of…

Last week, Larry had the opportunity to speak to Jim Webster, drummer of the up-and-coming UK band Baddies, who are in town next month to play Pyramid Rock Festival and Purple Sneakers NYE House Party in Sydney. What followed was an interesting insight into the lives of a band on the rise, excited by their…

I am not a fan of outdoor arena events. The concert itself is always something special, mind you, a notion of “epic” that you can’t quite match in any other setting – regardless of the performer. But when you combine some 35,000 people going to one event, alongside unpredictable weather (in this case, one of…